by Moe | Aug 26, 2011 | Illustrations of Masonry
If there are any candidates to be brought forward, that will be the first business to be attended to. I will therefore proceed with a description of the ceremonies used in the admission and initiation of a candidate into the first degree of Masonry.
A person wishing to become a Mason must get some one who is a Mason to present his petition to a lodge, when, if there are no serious objections, it will be entered on the minutes, and a committee of two or three appointed to enquire into his character, and report to the next regular communication. The following is a form of petition used by a candidate; but a worthy candidate will not be rejected for the want of formality in his petition:
To the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Brethren of Lodge No. —, of Free and Accepted Masons. The subscriber, residing in ——, of lawful age, and by occupation a ——, begs leave to state that, unbiased by friends, and uninfluenced by mercenary motives, he freely and voluntarily offers himself a candidate for the mysteries of Masonry, and that he is prompted to solicit this privilege by a favorable opinion conceived of the institution, a desire
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of knowledge, and a sincere wish of being serviceable to his fellow creatures. Should his petition be granted, he will cheerfully conform to all the ancient established usages and customs of the fraternity.
(Signed)
A. B. At the next regular communication, (if no very serious objection appears against the candidate) the ballot boxes wilt be passed; one black ball will reject a candidate. The boxes may be passed three times. The Deacons are the proper persons to pass them. One of the boxes has black and white beans or balls in it, the other empty, the one with the balls in it goes before, and furnishes each member with a black and white ball; the empty box follows and receives them. There are two holes in the top of this box with a small tube, (generally) in each, one of which is black and the other white, with a partition in the box. The members put both their balls into this box as their feelings dictate; when the balls are received, the box is presented to the Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, who pronounce clear or not clear, as the case may be. The ballot proving clear, the candidate (if present) is conducted into a small preparation room, adjoining the lodge when he is asked the following questions and gives the following answers. Senior Deacon to Candidate, “Do you sincerely declare, upon your honor before these gentlemen, that, unbiased by friends, uninfluenced by unworthy motives, you freely and voluntarily offer yourself a candidate for the mysteries of Masonry?”
Ans. “I do.”
Senior Deacon to candidate. “Do you sincerely declare, upon your honor before these gentlemen, that you are prompted to solicit the privileges of Masonry by a favorable opinion conceived of the institution, a desire of knowledge, and a sincere wish of being serviceable to your fellow creatures?”
Ans. “I do.”
Senior Deacon to candidate, “Do you sincerely declare upon your honor before these gentlemen, that you will cheerfully conform to all the ancient established usages and customs of the fraternity?”
Ans. “I do.”
After the above questions are proposed and answered and the result reported to the Master, he says, ‘Brethren
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at the request of Mr. A. B. he has been proposed and accepted in regular form. I therefore recommend him as a proper candidate for the mysteries of Masonry and worthy to partake of the privileges of the fraternity and in consequence of a declaration of his intentions, voluntarily made, I believe he will cheerfully conform to the rules of the order.”
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The candidate during the time is divested of all his apparel (shirt excepted) and furnished with a pair of drawers kept in the lodge for the use of candidates. The candidate is then blindfolded, his left foot bare, his right in a slipper, his left breast and arm naked, and a rope called a Cable-tow round his neck and left arm, [the rope is not put round the arm in all lodges] in which posture the candidate is conducted to the door where he is caused to give, or the conductor gives three distinct knocks, which are answered by three from within; the conductor gives one more, which is also answered by one from within. The door is then partly opened and the Senior Deacon generally asks, “Who comes there? Who comes there? Who comes there?”
Moe is the founder of GnosticWarrior.com. He is a father, husband, author, martial arts black belt, and an expert in Gnosticism, the occult, and esotericism.
by Moe | Aug 26, 2011 | Illustrations of Masonry
The work of the evening being over, I will proceed to give a description of the manner of closing the lodge. It is a very common practice in lodges to close a lodge of Entered Apprentices, and open a lodge of Fellow Crafts, and close that, and open a Master Mason’s lodge, all in the same evening.
Some brother generally makes a motion that the lodge be closed; it being seconded and carried:—
The Master to the Junior Deacon—”Brother Junior,” [giving one rap which calls up both Deacons,] “the first as well as the last care of a Mason? (more…)
Moe is the founder of GnosticWarrior.com. He is a father, husband, author, martial arts black belt, and an expert in Gnosticism, the occult, and esotericism.
by Moe | Aug 26, 2011 | Illustrations of Masonry
Having described all the ceremonies and forms appertaining to the opening of a lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons, setting them to work, initiating a candidate, and closing the lodge, I will now proceed too give the lecture on this degree. It is divided into three sections. The lecture is nothing more or less than a recapitulation of the preceding ceremonies and forms, by way of question and answer, and fully explains the same. In fact, the ceremonies and forms (generally Masonically called the work) and lectures are so much the same that he who possesses a knowledge of the lectures cannot be destitute of a knowledge of what the ceremonies and forms are. As the ceremonies used in opening and closing are the same in all the degrees it is thought best to give the whole in one insertion; it being the sincere wish of the writer that every reader should perfectly understand all the formulas of the whole Masonic fabric, as he then will thereby be able to form correct opinions of the propriety or impropriety, advantages or disadvantages of the same.
First Section of the Lecture on the First Degree of Masonry. “From whence come you as an Entered Apprentice Mason?”
Ans. “From the holy lodge of St. John, at Jerusalem.” “What recommendations do you bring?”
Ans. “Recommendations from the Worshipful Master, Wardens and brethren of that right worshipful lodge, whom greet you.”
“What comest thou hither to do?”
Ans. “To learn to subdue my passions, and improve myself in the secret arts and mysteries of ancient Freemasonry.”
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“You are a Mason, then I presume?”
Ans. “I am.”
“How shall I know you to be a Mason?”
Ans. “By certain signs and a token.”
“What are signs?”
Ans. “All right angles, horizontals and perpendiculars.”
“What is a token?”
Ans. “A certain friendly and brotherly grip, whereby one Mason may know another, in the dark as well as in the light.”
“Where were you first prepared to be made a Mason?”
Ans. “In my heart.”
“Where secondly?”
Ans. “In a room adjacent to the body of a just and lawfully constituted lodge of such.”
“How were you prepared?”
Ans. “By being divested of all metals, neither naked nor clothed, barefoot nor shod, hoodwinked, with a Cable Tow † about my neck, in which situation I was conducted to the door of the lodge.”
“You being hoodwinked how did you know it to be a door?”
Ans. “By first meeting with resistance, and afterwards gaining admission.”
“How did you gain admission?”
Ans. “By three distinct knocks from without, answered by the same within.”
“What was said to you from within?”
Ans. “Who comes there? Who comes there? Who comes there?
“Your answer?”
Ans. “A poor blind candidate who has long been desirous of having and receiving a part of the rights and benefits of this worshipful lodge, dedicated to God, and held forth to the holy order of St. John, as all true fellows and brothers have done, who have gone this way before me.”
“What further was said to you from within?”
Ans. “I was asked if it was of my own free will and accord I made this request, if I was duly and truly proposed, worthy and well qualified, all of which being answered in the affirmative, I was asked by what further rights I expected
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to obtain so great a favor or benefit.”
“Your answer?”
Ans. “By being a man, free born, of lawful age and well recommended.”
“What was then said to you?”
Ans. “I was bid to wait till the Worshipful Master in the east was made acquainted with my request and his answer returned.”
“After his answer returned what followed?”
Ans. “I was caused to enter the lodge.”
“How?”
Ans. “On the point of some sharp instrument pressing my naked left breast in the name of the Lord.”
“How were you then disposed of?”
Ans. “I was conducted to the center of the lodge and there caused to kneel for the benefit of a prayer.” [See page 19.]
“After prayer what was said to you?”
Ans. “I was asked in whom I put my trust.”
Moe is the founder of GnosticWarrior.com. He is a father, husband, author, martial arts black belt, and an expert in Gnosticism, the occult, and esotericism.
by Moe | Aug 26, 2011 | Illustrations of Masonry
“Why was you divested of all metals when you was made a Mason?”
Ans. “Because Masonry regards no man on account of his worldly wealth or honors; it is, therefore, the internal and not the external qualifications that recommend a man to Masonry.”
“A second reason?”
Ans. “There was neither the sound of an axe, hammer, or any other metal tool heard at the building of King Solomon’s temple.”
“How could so stupendous a fabric be erected without the sound of axe, hammer, or any other metal tool?”
Ans. “All the stones were hewed, squared and numbered in the quarries where they were raised, all the timbers felled and prepared in the forests of Lebanon, and carried down to Joppa on floats, and taken from thence up to Jerusalem, and set up with wooden mauls, prepared for that purpose; which, when completed, every part thereof fitted with that exact nicety, that it had more the resemblance of the hand workmanship of the Supreme Architect of the Universe, than that of human hands.”
“Why was you neither naked nor clothed?”
Ans. “As I was an object of distress at that time, it was to remind me, if ever I saw a friend, more especially a brother, in a like distressed situation, that I should contribute as liberally to his relief as his situation required, and my abilities would admit, without material injury to myself or family.”
“Why were you neither barefoot or shod?”
Ans. “It was an ancient Israelitish custom, adopted among Masons; and we read, in the book of Ruth, concerning
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their mode and manner of changing and redeeming, ‘and to confirm all things, a brother plucked off his shoe and gave it to his neighbor, and that was testimony in Israel.’ This, then, therefore, we do in confirmation of a token and as a pledge of our fidelity; thereby signifying that we will renounce our own wills in all things, and become obedient to the laws of our ancient institutions.”
“Why were you hoodwinked?”
“That my heart might conceive before my eyes beheld the beauties of Masonry.”
“A second reason?”
Ans. “As I was in darkness at that time, it was to remind me that I should keep the whole world so respecting Masonry.”
“Why had you a Cable Tow about your neck?”
Ans. “In case I had not submitted to the manner and mode of my initiation, that I might have been led out of the lodge without seeing the form and beauties thereof.”
“Why did you give three distinct knocks at the door?”
Ans. “To alarm the lodge, and let the Worshipful Master, Wardens and brethren know that a poor blind candidate prayed admission.”
“What does those three distinct knocks allude to?”
Ans. “A certain passage in Scripture, wherein it says, ‘Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.'”
“How did you apply this to your then case in Masonry?”
Ans. “I asked the recommendations of a friend to become a Mason, I sought admission through his recommendations, and knocked, and the door of Masonry opened unto me.”
“Why was you caused to enter on the point of some sharp instrument pressing your naked left breast in the name of the Lord?”
Ans. “As this was a torture to my flesh, so might the recollection of it ever be to my heart and conscience, if ever I attempted to reveal the secrets of Masonry unlawfully.”
“Why was you conducted to the center of the lodge, and there caused to kneel for the benefit of a prayer?”
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Ans. “Before entering on this, or any other great and important undertaking, it is highly necessary to implore a blessing from Deity.”
“Why was you asked in whom you put your trust?”
Ans. “Agreeable to the laws of our ancient institution, no atheist could be made a Mason, it was therefore necessary that I should believe in Deity; otherwise no oath or obligation could bind me.”
“Why did the Worshipful Master take you by the right hand and bid you arise, follow your leader and fear no danger?”
Moe is the founder of GnosticWarrior.com. He is a father, husband, author, martial arts black belt, and an expert in Gnosticism, the occult, and esotericism.
by Moe | Aug 26, 2011 | Illustrations of Masonry
“We have been saying a good deal about a lodge; I want to know what constitutes a lodge?”
Ans. “A certain number of Free and Accepted Masons duly assembled in a room, or place, with the Holy Bible,
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[paragraph continues] Square and Compass, and other Masonic implements with a charter from the Grand Lodge empowering them to work.”
“Where did our ancient brethren meet before lodges were erected?”
Ans. “On the highest hills, and in the lowest vales.”
“Why on the highest hills and the lowest vales?”
Ans. “The better to guard against cowans and enemies, either ascending or descending, that the brethren might have timely notice of their approach to prevent being surprised.”
“What is the form of your lodge?”
Ans. “An oblong square.”
“How long?”
Ans. “From east to west.”
“How wide?”
Ans. “Between north and south.”
“How high?”
Ans. “From the surface of the earth to the highest heavens.”
“How deep?”
Ans. “From the surface to the center.”
“What supports your lodge?”
Ans. “Three large columns or pillars.”
“What are their names?”
Ans. “Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.”
“Why so?”
Ans. “It is necessary there should be wisdom to contrive, strength to support, and beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings, but more especially this of ours.”
“Has your lodge any covering?”
Ans. “It has; a clouded canopy, or a starry decked heaven, where all good Masons hope to arrive.”
“How do they hope to arrive there?”
Ans. “By the assistance of Jacob’s ladder.”
“How many principal rounds has it got?”
Ans. “Three.”
“What are their names?”
Ans. “Faith, Hope and Charity.”
“What do they teach?”
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Ans. “Faith in God, Hope in immortality, and Charity to all mankind.”
“Has your lodge any furniture?”
Ans. “It has; the Holy Bible, Square, and Compass.”
“To whom do they belong?”
Ans. “The Bible to God, the Square to the Master, and the Compass to the Craft.”
“How explained?”
Ans. “The Bible to God, it being the inestimable gift of God to man, for his instruction to guide him through the rugged paths of life; the Square to the Master, it being the proper emblem of his office; the Compass to, the Craft, by a due attention to which we are taught to limit our desires, curb our ambition, subdue our irregular appetites, and keep our passions and prejudices in due bonds with all mankind, but more especially with the brethren,”
“Has your lodge any ornaments?”
Ans. “It has; the mosaic, or chequered pavement, the indented tessels, the beautiful tessellated border which surrounds it, with the blazing star in the center.”
“What do they represent?”
Ans. “Mosaic or chequered pavement represents this world, which, though chequered over with good and evil, yet brethren may walk together thereon and not stumble; the indented tessel, with the blazing star in the center, the manifold blessings and comforts with which we are surrounded in this life, but more especially those which we hope to enjoy hereafter; the blazing star, that prudence which ought to appear conspicuous in the conduct of every Mason, but more especially commemorative of the star which appeared in the east, to guide the wise men to Bethlehem, to proclaim the birth and the presence of the Son of God.”
“Has your lodge any lights?”
Ans. “It has three.”
“How are they situated?”
Ans. “East, west, and south.”
“Has it none in the north?”
Ans. “It has not.”
“Why so?”
Ans. “Because this and every other lodge is, or ought to be a true representation of King Solomon’s Temple, which
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was situated north of the ecliptic; the sun and moon therefore darting their rays from the south, no light was to be expected from the north; we, therefore, Masonically, term the north a place of darkness.”
“Has your lodge any jewels?”
Ans. “It has six; three movable and three immovable.”
“What are the three movable jewels?”
Ans. “The Square, Level, and Plumb.”
“What do they teach?”
Ans. “The Square, morality; the Level, equality; and the Plumb, rectitude of life and conduct.”
“What are the three immovable jewels?”
Ans. “The rough Ashlar, the perfect Ashlar, and the Trestle-board.”
Moe is the founder of GnosticWarrior.com. He is a father, husband, author, martial arts black belt, and an expert in Gnosticism, the occult, and esotericism.
by Moe | Aug 26, 2011 | Illustrations of Masonry
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I will now introduce the reader to the second degree of Masonry. It is generally called passing, as will be seen in the lecture. I shall omit the ceremonies of opening and closing, as they are precisely the same as in the first degree, except two knocks are used in this degree, and the door is entered by the benefit of a pass-word. It is Shibboleth. It will be explained in the lecture.
The candidate, as before, is taken into the preparation room, and prepared in the manner following:
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All his clothing taken off, except his shirt; furnished with a pair of drawers; his right breast bare; his left foot in a slipper, his right bare; a cable-tow twice around his neck; semi-hood-winked; in which situation he is conducted to the door of the lodge, where he gives two knocks, when the Senior Deacon rises and says: “Worshipful, while we are peaceably at work on the second degree of Masonry, under the influence of faith, hope, and charity, the door of the lodge is alarmed.” Master to Senior Deacon, “Enquire the cause of that alarm.” [In many lodges they come to the door, knock, are answered by the Senior Deacon, and come in without their being noticed by the Senior Warden or Master.] The Senior Deacon gives two raps on the inside of the door. The candidate gives one without; it is answered by the Senior Deacon with one, when the door is partly opened by the Senior Deacon, who enquires, “Who comes here? Who comes here?”
Note.—In modern lodges both eyes are covered, and the cable-tow is put around the naked right arm, instead of around the neck. See cut.
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The Junior Deacon, who is or ought to be the conductor, answers, “A worthy brother who has heel regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason, served a proper time as such, and now wishes for further light in Masonry by being passed to the degree of Fellow Craft.”
Senior Deacon to Junior Deacon. “Is it of his own free will and accord he makes this request?”
Ans. “It is.”
Senior Deacon to Junior Deacon: “Is he duly and truly prepared?”
Ans. “He is.”
Senior Deacon to Junior Deacon. “Is he worthy and well qualified?”
Ans. “He is.”
Senior Deacon to Junior Deacon. “Has he made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree?”
Ans. “He has.”
[Very few know any more than they did the night they were initiated, have not heard their obligation repeated, nor one section of the lecture, and in fact a very small proportion of Masons ever learn either.]
Senior Deacon to Junior Deacon. “By what further rights does he expect to obtain this benefit?”
Ans. “By the benefit of a pass-word.”
Senior Deacon to Junior Deacon. “Has he a pass-word?”
Ans. “He has not, but I have it for him.”
Senior Deacon to Junior Deacon. “Give it to me.”
The Junior Deacon whispers in the Senior Deacon’s ear, “Shibboleth.”
The Senior Deacon says, “The pass is right; since this is the case, you will wait till the Worshipful Master in the east is made acquainted with his request, and his answer returned.”
The Senior Deacon then repairs to the Master and gives two knocks, as at the door, which are answered by two by the Master, when the same questions are asked, and answers returned as at the door, after which the Master says, “Since he comes with all these necessary qualifications, let him enter this Worshipful Lodge in the name of the Lord and take heed on what he enters.” As he enters, the angle of the square is pressed hard against his naked right breast,
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at which time the Senior Deacon says, “Brother, when you entered this lodge the first time, you entered on the point of the compass pressing your naked left breast, which was then explained to you. You now enter it on the angle of the square pressing your naked right breast, which is to teach you to act upon the square with all mankind, but more especially with the brethren.” The candidate is then conducted twice regularly round the lodge, and halted at the Junior Warden in the south, where he gives two raps, and is answered by two, when the same questions are asked, and answers returned as at the door; from thence he is conducted to the Senior Warden, where the same questions are asked and answers returned as before; he is then conducted to the Master in the east, where the same questions are asked and answers returned as before; the Master likewise demands of him from whence he came and whither he is traveling.
Moe is the founder of GnosticWarrior.com. He is a father, husband, author, martial arts black belt, and an expert in Gnosticism, the occult, and esotericism.
