a cable-tow, 'round his neck and left arm (the rope is not put 'round
the arm in all Lodges) in which posture the candidate is conducted to
the door, where he is caused to give, or the conductor gives, three
distinct knocks, which are answered by three from within; the
conductor gives one more, which is also answered by one from within.
The door is then partly opened, and the Junior Deacon generally asks,
"Who comes there? Who comes there? Who comes there?" The conductor
_alias_ the Senior Deacon, answers, "A poor, blind candidate, who has
long been desirous of having and receiving a part of the rights and
benefits of this worshipful Lodge, dedicated (some say erected) to
God, and held forth to the holy order of St. John, as all true fellows
and brothers have done, who have gone this way before him." The Junior
Deacon then asks, "Is it of his own free will and accord he makes this
request? Is he duly and truly prepared? Worthy and well qualified? And
properly avouched for?" All of which being answered in the
affirmative, the Junior Deacon says to the Senior Deacon, "By what
further right does he expect to obtain this benefit?" The Senior
Deacon replies, "By being a man, free born, of lawful age, and under
the tongue of good report." The Junior Deacon then says, "Since this
is the case you will wait till the Worshipful Master in the East is
made acquainted with his request, and his answer returned." The Junior
Deacon repairs to the Master, when the same questions are asked, and
answers returned as at the door; after which the Master says, "Since
he comes endowed with all these necessary qualifications, let him
enter this worshipful Lodge in the name of the Lord, and take heed on
what he enters." The candidate then enters, the Junior Deacon at the
same time pressing his naked left breast with the point of the
compass, and asks the candidate, "Did you feel anything?" ANS.--"I
did." Junior Deacon to the candidate, "What was it?" ANS.--"A
torture." The Junior Deacon then says, "As this is a torture to your