The Three Degrees of Freemasonry
Fellwocraft Degree
First Section with Oath
First Section
WM - (*) Brethren, the Lodge has been especially convened at this time for the purpose of conferring the Fellowcraft degree. Brother A.B., an Entered Apprentice of this Lodge who has made suitable proficiency in that degree, is in waiting to be passed to the degree of Fellowcraft. If there is no objection, I will confer the degree upon him. 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.
[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.]
[Se returns to the Lodge and advances to the Altar. WM rises. Both salute in unison.]
Se - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign], the usual fee has been received.
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 Brother A.B. to be passed to the degree of Fellowcraft.
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.]
[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 - Br. A.B., who has been regularly initiated an Entered Apprentice, and now seeks more light in Masonry by being passed to the degree of Fellowcraft.
SD - Br. 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 - Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?
JD - He has.
SD - Is he properly vouched for?
JD - He is.
SD - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
JD - By the benefit of the pass.
SD - Has he the pass?
JD - He has it not, I have it for him.
SD - You will advance and give me the pass.
JD - [JD advances and whispers "Shibboleth" in the SD's ear.]
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 - Br. A.B., who has been regularly initiated an Entered Apprentice, and now seeks more light in Masonry by being passed to the degree of Fellowcraft.
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 - Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?
SD - He has.
WM - Is he properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
WM - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By the benefit of the pass.
WM - Has he the pass?
SD - He has it not, I have it for him.
WM - Give me the pass.
SD - Shibboleth.
WM - The pass is right. 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 - Br. B., on your first admission into a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, you were received on the point of a sharp instrument piercing your naked left breast for reasons then explained. You are now received on the angle of a square applied to your naked right breast [applied], which is to teach you that the square of virtue should be the rule and guide of your conduct in all future transactions with mankind.
[JD releases Cn and steps to the right, as SD takes position on right of Cn. WM rises. SD, Cn and Ss move toward the East, while JD returns to his place and is seated. SD conducts Cn twice 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, beginning after JW (*). 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 (*). As Cn passes on second trip, JW gives (**), SW gives (**), and WM gives (**).]
WM - [Recites Amos 7:7-8] 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, '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 anymore.'
[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 - Br. A. B., who has been regularly initiated an Entered Apprentice, and now seeks more light in Masonry by being passed to the degree of Fellowcraft.
JW - Br. 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 - Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?
SD - He has.
JW - Is he properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
JW - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By the benefit of the pass.
JW - Has he the pass?
SD - He has it not, I have it for him.
JW - You will advance and give me the pass.
[SD shifts rod to left hand, advances at carryrod to JW, whispers "Shibboleth" in JW's ear, steps back at carryrod to right side of Cn, shifts rod to right hand.]
JW - You will pass on 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 - Br. A. B., who has been regularly initiated an Entered Apprentice, and now seeks more light in Masonry by being passed to the degree of Fellowcraft.
SW - Br. 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 - Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?
SD - He has.
SW - Is he properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
SW - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By the benefit of the pass.
SW - Has he the pass?
SD - He has it not, I have it for him.
SW - You will advance and give me the pass.
SD - [SD shifts rod to left hand, advances at carryrod to SW, whispers "Shibboleth" in SW's ear, steps back at carryrod to right side of Cn, shifts rod to right hand.]
SW - You will pass on to the Worshipful Master in the East 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 - Br. A.B., who has been regularly initiated an Entered Apprentice, and now seeks more light in Masonry by being passed to the degree of Fellowcraft.
WM - Br. 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 - Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?
SD - He has.
WM - Is he properly vouched for?
SD - He is.
WM - By what further right or benefit does he expect to gain admission?
SD - By the benefit of the pass.
WM - Has he the pass?
SD - He has it not, I have it for him.
WM - You will advance and give me the pass.
SD - [SD shifts rod to left hand, advances at carryrod to WM, whispers "Shibboleth" in WM's ear, steps back at carryrod to right side of Cn, shifts rod to right hand.]
WM - The pass is right. [SD moves to the left side of the Cn.] Since he possesses these necessary qualifications, you will reconduct him to the Senior Warden in the West with my order that he teach him to approach the East by two upright regular steps, his feet forming the angle of an oblong square, his body erect at the Altar before the Worshipful Master in the East.
[WM is seated. SD conducts Cn to Altar on West side, turns West to face SW, takes one step West, grounds rod in left hand.]
SD - Brother Senior Warden [SW rises], it is the order of the Worshipful Master that you teach this candidate to approach the East by two upright regular steps, 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 - You will advance one step with your left foot, bring the heel of the right to the hollow of the left [Done]; one step with your right foot, bring the heel of the left to the hollow of the right [Done].
SW - [Due Guard] Worshipful Master [Sign], the candidate is in order.
WM - Br. B., you are again standing 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 - Yes.
WM - Brother Senior Deacon, you will place the candidate at the Altar in due form.
SD - You will kneel on your naked right knee [Done], your left forming a square [Done]; your right hand resting on the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses [Done]; your left arm forming a square supported by a square. [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.]
In the presence of Almighty God, and this worshipful Lodge, erected to Him, and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, [WM presses down on Cn's hand] 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 Fellowcraft degree to any person or persons whomsoever, except it be to a true and lawful brother of this degree, or within a regularly constituted lodge of Fellowcrafts, 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 conform to and abide by all the laws, rules and regulations of the Fellowcraft degree so far as the same shall come to my knowledge.
Further, I will answer and obey all due signs and summonses sent to me by a lodge of Fellowcrafts, or given me by a brother of this degree, if within the length of my cable-tow.
Further, I will aid and assist all poor distressed worthy brother Fellowcrafts, so far as their necessity may require and my ability permits without material injury to myself.
Further, I will not cheat, wrong or defraud a brother of this degree knowingly, nor supplant him in any of his lawful undertakings.
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 left breast torn open, my heart plucked out and placed on the highest pinnacle of the Temple, there to be devoured by the vultures of the air, should I ever knowingly violate this, my Fellowcraft 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 under a double tie to the Fraternity. [Done. WM returns to the East.]
WM - My brother, in your present situation, what do you most desire?
Cn - [Senior Deacon whispers "More light in Masonry" into Cn's ear.] More light in Masonry.
WM - Brethren, stretch forth your hands and assist me in giving this brother more light in Masonry. [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.
[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 as before the Three Great Lights in Masonry by the help of the three lesser, with this difference: that one point of the compasses is now raised above the square which is to teach you that you have as yet received light in Masonry, but partially.
[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 [WM takes step of a Fellowcraft] under the Due Guard and Sign of a Fellowcraft. [Done.]
An Entered Apprentice, you recollect, steps off with his left foot [Done], bringing the heel of the right to the hollow of the left [Done]. This is the Due Guard [Done], and this the Sign [Done].
A Fellowcraft steps off with his right foot [Done], bringing the heel of the left to the hollow of the right [Done], forming the angle of an oblong square. It is the second step in Masonry and the one 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 right hand resting on the Holy Bible, square and compasses, your left arm forming a square supported by a square. This is the Sign [Done]. It alludes to the symbolic penalty of your obligation, wherein you swore that you would have your left breast torn open, your heart plucked out, rather 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 Fellowcrafts, or on arising to address the Worshipful Master. [Approaches Altar.]
WM - I again have the pleasure of presenting you my right hand in token of a continuance of my friendship and brotherly love, and with it the pass, token of the pass, grip and word of a Fellowcraft. [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 - Here I left you [On Entered Apprentice grip] and here I find you. Will you be off or from?
SD - From.
WM - From what and to what?
SD - From the grip of an Entered Apprentice to the pass grip of a Fellowcraft.
WM - Pass. [SD moves Cn's thumb from the first knuckle of the WM's right hand to the space between his first and second knuckle.] What is this?
SD - The pass grip of a Fellowcraft.
WM - Has it a name?
SD - It has.
WM - Give it me.
SD - Shibboleth.
WM - This, my brother, is the pass grip of a Fellowcraft, the name of which is Shibboleth. It is the pass word of this degree, and when used as such in the Lodge, or to a well known officer of the Lodge, it is given as you have now received it. On all other occasions it should always be syllabled.
WM - Will you be off or from?
SD - From.
WM - From what and to what?
SD - From the pass grip of a Fellowcraft to the grip.
WM - Pass. [SD moves Cn's thumb to the second knuckle of the WM's right hand.] What is this?
SD - The grip of a Fellowcraft.
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 - C.
SD - H.
WM - I.
SD - J.
WM - N.
SD - CHIN.
WM - JA.
SD - JACHIN.
WM - The word is right. [SD moves to right of Cn.] I greet you brother. This is the grip of a Fellowcraft, the name of which is Jachin. It denotes establishment, 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.
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 right foot, bring the heel of the left to the hollow of the right. [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 - Brother Senior Deacon, you will reconduct the brother to the Senior Warden in the West with my order to teach him to wear his apron as a Fellowcraft. [SD conducts Cn 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 a Fellowcraft.
SW - [SW takes the point of the apron flap currently up and tucks it into the apron, forming a triangular pouch.] My brother, as an Entered Apprentice you were taught to wear your apron with the top turned up, for reasons then explained. As a Fellowcraft, you will wear it with the top turned down and one corner turned up in the form of a triangle to form a pouch, representative of our ancient brethren who, as the hewers of stone, carried the working tools of a Fellowcraft.
[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, you have returned to the East clothed as a Fellowcraft and are now entitled to the working tools of this degree, which are the Plumb, Square and Level.
The Plumb is an instrument made use of by operative Masons to raise perpendiculars, the Square to square their work, and the Level to prove horizontals. But we as Free and Accepted Masons are taught to make use of them for more noble and glorious purposes.
The Plumb admonishes us to walk uprightly in our several stations before God and man, squaring our actions by the Square of Virtue, and ever remembering that we are traveling upon the Level of Time to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns.
You will now be reconducted [SD steps forward] to the place whence you came, reinvested with that of which you have been divested, and agreeable to an ancient custom adopted in every regular and well-governed Lodge, it will be necessary for you, on your return, to make a regular advance by a flight of winding stairs consisting of three, five and seven steps, to a place representing the Middle Chamber of King Solomon's Temple, there to receive instruction relative to the wages and jewels of a Fellowcraft.
[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.]
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