Entered Apprentice - Carl H. Claudy

8/12/2019 Entered Apprentice - Carl H. Claudy

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Introduction to Freemasonry Entered Apprentice by Carl H. Claudy

Introduction To Freemasonry

Entered Apprentice

By Carl H. Claudy

Table of Contents

Source

ForewordIntroduction

DefinitionEarly HistoryAlleory And Symbols

T!e "ode

Entered Apprentice#Suitable $roficiency#

%itual

#Free &ill And Accord#

InitiationT!e "ode As A Symbol

$reparation

Circumambulation'nity

Secrecy

$enaltiesT!e (reat "i!ts

Cable Tow

T!e "esser "i!tsDue (uard

T!e "ambs)in Apron

#T!e (reatest *f T!ese#

+ort!east&or)in Tools

Immo,able -ewels

+ort! $lace *f Dar)ness$oint &it!in A Circle

"ode *f T!e Holy Saints -o!n

T!e $rincipal TenetsSummary

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Source

Seers seek for Wisdom's flowers in the mindAnd write of symbols Many a learned tome.

(Grow roses still, though rooted in black loam.)

he mystic searches earth till eyes go blind!or soul of roses, yet what use to findA s"irit "enned within a catacomb#

$ay, all they learn is weightless as sea%foam

hat drifts from wa&e to wa&e u"on the wind.n rushes a" and ells. *ow &ery doll

he ways of students and the foolish books+

*e finds no secrets of !reemason's artn mind nor rose nor tomb nor musty scroll

Where no wit is, where all lo&es are, he looks

And reads their hidden meaning in his heart.

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Foreword

F%EE3AS*+%45S reatest problems are lac) of interest in its teac!ins and attendanceat communications. 3any plans !a,e been de,ised by 3asonic leaders to stimulate

interest and increase attendance but few suc! efforts are more t!an temporarily effecti,e.

T!e initial appeal of t!e Ancient Craft is as stron to6day as it !as e,er been.Freemasonry attracts as ood men now as in t!e past. But in t!e absence of a concertedeffort to teac! 7uic)ly w!at in a more leisurely ae could be spread o,er many years t!e

Institution often fails to !old t!e interest of t!e new brot!er aainst t!e many attractions

of modern life.

Habits of lode attendance and interest in t!e Fraternity s!ould be created w!ile t!e firstent!usiasm is !i!8 moreo,er e,ery candidate !as an in!erent ri!t to understand t!e

reality of our rites t!e meanin of our mysteries t!e trut! of our tenets and t!e

sinificance of our symbols.

3any lodes attempt to intriue t!e new brot!er wit! boo)s. Some boo)s are

forbiddinly lare8 ot!ers are too learned8 ot!ers assume t!at t!e reader !as a )nowledew!ic! !e does not possess. Some boo)s are dull wit! many facts and no ,ision w!ile

ot!ers are too speciali9ed or confined to one ,iewpoint. T!ese t!ree ,olumes are

different. &ritten by a brot!er wit! lon e:perience as a 3asonic spea)er and writert!ey !a,e a simple manner of presentation a plain statement of facts a spiritual

interpretation of 3asonic teac!ins and ,isuali9e t!e ,ital reality be!ind t!e alleory and

t!e symbol.

T!ese boo)s answer t!e simple elementary in7uiries of t!e new brot!er to w!om all t!eCraft is strane. T!ey will ma)e many an older 3ason sit up in astonis!ment t!at w!at !e

t!ou!t ob,ious and uninterestin is so ,i,idly ali,e.

T!e aut!or !andles a !eart6searc!in body of 3asonic trut! in a way so informati,e andso interestin yet so touc!in and so tender t!at t!e influence of t!ese boo)s w!enpresented to and read by candidates must be ,ast and permanent.

After years of acti,ity in t!e Craft culminatin in ser,ice as (rand 3aster I am

con,inced t!at t!e most effecti,e way to encourae interest and understandin is to bein

at t!e beinnin t!at is wit! t!e Entered Apprentice at t!e ,ery t!res!old of !is 3asoniccareer. For t!is purpose I )now of no ot!er boo)s w!ic! e,en attempt w!at t!ese are

destined to accomplis! and I appreciate t!e !onour of writin t!is brief Foreword at t!e

in,itation of t!e publis!ers.

For t!e brot!er old in t!e Craft w!o will read t!em a re,elation awaits. For t!e initiate

!ere is wisdom strent! and beauty. For all t!e Ancient Craft is !ere set fort! in anunforettable triloy of boo)s w!ic! not only tell t!e facts but foret not t!e ,ision8

w!ic! not only describe t!e form but also re,eal t!e spirit of Freemasonry.

T!e aut!or is to be commended for t!e underta)in and complimented on t!eac!ie,ement.

Howard %. Cruse $.(.3. +ew -ersey Auust /; /


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Introduction

At your leisure !ours t!at you may impro,e in 3asonic )nowlede you are to con,ersewit! well6informed bret!ren w!o will always be as ready to i,e as you will be ready to

recei,e instruction.

T!ese words from t!e C!are to an Entered Apprentice set fort! t!e purpose of t!e t!reelittle boo)s of w!ic! t!is is t!e first> to i,e to t!e initiate in !is leisure !ours some#instruction# and information about t!e Fraternity not w!olly imparted in t!e ceremonies

of initiation.

T!ese ,olumes are intended as simple introductions to t!e study of t!e Ancient Craft8 t!e

interested Freemason will loo) furt!er for ot!er and loner boo)s8 t!e uninterested willnot per!aps read all of t!ese? Had completeness been t!e aim t!ese little boo)s mi!t

!a,e become forbiddinly lare.

+o more !as been attempted t!an to i,e some 3asonic li!t on some of t!e !istory

@urisprudence symbols customs and landmar)s of t!e *rder by t!e rays of w!ic! any

initiate may readily find !is way down t!e pat! of 3asonic learnin w!ic! leads to t!eate of trut!.

T!ese boo)s are far more ateways t!an uides to t!e forein country of Freemasonry.

Howe,er elemental t!ey may be to t!e 3asonic student if t!eir ,ery simplicity leadst!ose Entered Apprentices Fellowcrafts and newly raised 3aster 3asons for w!om t!ey

were written to see) more 3asonic li!t t!eir purpose will !a,e been ser,ed and t!eir

preparation well wort! t!e time and effort spent upon t!em.

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Definition

Freemasonry is a system of morality ,eiled in alleory and illustrated by symbols.

T!is definition of t!e Ancient Craft means muc! more to t!e well6informed Freemasont!an to t!e initiate to w!om it can con,ey but little. +aturally !e wants to )now #&!y

Freemasonry &!y is it ,eiled &!y illustrated wit! symbols#

3asons are #Free and Accepted# for reasons w!ic! are to be found in t!e early !istory of

Freemasonry.

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Early History

3any of Freemasonry5s symbols and teac!ins o bac) to t!e ,ery c!ild!ood of t!e race.T!rou! t!ese a direct relations!ip may be traced in mind and !eart and ideal if not in

written document to suc! di,erse aes and places as C!ina four t!ousand years ao t!e

priest!ood of ancient Eypt and t!e -ews of t!e Capti,ity. But for purposes ofunderstandin t!e enesis of t!e word #free# as coupled wit! #3ason# it will suffice tobein wit! t!e %oman Colleia> orders or associations of men enaed in similar

pursuits. Doubtless t!eir formation was caused by t!e uni,ersal desire for fellows!ip and

association particularly stron in %ome in w!ic! t!e indi,idual was so larelysubmered for t!e ood of t!e empire as well as by economic necessity @ust as labour

unions are formed to6day.

T!ese Colleia speedily became so prominent and powerful t!at %oman emperors

attempted to abolis! t!e ri!t of free association. In spite of edicts and persecutions someof t!e Colleia continued to e:ist.

T!e Collees of Arc!itects !owe,er were sanctioned for a time e,en after ot!ers wereforbidden. T!ey were too ,aluable to t!e state to be abolis!ed or made to wor) and meet

in secret. T!ey were not at t!is time called Freemasons but t!ey were free and it is t!efact and not t!e name w!ic! is !ere important. &it!out arc!itects and builders %ome

could not e:pand so t!e Collees of Arc!itects were permitted to reulate t!eir own

affairs and wor) under t!eir own constitutions free of t!e restrictions w!ic! wereintended to destroy ot!er Colleia.

T!en as now t!ree were necessary to form a Collee no 3asonic lode can meet wit!

less t!an t!ree8 t!e Collee !ad a 3aister or 3aster and two &ardens T!ere were

t!ree orders or derees in t!e Collee w!ic! to a lare e:tent used emblems w!ic! are apart of Freemasonry. %oman sarcop!ai s!ow car,ins of a s7uare compasses plumb

le,el and sometimes columns.

*f t!e ceremonies of t!e Colleia we )now little or not!in. *f t!eir wor) we )now

muc! and of t!eir !istory enou! to trace t!eir decline and fall. T!e Emperor Diocletianattempted to destroy t!e new reliion C!ristianity w!ic! t!reatened so muc! w!ic!

seemed to t!e %omans to ma)e %ome %ome. 3any members of t!e Collees of

Arc!itects were C!ristians. Since t!ese associations !ad tau!t and belie,ed inbrot!er!ood w!en t!ere came a Carpenter w!o tau!t brot!er!ood because of a common

Fat!er t!e members of t!e Collees of Arc!itects too) His doctrine so stranely

familiar for t!eir own.

$ersecution ,eneance cruelty followed8 t!is is not t!e place to o into t!e story of t!e

four 3asons and t!e apprentice w!o were tortured to deat! only to become t!e fourcrowned martyrs and patron saints of later builders and t!e 3asons of t!e 3iddle Aes.

Suffice it t!at t!e Collees of Arc!itects were bro)en up and fled from %ome.

Comes a ap w!ic! is not yet brided. Between t!e downfall of %ome and t!e rise of(ot!ic arc!itecture we )now little of w!at !appened to t!e builders5 Colleia. It is !ere

t!at we come to t!e fascinatin story of t!e Comacines. Some of t!e e:pelled builders

found refue on t!e island of Comacina in "a)e Como and t!rou! eneration after

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eneration )ept ali,e t!e traditions and secrets of t!eir art until suc! time as t!e world

was aain ready for t!e 3aster Builders. All t!is is most interestinly set fort! in se,eral

boo)s best )nown of w!ic! is "eader Scott5s Cat!edral Builders8 T!e Story of a (reat

3asonic (uild. T!e aut!or says t!at t!e Comacine 3asters #were t!e lin) between t!eclassic Colleia and all ot!er art and trade uilds of t!e 3iddle Aes. T!ey were

Freemasons because t!ey were builders of a pri,ileed class absol,ed from ta:es and

ser,itude and free to tra,el about in times of feudal bondae.#

Durin t!e 3iddle Aes and t!e rise of (ot!ic arc!itecture we find two distinct classes of3asons8 t!e (uild 3asons w!o li)e t!e (uild carpenters or wea,ers or merc!ants were

local in c!aracter and strictly reulated by law and t!e Freemasons w!o tra,elled about

from city to city as t!eir ser,ices were needed to desin and erect t!ose mar,ellousc!urc!es and cat!edrals w!ic! stand to6day inimitable in beauty. It may not be affirmed

as a pro,ed fact t!at t!e Freemasons of t!e 3iddle Aes were t!e direct descendants

t!rou! t!e Comacine 3asters of t!e Collees of Arc!itects of %ome but t!ere is toomuc! e,idence of a similar structure ideal and purpose and too many similarities of

symbol tool and custom to dismiss t!e idea merely because we !a,e no written record

co,erin t!e period between t!e e:pulsion from %ome and t!e beinnin of t!ecat!edral6buildin ae.

Howe,er t!is may be t!e operati,e builders and desiners of t!e cat!edrals of Europe

were an older *rder t!an t!e (uild 3asons8 it is from t!ese Freemasons free of t!e

(uild and free of t!e local laws t!at t!e Freemasonry of to6day !as come. Incidentally

it may be noted t!at t!e !istorian Findel finds t!at t!e name Freemason appears as earlyas /2/2 and t!e name occurs in /=; in t!e !istory of t!e Company of 3asons of t!e

City of "ondon.

T!e !istory of t!e Freemasons t!rou! t!e cat!edral6buildin aes up to t!e %eformation

and t!e radual decline of t!e buildin art needs ,olumes w!ere !ere are but paes. But itmust be emp!asi9ed t!at t!e Freemasons were far more t!an arc!itects and builders8 t!ey

were artists t!e leaders t!e teac!ers t!e mat!ematicians and t!e poets of t!eir time. In

t!eir lodes Speculati,e 3asonry rew side by side wit! t!eir operati,e art. T!ey were@ealous of t!eir *rder and strict in t!eir acceptance of Apprentices8 strict in admittin

Apprentices to be Fellows of t!e Craft re7uirin se,en years of labour of an Apprentice

before !e mi!t ma)e !is #3aster5s $iece# to submit to t!e 3aster and &ardens of !islode w!en !appy !e mi!t become a Fellow and recei,e #t!e 3ason &ord.#

In an ae w!en learnin was difficult to et and association wit! t!e educated !ardly to

be !ad outside of t!e c!urc! it was but natural t!at t!ou!tful and sc!olarly men s!ould

desire members!ip amon t!e Freemasons. Suc! men !owe,er would not want topractice operati,e masonry or ser,e a se,en years5 apprentices!ip. T!erefore a place was

made for t!em by ta)in t!em in as accepted 3asons8 t!at is accepted as members!a,in somet!in to offer and desirin to recei,e somet!in from t!e lode but

distinuis!ed from t!e operati,e Freemasons by t!e title accepted.

It is not possible to say w!en t!is practice bean. T!e %eius $oem i t!e oldest

document of Freemasonry /=

*f speculatyfe !e was a master.

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Desirin to become arc!itects and builders ecclesiasts @oined t!e order. "o,ers of liberty

were naturally attracted to a fellows!ip in w!ic! members en@oyed unusual freedom.

T!rou! t!e years particularly t!ose w!ic! saw t!e decline of reat buildin and t!e

comin of t!e %eformation more and more became t!e Accepted 3asons and less andless t!e operati,e buildin Freemasons. *f forty6nine names on t!e roll of t!e "ode of

Aberdeen in t!e year /1;G t!irty6nine were t!ose of Accepted 3asons.Hence our title Free and Accepted 3asons abbre,iated F. A.3. T!ere are ,ariations

in certain @urisdictionsii suc! as F. and A. 3. Free and Accepted 3asons A.F. A.3. Ancient Free and Accepted 3asons etc. t!e oriin of w!ic! t!e student may find

in t!e !istory of Freemasonry of t!e (rand "ode era.

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Allegory And Symbols

Freemasonry is #,eiled in alleory and illustrated by symbols# because t!ese are t!esurest ways by w!ic! moral and et!ical trut!s may be tau!t. It is not only wit! t!e brain

and t!e mind t!at t!e initiate must ta)e in Freemasonry but also wit! t!e !eart.

3ind spea)s to mind wit! spo)en or written words. Heart spea)s to !eart wit! wordsw!ic! cannot be written or spo)en. T!ose words are symbols8 words w!ic! mean little tot!e indifferent muc! to t!e understandin.

T!e body !as its fi,e senses t!rou! w!ic! t!e mind may learn8 t!e mind !as also

imaination. T!at imaination may see fart!er t!an eyes and !ear sounds fainter t!an

may be cau!t by ears. To t!e imaination symbols become plain as printed words to t!eeye. +ot!in else will do8 no words can be as effecti,e unless t!ey are t!emsel,es

symbols8 no teac!ins e:pressed in lanuae are as easily learned by t!e mind as t!ose

w!ic! come ,ia t!e symbol t!rou! t!e imaination.

Ta)e from Freemasonry its symbols and but t!e !us) remains t!e )ernel is one. He w!o

!ears but t!e words of Freemasonry misses t!eir meanin entirely.

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The Lodge

Durin t!e ceremonies of initiation t!e Entered Apprentice is informed w!at a lode is.In ot!er t!an t!e words of t!e ritual a 3asonic lode is a body of 3asons warranted or

c!artered as suc! by its (rand "ode and possessin t!e t!ree (reat "i!ts in 3asonry.

T!e lode usually iii comes into bein w!en a certain number of bret!ren petition t!e(rand 3aster w!o if it is !is pleasure issues a dispensation w!ic! forms t!ese bret!reninto a pro,isional lode or a lode under dispensation familiarly )nown as '.D. T!e

powers of t!e '.D. lode are strictly limited8 it is not yet a #reularly constituted lode#

but an inc!oate sort of orani9ation a fledlin in t!e nest. +ot until t!e (rand "ode

!as aut!ori9ed t!e issuance of t!e warrant does it assume t!e status of a #reular# lodeand not t!en until it is consecrated dedicated and constituted by t!e (rand 3aster and

!is officers or t!ose !e deleates for t!e ceremony. T!e warrant of t!e new lode names

its first &ors!ipful 3aster Senior &arden and -unior &arden w!o !old office untilt!eir successors are duly elected and installed.

"ode officers are eit!er elected or appointed. In some lodes in some @urisdictions allofficers in t!e #line# are elected. In ot!ers only t!e 3aster Senior and -unior &ardens

Secretary and Treasurer are elected t!e ot!ers bein appointed.

T!e term of office is one year but not!in pre,ents re6election of a 3aster or &ardens.Indeed Secretaries and Treasurers enerally ser,e as lon as t!ey are willin8 a lode

almost in,ariably re6elects t!e same incumbents year after year to t!ese places. T!ese

officers become t!e connectin lin)s between different administrations w!ic! practicema)es for stability and smoot! runnin.

In t!e absence of t!e 3aster t!e Senior &arden presides and !as for t!e time bein t!e

powers and duties of t!e 3aster8 in !is absence t!e same de,ol,e upon t!e -unior

&arden.

All lodes !a,e an officer stationed #wit!out t!e door wit! a drawn sword in !is !and.#He is t!e Tyler and !is duties are to )eep off #cowans and ea,esdroppers.# In operati,e

days t!e secrets of t!e Freemasons were ,aluable in coin of t!e realm. T!e 3ason w!o

)new #t!e 3ason &ord# could tra,el in forein countries and recei,e a 3aster5s waes.3any w!o could not or would not conform to t!e re7uirements tried to ascertain t!e

secrets in a clandestine manner.

T!e ea,esdropper literally one w!o attempts to listen under t!e ea,es and so recei,es

t!e droppins from t!e roof was a common t!ief w!o tried to learn by stealt! w!at !ewould not learn by wor).

T!e cowan was an inorant 3ason w!o laid stones toet!er wit!out mortar or piledrou! stone from t!e field into a wall wit!out wor)in t!em s7uare and time. He was a

3ason wit!out t!e word wit! no reputation8 t!e Apprentice w!o tried to mas7uerade as a3aster.

T!e operati,e 3asons uarded t!eir assemblies aainst t!e intrusion of bot! t!e t!ief and

t!e !alf6instructed craftsman. +ot!in positi,e is )nown of t!e date w!en t!e uardian of

t!e door first went on duty. He was called a Tiler or Tyler because t!e man w!o put on

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t!e roof or tiles tiler completed t!e buildin and made t!ose wit!in it secure from

intrusion8 t!erefore t!e officer w!o uarded t!e door aainst intrusion was called by

analoy a Tyler.

"odes are referred to as Symbolic Craft Ancient Craft $ri,ate $articular Subordinateand Blue all of w!ic! names distinuis! t!em from ot!er orani9ations bot! 3asonic

and non63asonic. T!e word #subordinate# is sometimes ob@ected to by 3asonic sc!olarsmost of w!om prefer ot!er appellations to distinuis! t!e indi,idual 3aster 3ason5s

lode from t!e (rand "ode. All 3asonic lodes of Ancient Craft 3asonry are #Blue"odes# blue bein t!e distincti,e 3asonic colour from t!e blue ,ault of !ea,en w!ic!

is t!e co,erin of a symbolic lode and w!ic! embraces t!e world of w!ic! t!e lode is

a symbol.

To suc! an orani9ation a man petitions for t!e derees of Freemasonry. If t!e lodeaccepts !is petition a committee is appointed to in,estiate t!e petitioner. T!e committee

reports to t!e lode w!et!er or not in its opinion t!e petitioner is suitable material out of

w!ic! to ma)e a 3ason.

T!e statutory time of a mont! !a,in elapsed and all t!e members of t!e lode !a,inbeen notified t!at t!e petition will come up for ballot at a certain stated communication

3asonic word for #meetin# t!e members present ballot on t!e petition.

T!e ballot is secret and bot! t!e laws and t!e ancient usaes and customs surroundin it

are ,ery strict. +o brot!er is permitted to state !ow !e will ballot or !ow !e !as balloted.+o brot!er is permitted to in7uire of anot!er !ow !e will or !as balloted. *ne blac) cube

neati,e ballot is sufficient to re@ect t!e petitioner.

T!e secrecy of t!e ballot and t!e uni,ersal in t!is country re7uirement t!at a ballot be

unanimous to elect are two bulwar)s of t!e Fraternity. *ccasionally bot! t!e secrecy andt!e re7uired unanimity may seem to wor) a !ards!ip w!en a man apparently wort!y of

bein ta)en by t!e !and as a brot!er is re@ected but no !uman institution is perfect and

no !uman bein acts always accordin to t!e best t!at is in !im. T!e occasional failure oft!e system to wor) complete @ustice must be laid to t!e indi,iduals usin it and not to t!e

Fraternity.

3ore will be said later in t!ese paes on t!e power of t!e ballot its use and abuse8 !ere it

is sufficient to note one reason for t!e secret and unanimous ballot by w!ic! t!epetitioner may be elected to recei,e initiation. Harmony oneness of mind effort ideas

and ideals is one of t!e foundations of Freemasonry. Anyt!in w!ic! interferes wit!

!armony !urts t!e institution. T!erefore it is essential t!at lodes !a,e a !armoniousmembers!ip8 t!at no man be admitted to t!e 3asonic !ome of any brot!er aainst t!at

brot!er5s will.

Ha,in passed t!e ballot t!e petitioner in due course is notified presents !imself and isinitiated.

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Entered Apprentice

He t!en becomes an Entered Apprentice 3ason. He is a 3ason to t!e e:tent t!at !e iscalled #brot!er# and !as certain ri!ts8 !e is not yet a 3ason in t!e leal 3asonic sense.

Seein a framewor) erected on a plot of round we reply to t!e 7uestion #&!at are t!ey

buildin# by sayin #A !ouse.# &e mean #T!ey are buildin somet!in w!ic!e,entually will be a !ouse.# T!e Entered Apprentice is a 3ason only in t!e sense t!at !eis a rou! as!lar iv in process of bein made into a perfect as!lar.

T!e Entered Apprentice is t!e property of t!e lode8 !e can recei,e !is Fellowcraft and

3aster 3ason derees now!ere else wit!out its permission. But !e does not yet pay dues

to t!e lode !e is not yet permitted to sin its by6laws !e can enter it only w!en it isopen on t!e first deree !e cannot !old office ,ote or ballot recei,e 3asonic burial

attend a 3asonic funeral as a member of t!e lode and !as no ri!t to 3asonic c!arity.

He !as t!e ri!t to as) !is lode for !is Fellowcraft5s deree. He !as t!e ri!t of

instruction by competent bret!ren to obtain t!at #suitable proficiency# in t!e wor) of t!e

first deree w!ic! will entitle !im to !is second deree if t!e bret!ren are willin to i,eit to !im.

T!e lode as)s ,ery little of an Entered Apprentice besides t!e secrecy to w!ic! !is

obliation bound !im and t!ose e:!ibitions of c!aracter outlined in t!e C!are i,en att!e close of t!e deree.

It re7uires t!at !e be dilient in learnin and t!at so far as !e is able !e will suit !is

con,enience as to time and place to t!at of !is instructors.

Inasmuc! as t!e %ite of Destitution is tau!t t!e initiate in t!e first deree !e maynaturally wonder w!y an Entered Apprentice !as not t!e ri!t to lode c!arity if !e needs

it. Indi,idual 3asonic c!arity !e may of course recei,e but t!e ri!t to t!e orani9ed

relief of t!e lode or a (rand "ode belons only to a 3aster 3ason.

T!is is 3asonic law8 3asonic practice in t!e spirit of brot!erly lo,e would offer anyrelief suddenly and imperati,ely needed by an initiate for t!at is Freemasonry.

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"Suitable roficiency"

In t!e 3iddle Aes operati,e apprentices were re7uired to labour se,en years before t!eywere t!ou!t to )now enou! to attempt to become Fellows of t!e Craft. At t!e end of

t!e se,en6year period an apprentice w!o !ad earned t!e approbation of t!ose o,er !im

mi!t ma)e !is 3aster5s $iece and submit it to t!e @udment of t!e 3aster and &ardensof !is lode.

T!e 3aster5s $iece was some difficult tas) of stone cuttin or settin. &!et!er !e as

admitted as a Fellow or turned bac) for furt!er instruction depended on its perfection.

T!e 3aster5s $iece sur,i,es in Speculati,e 3asonry only as a small tas) and t!e se,en

years !a,e s!run) to a minimum of one mont!. Before )noc)in at t!e door of t!e &est(ate for !is Fellowcraft5s Deree an Entered Apprentice must learn #by !eart# a part of

t!e ritual and t!e ceremonies t!rou! w!ic! !e !as passed.

Easy for some difficult for ot!ers t!is is an essential tas). It must be done and well

done. It is no )indness to an Entered Apprentice to permit !im to proceed if !is 3aster5s

$iece is badly made.

As t!e initiate con,erses wit! well6informed bret!ren !e will learn t!at t!ere are literally

millions of 3asons in t!e world t!ree millions in t!e 'nited States. He does not )now

t!em8 t!ey do not )now !im. 'nless !e can pro,e t!at !e is a 3ason !e cannot ,isit in alode w!ere !e is not )nown neit!er can !e apply for 3asonic aid nor recei,e 3asonic

welcome and friends!ip.

Hence t!e re7uirement t!at t!e Entered Apprentice learn !is wor) well is in !is own

interest.

But it is also of interest to all bret!ren w!eresoe,er dispersed t!at t!e initiate )now !iswor). T!ey may find it as necessary to pro,e t!emsel,es to !im as !e may need to pro,e

!imself to t!em. If !e does not )now !is wor) !e cannot recei,e a proof any more t!an

!e can i,e it.

It is of interest to t!e lode t!at t!e initiate )now !is wor) well. &ell6informed 3asonsmay be ,ery useful in lode8 t!e sloppy careless wor)man can ne,er be depended upon

for ood wor).

Appalled at t!e apparently reat feat of memory as)ed some initiates study wit! an

instructor for an !our or two find it difficult and lose courae. But w!at millions ofot!er men !a,e done any initiate can do. Any man w!o can learn to )now by !eart any

two words can also learn t!ree8 !a,in learned t!ree !e may add a fourt! and so on until

!e can stand before t!e lode and pass a creditable e:amination or satisfy a committee

t!at !e !as learned enou! to entitle !im to as) for furt!er proress.

T!e initiate s!ould be not only willin but ent!usiastically eaer to learn w!at is re7uired

because of its effect upon !is future 3asonic career. T!e Entered Apprentice w!o wins

t!e !onour of bein passed to t!e deree of Fellowcraft by !a,in well performed t!eonly tas) set !im oes forward feelin t!at !e is wort!y. As Speculati,e Freemasonry

builds only c!aracter a feelin of unwort!iness is as muc! a !andicap in lode life as a

piece of faulty stone is in buildin a wall.

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But t!e most important reason for learnin t!e wor) t!orou!ly oes fart!er. It applies

more and more as t!e Fellowcraft5s Deree is reac!ed and passed and is most ,ital after

t!e initiate !as t!e proud ri!t to say #I am a 3aster 3ason.#

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!itual

*ne of t!e reat appeals of Freemasonry bot! to t!e profane v and to 3asons is itsanti7uity. T!e *rder can trace an unbro)en !istory of more t!an two !undred years in its

present form t!e 3ot!er (rand "ode was formed in /;/; and !as irrefutable

documentary e,idence of a muc! loner e:istence in simpler forms.*ur present rituals t!e plural is used ad,isedly as no two @urisdictions are e:actly atone on w!at is correct in ritual 6are t!e source boo)s from w!ic! we pro,e @ust w!ere we

came from and to some e:tent @ust w!en.

If we alter our ritual eit!er intentionally or by poor memori9ation we radually lose t!e

many references concealed in t!e old old p!rases w!ic! tell t!e story of w!ence we cameand w!en.

Time is relati,e to t!e obser,er8 w!at is ,ery slow to t!e man may be ,ery rapid to

nature. +ature !as all t!e time t!ere is. To drop out a word !ere put in a new one t!ere

eliminate t!is sentence and add t!at one to our ritual seems to be a minor matter in a

man5s lifetime. 4et if it is continued lon enou! a ,ery few score of years t!e oldritual will be entirely altered and become somet!in new.

&e !a,e confirmation of t!is. Certain parts of t!e ritual are printed. T!ese printed

pararap!s are practically t!e same in most @urisdictions. *ccasionally t!ere is a,ariation s!owin w!ere some committee on wor) !as not been afraid to c!ane t!e

wor) of t!e fat!ers. But as a w!ole t!e printed portion of our wor) is substantially w!at it

was w!en it was first brou!t to t!is country more t!an two !undred years ao.

T!e secret wor) is ,ery different in many of our @urisdictions. Some of t!ese differencesare accounted for by different oriinal sources yet e,en in two @urisdictions w!ic! spran

from t!e same source of Freemasonry and oriinally !ad t!e same wor) we find

,ariations s!owin t!at mout!6to6ear instruction no matter !ow secret it may be is notw!olly an accurate way of transmittin words.

If in spite of us alterations creep in by t!e slow process of time and !uman fallibility !ow

muc! faster will t!e ritual c!ane if we are careless or indifferent T!e fart!er away we

et from our oriinal source t!e more meticulously careful must trust6wort!y 3asons be

to pass on t!e wor) to posterity e:actly as we recei,e it. T!e 3ason of olden time couldo to !is source for reinspiration we cannot.

%itual is t!e t!read w!ic! binds us to t!ose w!o immediately preceded us as t!eir ritual

bound t!em to t!eir fat!ers our randfat!ers. T!e ritual we !and down to our sons and

t!eir sons5 sons will be t!eir bond wit! us and t!rou! us wit! t!e !istoric dead. To alter

t!at bond intentionally is to wron t!ose w!o come after us e,en as we !a,e beenwroned w!en t!ose w!o preceded us were careless or inefficient in t!eir memori9ation

of ritual.

T!e Entered Apprentice t!en s!ould not be discouraed if t!e ritual #comes !ard.# Hes!ould fail not in t!e tas) nor 7uestion t!at it is wort! w!ile for on w!at !e does and on

t!e way in w!ic! !e does it depends in some measure t!e Freemasonry of t!e future. As

!e does well or ill so will t!ose w!o come after !im do ill or well.

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"Free ill And Accord"

T!ou! !e )nows it not t!e petitioner encounters !is first 3asonic symbol w!en !erecei,es from t!e !ands of a friend t!e petition for w!ic! !e !as as)ed.

Freemasons do not proselyte. T!e *rder as)s no man for !is petition. (reater t!an any

man Freemasonry !onours t!ose s!e permits to )noc) upon !er &est (ate. +ot )inprince nor potentate8 president eneral nor sa,ant can !onour t!e Fraternity bypetitionin a lode for t!e derees.

C!urc!es send out missionaries and consider it a duty to persuade men to t!eir teac!ins.

Commercial orani9ations Boards of Trade C!ambers of Commerce "ife Insurance

Associations and so on attempt to win members by ad,ertisin and persuasion.3embers are !appy to as) t!eir friends to @oin t!eir clubs. But a man must come to t!e

&est (ate of a lode #of !is own free will and accord# and can come only by t!e ood

offices of a friend w!om !e !as enlisted on !is be!alf.

T!e candidate obliates !imself for all time> #*nce a 3ason always a 3ason.# He may

ta)e no interest in t!e *rder. He may dimit vi become unaffiliated vii be dropped+.$.D. viii be tried for a 3asonic offense and suspended or e:pelled but !e cannot

#unma)e# !imself as a 3ason or e,er a,oid t!e moral responsibility of )eepin t!e

obliations !e ,oluntarily assumes.

If a man be re7uested to @oin or persuaded to sin a petition !e may later be in a position

to say #I became a 3ason under a misappre!ension. I was o,er6persuaded. I was arued

into members!ip# and mi!t t!us !a,e a self6e:cusin s!adow of a reason for failure to

do as most solemnly arees.

But no man does so @oin unless !e sins a false statement. He must declare in !is petition

and many times durin !is proress t!rou! t!e derees t!at t!e act is #of my own free

will and accord.# +ot *nly must !e so declare but !e must so swear.

Freemasonry i,es !er all and it is a reat ift to t!ose s!e accepts. But s!e i,es onlyto t!ose w!o !onestly desire t!e ift. He w!o is not first prepared to be a Freemason in

!is !eart t!at is of !is own free will and accord can ne,er be one.

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Initiation

#Initiation is an analoy of man5s ad,ent from prenatal dar)ness into t!e li!t of !umanfellows!ip moral trut! and spiritual fait!.# ix

From t!e "atin initium8 a beinnin a birt! a comin into bein. It is a ,ery common

!uman e:perience. &e are initiated into a new world w!en we first o to sc!ool8adolescence is initiation into man!ood or woman!ood8 we undero an initiation w!en weplune into business or our professions8 marriae is an initiation into a new e:perience a

new way of li,in a new outloo) on life8 t!e acceptance of a reliious e:perience is an

initiation8 a new boo) may initiate us into a new interest. Initiation is e ,eryw!ere and in

one or anot!er form comes to e,ery man.

3asonic initiation may but does not necessarily come to t!ose w!o see) are accepted

and recei,e t!e derees.

3any refuse t!e results of initiation. T!e sc!ool6boy w!o will not study t!e man w!o

will not wor) t!e reader w!o is not interested in !is boo) t!e c!urc!oer to w!om t!e

ser,ice is but an empty form to be one t!rou! once a wee) because #it is t!e t!in todo# t!ese ain not!in from suc! initiations. T!e candidate w!o sees in t!e 3asonic

initiation of t!e Entered Apprentice Deree only a formal and dinified ceremony

desined to ta)e up an e,enin and pus! !im one step forward toward members!ip in t!e*rder refuses to accept !is initiation.

+eit!er lode nor bret!ren can !elp t!is. If a man will not accept w!at is offered if !is

understandin is so dull !is mind so sodden !is imaination so dead t!at !e cannot

limpse t!e substance be!ind t!e form bot! be and t!e lode are unluc)y. T!at t!ema@ority of initiates do recei,e and ta)e to t!emsel,es t!is opportunity for spiritual

rebirt! is ob,ious ot!erwise t!e *rder would not li,e and row could not !a,e li,ed

t!rou! !undreds in some form t!ousands of years.

He is a wise initiate w!o will read and study t!at !e may recei,e all of t!at for w!ic! !e!as as)ed. T!e lode puts before !im t!e bread of trut! t!e wine of belief t!e staff of

power and sets !is feet upon t!e pat! t!at leads to "i!tJ but it is for !im to eat and

drin) and tra,el t!e windin pat! of initiation w!ic! at lon last leads to t!e symbolicEast.

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The Lodge As A Symbol

T!e lode is a symbol of t!e world. Its s!ape t!e #oblon s7uare# is t!e ancientconception of t!e s!ape of t!e world. T!e Entered Apprentice is tau!t its dimensions its

co,erin its furniture its li!ts its @ewels and will learn more of it as a symbol as !e

proceeds t!rou! t!e derees. Alt!ou! a symbol of t!e world t!e lode is a world untoitself8 a world wit!in a world different in its customs its laws and its structure from t!eworld wit!out. In t!e world wit!out are class distinctions wealt! power po,erty and

misery. In t!e lode all are on a le,el and peace and !armony pre,ail. In t!e world

wit!out most laws are #t!ou s!alt not# and enforced by penalties. In t!e lode t!e lawsare mostly #t!ou s!alt# and compulsion is seldom t!ou!t of and as rarely in,o)ed.

Freemasons obey t!eir laws not so muc! because t!ey must as because t!ey will. In t!e

world wit!out men are di,ided by a t!ousand influences> race business reliious beliefpolitics. In t!e lode men are unit ed in t!e common bond of t!ree fundamental beliefs>

t!e Fat!er!ood of (od t!e brot!er!ood of man and t!e immortality of t!e soul and all

t!e sweet associations w!ic! sprin t!erefrom. In t!e world wit!out men tra,el many

roads to many oals8 in t!e lode t!e initiate does as all ot!ers w!o !a,e one t!is waybefore !im and all younest Entered Apprentice and oldest $ast 3aster tra,el a

common way to an end w!ic! is t!e same for all.

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reparation

*ften it seems 7ueer to t!e candidate. How s!ould it not w!en !e recei,es !ise:planations afterwards and not before &!en t!e Entered Apprentice Deree is

concluded t!e initiate w!o !as ears to !ear )nows some of t!e reasons for t!e manner of

!is preparation and reception alt!ou! !e s!ould read not only t!is but larer boo)sw!ic! will amplify t!ese instructions to !is betterment. He may well bein wit! t!e Boo)of %ut! in w!ic! !e will find muc! illumination #concernin t!eir manner of redeemin

and c!anin.#

But t!e %ite of Discalceation x as it is called !as anot!er sinificance t!an t!at of

i,in testimony of sincerity of intentions. T!ese are sufficiently important8 a candidatefor t!e Entered Apprentice Deree w!o is not sincere will !a,e a ,ery disareeable time

in Freemasonry. But t!e !idden meanin of t!e rite is per!aps e,en more important t!an

t!e e:plained meanin. Here t!e initiate must possess !is soul in patience. He is not yetw!olly admitted to t!e temple w!ic! is Freemasonry. He is not permitted to do as 3aster

3asons do or to )now w!at 3aster 3asons )now. For t!e w!ole 3asonic sinificance

of t!e rite !e must wait until it is !is pri,ilee to recei,e t!e Sublime Deree of 3aster3ason.

It s!ould not come as a surprise t!at a special preparation for initiation is re7uired. T!e

soldier5s uniform allows !is reatest freedom of action. T!e brideroom dresses in !is

best. T!e )ni!t of old put on s!inin armour w!en oin into battle. 3en prepare insome way to t!e best of t!eir ability for any new e:perience.

$reparation for 3asonic initiation is w!olly a symbolic matter but wit! deeper meanins

and reater t!an are apparent on first ac7uaintance.

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#ircumambulation

T!is mout!ful of a word meanin literally #wal)in around# is not only t!e name of apart of a deree but also of a symbol. T!e candidate is conducted around t!e lode room

for a reason later e:plained but t!e inner meanin of t!is ceremony is !idden. Its deep

sinificance unites t!e initiate not only wit! all w!o !a,e one t!is way before in a3asonic lode but wit! t!ose uncounted millions of men w!o for t!ousands of years!a,e made of circumambulation an offerin of !omae to t!e 'nseen $resence.

Amon t!e first reliions were sun and fire wors!ip. $re!istoric man found (od in

nature. T!under was His ,oice8 li!tnin was His weapon8 wind was His breat!8 fire was

His presence. T!e sun a,e li!t and !eat8 it )ept away t!e wild beasts8 it rew t!e crops8it was life itself. Fire a,e li!t and !eat and prepared t!e food it also was life itself.

&ors!ip of t!e sun in t!e s)y was conducted symbolically by wors!ip of fire upon piles

of stones w!ic! were t!e first altars.

3an is incurably imitati,e. T!e small boy struts wit! !is fat!er5s cane8 t!e little irl puts

on !er mot!er5s dress to play rown up8 t!e ,alet imitates t!e master8 t!e cler) imitates!is manaer. Early man imitated t!e (od !e wors!ipped. Heat and li!t !e could i,e by

fire so li!tin t!e fire on t!e altar became an important reliious ceremony. And earlyman could imitate t!e mo,ements of !is (od.

T!e sun seems to mo,e from east to west by way of t!e sout!. Early man circled altars

on w!ic! burned t!e fire w!ic! was !is (od from east to west by way of t!e sout!.

Circumambulation became a part of all reliious obser,ances8 it was in t!e ceremonies ofancient Eypt8 it was part of t!e mysteries of Eleusis8 it was practised in t!e rites of

3it!ras and a t!ousand ot!er cults and down t!rou! t!e aes it !as come to us.

&!en t!e candidate first circles t!e lode room about t!e altar !e wal)s step by step wit!

a t!ousand s!ades of men w!o !a,e t!us wors!ipped t!e 3ost Hi! by !umble imitation.T!us t!ou!t of circumambulation is no loner a mere parade but a ceremony of

sinificance lin)in all w!o ta)e part in it wit! t!e spiritual aspirations of a dim and

distant past.

A furt!er sinificant teac!in of t!is symbol is its introduction to t!e idea of dependence.Freemasonry spea)s plainly !ere to !im w!o listens. *f t!is +ewton xi !as beautifully

written>

From t!e !our we are born till we are laid in t!e ra,e we rope our way in t!e dar) and

none could find or )eep t!e pat! wit!out a uide. From !ow many ills !ow many perils!ow many pitfalls we are uarded in t!e midst of t!e years?

&it! all our boasted wisdom and foresi!t e,en w!en we fancy we are secure we maybe in t!e presence of dire daner if not of deat! itself.

Truly it does not lie in man to direct !is pat!. and wit!out a true and trusted friend in

w!om we can confide not one of us would find !is way !ome. So 3asonry teac!es ussimply but unmista)ably at t!e first step as at t!e last t!at we li,e and wal) by fait! not

by si!t8 and to )now t!at fact is t!e beinnin of wisdom. Since t!is is so since no man

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can find !is way alone in life as in t!e lode we must in !umility trust our (uide learn

His ways follow Him and fear no daner. Happy is t!e man w !o !as learned t!at secret.

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$nity

In an Entered Apprentice5s "ode t!e /==rd $salm is read sometimes sun durin t!ecourse of t!e deree>

Be!old !ow ood and !ow pleasant it is for bret!ren to dwell toet!er in unity. It is li)e

t!e precious ointment upon t!e !ead t!at ran down upon t!e beard e,en Aaron5s beard8t!at went down to t!e s)irts of !is arments8 As t!e dew of Hermon and as t!e dew t!atdescended upon t!e mountains of Kion for t!ere t!e "ord commanded t!e blessin e,en

life for e,ermore.

'nity is an essential of a 3asonic lode. 'nity of t!ou!t of intention of e:ecution. It is

but anot!er word for !armony w!ic! Freemasons are tau!t is t!e strent! and supportof all well6reulated institutions especially t!is of ours. Dew is nature5s blessin w!ere

little rain falls8 t!e dew of Hermon is pro,erbially !ea,y. Israel poured precious

ointments on t!e !eads of t!ose t!e people !onoured8 t!at w!ic! went down to t!e s)irts

of !is arments was e,idently reat in 7uantity sinificant of t !e !onour paid to Aaron

personification of !i! priest6!ood representati,e of t!e solidity of !is roup. T!e w!olepassae is a lorification of t!e beauty of brot!erly lo,e w!ic! is w!y it was anciently

selected to be a part of t!e Entered Apprentice5s Deree in w!ic! t!e initiate is firstintroduced to t!at principal tenet of t!e Fraternity.

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Secrecy

In t!e true sense of t!e words Freemasonry is not a secret society but a society wit!secrets. A secret society is one t!e members of w!ic! are not )nown8 a society w!ic!

e:ists wit!out common )nowlede. Freemasonry is well )nown. 3en proudly wear t!e

emblem of t!e *rder on coat and watc! c!arm and rin. 3any (rand "odes publis! listsof t!eir members. 3any (rand "odes maintain card inde:es of all members in t!e@urisdiction so t!at it is easy to ascertain w!et!er or not a man is a 3ason. (rand "odes

publis! t!eir $roceedins a 3asonic press caters to t!e 3asonic world and t!ousands of

boo)s !a,e been written about Freemasonry. *b,iously it is not t!e society w!ic! issecret.

T!e initiate ta)es an obliation of secrecy8 if !e will carefully consider t!e lanuae of

t!at obliation !e will see t!at it concerns t!e forms and ceremonies t!e manner of

teac!in certain modes of reconition. T!ere is no obliation of secrecy reardin t!etrut!s tau!t by Freemasonry ot!erwise suc! a boo) as t!is could not lawfully be

written.

Sometimes t!e 7uestion is as)ed by a profane #&!y !a,e any secrets If w!at you )now

and teac! is wort! so muc! w!y not i,e it to t!e world#

Secrecy is a common fact of e,eryday life. *ur pri,ate affairs are ours not to be s!outedfrom t!e !ousetops. Business secrets are often of ,alue in proportion to t!e success of

)eepin t!em. Diplomacy is necessarily conducted in secret. Board meetins of

companies ban)s business !ouses are secret. A man and !is wife !a,e pri,ateunderstandins for no one else to )now. T!e lo,er tells t!e secrets of !is !eart to but one

ear.

From all of us some t!ins are secret and !idden t!at mi!t be open and )nown if we

!ad t!e wit or would ta)e t!e trouble to learn. Fine music is a secret from t!e tone deaf.3at!ematics are a secret from t!e inorant. $!ilosop!y is a secret from t!e commonplace

mind. Freemasonry is a secret from t!e profane and for t!e same reasons?

T!e secrecy of 3asonry is an !onourable secrecy8 any ood man may as) for !er secrets8

t!ose w!o are wort!y will recei,e t!em. To i,e t!em to t!ose w!o do not see) or w!oare not wort!y would but impo,eris! t!e Fraternity and enric! not t!ose w!o recei,ed

t!em.

It is sometimes suested t!at Freemasonry pretends to possess ,aluable secrets merely

to intriue men to apply for t!em t!rou! curiosity. How mista)en t!is is understood bye,ery Freemason. He w!o see)s Freemasonry out of curiosity for !er secrets must be

bitterly disappointed. In sc!ool t!e teac!er is an:ious to instruct all w!o see) t!e

classroom in t!e secrets of eometry but not all students wis! to study eometry and notall w!o do !a,e t!e wit to compre!end. Freemasonry is an:ious to i,e of !e r secrets to

wort!y men fit to recei,e t!em but not all are wort!y and not all t!e wort!y see).

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enalties

Freemasonry bas been aptly described as #t!e entle Craft.# Its teac!ins are of brot!erlylo,e relief trut! lo,e of (od c!arity immortality mutual !elp sympat!y. To t!e

initiate t!erefore t!e penalty in !is obliation comes often wit! a s!oc) of surprise and

sometimes consternation."et it be said wit! emp!asis> t!e penalties are w!olly symbolic.

T!e small boy uses t!e e:pression #By olly# )eepin ali,e an ancient Cornis! oat! inw!ic! oll or t!e !and uplifted was offered as a sacrifice if w!at was said was not t!e

trut!. In our courts of law we say #So !elp me (od# in ta)in t!e oat! to tell t!e trut!.

But t!e small boy does not e:pect !is !and to be cut off if !e !appens to fib nor is t!epenalty for per@ury suc! t!at only (od may !elp !im upon w!om it is inflicted.

3asonic penalties o bac) to ,ery ancient times8 to years w!en punis!ments were cruel

and in!uman often for ,ery small offenses. T!roats were cut tonues torn out bodies cut

in !alf !oo)s struc) into breasts and t!e body torn apart8 men were dismembered for all

sorts of offenses w!ic! seem to us muc! too tri,ial for suc! e:treme punis!ments8 lootina temple stealin a s!eep disclosin t!e )in5s secrets etc.

*t!er punis!ments of t!e 3iddle Aes were based on reliious fears. To be buried in

unconsecrated round was a terrible end for inorant and superstitious people w!obelie,ed t!at it meant eternal damnation. Similarly to be interred in land w!ic! was no

man5s property between !i! and low water mar) was symbolical of spiritual deat!.

T!ese and ot!er !orrible penalties were inflicted by law by ,arious peoples at ,arious

times. T!at t!e leal penalties for certain ci,il crimes were incorporated in 3asonicobliations seems ob,ious. But t!at t!ey e,er meant or were e,er intended to mean any

deat! but a symbolic one is simply not so.

T!e yo)el w!o cries #3ay (od stri)e me dead if t!is is not so# does not mean t!at !e

wis!es to die8 but !e says t!at !e belie,es be will be wort!y of deat! if !e lies. It is insuc! a way t!at t!e 3asonic penalties are to be understood8 t!e Entered Apprentice states

!is belief t!at !e would merit t!e penalty of !is obliation if !e failed to )eep it.

T!e only punis!ments e,er inflicted by Freemasons upon Freemasons are reprimand

suspension definite and indefinite and e:pulsion from t!e Fraternity. T!e initiate w!o,iolates !is obliation will feel t!e wei!t of no !and laid upon !im. He will suffer no

p!ysical penalties w!ate,er. T!e contempt and detestation of !is bret!ren t!eir denial of

t!e pri,ilees of Freemasonry to t!e foresworn are t!e only 3asonic penalties e,er

inflicted.

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The %reat Lights

T!ere are t!ree t!e Holy Bible t!e S7uare and t!e Compasses. xii

T!e Holy Bible is always referred to as #T!e (reat "i!t# or #T!e (reat "i!t in3asonry# in t!is country w!ic! is predominantly C!ristian. T!e practice may be and

often is different in ot!er lands. &!at is ,ital and unc!aneable a "andmar) of t!e *rdera furt!er discussion of "andmar)s is i,en later see paes /


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T!is is so well understood t!at it needs emp!asis only for t!e no,ice. To i,e !im

specific facts as well as assertion> t!e Bible is first mentioned as a (reat "i!t in

3asonry about /;1G w!ereas t!e first of t!e *ld C!ares one of t!e foundation stones

on w!ic! rest t!e laws of Freemasonry first publis!ed in /;2= but presumably adoptedby t!e 3ot!er (rand "ode at its formation in /;/; reads in part as follows spellin

moderni9ed>

A 3ason is oblied by !is tenure to obey t!e moral law8 and if !e ri!tly understands t!e

art !e will ne,er be a stupid at!eist nor an irreliious libertine. But t!ou! in ancienttimes 3asons were c!ared in e,ery country to be of t!e reliion of t!at country or

nation w!ate,er it was yet 5tis now t!ou!t more e:pedient only to oblie t!em to t!at

reliion in w!ic! all men aree lea,in t!eir particular opinions to t!emsel,es8 t!at is tobe ood men and true or men of !onour and !onesty by w!ate,er denominations or

persuasions t!ey may be distinuis!ed8 w!ereby 3asonry becomes t!e center of union

and t!e means of conciliatin true friends!ip amon persons t!at must !a,e remained at aperpetual distance.

$er!aps ne,er before !as so s!ort a pararap! !ad so profound an effect settin fort! t!e

non6sectarian non6doctrinal c!aracter of Freemasonry ma)in reliion not a reliiont!e important matter in t!e Ancient Craft.

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#able Tow

In old rituals t!is was oriinally #cable rope.# *ur cable tow probably comes from t!e(erman #Mabeltau.#

T!e cable tow is symbolic of t!at life cord by w!ic! t!e infant recei,es life from !is

mot!er. Symbolically t!e cable tow is t!e cord by w!ic! t!e 3asonic infant is attac!ed to!is 3ot!er "ode. &!en a baby is born t!e p!ysical cord is se,ered but ne,er t!e )nifewas round w!ic! can cut t!e spiritual cord w!ic! ties a man to !is mot!er. In t!e

Entered Apprentice Deree t!e p!ysical restraint of t!e cable tow is remo,ed as soon as

t!e spiritual bond of t!e obliation is assumed but ne,er t!e means !as be en made by

w!ic! to cut t!e obliation w!ic! binds a man to !is 3ot!er "ode and t!e entle Craft.E:pulsion does not release from t!e obliation8 unaffiliation does not dissol,e t!e tie8

dimittin and @oinin anot!er lode cannot ma)e of t!e new lode t!e 3ot!er "ode.

T!e cable tow !as furt!er sinificance in t!e succeedin derees w!ic! will be discussed

later.

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The Lesser Lights

&!en an initiate is first brou!t to li!t t!e radiance comes from t!e t!ree "esser "i!tsw!ic! form a trianle about or near t!e altar. "esser "i!ts are lit w!en t!e lode is

opened and t!e altar arraned and e:tinuis!ed w!en t!e lode is closed and t!e (reat

"i!ts displaced. Somet!in not ,ery muc! is said of t!em in t!e ritual. T!ey formone of t!ose symbols in FreemasonryJ of w!ic! t!ere are so many?J w!ic! t!eindi,idual brot!er is supposed to e:amine and translate for !imself ettin from it w!at

!e can and en@oyin w!at !e ets in direct proportion to t!e amount of labour and t!ou!t

!e is willin to de,ote to t!e process of e:tractin t!e meanin from t!e outer co,erin.

In some @urisdictions t!e "esser "i!ts are closely about t!e altar> in ot!ers one is placedat eac! of t!e stations of do t!ree principal officers. In some lodes t!e t!ree "esser

"i!ts form a ri!t in ot!ers an e7uilateral in ot!ers an isosceles trianle. &!at is

uniform t!rou!out t!e 3asonic world is t!e trianular formation8 w!at is different is t!es!ape and si9e of t!e trianle.

*f course it is not possible to place t!ree li!ts to form anyt!in else but a trianle8 t!eycannot be made to form a s7uare or a star. Hence t!e natural 7uestion> w!y are t!ere t!ree

"esser "i!ts and not two or four or more

T!ere is #t!ree# t!rou!out Ancient Craft 3asonry. T!e first of t!e reat Sacred+umbers of t!e Ancient 3ysteries t!ree was t!e numerical symbol of (od but not

because (od was necessarily considered as triune. &!ile many reliions of many aes

and peoples !a,e concei,ed of Di,inity as a trinity t!e fiure t!ree as a symbol of (od isfar older t!an any trinitarian doctrine. T!e trianle li)e t!e circle is wit!out beinnin or

endin. *ne line or two lines !a,e ends. T!ey start and finis!. "i)e t!e s7uare or t!e

fi,e or more sided fiure t!e trianle !as no loose ends. And t!e trianle is t!e first oft!ese w!ic! can be made8 as (od was always considered as first and also as wit!out

eit!er beinnin or endin t!e trianle itself soon became a symbol of Deity.

Ancient peoples made muc! of se:. T!eir two reatest impulses were self6preser,ation

and matin. T!eir t!ird was protection of c!ildren. So powerful were t!ese in primal mant!at not all !is ci,ili9ation !is lu:ury !is complicated and in,ol,ed life !a,e succeeded

in remo,in t!em as t!e principal main6sprins of all !uman endea,our. It was natural

for t!e sa,ae wors!ipper of a s!inin od in t!e s)y to t!in) !e too re7uired a mateespecially w!en t!at mate was so plainly in e,idence. T!e 3oon became t!e Sun5s bride

by a process of reasonin as plain as it was c!ildli)e.

Fat!er mot!erJ t!ere must be a c!ild of course. T!at c!ild was 3ercury t!e nearest

planet to t!e sun t!e one t!e od )ept closest to !im. Here we !a,e t!e oriin of t!e t!ree

"esser "i!ts8 in earliest recorded accounts of t!e 3ysteries of Eleusis to mention onlyone we find t!ree li!ts about t!e !oly place representin t!e Sun t!e 3oon and

3ercury.

T!e &ors!ipful 3aster rules and o,erns !is lode as truly as t!e Sun and 3oon rule ando,ern day and ni!t. T!ere can be no lode wit!out a &ors!ipful 3aster8 !e is in a

,ery real sense t!e lode itself. T!ere are some t!ins !e cannot do t!at t!e bret!ren

under !im can do. But wit!out !im t!e bret!ren can do not!in w!ile wit!out t!e

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bret!ren5s consent or e,en t!eir assistance !e can do muc!. As one of t!e principal

functions of t!e &ors!ipful 3aster is to i,e #ood and w!olesome instruction# to !is

lode t!e inclusion of one li!t as !is symbol is but a loical carryin out of t!at

3asonic doctrine w!ic! ma)es t!e East t!e source of 3asonic li!t to t!e bret!ren.

By t!e li!t of t!e "esser "i!ts t!e Entered Apprentice is led to see t!ose ob@ects w!ic!

mean so muc! to a 3ason t!e (reat "i!ts8 t!e inestimable ift of (od to man as t!erule and uide for !is fait! and practice t!e tools dedicated to t!e Craft and to t!e

3aster t!e Alp!a and *mea of Freemasonry. "i!t alone is not enou!8 li!t must beused? Here too is symbolism w!ic! it is well to muse upon.

As t!e lode as a w!ole is a symbol of t!e world so s!ould a 3ason5s !eart be to !im

always a symbol of t!e lode. In it !e s!ould carry e,er w!at !e may remember of t!e

(reat "i!t and wit! spiritual compasses lay out !is wor)8 wit! spiritual s7uare s7uarebot! wor) and actions toward all man)ind #more especially a brot!er 3ason.# T!erefore

must !e carry also in !is !eart t!ree tiny "esser "i!ts by t!e li!t of w!ic! !e uses !is

spiritual lode furnis!ins. If !e li!ts t!ese from t!e torc! of lo,e and burns one forfriendliness one for !elpfulness and one for odliness !e will be truly an initiate in t!e

real sense of t!at term and about t!e altar of Freemasonry find a new satisfaction in t!enew meanins w!ic! t!e t!ree "esser "i!ts will wit! silent li!t and soft imprint upon!is !eart.

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Due %uard

3ac)ey xiii states #A mode of reconition w!ic! deri,es its name from its ob@ect w!ic!is to duly uard t!e person usin it.#

*t!er commentators !a,e seen it as deri,ed from t!e Frenc! #Dieu (arde# (od uard

me.

T!e oriin of t!e T!ird $erfect $oint is tau!t in t!e deree. Its use in salute is a silent

way of sayin to all present #I remember my obliation8 I am conscious of t!e penalty ofits ,iolation8 I foret not my duty.#

T!e initiate uses it first in a salutation to t!e &ardens a ceremony t!e sinificance of

w!ic! s!ould ne,er be forotten. T!e o,ernment of a 3asonic lode is tripartite8 it is in

t!e !ands of a 3aster and two &ardens. By t!is ceremony t!e Entered Apprentice admitst!eir aut!ority submits !imself to t!eir o,ernment under t!e 3aster and arees to abide

by t!eir settin mauls w!en it is proper for t!em to use t!em.

T!e Due (uard is i,en by an Entered Apprentice on enterin and retirin t!at !e may

ne,er foret t!e sinificance of !is position w!en !e too) upon !imself t!at obliationw!ic! a,e !im t!e title Brot!er.

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The Lambs&in Apron

3ore ancient t!an t!e (olden Fleece or %oman Eale more !onourable t!an t!e Star and(arter ...

In t!ese words t!e ritual see)s to impress upon !im w!o !as been in,ested wit! t!e w!ite

lambs)in apron its ,alue and its importance.

T!e *rder of t!e (olden Fleece was founded by $!ilip Du)e of Burundy in /02 t!e ift of brot!er!ood. "uc)y t!e EnteredApprentice w!o !as t!e wit to see t!e e:tent and t!e meanin of t!e ift8 t!rice luc)y t!e

lode w!ose initiates find in it and )eep t!at !onour probity and power t!at innocencestrent! and spiritual contact t!at lory of unity and oneness wit! all t!e 3asonic world

w!ic! may be read into t!is symbol by !im w!o !at! open eyes of t!e !eart wit! w!ic!to see. In t!e words of t!e *ld Dundee "ode56 Apron C!are>

It is yours to wear t!rou!out an !onourable life and at your deat! to be placed upon t!e

coffin w!ic! s!all contain your mortal remains and wit! t!em laid beneat! t!e silent

clods of t!e ,alley. "et its pure and spotless surface be to you an e,er6present reminder of

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a purity of life and rectitude of conduct a ne,er6endin arument for nobler deeds for

!i!er t!ou!ts for reater ac!ie,ements. And w!en at last your weary feet s!all !a,e

come to t!e end of t!eir toilsome @ourney and from your ner,eless rasp s!all drop t!e

wor)in tools of life may t!e record of your t!ou!ts and actions be as pure and spotlessas t!is emblemJ

For t!us and t!us only may it be worn wit! pleasure to yourself and !onour to t!eFraternity.

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"The %reatest 'f These"

T!e Entered Apprentice practices t!e %ite of Destitution before !e !ears t!e beautifulwords of t!e lecture descripti,e of t!e t!ree principal rounds of -acob5s ladder> #t!e

reatest of t!ese is c!arity8 for fait! is lost in si!t !ope ends in fruition but c!arity

e:tends beyond t!e ra,e t!rou! t!e boundless realms of eternity.# But !e may reflectupon bot! at once and from t!at reflection learn t!at 3asonic i,in to t!e destitute is notconfined to alms.

$uttin a 7uarter in a bear5s !and will !ardly e:tend beyond t!e ra,e t!rou! t!e

boundless realms of eternity?

3asonic c!arity does indeed include t!e i,in of p!ysical relief8 indi,idual 3asons i,eit t!e lode i,es it t!e (rand "ode i,es it. But if c!arity bean and ended wit!

money it would o but a little way. St $al said> #And alt!ou! I bestow all my oods to

feed t!e poor and !a,e not c!arity it profitet! me not!in.#

If t!e c!arity of Freemasonry meant only t!e i,in of alms it would lon ao !a,e

i,en place to a !undred institutions better able to pro,ide relief.

T!e c!arity tau!t in t!e lode is c!arity of t!ou!t c!arity of t!e i,in of self. T!e

,isit to t!e sic) is true 3asonic c!arity. T!e brot!erly !and laid upon a bowed s!oulder

in comfort and to i,e courae is 3asonic c!arity. T!e word of counsel to t!e fat!erlesst!e tear dropped in sympat!y wit! t!e widowed t!e @oyous letter of conratulation to a

fortunate brot!er all are 3asonic c!arity and t!ese indeed e:tend beyond t!e ra,e.

*ften an Entered Apprentice belie,es t!at t!e %ite !as tau!t !im t!at e,ery 3ason must

i,e a coin to e,ery bear w!o as)s e,en t!ou! t!ey line t!e streets and need as manydimes as a poc)et will !old. Suc! is not t!e trut!. T!e 3ason i,es w!en !e meets

anyone #in li)e destitute condition.# It is left for !im to @ude w!et!er t!e appeal is for a

need w!ic! is real or one assumed. In eneral all calls for 3asonic c!arity s!ould bemade t!rou! t!e lode8 mac!inery is pro,ided for a )indly and brot!erly in,estiationafter w!ic! lode or (rand "ode will afford relief. Indi,idual c!arity is w!olly in t!e

control of t!e indi,idual brot!er5s conscience.

But no conscience need control t!at larer and finer i,in of comfort and counsel of @oy

and sadness of sympat!y and spiritual !elp. Here t!e 3ason may i,e as muc! as !e willand be not t!e poorer but t!e ric!er for !is i,in. He w!o reads t!e %ite of Destitution in

t!is larer sense !as seen t!rou! t!e form to t!e reality be!ind and learned t!e inner

sinificance of t!e symbol.

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(ortheast

Cornerstones are laid in t!e +ort!east Corner because t!e +ort!east is t!e point ofbeinnin8 midway between t!e dar)ness of t!e +ort! and t!e li!t of t!e East.

T!e Entered Apprentice lays !is 3asonic Cornerstone standin in t!e +ort!east corner of

t!e lode midway between t!e dar)ness of profane inorance and t!e full li!t of t!esymbolic East.

Here if indeed !e be a man of imaination and no clod !e recei,es a t!rill t!at maycome to !im ne,er aain sa,e once only in 3asonry. For !ere !e enters into !is

!eritae as an Entered Apprentice. All t!at !as one before bas been 7ueer mysterious

pu99lin almost mind6s!oc)in de,astatin wit! its newness and its differences fromt!e world !e )nows. +ow !e stands #a @ust and upri!t 3ason# to recei,e t!ose first

instructions w!ic! well studied will enable !im to understand w!at !as been done wit!

and to !im as to all w!o !a,e one t!is way before.

+e,er aain will !e stand !ere an Entered Apprentice a man recei,es t!e deree but

once. +e,er t!erefore s!ould !e foret t!at once !e stood t!ere nor !ow !e stood t!erenor w!y. And if momentarily memory lea,es !im let !im loo) in t!e (reat "i!t and

read E9e)iel ii /62>

And (od said unto me Son of 3an stand upon t!y feet and I will spea) unto t!ee. Andt!e spirit entered into me w!en !e spa)e unto me and set me upon my feet t!at I !eard

!im t!at spa)e unto me.

+o man stands in t!e +ort!east Corner wit! !is !eart open but !ears t!at Loice w!ic!

t!undered to t!e prop!et of old.

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or&ing Tools

T!e Entered Apprentice recei,es from t!e !ands of t!e 3aster two wor)in tools.

T!e Twenty6four Inc! (aue is well e:plained in t!e ritual but t!e sinificance of onepoint is sometimes o,erloo)ed. T!e Entered Apprentice is tau!t t!at by t!e Twenty6four

Inc! (aue !e s!ould di,ide !is time> #Ei!t !ours for t!e ser,ice of (od and adistressed wort!y brot!er8 ei!t for t!e usual ,ocations and ei!t for refres!ment andsleep.#

T!ere is no time to be wasted. T!ere is no time to be idle. T!ere is no time for waitin.

T!e implication is plain8 t!e Entered Apprentice s!ould be always ready to use !is tools.

He s!ould recall t!e words of Fla,ius to t!e wor)man in -ulius Caesar #&!ere is t!y

leat!er apron and t!y rule &!at does t!ou wit! t!y best apparel on# Freemasonry is notonly for t!e lode room but for life. +ot to ta)e t!e Twenty6four Inc! (aue into t!e

profane world and by its di,isions number t!e !ours for t!e wor)in of a constructi,e

purpose is to miss t!e practical application of 3asonic labour and 3asonic c!arity.

T!e Common (a,el w!ic! #brea)s off t!e corners of rou! stones t!e better to fit t!emfor t!e builder5s use# @oins t!e %ou! and $erfect As!lars in a !idden symbol of t!e *rder

at once beautiful and tender. T!e famous sculptor and ardent Freemason (ut9on

Borlum as)ed !ow be car,ed stone into beautiful statues once said #It is ,ery simple. Imerely )noc) away wit! !ammer and c!isel t!e stone I do not need and t!e statue is t!ere

it was t!ere all t!e time.#

In t!e (reat "i!t we read> #T!e )indom of !ea,en is wit!in you.# &e are also t!ere

tau!t t!at man is made in t!e imae of (od. As Brot!er Borlum !as so beautifully saidimaes are made by a process of ta)in away. T!e perfection is already wit!in. All t!at is

re7uired is to remo,e t!e rou!ness t!e e:crescences #di,estin our !earts and

consciences of all t!e ,ices and superfluities of life# to s!ow fort! t!e perfect man and3ason wit!in. T!us t!e a,el becomes also t!e symbol of personal power.

T!e Common (a,el !as in e,ery lode a still furt!er sinificance8 it is t!e symbol of t!e

aut!ority of t!e &ors!ipful 3aster. "ater t!e initiate will learn of t!e reat e:tent of t!e

power ,ested in t!e 3aster of a lode8 sufficient now to say t!at t!e wise 3aster uses !is

power sparinly and ne,er arbitrarily. &!ile t!e peace and !armony of t!e Craft aremaintained !e need not use it e:cept as t!e ritual or custom of presidin in t!e lode

re7uires. If !e so use it will be respected and its possessor w ill be ,enerated.

T!e 3aster always retains possession of t!e a,el and ne,er allows it beyond reac!. He

carries it wit! !im w!en !e mo,es about t!e lode in process of conferrin a deree.

&!en t!e lode is in c!are of t!e -unior &arden at refres!ment xiv

it is t!e -unior&arden w!o uses a a,el to control t!e lode. T!e a,el is t!e 3aster5s symbol of

aut!ority and reminds !im t!at alt!ou! !is position is t!e !i!est wit!in t!e ift of t!ebret!ren !e is yet but a brot!er amon bret!ren. Holdin t!e !i!est power in t!e lode

!e e:ercises it by ,irtue of t!e commonest of t!e wor)in tools.

"i)e all reat symbols t!e a,el ta)es upon itself in t!e minds of t!e bret!ren somet!in

of t!e 7uality of t!e t!in symboli9ed. As we re,ere t!e cotton in stripes and stars w!ic!

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become t!e fla of our country8 as we re,ere t!e paper and in) w!ic! become t!e (reat

"i!t in 3asonry so also do Freemasons re,ere t!e Common (a,el w!ic! typifies and

symboli9es t!e !ei!t of 3asonic aut!ority t!e ma@esty of power t!e wisdom of "i!t

w!ic! rest in and s!ine fort! from t!e *riental C!air.

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Immo)able *ewels

+o symbol in all Freemasonry !as t!e uni,ersal sinificance of t!e S7uare. It is t!etypical @ewel8 t!e emblem )nown t!e world o,er as t!e premier implement of t!e stone

wor)er and t!e most important of t!e 3asonic wor)in tools.

E,ery sc!oolboy learns t!at an anle of ninety derees is a ri!t anle. So common is t!edescription t!at few e,en few 3asons pause in busy li,es to as) w!y. T!e ninety6deree anle is not only a ri!t anle but it is t!e ri!t anle t!e only anle w!ic! is

#ri!t# for stones w!ic! will form a wall a buildin a cat!edral. Any ot!er anle is

3asonically incorrect.

About t!e symbolism of t!e S7uare is not!in abstruse. Stonemasons use it to pro,e t!e$erfect As!lars. If t!e stone fits t!e s7uare it is ready for t!e builder5s use. Hence t!e

words #try s7uare# and !ence too t!e uni,ersal sinificance of t!e word #s7uare#

meanin moral upri!t !onourable fair dealin.

Fi,e centuries before t!e C!ristian era to mention only one ancient use of t!e S7uare as

an emblem of morality a C!inese aut!or wrote a boo) called T!e (reat "earnin. In itis t!e neati,e of t!e (olden %ule t!at a man s!ould not do unto ot!ers t!at w!ic! !e

does not wis! ot!ers to do unto !im. And t!en t!e C!inese sae adds #T!is is called t!e

principle of actin on t!e S7uare.#

T!e initiate wal)s around t!e lode turnin corners on t!e s7uare. *n t!e altar is aain

t!e S7uare. He sees t!e S7uare !un about t!e nec) of t!e 3aster particularly is t!e

S7uare t!e @ewel of t!e 3aster because from !im must come all 3asonic li!t to !is

bret!ren and !is teac!ins must be #s7uare.# T!e S7uare s!ares wit! t!e "e,el and t!e$lumb t!e 7uality of immo,ability in t!e lode meanin t!at as it is always t!e @ewel of

t!e 3aster so is it immo,ably in t!e Symbolic East. An emblem of ,irtue it is always in

si!t of t!e bret!ren in t!e lode8 for !im w!o carries !is 3asonry into !is daily life it isfore,er in si!t wit!in t!e try s7uare of conscience t!e tool by w!ic! !e s7uares !is

e,ery act and word.

T!e "e,el and t!e $lumb are t!e ot!er Immo,able -ewels8 t!e "e,el worn by t!e Senior

&arden in t!e &est t!e $lumb by t!e -unior &arden in t!e Sout!. &!ile S7uare "e,eland $lumb are Immo,able -ewels and as suc! belon to all t!ree of t!e derees of

Ancient Craft 3asonry8 w!ile all are always worn by t!e t!ree principal officers and all

are first seen and noted in t!e Entered Apprentice5s Deree t!ey !a,e a furt!ersinificance in t!e second or Fellowcraft5s Deree and t!e $lumb !as an especial

sinificance in t!at ceremony.

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(orth+ lace 'f Dar&ness

T!e reference to t!e ecliptic !as pu99led many a brot!er w!o !as not studied t!e elementsof astronomy.

T!e earliest astronomers defined t!e ecliptic as t!e !ypot!etical #circular# plane of t!e

eart!5s pat! about t!e sun wit! t!e sun in t!e #center.#

As a matter of fact t!e sun is not in t!e center and t!e eart!5s pat! about t!e sun is not

circular. T!e eart! tra,els once about t!e sun in t!ree !undred and si:ty6fi,e days and afraction on an elliptic pat!8 t!e sun is at one of t!e foci of t!at ellipse.

T!e a:is of t!e eart! about w!ic! it turns once in twenty6four !ours t!us ma)in a ni!t

and day is inclined to t!is !ypot!etical plane by 2= /N2 derees. At one point in its yearly

pat! t!e nort! pole of t!e eart! is inclined toward t!e sun by t!is amount. Halfway fart!eraround its pat! t!e nort! pole is inclined away from t!e sun by t!is anle. T!e lonest

day in t!e nort!ern !emisp!ere -une 2/ occurs w!en t!e nort! pole is most inclined

toward t!e sun.

Any buildin situated between latitudes 2= /N2 nort! and 2= /N2 sout! of t!e e7uator willrecei,e t!e rays of t!e sun at meridian noon from t!e nort! at some time durin t!e

year. Min Solomon5s Temple at -erusalem bein in latitude =/ derees 0; seconds

nort! lay beyond t!is limit. At no time in t!e year t!erefore did t!e sun or moon atmeridian #dart its rays into t!e nort!erly portion t!ereof.#

As astronomy in Europe is comparati,ely modern some !a,e arued t!at t!is reason for

considerin t!e +ort! 3asonically as a place of dar)ness must be also comparati,ely

modern. T!is is w!olly mista)en $yt!aoras to o no furt!er bac) reconi9ed t!eobli7uity of t!e world5s a:is to t!e ecliptic as well as t!at t!e eart! was a sp!ere

suspended in space. &!ile $yt!aoras born 1 B.C. is youner t!an Solomon5s

Temple !e is almost two t!ousand years older t!an t!e beinnins of astronomy inEurope.

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oint ithin A #ircle

T!ere is in e,ery reular and well6o,erned "ode a certain point wit!in a circleembordered by two perpendicular parallel lines.J

It is amon t!e most illuminatin of t!e Entered Apprentice5s symbols and is important

not only for its anti7uity and many meanins w!ic! !a,e been read from it but becauseof t!e bond it ma)es between t!e old operati,e stone setter5s art and t!e Speculati,e3asonry we )now.

+o man may say w!en w!ere or !ow t!e symbol bean. From t!e earliest dawn of

!istory a simple closed fiure !as been man5s symbol for Deity t!e circle for some

peoples t!e trianle for ot!ers and a circle or a trianle wit! a central point for stillot!ers. In some @urisdictions a lode closes wit! bret!ren formin a circle about t!e altar

w!ic! t!us becomes t!e point or focus of t!e Supreme Blessin upon t!e bret!ren.

A symbol may !a,e many meanins all of t!em ri!t so lon as t!ey are not self6

contradictory. As t!e point wit!in a circle !as !ad so many different meanins to so many

different people it is natural t!at it !a,e many meanins for 3asons.

It is connected wit! sun wors!ip t!e most ancient of reliions8 ruins of ancient temples

de,oted bot! to sun and to fire wors!ip are circular in form wit! a central altar or point

w!ic! was t!e Holy of Holies. T!e symbol is found in India in w!ic! land of mystery andmysticism its anti7uity is beyond calculation. In ancient meanin t!e point represents t!e

sun and t!e circle t!e uni,erse. T!is is bot! modern and ancient as a dot in a small circle

is t!e astronomical symbol for t!e sun.

T!e two parallel lines w!ic! in modern 3asonry represent t!e two !oly Sts. -o!n are asancient as t!e rest of t!e symbol but oriinally !ad not!in to do wit! t!e #two eminent

C!ristian patrons of 3asonry.# T!ey date bac) to an era before Solomon. *n early

Eyptian monuments may be found t!e Alp!a and *mea or symbol of (od in t!e centerof a circle embordered by two perpendicular parallel serpents representin t!e $ower andt!e &isdom of t!e Creator.

T!is is not only a symbol of creation but is frau!t wit! ot!er meanins. &!en man

concei,ed t!at fire water t!e sun t!e moon t!e stars t!e li!tnin t!e t!under t!e

mountains and ri,ers did not eac! !a,e a special deity t!at in all t!is uni,erse t!ere wasbut one (od and wanted to draw a picture of t!at conception of unity t!e only t!in !e

could do was to ma)e a point. &!en man concei,ed t!at (od was eternal wit!out

beinnin and wit!out endin from e,erlastin to e,erlastin and desired to draw apicture of t!at conception of eternity !e could but draw a circle t!at oes around and

around fore,er. &!en man concei,ed t!at t!e 3aster Builder did not blow !ot and cold

t!at !e was not c!anin fic)le and capricious but a (od of rectitude and @ustice andneeded to picture t!at conception of ri!teousness !e drew strai!t up and down parallel

lines. So t!is symbol stands for t!e unity t!e eternal life and t!e ri!teousness of (od.

T!at deri,ation of t!e symbol w!ic! best satisfies t!e mind as to loic and

appropriateness students find in t!e operati,e craft. T!e tools used by t!e cat!edralbuilders were t!e same as ours to6day8 t!ey !ad a,el and mallet settin maul and

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!ammer c!isel and trowel plumb and s7uare le,el and twenty6four inc! aue to

#measure and lay out t!eir wor).#

T!e s7uare t!e le,el and t!e plumb were made of wood wood cord and wei!t for

plumb and le,el8 wood alone for s7uare.

&ood wears w!en used aainst stone and warps w!en e:posed to water or damp air. T!e

metal used to fasten t!e two arms of t!e s7uare toet!er would rust and per!aps bend orbrea). +aturally t!e s7uares would not stay s7uare indefinitely but !ad to be c!ec)ed up

constantly for t!eir ri!t6anledness.

T!e importance of t!e perfect ri!t anle in t!e s7uare by w!ic! t!e stones were s!apedcan !ardly be o,erestimated. *perati,e 3asonry in t!e cat!edral6buildin days was

larely a matter of cut and try of indi,idual wor)men of careful craftsmans!ip. Ouantity

production micrometer measurement interc!aneable parts !ad not been in,ented. Allt!e more necessary t!en t!at t!e foundation on w!ic! all t!e wor) was done s!ould be as

perfect as t!e 3asters )new !ow to ma)e it. Cat!edral builders erected t! eir temples for

all time !ow well t!ey built a !undred lorious structures in t!e *ld &orld testify.

T!ey built well because t!ey )new !ow to c!ec) and try t!eir s7uares.

Draw a circle any si9e on a piece of paper. &it! a strai!t ede draw a line t!rou!

its center. $ut a dot on t!e circle anyw!ere. Connect t!at dot wit! t!e line at bot! points

w!ere it crosses t!e circle. %esult a perfect ri!t anle. Draw t!e circle of w!at si9e you

will8 place t!e dot on t!e circumference w!ere you will8 if t!e lines from t!e dot meet t!e!ori9ontal line crossin t!e circle t!rou! its center t!ey will form a ri!t anle.

T!is was t!e operati,e 3aster5s reat secret )nowin !ow to #try t!e s7uare.# It was by

t!is means t!at be tested wor)in tools8 did !e do so often enou! it was impossible

eit!er for tools or wor) #to materially err.# From t!is also comes t!e ritual used in t!elodes of our Enlis! bret!ren w!ere t!ey #open on t!e center.#

T!e oriinal line across t!e center bas been s!ifted to t!e side and become t!e #twoperpendicular parallel lines# of Eypt and India and our admonitions are no loner w!at

t!ey must once !a,e been8 ... #w!ile a 3ason circumscribes !is s7uare wit!in t!esepoints it is impossible t!at it s!ould materially err.# But !ow muc! reater becomes t!e

meanin of t!e symbol w!en we see it as a direct descent from an operati,e practice? *ur

ancient bret!ren used t!e point wit!in a circle as a test for t!e rectitude of t!e tools byw!ic! t!ey s7uared t!eir wor) and built t!eir temporal buildins. In t!e Speculati,e sense

we use it as a test for t!e rectitude of our intentions and our conduct by w!ic! we s7uare

our actions wit! t!e s7uare of ,irtue. T!ey erected Cat!edrals we build t!e !ouse notmade wit! bands. T!eir point wit!in a circle was operati,e ours is Speculati,e. But

t!rou! t!e two point in a circle on t!e round by w!ic! an operati,e 3aster secretly

tested t!e s7uares of !is fellows point wit!in a circle as a symbol by w!ic! eac! of usmay test secretly t!e s7uare of !is ,irtue by w!ic! !e erects an Inner Temple to t!e3ost Hi! bot! are 3asonic bot! are beautiful. T!e one we )now is far more lo,ely

t!at it is a direct descendant of an operati,e practice t!e use of w!ic! produced t!e ood

wor) true wor) s7uare wor) of t !e 3aster 3asons of t!e days t!at came not bac).

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$ass it not li!tly. %eard it wit! t!e re,erence it deser,es for surely it is one of t!e

reatest teac!ins of 3asonry concealed wit!in a symbol w!ic! is plain for any man to

read so be it !e !as 3asonry in !is !eart.

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Lodge 'f The Holy Saints *ohn

Dedication solemnly settin apart for some sacred purpose is a ceremony too ancient forits beinnins to be )nown. -ust w!ere 3asons left off dedicatin t!eir lodes to Min

Solomon cannot be stated !istorically8 traditionally as t!e first Temple was dedicated to

Min Solomon and t!e Second Temple to Kerubbabel 3asonry was first dedicated toSolomon t!en to Kerubbabel and finally after Titus destroyed t!e Second Temple to t!eHoly Sts. -o!n.

But we do )now t!at t!e dedication is ,ery ancient8 documentary e,idence connects t!e

name of St. -o!n t!e E,anelist wit! 3asonry as early as /


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The rincipal Tenets

T!e Entered Apprentice recei,es a monitorial e:planation of t!ese w!ic! is bot! roundand full but neit!er full nor round enou! to instruct !im w!olly in t!ese t!ree

foundation stones of t!e Ancient Craft. +or can !e recei,e t!at roundness and fullness of

e:planation by words alone. He must proress t!rou! t!e derees attend !is lode seet!e Fraternity in action fully to understand all t!at Freemasonry means by Brot!erly"o,e %elief and Trut!.

But a word or two may clear away some possible misappre!ensions.

Brot!erly "o,e is not a sentimental p!rase. It is an actuality. It means e:actly w!at it

says8 t!e lo,e of one brot!er for anot!er.

In t!e e,eryday world brot!ers lo,e one anot!er for only one reason. +ot for blood tiesalone8 we !a,e all )nown brot!ers w!o could not #et alon# toet!er. +ot because t!ey

s!ould not because it is #t!e t!in to do# but simply and only because eac! acts li)e a

brot!er.

Freemasonry !as maic wit! w!ic! to touc! t!e !earts of men but no wi9ardry to ma)et!e selfis! unselfis!8 t!e brutal entle8 t!e coarse fine8 t!e bad ood. Brot!erly "o,e in

Freemasonry e:ists only for !im w!o acts li)e a brot!er. It is as true in Freemasonry as

elsew!ere t!at #to !a,e friends you must be one.#

T!e Freemason w!o sees a S7uare and Compasses upon a coat and t!in)s #T!ere is abrot!er 3ason I wonder w!at !e can do for me# is not actin li)e a brot!er. He w!o

t!in)s #I wonder if t!ere is anyt!in I can do for !im# !as learned t!e first principle of

brot!er!ood.

#4ou et from Freemasonry @ust w!at you put into it# !as been so often said t!at it !asbecome trite but it is as true now as w!en first uttered. *ne may draw c!ec)s upon a

ban) only w!en one !as deposited funds. *ne may draw upon Brot!erly "o,e only if one

bas Brot!erly "o,e to i,e.

T!e Entered Apprentice is obliated in a lode w!ic! wants !im8 all its members arepredisposed in !is fa,our. T!ey will do all in t!eir power to ta)e !im into t!e 3ystic

Circle. But t!e bret!ren cannot do it all8 t!e Entered Apprentice must do !is part.

"uc)ily for us all t!e (reat Arc!itect so made !is c!ildren t!at w!en t!e !eart is opened

to pour out its treasures it is also opened to recei,e.

T!e Entered Apprentice learns muc! of %elief8 !e will learn more if !e oes fart!er. *nesmall point !e may muse upon wit! profit8 t!ese words !e will often !ear in connection

wit! c!arity #more especially a brot!er 3ason.#St. $aul said (alatians ,i /G #As we !a,e t!erefore opportunity let us do ood unto all

men especially unto t!em w!o are of t!e !ouse!old of fait!.#

Freemasonry !as no teac!ins t!at a 3ason s!ould not contribute to ot!er c!arities. T!e

continually insistent teac!in of c!arity t!rou! all t!e t!ree derees especially t!e

Entered Apprentice5s Deree e:cludes from c!arity no one.

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&it!out dependence societies nations families conreations could not be formed or

e:ist. But t!e ,ery solidity of t!e roup predicated upon mutual dependence

Documents

Entered Apprentice - Carl H. Claudy