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.]
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.
