The Three Degrees of Freemasonry
Entered Apprentice Degree
First Section with Oath
First Section
WM - (*) Brethren, the Lodge has been especially convened at this time for the purpose of conferring the Entered Apprentice degree. Mr. A.B., who has been duly elected to receive the degrees conferred in this Lodge, is in waiting to be initiated and Entered Apprentice. If there is no objection, I will confer the degree upon him. Is there objection? (pause). There being no objection, I will proceed.
WM - (*) Brother Secretary. [Se rises and faces WM.]
Se - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign].
WM - You will retire and receive the fee; brother Senior Deacon will accompany you and propound the constitutional questions.
[SD rises and moves with Se to Altar. WM rises and all give Due Guard and Sign in unison. WM is seated and Se and SD retire through Inner Door. Se collects the fee.]
SD - [In anteroom, Cn answers each question.] Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that unbiased by friends and uninfluenced by mercenary motives, you freely and voluntarily offer yourself a candidate for the mysteries of Freemasonry?
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 to be of service to your fellow creatures?
Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that you will cheerfully conform to all the Ancient Established Usages and Customs of the Fraternity? [Se and SD return to the Lodge and advance to the Altar. WM rises. All salute in unison.]
Se - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign], the usual fee has been received.
SD - The constitutional questions have been propounded and answered in the affirmative.
WM - Brother Junior Deacon.
JD - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign].
WM - You will take with you such assistance as you deem necessary, retire and properly prepare Mr. A.B. to be initiated an Entered Apprentice.
JD - [JD moves to position West of the Altar, turns South to face Stewards and grounds rod.]
Brother Stewards [Stewards rise], you will retire with me and assist in the preparation.
[JD and Ss move to the Altar. WM rises. All give Due Guard and Sign in unison. WM is seated. JD and Ss retire, in file, through Inner Door. Meanwhile, SD moves to JD's place and is seated.]
Junior Deacon's Address
[In anteroom.] Mr. B., the institution of which you are about to become a member is one by no means of a light and trifling nature, but of high importance and deep solemnity. Masonry consists of a course of ancient hieroglyphical and moral instruction, taught according to ancient usage by types, emblems, and allegorical figures.
The members of this Lodge request that you lay aside all thought of levity and address your mind to the solemn truths with which they will endeavor to invest you. Be assured that nothing will be required of you that does not tend toward your own good or toward the usefulness to your fellow men.
You are now about to tread the path which all Masons have traveled before you; therefore, in conformity to the Ancient Regulations, it is necessary that you be divested of your outward apparel and clothed with a garment furnished by the Lodge. Are you willing to submit to these regulations? [Cn answers.]
[If affirmative.] We will then prepare you for your initiation into our Mysteries, as all have been prepared who have gone this way before you. [Cn is divested of his clothing and jewelry and blindfolded.]
[JD on right of Cn, followed by the Ss, SS on right, go to Inner Door. JD has candidate give (***) on the Inner Door.]
SD - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign].
WM - Brother Senior Deacon.
SD - There is an alarm at the inner door of our Lodge.
WM - You will attend to the alarm and see who comes there.
SD - [At the inner door SD gives ***] Who comes here?
JD - Mr. A.B., who has long been in darkness, and now seeks to be brought to light, and to receive a part in the rights and benefits of this Worshipful Lodge, erected to God, and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, as all brothers and fellows have done before.
SD - Mr. A.B., is this of your own free will and accord?
Cn - It is.
SD - Brother Junior Deacon, is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
JD - He is.
SD - Of lawful age and properly vouched for?
JD - He is.
SD - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
JD - By being a man, freeborn, of good report and well recommended.
SD - You will await with patience until the Worshipful Master is informed of your request and his answer returned.
[SD closes Inner Door, goes to Altar, WM rises, both give Due Guard and Sign in unison.]
WM - [At altar] [Due Guard] Brother Senior Deacon [Sign], who comes there?
SD - Mr. A.B., who has long been in darkness, and now seeks to be brought to light, and to receive a part in the rights and benefits of this Worshipful Lodge, erected to God, and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, as all brothers and fellows have done before.
WM - Is this of his own free will and accord?
SD - It is.
WM - Is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
SD - He is.
WM - Of lawful age and properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
WM - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By being a man, freeborn, of good report and well recommended.
WM - Since he possesses these necessary qualifications, let him enter and be received in due form. [WM seated. SD returns and opens Inner Door without rapping.]
SD - Let him enter and be received in due form.
[SD moves to position midway between West and the Altar and about faces. Once in place, JD, Cn and Ss enter, move to and halt in position in front of SD.]
SD - Mr. B., on this, your first admission into a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, you are received on the point of a sharp instrument piercing your naked left [applied] breast, which is to teach you that as this is an instrument of torture to your flesh, so should the recollection of it be to your conscience should you ever presume to reveal the secrets of Freemasonry unlawfully.
[JD releases Cn and steps to the right, as SD takes position on right of Cn.]
WM - Mr. B., no man should ever engage in any great or important undertaking without first invoking the blessing of Deity. You will therefore be conducted to the center of the Lodge, kneel, and attend prayer.
[SD, Cn and Ss go to position North of the Altar, where SD has Cn kneel. JD returns to place as they move forward. Once Cn is in place, WM gives (***). All rise, WM moves to Altar, then over to kneeling Cn, and uncovers with right hand.]
WM - [WM kneels before Cn.] Vouchsafe Thine aid Almighty Father of the Universe, to this, our present convention. Grant that this candidate for Freemasonry 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 secrets of our Art, he may be better enabled to display the beauties of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth; to the honor and glory of Thy Holy Name. Amen.
[Alternate prayers:]
WM - Almighty God, in whom alone is our trust, and whose watchful care is ever over us, bless us in the exercise of those kind and social affections Thou hast given us. May we cherish and display them as our honor and our joy. May this, our friend, who is about to become our brother, devote his life to Thy service and rightfully consider the principles of his engagements. May he be endowed with wisdom to direct him in all his ways; strength to support him in all his difficulties and beauty to adorn his moral conduct. Amen.; or,
Let Thy Fatherly hand be ever over him and so lead him in the knowledge and the obedience of Thy Divine Laws, that, having finished his course below, he may at last pass peaceably and joyfully to those Mansions prepared for him in Thy Temple above - that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Amen.
All respond - So mote it be.
WM - [Rises, recovers, places left hand on the Cn's head.] In whom do you put your trust?
Cn - [Responds unsolicited. A confession of any deity suffices.]
WM - Your trust being in God, your faith is well founded. Arise [WM assists Cn from kneeling position], follow your conductor and fear no danger.
[SD conducts Cn once around the Lodge clockwise; Ss follow, dropping off at positions in the East directly East of the Altar, facing South. Lesson is given during movement. As Cn passes JW, JW gives (*); Ss face West; as Cn passes SW, SW gives (*); Ss take one step back; as Cn passes WM, WM gives (*).]
WM - [Recites Psalm 133.] 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 garment. 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.
[WM sits. SD and Cn halt at JW, SD gives (***) at JW station.]
JW - (*) [JW rises. SD releases Cn and steps back.] Who comes here?
SD - Mr. A.B., who has long been in darkness, and now seeks to be brought to light, and to receive a part in the rights and benefits of this Worshipful Lodge, erected to God, and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, as all brothers and fellows have done before.
JW - Mr. B, is this of your own free will and accord?
Cn - It is.
JW - Brother Senior Deacon, is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
SD - He is.
JW - Of lawful age and properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
JW - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By being a man, freeborn, of good report and well recommended.
JW - You will conduct him to the Senior Warden in the West for further examination.
[JW sits. SD and Cn go to and halt at SW. SD gives (***) at SW station.]
SW - (*) [SW rises; SD releases Cn and steps back.] Who comes here?
SD - Mr. A.B., who has long been in darkness, and now seeks to be brought to light, and to receive a part in the rights and benefits of this Worshipful Lodge, erected to God, and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, as all brothers and fellows have done before.
SW - Mr. B, is this of your own free will and accord?
Cn - It is.
SW - Brother Senior Deacon, is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
SD - He is.
SW - Of lawful age and properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
SW - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By being a man, freeborn, of good report and well recommended.
SW - You will conduct him to the Senior Warden in the West for further examination.
[SW sits. SD and Cn go to and halt at WM. SD gives (***) and WM station.]
WM - (*) [WM rises.] Who comes here?
SD - Mr. A.B., who has long been in darkness, and now seeks to be brought to light, and to receive a part in the rights and benefits of this Worshipful Lodge, erected to God, and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, as all brothers and fellows have done before.
WM - Mr. B, is this of your own free will and accord?
Cn - It is.
WM - Brother Senior Deacon, is he worthy and well qualified, duly and truly prepared?
SD - He is.
WM - Of lawful age and properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
WM - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By being a man, freeborn, of good report and well recommended.
WM - Since he possesses these necessary qualifications, you will reconduct him [SD moves to left side of Cn, grounds rod in right hand] to the Senior Warden in the West with my order that he teach him to approach the East by one upright regular step, his feet forming the angle of an oblong square, his body erect at the Altar before the Worshipful Master in the East. [WM sits. SD conducts Cn one step West of Altar.]
SD - Brother Senior Warden [SW rises], it is the order of the Worshipful Master that you teach this candidate to approach the East by one upright regular step, his feet forming the angle of an oblong square, his body erect at the Altar before the Worshipful Master in the East.
SW - Brother Senior Deacon, you will face the candidate to the East. [Done.]
SW - Mr. B., you will advance one step with your left foot, bring the heel of the right to the hollow of the left; body erect. [Done.]
SW - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign], the candidate is in order.
WM - Mr. B., you now stand before the sacred Altar of Freemasonry. Further you cannot advance without taking upon yourself a solemn and binding obligation. It is one we have all taken before you, and it becomes my duty, as well as pleasure, to inform you that there is nothing contained in this obligation that will conflict with any duty you owe to God, your country, your neighbor, or yourself. With this assurance on my part, do you wish to proceed?
Cn - It is.
WM - Brother Senior Deacon, you will place the candidate at the Altar in due form.
SD - You will kneel on your naked left knee [Done], your right forming a square [Done]; your left hand supporting the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses [Done]; your right resting thereon [Done]. Worshipful Master, the candidate is in due form.
[WM gives (***), uncovers and descends to floor. Brethren form parallel lines North and South of the Altar from the Ss in the East and extending West past the Altar. At cue by WM, Ss move West inspecting lines; about face, and return to the East, about face. As Ss are opposite Altar on return to East, WM moves to the Altar, and Ds take positions in the West. Lights are off.]
WM- Being now placed at the Altar in due form, if it still be your wish to proceed, you will say "I," pronounce your name, and repeat after me. [Cn complies.]
WM - Of my own freewill and accord, in the presence of Almighty God, and this Worshipful Lodge, erected to Him and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, [WM presses down on hands of Cn.] do hereby and hereon, most solemnly and sincerely, promise and swear, [WM hands off] that I will always hele, ever conceal, and never reveal any of the secret arts, parts or points of the hidden mysteries of Freemasonry, which may have been heretofore, shall be at this time, or any future period communicated to me as such, to any person or persons whomsoever, except it be to a true and lawful brother Mason, or within a regularly constituted Lodge of such, and not unto him or them, until by strict trial, due examination, or legal information, I shall have found him or them as lawfully entitled to the same as I am myself.
I furthermore promise and swear that I will not write, print, paint, stamp, stain, cut, carve, mark or engrave them, or cause the same to be done, upon anything movable or immovable, capable of receiving the least impression of a word, syllable, letter or character, which may become legible or intelligible to any person under the canopy of heaven, and the secrets of Freemasonry thereby unlawfully obtained through my unworthiness.
All this I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steadfast resolution to keep and perform the same, without any hesitation, mental reservation, or secret evasion of mind whatever, binding myself under the symbolic penalty of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its roots, and buried in the rough sands of the sea at low watermark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours, should I every knowingly violate this, my Entered Apprentice obligation. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same.
WM - My brother, in token of your sincerity, you will remove your hands and kiss the book open before you which is the Holy Bible. [Done.]
WM - Brother Senior Deacon, you will remove the cable-tow from around our brother as he is now bound to us by a stronger tie. [Done. WM returns to the East.]
WM - My brother, in your present situation, what do you most desire?
Cn - [Senior Deacon whispers "light" into Cn's ear.] Light.
WM - Brethren, stretch forth your hands and assist me in bringing this, our newly made brother, from darkness to light. [All brethren give the Due Guard and Sign except Ds and Ss.]
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 be light,' and there was light.
[Shock of enlightenment. All move from Due Guard and give Sign in unison with WM. Cn's hoodwink is removed.]
WM - My brother, on being brought to light, you discover before you the Three Great Lights in Masonry by the help of the three lesser. The Three Great Lights are the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses. The Holy Bible is to rule and guide our faith; the Square to square our actions; and the Compasses to circumscribe and keep us within due bounds with all mankind, more especially with a brother Mason.
The three lesser lights are three burning tapers placed in a triangular form representing the sun, moon and Master of the Lodge because, as the sun rules the day and the moon governs the night, so ought the Worshipful Master to endeavor to rule and govern his Lodge with equal regularity.
[SW gives (*). Lights are turned on. JD, Ss and brethren return to places and are seated; likewise SW and JW are seated; SD and WM remain standing. WM returns to East and recovers.]
WM - My brother, you now behold me as Master of this Lodge approaching you from the East under the Due Guard and Sign of an Entered Apprentice [Done.]
An Entered Apprentice steps off with his left foot [Done], bringing the heel of the right to the hollow of the left [Done], forming the angle of an oblong square. It is the first step in Masonry, and the step by which you approached the Altar. This is the Due Guard [Done]. It alludes to the position in which your hands were placed while taking the obligation; your left hand supporting the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses, your right resting thereon. This is the Sign [Done]. It alludes to the symbolic penalty of your obligation, wherein you swore that you would sooner have your throat cut across, your tongue torn out by its roots, than to violate your obligation. This Due Guard [Done] and Sign [Done] are always to be given on entering or retiring from a Lodge of Entered Apprentices, or on arising to address the Worshipful Master. [Approaches Altar.]
WM - I now have the pleasure of presenting you my right hand in token of my friendship and brotherly love, and with it the grip and word of an Entered Apprentice. [WM shakes Cn with right hand.] But as you are not instructed, I will pass it with your conductor who will answer for you.
WM - I hele.
SD - I conceal.
WM - What do you conceal?
SD - All the secrets of Masons in Masonry to which this token alludes [SD moves Cn's right thumb to knuckle of WM's index finger.]
WM - What is this?
SD - A grip.
WM - Of what?
SD - An Entered Apprentice.
WM - Has it a name?
SD - It has.
WM - Will you give it me?
SD - I did not so receive it, neither will I so impart it.
WM - How will you dispose of it?
SD - I will letter and syllable it with you.
WM - Letter it and begin.
SD - Begin you.
WM - No, you begin.
SD - A.
WM - B.
SD - O.
WM - Z.
SD - AZ.
WM - BO.
SD - BOAZ.
WM - The word is right. [SD moves to right of Cn.] I greet you brother. This is the grip of an Entered Apprentice, the name of which is Boaz. It denotes strength, and when used in connection with this grip is never to be given in any other manner or form than that in which you have now received it, which is by letter and syllable; and with anyone who is not a well-known brother, you should always commence with the letter A.
WM - You will arise and salute the Junior and Senior Wardens.
[Cn rises. WM returns to East. Ws rise as WM ascends dais. WM sits. SD turns Cn to South, moves into position.]
SD - This, my brother, is our Junior Warden. You will approach him by stepping off with your left foot, bring the heel of the right to the hollow of the left. [Done]. Salute him with the Due Guard [Done], and Sign [Done].
SD - [SD turns Cn to West.] This is our Senior Warden. You will approach him in the same manner [Done], salute as before [Done].
[SD conducts Cn to North, turning East at sidelines. On (*) of WM, SD halts and faces South with Cn.]
WM - (*) Brother Junior Warden, how do you find the salute in the South?
JW - Right in the South, Worshipful [Due Guard] Master [Sign].
WM - How in the West, brother Senior Warden?
SW - Right in the West, Worshipful [Due Guard] Master [Sign].
WM - (*) [SW and JW are seated. SD turns Cn to the East. WM rises, and with apron moves to the Altar, then over to the Cn.]
WM - My brother, I now have the pleasure of presenting you with a lambskin or white leathern apron. It is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason, more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle, more honorable than the Star and Garter, or any other order that could be conferred upon you at this time or any future period by king, prince, potentate, or any other person except he be a Mason. It is hoped that you will wear it with equal pleasure to yourself, and honor to the fraternity. Such being your intentions, you will receive it. [WM steps forward, presents the apron to the Cn, and steps back.] Carry it to the Senior Warden in the West with my order that he teach you to wear it as an Entered Apprentice. [WM goes to the East and sits; SD and Cn go to SW.]
SD - Brother Senior Warden [SW rises], it is the order of the Worshipful Master that you teach brother B. to wear his apron as an Entered Apprentice.
SW - [SW ties the apron on the candidate, and places the apron flap upward.] My brother, Masonic tradition informs us that at the building of King Solomon's Temple, the workman were known and distinguished by the manner in which they wore their aprons. Entered Apprentices, being bearers of burdens, wore theirs with the top turned up. In imitation of this ancient custom, you will wear yours with the top turned up.
[SW seated. SD conducts Cn to East. WM rises. SD takes two steps back, turns North, moves to left of Cn, and faces East.]
WM - My brother, agreeable to an ancient custom adopted in every regular and well-governed Lodge, it is necessary that you should be requested to deposit something of a metallic kind, not for its intrinsic value alone, but that it might be laid up in the archives of this Lodge as a lasting memento that you were herein made a Mason. Anything you may have about your person of a metallic nature, however trifling its value -- a dime... or even a smaller coin? (Pause). Nothing? -- Well, my brother, you are poor indeed, unable to comply with this simple request.
You may perhaps think it strange that I should make this request of you knowing as I must have known from the report of my proper officer that you had been duly and truly prepared, and if so, had been divested of all metal. Let me assure you that this has not been done to place you in an unpleasant position before the members of this Lodge, but to make a deep and lasting impression upon your mind that should you ever meet a friend; more especially a brother Mason in like destitute circumstances, you should contribute as liberally to his relief as you could, without material injury to yourself.
WM - You will now be reconducted [SD steps forward] to the place whence you came, reinvested with that which you have been divested, and returned to the Lodge for further instruction.
[WM is seated. SD on left conducts Cn to the Altar as JD and Ss rise and go to Altar. All face East. WM rises. All give Due Guard and Sign in unison. WM sits. SD returns to place and is seated. JD on left of Cn, and JS on left of SS, move to Inner Door. JD opens Inner Door, returns to place and is seated as Ss retire with Cn. The Cn now puts his clothes back on.]
WM - (*) [After the Cn is reinvested, the SD conducts the Cn to the Northeast corner of the Lodge, placing him at a slight angle facing the WM with his feet in the Entered Apprentice stance. Then SD takes one step back.] My brother, you now stand in the Northeast corner of the Lodge as a just and upright Mason, and I give it you strictly in charge ever to walk and act as such. [SD steps to right of Cn, conducts him to a position in front and facing WM, then returns to his place and is seated.]
WM - You are now entitled to the working tools of an Entered Apprentice which are the Twenty-four inch Gauge and Common Gavel.
The Twenty-four inch Gauge is an instrument made use of by operative Masons to measure and lay out their work; but we as Free and Accepted Masons are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of dividing our time. It being divided into twenty-four equal parts is emblematic of the twenty-four hours of the day, which we are taught to divide into three equal parts; whereby we find eight hours for the service of God and the relief of a distressed worthy brother, eight for our usual vocations, and eight for refreshment and sleep.
The Common Gavel is an instrument made use of 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 make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of divesting our minds and consciences of the vices and superfluities of life, thereby fitting us as living stones for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Copyright 2001 - 2007 © by John Salza. All Rights Reserved.
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