THE HOURS OF MASONRY
THE CRAFTSMAN - 1866
The Masons of
the York Rite have only the terms "high twelve" and "low twelve"
to designate particular Masonic times, that is noon and midnight;
and in relation to the hours of labor and rest, they seem to have
preserved but one tradition, namely, that Masons begin to work at
six in the morning, are called to refreshment at high twelve;
called on again at an hour past high twelve, and continue their
labour until "low six" or evening. But some of the Masons of
the continent and of the continental rites have paid more
attention to the system of Masonic horometry, and have formed or
invented a variety of terms and legends in relation to Masonic
hours. Among these rites, that of Zinnendorf, established about
the end of the last century in Germany, has some curious details.
The following extract from the ritual is translated from
Lenning's Encyclopeadia of Freemasonry :-
Q- "How many hours
are there in a Freemason's Lodge?"
A.- " Five." Q.- " How
are these hours called?"
A. - "Twelve, noon, high noon, midnight
and high midnight." Q.- " When is it twelve ?"
A.- "
Before the Lodge is opened and when the Lodge is closed." Q.-
"When is it noon ?"
A.- "When the Master is about to open the
Lodge." Q.- " When is it high noon ?"
A.- " When the Lodge
is duly opened." Q.- "When is it midnight ?"
A.- "When the
Master is about to close the Lodge." Q.- "When is it high
midnight ?"
A.- "When the Lodge is closed and the profane are
allowed to approach." Q.- "How many consecutive hours do
Freemasons work in their Lodge?"
A.- "Three hours." Q.-
"What are these three hours?"
A.- "Noon., high noon and
midnight." Q.- "What are the hours when Freemasons do not
work ?"
A.- "Twelve and high midnight"
There are other
divisions into Masonic weeks and years, but what has been given
above is enough to show the care with which Masonic symbolism is
cultivated among these philosophical rites, for all these answers
are of course allegorical and symbolical.- One more answer in
this catechism of the Zinnendorf ritual may conclude this
paragraph, as it is highly suggestive of a deep religious
truth.
Q.- "How long is a Mason's day?"
A.- "From the
beginning of the year to the end."
And so, indeed, it is. The
work of a true Mason is never done, - his day of labor never
ends, - and at all hours and in all seasons, his task still goes
nobly on for the search, - the untiring search after knowledge
must be ever employing him, from week to week, from month to
month, and from year to year, until days, weeks, and months and
years, shall all have passed away, and life ends with the search
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