Degree circumambulations

CIRCUMAMBULATIONS

1st degree (Entered Apprentice):

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments;

As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing; even life forevermore.

(Psalm 133)

2^nd degree (Fellowcraft):

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy; and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith,

so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

And now abideth faith, hope charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.

(1^st Corinthians, Ch. 13)

OR

Thus he showed me; and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in His hand.

And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, a plumb-line.

Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumb-line in the midst of my people, Israel: I will not again pass by them any more.

(Amos, Ch. vii, 7, 8)

3rd degree (Master Mason):

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw night,

when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened,

nor the clouds return after the rain;

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves,

and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low,

and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low:

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way,

and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail;

because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the the golden bowl be broken at the fountain,

or the wheel broken at the cistern.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:

And the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

(Ecclesiastes, Ch. xii, 1-7)