Page 133 - LESTER'S LOOK TOTHE EAST

Mason, whereby they could travel in foreign countries and receive wages
as such, entered into the horrid conspiracy of extorting them from our
Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, or taking his life; but, reflecting on the
atrocity of their intentions, being struck with horror, twelve of them
recanted; the other three persisted in their murderous designs.

W.M. At what time was our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, slain?

S.W. At high twelve.

W.M. How came he to be assassinated at that hour ?

S.W. It was his usual custom at high twelve, when the craft were
called from labor to refreshment, to enter into the Sanctum Sanctorum,
or Holy of Holies, there offer up his adorations to Deity, and draw his
designs on his tressel board.

W.M. What was the manner of his death?

S.W. The three Fellow Crafts who persisted in their murderous design,
knowing this to be his usual custom, placed themselves at the South,
West and East gates of the Temple, and there awaited his return.

W.M. What followed?

S.W. Our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, having fulfilled his usual custom,
attempted to return by the South gate, where he was accosted by
Jubela, who demanded of him the secrets of a Master Mason; and, on
being refused, gave him a blow with the twenty-four inch gauge across
his throat; upon which he fled, and attempted to pass out at the West
gate, where he was accosted by Jubelo, who in like manner thrice
demanded of him the secrets of a Master Mason; and, on his thrice re-
fusing, gave him a blow with the square across his breast; upon which
he fled, and attempted to make his escape at the East gate, when he
was accosted by Jubelum, who in like manner thrice demanded of him
the secrets of a Master Mason; and, on his thrice refusing, gave him a
violent blow with the setting maul on his forehead, which felled him
dead on the spot.

W.M. What did they do with the body?

S.W. Buried it in the rubbish of the Temple until low twelve, or twelve
at night, when they met by agreement, and carried it a due West course
from the Temple to the brow of a hill, where they buried it in a grave
dug six feet due East and West and six feet perpendicular, at the head
of which they set a sprig of acacia, that the place might be known
should occasion ever require it, and made their escape.

W.M. At what time was our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, first missed?
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