The conductor, alias the Junior Deacon answers, “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 (some say erected) 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 him.”
The Senior Deacon then asks, “Is it of his own free will and accord he makes this request? Is he duly and truly prepared? worthy and well qualified? and properly avouched for?” All of which being answered in the affirmative, the Senior Deacon to the Junior Deacon: “By what further rights does he expect to obtain this benefit?”
Ans. “By being a man, free born, of lawful age, and under the tongue of good report.”
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The Senior Deacon then says, “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 repairs to the Master, when the same questions are asked and answers returned as at the door; after which the Master says, “Since he comes endowed with all these necessary qualifications, let him enter this worshipful lodge in the name of the Lord, and take heed on what he enters.” The candidate then enters, the Senior Deacon at the same time pressing his naked left breast with the point of the compass, and asks the candidate, “Did you feel anything?”
Ans. “I did.”
Senior Deacon to candidate, “What was it?”
Ans. “A torture.”
The Senior Deacon then says, “As this is a torture to your flesh, so may it ever be to your mind and conscience if ever you should attempt to reveal the secrets of Masonry unlawfully.” The candidate is then conducted to the centre of the lodge, where he and the Senior Deacon kneel, and the Deacon says the following prayer:
“Vouchsafe thine aid, Almighty Father of the universe, to this our present convention; and grant that this candidate for Masonry may dedicate and devote his life to thy service, and become a true and faithful brother among us. Endue him with a competency of thy divine wisdom, that by the secrets of our art he may be the better enabled to display the beauties of holiness, to the honor of thy holy name.” So mote it be—Amen!”
The Master then asks the candidate, “In whom do you put your trust?”
Ans. “In God.”
The Master then takes him by the right hand and says, “Since in God you put your trust, arise, follow your leader and fear no danger.” The Senior Deacon then conducts the candidate three times regularly round the lodge, and halts at the Junior Warden in the south, where the same questions are asked and answers returned as at the door.
As the candidate and conductor are passing round the room, the Master reads the following passage of Scripture,
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and takes the same time to read it that they do to go round the lodge three times.
“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, that went down to the skirts of his garment as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion, for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”
The candidate is then conducted to the Senior Warden in the west, where the same questions are asked and answers returned as before, from whence he is conducted to the Worshipful 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.
The candidate answers, “from the west and traveling to the east.”
Master inquires, “Why do you leave the west and travel to the east?”
Ans. “In search of light.”
Master then says, “Since the candidate is traveling in search of light, you will please conduct him back to the west, from whence he came, and put him in the care of the Senior Warden, who will teach him how to approach the east, the place of light, by advancing upon one upright regular step, to the first step, his feet forming the right angle
of an oblong square, his body erect at the altar, before the Master, and place him in a proper position to take upon him the solemn oath or obligation of an Entered Apprentice Mason.” The Senior Warden receives the candidate, and instructs him as directed. He first steps off with the left foot and brings up the heel of the right into the hollow thereof; the heel of the right foot against the ankle of the left, will of course form the right angle of an oblong square; the candidate then kneels on his left knee, and places his right foot so as to form a square with the left; he turns his foot round until the ankle bone is as much in front of him as the toes on the left foot, the
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.
