ENTERED APPRENTICE DEGREE
WM: *. Brethren; Mr._______ Is in waiting for the First
Degree of Freemasonry, he having been duly
accepted. If there is no objection, I shall confer
this degree upon him.
WM: There being none, I will proceed.
WM: *. Brother Stewards.
SS: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: How should a candidate be prepared for the First
Degree of Freemasonry?
SS: By being divested of all metallic substances,
neither naked nor clothed, barefoot nor shod, left
knee and breast bare, hood-winked, and with a
cable-tow about his neck.
WM: Repair to the preparation room where Mr.
_____________ is in waiting. When thus prepared,
cause him to make the usual alarm at the inner
door. Brother Secretary, accompany them.
(In the preparation room)
Sec: Mr. ______, somewhat of your motives in applying
for admission into our ancient and honorable
Fraternity we have learned from the declaration,
over your signature, contained in your petition;
but in order that you may not be misled as to the
character or the purpose of the ceremonies in
which you are about to engage, the Lodge
addresses to you these preliminary words of
advice.
Freemasonry is far removed from all that is trivial,
selfish and ungodly. Its structure is built upon
the everlasting foundation of the God-given law -the
Brotherhood of Man, in the family whose
Father is God. Our ancient and honorable
Fraternity welcomes to its doors and admits to
its privileges worthy men of all creeds and of every
race, but insists that all men shall stand upon an
exact equality, and receive its instructions in a
spirit of due humility, emphasizing in demeanor,
in conduct, in ceremony and in language the
helpless, groping nature of man at his birth and
his need of reliance upon Divine guidance through
all the transactions of life. You will here be taught
to divest your mind and conscience of all the vices
and superfluities of life, and the Lodge into which
you are now to be admitted expects you to divest
yourself of all those worldly distinctions and
equipments which are not in keeping with the
humble, reverent and childlike attitude it is now
your duty to assume, as all have done who have
gone this way before you.
Every candidate, previous to his reception, is
required to give his free and full assent to the
following interrogatories, in a room adjacent to
the Lodge.
Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that
unbiased by the improper solicitation of friend,
and uninfluenced by mercenary motives, you freely
and voluntarily offer yourself a candidate for the
mysteries of Freemasonry?
(Candidate answers.)
Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that
you are prompted to solicit the privileges of
Freemasonry by a favorable opinion conceived of
the institution, a desire for knowledge, and a
sincere wish of being serviceable to your fellow-creatures?
(Candidate answers.)
Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that
you will cheerfully conform to all the ancient usages
and established customs of the Fraternity?
(Candidate answers. The Secretary re-enters the Lodge.)
Sec: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Brother Secretary.
Sec: The candidate has answered the usual questions
in the affirmative.
(There is now a waiting period, giving time for preparation
of the candidate(s) in the proper attire)
Cand: ***.
SD: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Brother Senior Deacon.
SD: There is an alarm at the inner door.
WM: Attend to the alarm and ascertain the cause.
SD: * * *. Who comes here?
SS: Mr. _________, a poor blind candidate who is
desirous of having and receiving a part in the rights,
lights, and benefits of this Worshipful Lodge of
Free and Accepted Masons, erected to God and
dedicated to the memory of the Holy Saints John,
as all Brethren and Fellows have done who have
gone this way before him.
SD: Mr. _____, is this an act of your own free will and
accord?
Cand: It is.
SD: Brother Stewards, is he worthy and well qualified?
SS: He is.
SD: Duly and truly prepared?
SS: He is.
SD: By what further right does he expect to obtain
this important privilege?
SS: Being a man, free born, of lawful age, and well
recommended.
SD: Since the candidate is in possession of these
necessary qualifications, let him wait until the
Worshipful Master can be informed of his request,
and his answer returned.
SD: ***. Worshipful Master.
WM: Brother Senior Deacon.
SD: There is without, Mr. _____, a poor blind candidate,
who is desirous of having and receiving a part in
the rights, lights, and benefits of this Worshipful
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, erected to
God and dedicated to the memory of the Holy
Saints John, as all Brethren and Fellows have
done who have gone this way before him.
WM: Is it an act of his own free will and accord?
SD: It is.
WM: Is he worthy and well qualified?
SD: He is.
WM: Duly and truly prepared?
SD: He is.
WM: By what further right does he expect to obtain
this important privilege?
SD: Being a man, free born, of lawful age, and well
recommended.
WM: Since the candidate is in possession of all these
necessary qualifications, let him enter this
Worshipful Lodge, in the name of God, and be
received in due and ancient form.
SD: ***. Let him enter this Worshipful Lodge, in the
name of God, and be received in due and ancient
form.
SD: (Stops Cand immediately upon his entering the
lodge room) Mr. _____, I am commanded to
receive you on the point of a sharp instrument,
piercing your naked left breast, which is to teach
you that as this is an instrument of torture to the
flesh, so should the recollection thereof be to your
mind and conscience, should you ever reveal the
secrets of Freemasonry unlawfully.
SD: (Steps to left side of Cand and takes him by the
arm, forearm horizontal, forming the angle of a
square): Mr. _____, as no man should ever enter
upon any great and important undertaking without
first invoking the aid of Deity, you will be conducted
to the center of the Lodge, caused to kneel and
attend prayer.
WM: ***
(All stand; WM is escorted to the center of the lodge,
stopping in front of candidate)
Vouchsafe Thine aid, Almighty Father of the
Universe, to this our present convention; and grant
that this candidate for Masonry may dedicate and
devote his life to Thy service, and become a true
and faithful Brother among us. Endue him with a
competency of Thy divine wisdom, that by the
influence of the pure principles of our Fraternity
he may be better enabled to display the beauties
of holiness, to the honor of The Holy Name. Amen.
(ALL) So mote it be.
WM: Mr. _____, in whom do you put your trust?
(Cand answers without prompting)
(accepted response:"In God")
WM: Your trust being in God, your faith is well founded.
(WM grasps Cand as a firm handshake, assisting him
up)
Rise, follow your conductor, and fear no danger.
(WM returns to the east and raps the gavel for all to be
seated)
WM: *
JW: *
Chap: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
Brethren to dwell together in unity!"
SW: *
Chap: "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:"
WM: *
Chap: "For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even
life for evermore."
SD: ***
JW: *. Who comes here?
SD: Mr. ____, a poor blind candidate, who is desirous
of having and receiving a part in the rights, lights,
and benefits of this Worshipful Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons, erected to God and dedicated
to the memory of the Holy Saints John, as all
Brethren and Fellows have done who have gone
this way before him.
JW: Mr. ____, is this an act of your own free will and
accord?
Cand: It is.
JW: Brother Senior Deacon, is he worthy and well
qualified?
SD: He is.
JW: Duly and truly prepared?
SD: He is.
JW: By what further right does he expect to obtain
this important privilege?
SD: Being a man, free born, of lawful age, and well
recommended.
JW: Since the candidate is in possession of all these
necessary qualifications, conduct him to the
Senior warden in the West for his examination.
SD: ***.
SW: *. Who comes here?
SDS: Mr. ____, a poor blind candidate, who is desirous
of having and receiving a part in the rights, lights,
and benefits of this Worshipful Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons, erected to God and dedicated
to the memory of the Holy Saints John, as all
Brethren and Fellows have done who have gone
this way before him.
SW: Mr. ____, is this an act of your own free will and
accord?
Cand: It is.
SW: Brother Senior Deacon, is he worthy and well
qualified?
SD: He is.
SW: Duly and truly prepared?
SD: He is.
SW: By what further right does he expect to obtain
this important privilege?
SD: Being a man, free born, of lawful age, and well
recommended.
SW: Since the candidate is in possession of all these
necessary qualifications, conduct him to the
Worshipful Master in the East for his examination.
SD: ***.
WM: *. Who comes here?
SD: Mr. ____, a poor blind candidate, who is desirous
of having and receiving a part in the rights, lights,
and benefits of this Worshipful Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons, erected to God and dedicated
to the memory of the Holy Saints John, as all
Brethren and Fellows have done who have gone
this way before him.
WM: Mr. ____, is this an act of your own free will and
accord?
Cand: It is.
WM: Brother Senior Deacon, is he worthy and well
qualified?
SD: He is.
WM: Duly and truly prepared?
SD: He is.
WM: By what further right does he expect to obtain
this important privilege?
SD: Being a man, free born, of lawful age, and well
recommended.
WM: Whence came you, and whither are you traveling?
SD: From the West, traveling East.
WM: Why did you leave the West and travel East?
SD: In Search of Light in Masonry.
WM:Since the candidate is in possession of all these
necessary qualifications, and in search of Light
in Masonry, reconduct him to the Senior Warden
in the West, who will teach him how to approach
the East in due and ancient form.
SD: Brother Senior Warden.
SW: Brother Senior Deacon.
SD: It is the order of the Worshipful Master that you
teach this candidate how to approach to East in
due and ancient form.
SW: Cause the candidate to face the East.
??? Mr. ____, advance on your left foot, bringing the
heel of your right into the hollow of your left,
thereby forming the angle of a square.
SW: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Brother Senior Warden.
SW: The candidate is in order.
WM: Mr. ____, before you can proceed further in
Freemasonry, it will be necessary for you to take
an Obligation appertaining to this degree. It
becomes my duty as well as pleasure to inform
you that there is nothing contained in the Obligation
that conflicts with the duties you owe to God,
your country, your neighbor, your family, or yourself.
With this assurance on my part, are you willing
to take the Obligation?
Cand: I am.
WM: Then advance to the Sacred Altar of Freemasonry.
There kneel on your naked left knee; your right
forming the angle of a square; your left hand
supporting, and your right resting on the Holy
Bible, Square and Compasses.
SD: (S) Worshipful Master, the candidate is in due
form.
WM:***.
WM: Mr. ____, if you are still willing to take the
Obligation, say "I", pronounce your name in full,
and repeat after me.
Cand: I, ____ __ ____,(candidate then repeats the
obligation as ministered to him by the WM) of my
own free will and accord, in the presence of
Almighty God and this Worshipful Lodge of Free
and Accepted Masons, erected to God and
dedicated to the memory of the Holy Saints of
Jerusalem, do hereby and hereon, solemnly and
sincerely promise and swear, that I will always
hele, forever conceal, and never reveal any of the
secret arts, parts, or points of the hidden
mysteries of Freemasonry, which I have received,
am about to receive, or may be hereafter
instructed in, to any person unless it shall be to a
worthy Brother Entered Apprentice, or within the
body of a just and duly constituted Lodge of such;
and not unto him or them whom I shall hear so to
be, but unto him or them only whom I shall find so
to be after due trial, strict examination, or lawful
Masonic information.
Furthermore: I do promise and swear that I will
not write, indite, print, paint, stamp, stain, hue,
cut, carve, mark or engrave the same upon
anything movable or immovable, whereby or
whereon the least word, syllable, letter, or
character may become legible or intelligible to
myself or another, whereby the secrets of
Freemasonry may be unlawfully obtained through
my unworthiness.
To all of which I do solemnly and sincerely promise
and swear, without any hesitation, mental
reservation, or secret evasion of mind in me
whatsoever; binding myself under no less a
penalty than that of having my throat cut across,
my tongue torn out, and with my body buried in
the sands of the sea at low-water mark, where
the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours,
should I ever knowingly or willfully violate this, my
solemn Obligation of an Entered Apprentice. So
help me God and make me steadfast to keep and
perform the same.
WM: In token of your sincerity, kiss the Holy Bible on
which your hand rests.
WM: Brother Senior Deacon, remove the cable-tow.
WM: My Brother, in your present situation, who do you
most desire?
Cand: Light in Masonry (prompted by Senior Deacon)
WM: Brethren, stretch forth your hands and assist me
in bringing this newly made Brother to true
Masonic Light.
WM: In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth. And the earth was without form and void,
and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And
the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, "Let there by light!" and there was
light. In humble commemoration of that august
event, I now say Masonically, let there be Light.
(All clap there hands one time, in unison, as the Senior
Deacon removes the hoodwink.)
WM: My Brother, on being brought to Light in
Freemasonry, you first behold the Three Great
Lights, by aid of the representatives of the Three
Lesser. The Three Great Lights in Masonry are
the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses, and are
thus explained: The Holy Bible is given us as the
rule and guide for our faith and practice, the Square
to square our actions, and the Compasses to
circumscribe our desires and keep our passions
in due bounds with all mankind, especially the
Brethren.
(Bible Lecture)
I particularly direct your attention to the Great Light
in Masonry, the Holy Bible. Howsoever men differ
in creed or theology, all good men are agreed
that within the covers of the Holy Bible are found
those principles of morality which lay the
foundation upon which to build a righteous life.
Freemasonry therefore opens this Book upon its
Altars, with the command to each of its votaries
that he diligently study therein to learn the way to
everlasting life. Adopting no particular creed,
forbidding sectarian discussion within its
Lodgerooms, encouraging each to be steadfast
in the faith of his acceptance, Freemasonry takes
all good men by the hand, and leading them to its
Altars, points to the open Bible thereon, and urges
upon each that he faithfully direct his steps through
life by the Light he there shall find, and as he
there shall find it.
If from our sacred altars the atheist, the infidel,
the irreligious man, or the libertine should ever be
able to wrest this Book of Sacred Laws, and thus
remove, or even obscure, the greatest Light in
Masonry - that Light which has for centuries been
the rule and guide of Freemasons - then could we
no longer claim for ourselves the great rank and
title of Free and Accepted Masons; but so long
as that Sacred Light shines upon our altars, so
long as it illuminates the pathway of the Craftsmen
by the golden rays of truth, so long and no longer
can Freemasonry live and shed its beneficent
influence upon mankind. Guard then, that Book
of sacred and immutable law as you would guard
your very life. Defend it as you would the flag of
your country. Live according to its divine
teachings, with its everlasting assurance of a
blessed immortality.
WM: The Three Lesser Lights are the Sun, Moon, and
Master of the Lodge, and are thus explained: as
the Sun rules the day and the Moon governs the
night, so should the Worshipful Master, with equal
regularity, rule and govern the lodge. They are
represented by three burning tapirs placed in a
triangular fashion within the Lodge.
WM: *.
WM: You now observe me as Worshipful Master of this
Lodge, approaching you from the East, upon the
square, under the due-guard and sign of an
Entered Apprentice. My Brother, an Entered
Apprentice advances on his left foot, bringing the
heel of his right into the hollow of his left, thereby
forming the angle of a square. This is the due-guard,
and alludes to the position of your hands
while taking the Obligation; this is the sign, and
alludes to the penalty of the Obligation. This due-guard
and sign are always to be given as a
salutation to the Worshipful Master, also on
entering or retiring from an Entered Apprentices
Lodge. I now present my right hand in token of
friendship and brotherly love, and will invest you
with the grip and word. As you are uninstructed,
he who has hitherto answered for you, will do so
at this time.
WM: Brother Senior Deacon.
SD: Worshipful Master.
WM: I hele.
SD: I conceal.
WM: What do you conceal?
SD: All the secrets of a Mason in Masonry, to which
this token alludes.
WM: What is that?
SD: A grip.
WM: Of what?
SD: Of an Entered Apprentice.
WM: Has it a name?
SD: It has.
WM: Will you give it to me?
SD: I did not so receive, neither will I so impart it.
WM: How will you dispose of it?
SD: Letter or halve it.
WM: Letter it and begin.
SD: You begin.
WM: Begin You.
SD: A;
WM: B;
SD: O;
WM: Z.
WM: Boaz, my Brother, is the name of this grip, and
should always be given in the customary manner,
by lettering or halving. When lettering, always
commence with the letter, "A". Rise, salute the
Junior and Senior Wardens and satisfy them that
you are in possession of the step, due-guard, sign,
grip and word of an Entered Apprentice.
SD: ***.
JW: *. Who comes here?
SD: A duly initiated Entered Apprentice.
JW: How may I know him to be such?
SD: By certain signs and a token.
JW: What are signs?
SD: Right angles, horizontals, and perpendiculars.
JW: Advance a sign. Has that an allusion?
SD: It has; to the position of my hands while taking
the Obligation.
JW: Have you a further sign?
SD: I have.
JW: Has that an allusion?
SD: It has; to the penalty of the Obligation.
JW: What is a token?
SD: A certain friendly or brotherly grip, whereby one
Mason may know another in the dark as in the
light.
JW: Advance and give me a token. What is that?
SD: A grip.
JW: Of what?
SD: Of an Entered Apprentice.
JW: Has it a name?
SD: It has.
JW: Will you give it to me?
SD: I did not so receive it, neither will I so impart it.
JW: How will you dispose of it?
SD: Letter or halve it.
JW: Letter it and begin.
SD: You begin.
JW: Begin you.
Cand: A. ;
JW: B:
Cand: O;
JW: Z.
(Cand is prompted by Senior Deacon as necessary)
Cand: Boaz.
JW: The word is right, I am satisfied
SD: ***.
SW: *. Who comes here?
SD: A duly initiated Entered Apprentice.
SW: How may I know him to be such?
SD: By certain signs and a token.
SW: What are signs?
SD: Right angles, horizontals, and perpendiculars.
SW: Advance a sign. Has that an allusion?
SD: It has; to the position of my hands while taking
the Obligation.
SW Have you a further sign?
SD: I have.
SW: Has that an allusion?
SD: It has; to the penalty of the Obligation.
SW: What is a token?
SD: A certain friendly or brotherly grip, whereby one
Mason may know another in the dark as in the
light.
SW: Advance and give me a token. What is that?
SD: A grip.
SW: Of what?
SD: Of an Entered Apprentice.
SW: Has it a name?
SD: It has.
SW: Will you give it to me?
SD: I did not so receive it, neither will I so impart it.
SW: How will do dispose of it?
SD: Letter or halve it.
SW: Letter it and begin.
SD: You begin.
SW: Begin you.
Cand: A;
SW: B;
Cand: O;
SW: Z
(Cand is prompted by Senior Deacon as necessary)
Cand: Boaz.
SW: The word is right, I am satisfied. Conduct the
Brother to the Worshipful Master in the East.
WM: *.
(Apron Lecture)
My Brother, I now present you this lambskin or
white leather apron. It is an emblem of innocence
and the badge of a Mason - the distinguished
badge of a Mason.
It may be that, in the coming years, upon your
head may rest the laurel wreaths of victory; pendent
from your breast may hang jewels fit to grace the
diadem of an Easter potentate; nay, more than
these, with light added to the coming light, your
ambitious feet may tread round after round of the
ladder that leads to fame in our mystic circle, and
even the purple of the Fraternity may rest upon
your honored shoulders; but never again from
mortal hands, never again until your enfranchised
spirit shall have passed upward and inward
through the pearly gates, shall any honor so
distinguished, so emblematical of purity and all
perfections, be conferred upon you as this which
I now bestow.
(Done) It is yours; yours to wear throughout an
honorable life, and at your death to be deposited
upon the coffin which shall enclose your lifeless
remains, and with them laid beneath the clods of
the valley. Let its pure and spotless surface be to
you an everpresent reminder of a purity of life and
rectitude of conduct," a never ending argument
for nobler deeds, for higher thoughts, for greater
achievements. And when at last your weary feet
shall have come to the end of life’s toilsome
journey, and from your nerveless grasp shall drop
forever the working tools of life, may the record of
your life and actions be as pure and spotless as
this fair emblem which I place within your hands
tonight; and when your trembling soul shall stand
naked and alone before the Great White Throne,
there to receive judgment for the deeds done while
here in the body, may it be your portion to hear
from Him who sitteth as the Judge Supreme the
welcome words: "Well done, thou good and
faithful servant! Thou hast been faithful over a few
things; I will make thee ruler over many things!
Enter thou into the joy of Thy Lord."
WM: Carry it to the Senior Warden in the West, who
will teach you how to wear it as an Entered
Apprentice.
SD: Brother Senior Warden.
SW: Brother Senior Deacon.
SD: It is the order of the Worshipful Master that you
teach this Brother how to wear his apron as an
Entered Apprentice.
SW: Cause the Brother to face the East. My Brother,
at the building of King Solomon’s Temple the
different bands of workmen were distinguished by
the manner in which they wore their aprons.
Entered Apprentices wore them with the flap turned
up to prevent soiling the clothing; Masonically, to
prevent daubing with untempered mortar. Thus
wear yours until further advanced.
SD: Worshipful Master, your order has been obeyed.
WM: My Brother, agreeably to an ancient custom
adopted in every regular and well governed Lodge,
it becomes my duty at this time to demand of
you some metallic substance; not so much on
account of its intrinsic value, as that it may be
deposited in the archives of the Lodge, as a
memorial that you were at this time and place
made a Mason. Any metallic substance you may
have, the Secretary will be pleased to receive.
Cand: ___________ (of course, he has nothing)
WM: Nothing, not even a penny, to commemorate one
of the most important events of your life? My
Brother, this is to teach you that should you ever
meet a member of the human family, especially a
Brother Mason, in a like destitute situation, it
would be your duty to contribute to his relief as
liberally as his necessities might require, and your
ability permits.
WM: As you are now clothed as an Entered Apprentice
I present you, emblematically, the working tools
which are the Twenty-four Inch Gauge and the
Common Gavel, and are thus explained.
The Twenty-four Inch Gauge is an instrument used
by operative masons to measure and lay out their
work; but we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are
taught to use it for the more noble and glorious
purpose of dividing our time. It being divided into
twenty-four equal parts, is emblematical of the
twenty-four hours of the day, which we are taught
to divide into three equal parts, whereby are found
eight hours for the service of God and a distressed
worthy Brother, eight for our usual vocations, and
eight for refreshment and sleep.
The Common Gavel is an instrument used by
operative masons to break off the corners of rough
stones, the better to fit them for the builder’s use;
but we as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught
to use it for the more noble and glorious purpose
of divesting our hearts and consciences of all the
vices and superfluities of life, thereby fitting our
minds, as living stones, for that spiritual building -that
house not made with hands - eternal in the
Heavens.
WM: Brother Senior Deacon, conduct the Brother to
the Northeast corner of the Lodge.
WM: My Brother, you there stand an upright man and
Mason, and I give it you strictly in charge ever to
walk and act as such before God and man. I also
present you with a new name, which is Caution.
It is to teach you to be cautious over all your words
and actions, especially on the subject of
Freemasonry when in the presence of its enemies.
WM: Brother Senior Deacon, re-conduct the Brother to
the place whence he came, invest him with that
of which he has been divested, and return him to
the Lodge for further instruction.
WM: My Brother, salute as you have been instructed.
WM: *. Brother Junior Warden.
JW: (S) Worshipful Master.
WM: Call the Craft from labor to refreshment, to resume
labor at the sound of the gavel in the East.
JW: ***.
JW: Brethren; it is the order of the Worshipful Master
that you be now called from labor to refreshment,
to resume labor at the sound of the gavel in the
East.
JW: *.
