             ECCLESIASTES - CHAPTER 12 VERSES 1 TO 7

     These verses from Ecclesiastes are given in the third degree
when the candidate is in the prone position, representing the Chief
Architect Hiram Abiff, who has just been struck lifeless and is on
the dead level, reminding him to remember His Creator and the hope
that there is an immortal spirit which cannot be destroyed.
1.   Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the
evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shall say,
I have no pleasure in them.
     Man is taught to remember His Creator during his youth, so
that during his life the power of evil cannot overcome the spirit
of him who has been faithful to his sacred trust.
     That he has obtained mastery over his lusts and passions which
make war on our character and lives.
2.   While the sun, or the moon, or the stars be not darkened nor
the clouds return after the rain.
     He is reminded of that hope that there is an immortal spirit
which cannot be destroyed, a hope that gives him courage to face
the unseen world without fear.
     I find the balance of these verses refer to the infirmities
of man from old age.  They may appear repetitious but I will
endeavour to make them somewhat interesting.
3.   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.
     By the house is meant the body of man, the keeper refers tothe arms and legs weakened by old age and the strong man is bowed
by the infirmities of old age.  The grinders refer to the teeth and
the loss of them through old age.  Those that look out of the
windows be darkened alludes of course to the eyes which become
dimmed over the years.
4.   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.
     The doors shall be shut in the streets when the sound of the
grinding is low refers to the loss of teeth and the difficulty of
trying to chew food.  He shall rise up at the voice of the bird
alludes to the elderly sleeping lightly and rising in the morning
to the call of the birds.
     All the daughters of music shall be brought low, again
signifies old age when the voice and hearing fail.
5.   Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and
fears shall be in the way, and 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.
     When they shall be afraid of that which is high alludes to a
fear of heights in the elderly.  Fears shall be in the way
referring to the childishness, nervousness and how easily excitable
old people become.  The almond tree shall flourish; when the almond
tree is in full bloom it is covered with white blossoms and is a
symbol of man when the hairs of his head turn grey.

     The grasshopper shall be a burden refers to the infirmities
of old age when the body ceases to function.  Desire shall fail
alludes to the time in life when  frivolous affairs are no longer
desired.  Man goeth to his long home and the mourners go about the
streets refers to the grave.
6.   Or ever the silver cord be loosed.  In the beautiful and
effective description of the body of man suffering under the
infirmities of old age we find this expression and it is defined
as the spinal marrow,  its loosening causes a stopping of all the
nervous system and brings on the approach of old age and death.
     Golden bowl be broken, alludes to the aging of the brain which
is rendered unfit to perform its functions by the approach of
death.  Pitcher be broken at the fountain refers to the great vein
which carries the blood to the right ventricle of the heart, here
called the fountain.
     Wheel broken at the cistern.  By the wheel is meant the great
artery that receives the blood from the left ventricle of the
heart, here designated as the cistern.
7.   Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the
spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
     Than shall the dust return to the earth has reference to man
when he travels to the undiscovered country from whose bourn no
traveller returns.  Spirit return unto God means your soul returns
unto God who gave it. 