script.txt

Entered Apprentice Opening

Worshipful Master * 

(Junior Deacon Closes doors)

Brother Senior Warden, proceed to satisfy yourself that all present
are Masons

Senior Warden Brothers Senior & Junior Deacons, proceed to satisfy yourselves that
all present are Masons

Senior or Junior Deacon Brother Senior Warden, I cannot vouch for this brother

Senior Warden: The brother is vouched for Brother Senior or Junior Deacon. 

or

Will any brother vouch for the brother on my left (or
right)

Brother: Brother Senior Warden, I vouch for the brother

Senior Warden: The brother is vouched for, Brother Senior or Junior Deacon

Junior Deacon: Satisfied

Senior Deacon: Brother Senior Warden, all present are Masons

Senior Warden: All present are Masons, Worshipful Master

Worshipful Master * Brother Junior Deacon, what is the first great care of Masons when in
Lodge assembled?

Junior Deacon: To see that the lodge is duly tiled

Worshipful Master: Perform that duty. Inform the Tyler that I am
about to open a lodge of Entered Apprentices and direct him to tile
accordingly.

Junior Deacon: Brother Tyler, the Worshipful Master is about to open a lodge of
Entered Apprentices and you are directed to tile accordingly.

Tyler *

Junior Deacon: The lodge is duly tiled, Worshipful Master

Worshipful Master: How are we tiled, Brother Junior Deacon?

Junior Deacon: By a brother Master Mason without the door, armed with,
the proper instrument of his office.

Worshipful Master: What are his duties there?

Junior Deacon: To keep off all cowans and eaveSenior Deaconroppers, to
see that none pass or repass but such as are duly qualified and have your permission.

Worshipful Master * Brother Senior Warden, as an EA, from whence came you

Senior Warden: From the lodge of the Holy Saints John at
Jerusalem

Worshipful Master: What came you here to do?

Senior Warden: To leam to subdue my passions and improve
myself in Masonry

Worshipful Master Then I presume you are a Mason?

Senior Warden: I am so taken and accepted among brothers and
fellows

Worshipful Master: What makes you a Mason?

Senior Warden: My obligation

Worshipful Master: How do you know yourself to be a Mason?

Senior Warden: By having been often tried, never denied, and
am willing to be tried again

Worshipful Master: How shall I know you to be a Mason?

Senior Warden: By certain signs, a token, a word, and the
perfect points of my entrance

Worshipful Master: What are signs?

Senior Warden: Right angles, horizontals, and perpendiculars

Worshipful Master: Give me a sign. (done) 
What is that called?

Senior Warden: The due guard of an Entered Apprentice

Worshipful Master: Has it an allusion?

Senior Warden: It has,to the position my hands were placed in
when I took the obligation

Worshipful Master: Give me another sign. (done) What is that
called?

Senior Warden: The sign of an Entered Apprentice

Worshipful Master: Has it an allusion?

Senior Warden: It has, to the penalty of my obligation.

Worshipful Master: What are tokens?

Senior Warden: Certain friendly or brotherly grips, whereby one Mason may know another in the dark as well as in the light

Worshipful Master: Give me a token. (Junior Deacon gives to Senior Warden) I Hail

Senior Warden: I conceal

Worshipful Master: What do you conceal?

Senior Warden: All the secrets of Masons in Masonry, except it be from him or them to whom they of right belong.

Worshipful Master: What is that?

Senior Warden A grip

Worshipful Master A grip of what

Senior Warden Of an Entered Apprentice

Worshipful Master: Has it a name?

Senior Warden: It has

Worshipful Master: Give it me

Senior Warden: I cannot so receive it, neither can I so impart it

Worshipful Master: How will you dispose of it?

Senior Warden: Letter and halve it

Worshipful Master: Letter it and begin

Senior Warden: Begin you

Worshipful Master: Nay, you begin

Senior Warden: LETTERS

Worshipful Master: The word is right, I great you brother.  Where were you made a Mason?

Senior Warden: In a just and lawfully constituted lodge of Masons

Worshipful Master: What number formerly constituted a lodge of
Entered Apprentices?

Senior Warden: Seven or more

Worshipful Master When composed of only seven, who were they?

Senior Warden: The Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Tr, S, Senior Deacon, and Junior Deacon

Worshipful Master: What is the Junior Deacon's place in the lodge?

Senior Warden: On the right of the Senior Warden in the West

Worshipful Master: What are your duties there, Brother Junior Deacon?

Junior Deacon: To carry messages from the Senior Warden in the West to the Junior Warden in the South, and elsewhere about the lodge as he may direct, and see that the lodge is duly tiled.

Worshipful Master: What is the Senior Deacons place in the lodge?

Junior Deacon: On the right of the Worshipful Master in the East

Worshipful Master: What are your duties there, brother Senior Deacon?

Senior Deacon: To carry orders from the Worshipful Master in the East to the Senior Warden in the West, and elsewhere about the lodge as he may direct, to introduce and accomodate visiting brethren, to receive and conduct candidates

Worshipful Master: What's the Secretaries place in the lodge?

Senior Deacon: On the left of the Worshipful Master in the East

Worshipful Master **

What are your duties there brother Secretary?

Secretary: To observe the Worshipful Master's will and pleasure, to record the proceedings of the lodge, to receive all moneys, pay them over to the Treasurer, and take his receipt therefore

Worshipful Master: What is the Treasurers place in the lodge?

Secretary: On the right of the Worshipful Master in the East

Worshipful Master: What are your duties there, Brother Treasurer?

Treasurer: To receive all moneys from the hands of the Secretary, keep just and regular account of the same, and pay them out at the Worshipful Master's will and pleasure, with the consent of the lodge.

Worshipful Master: What is the Junior Wardens station in the lodge?

Treasurer: In the South

Worshipful Master: Why are you in the South, brother Junior Warden, what are your duties there?

Junior Warden: As the sun in the south, at its meridian height, is the glory and beauty of the day, so stands the Junior Warden in the south, the better to observe the time, to call the craft from labor to refreshment, to superintend them during the hours thereof, and see that they do not convert the purposes of refreshment into intemperance and excess. To call them on again in due sEntered Apprenticeson, that the Worshipful Master may have pleasure and the craft profit thereby.

Worshipful Master: What is the Senior Warden's station in the lodge?

Junior Warden: In the West

Worshipful Master: Why are youin the West, brother Senior Warden. What
are your duties there?

Senior Warden: As the suns in the west at the close of the day, so is the Senior Warden in the west, to assist the Worshipful Master in opening, and closing his lodge, to pay the craft their wages, if any be due, and see that none go away dissatisfied, harmony being the strength and support ofall societies, more especially of ours.

Worshipful Master: What is the Worshipful Master's station in the lodge?

Senior Warden: In the East

Worshipful Master: Why is he in the east, brother Senior Warden, what are his duties there?

Senior Warden: As the sun rises in the East to open and govern the day, so rises the Worshipful Master in the East, to open and govern his lodge, set the craft at work, and give them proper instruction.

Worshipful Master: Brother Senior Warden, it is my will and pleasure that XXX lodge, number yyy, be now opened on the first degree of Masonry, for the dispatch of such business as, may regularly come before it, strictly forbidding any and all irregular and unmasonic conduct, whereby the peace and harmony of the lodge may be disturbed or broken, under no less penalty than the by-laws prescribe or a majority of the brethren present see cause to inflict. Communicate this order to the Junior Warden in the south and he to the craft for their government.

Senior Warden: Brother Junior Warden, it is the will and pleasure of the Worshipful Master in the East that XXX lodge, number yyy, be now opened on the first degree of Masonry, for the dispatch of such business as may regularly come before it, strictly forbidding all irregular and unmasonic conduct, whereby the peace and harmony of the lodge may be disturbed or broken, under no less penalty than the by-laws prescribe or a majority of the brethren present see cause to inflict, communicate this order to the craft for their government.



Junior Warden: Brethren, it is the will and pleasure of the Worshipful Master in the East, communicated to me by the Senior Warden in the west, that XXX lodge, number yyy, be-now opened on the first degree of Masonry, for the dispatch of such business as may regularly come before it, strictly forbidding all regular and unmasonic conduct, whereby the peace and harmony of the lodge may be disturbed or broken, under no less penalty than the by-laws prescribe or a majority of the brethren present see cause to inflict. Take notice and govern yourselves accordingly.

Worshipful Master: As proclaimed in the south, by way of the west, so let it be done. Together brethren. (Due Guard &
Sign) *

Senior Warden *

Junior Warden *

Chaplain: Prayer, amen.

All: So mote it be.

Worshipful Master: In the name of God, and the Holy Saints John, T declare XXX lodge, number yyy, opened in form on the first degree. Brother Junior Deacon, inform the Tyler.

Junior Deacon: ***

Tyler: ***

Senior Deacon: Brother Tyler, the lodge is opened in form on the first degree. *

Junior Deacon: The duty is performed (Salute) Worshipful Master.

Worshipful Master: (Optional pledge of allegiance to the flag) *




Entered Apprentice Initiation

Candidate: ***

Senior Deacon: [Rises, Takes Rod] 

Senior Deacon:Worshipful Master, [Salute] there is an alarm at the door of the preparation room. 

Worshipful Master: Attend the alarm, brother Senior Deacon

Senior Deacon: [Goes to the preparation room door knocks 3 times] *** Who comes here?

Senior Steward: A poor blind candidate, who is desirous of being brought from darkness to light, to have and receive a part of the rights, lights, and benefits of this worshipful lodge, erected to god and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, as many a brother and fellow has done before him.

Senior Deacon: Is it of your own free will and accord?

Candidate: It is

Senior Deacon: Is he duly and truly prepared? 

Senior Steward: He is

Senior Deacon: Worthy and well qualified?

Senior Steward: He is

Senior Deacon: By what further rights and benefits does he expect to gain admission?

Senior Steward: By being a man, freeborn, of lawful age, and well recommended.

Senior Deacon: You will wait with patience until the Worshipful Master is informed of your request and his answer returned.

[Closes door, goes to center or altar *** on floor]

Worshipful Master: Who comes there?

Senior Deacon: A poor blind candidate, who is desirous of being brought from darkness to light, to have and receive a part of the rights, lights, and benefits of this worshipful lodge, erected to god and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, as many a brother and fellow has done before him. 
Worshipful Master: Is it of his own free will and accord?

Senior Deacon: It is

Worshipful Master: Is he duly and truly prepared? 

Senior Deacon: He is

Worshipful Master: Worthy and well qualified?

Senior Deacon: He is

Worshipful Master: By what further rights and benefits does he expect to gain admission?

Senior Deacon: By being a man, freeborn, of lawful age, and well recommended.

Worshipful Master: Let him enter and be received in due form.

Senior Deacon: [Goes to door, opens it] It is the will and pleasure of the Worshipful Master that you enter this lodge and lodge of entered apprentices and be received in due form.

[Back up about six feet, put rod on my left breast, shaft tool in my right hand. Stewards enter with candidate, I stop him with my left hand]

Senior Deacon: My friend, I receive you on the point of a sharp instrument applied to your naked left breast, which is to signify that,  as this is an instrument of torture to your flesh, so should the recollection of it be to your conscience, should you ever presume to reveal any of the secrets of Freemasonry unlawfully.

[Takes position on left of candidate] [Salute] Worshipful Master, your order has been obeyed.

Worshipful Master: My friend, no man should ever enter upon any great and important undertaking without first invoking the blessing of deity. You will therefore be conducted to the center of the lodge, caused to kneel, and attend prayer. 

[Conducts candidate to the center of the lodge]

Senior Deacon: Kneel on both knees.

Worshipful Master: *** (Uncover) 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 wiSenior Deaconom, that by the secrets of our art, he may be better enabled to display the beauties of brotherly love, relief, and truth, to the honor of thy holy name. Amen. 

All: So mote it be

Worshipful Master: My friend, in whom do you place your trust? 

Candidate: In God

Worshipful Master: Your trust being in God, your faith is well founded. I therefore take you by the right hand. Arise, follow your guide, and fear no danger (Recover) *

========================================================================

JW: *

Chaplain: Behold, how good and how pleasant is for brethren to dwell together in unity

Senior Warden: * 

Chaplain: It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the bear, even Aaron’s beard, that went down to the skirts of his garment.

Worshipful Master *

Chaplain: As the dew of Harmon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion, for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. 

[With right hand, conducts the candidate about the lodge, goes past S and they tap gavel, then W , then E, then goes  to the S, and I tap 3 times with rod] ***

Senior Deacon: ***

Junior Warden: <Rises> Who comes here?

Senior Deacon: A poor blind candidate, who is desirous of being brought from darkness to light, to have and receive a portion of the rights, lights, and benefits of this worshipful lodge, erected to god and dedicated to the wholly Saints John, as many a brother and fellow has done before him. 

Junior Warden: Is it of your own free will and accord?

Candidate: It is

Junior Warden: Is he duly and truly prepared? 

Senior Deacon: He is

Junior Warden: Worthy and well qualified? 

Senior Deacon: He is

Junior Warden: By what further rights or benefits does he expect to gain from admission? 

Senior Deacon: By being a man, freeborn, of lawful age and well recommended.

Junior Warden: You will be conducted to the Senior Warden in the West for further examination. 

Senior Deacon: ***

Senior Warden: <Rises> Who comes here?

Senior Deacon: A poor blind candidate, who is desirous of being brought from darkness to light, to have and receive a portion of the rights, lights, and benefits of this worshipful lodge, erected to god and dedicated to the wholly Saints John, as many a brother and fellow has done before him. 

Senior Warden: Is it of your own free will and accord?

Candidate: It is

Senior Warden: Is he duly and truly prepared? 

Senior Deacon: He is

Senior Warden: Worthy and well qualified? 

Senior Deacon: He is

Senior Warden: By what further rights or benefits does he expect to gain from admission? 

Senior Deacon: By being a man, freeborn, of lawful age and well recommended.

Senior Warden: You will be conducted to the Worshipful Master in the East for final examination and instruction. 

Senior Deacon: ***

Worshipful Master: <Rises> Who comes here?

Senior Deacon: A poor blind candidate, who is desirous of being brought from darkness to light, to have and receive a portion of the rights, lights, and benefits of this worshipful lodge, erected to god and dedicated to the wholly Saints John, as many a brother and fellow has done before him. 

Worshipful Master: Is it of your own free will and accord?

Candidate: It is

Worshipful Master: Is he duly and truly prepared? 

Senior Deacon: He is

Worshipful Master: Worthy and well qualified? 

Senior Deacon: He is

Worshipful Master: By what further rights or benefits does he expect to gain from admission? 

Senior Deacon: By being a man, freeborn, of lawful age and well recommended.

Worshipful Master: You will be reconducted to the SW in the west, who will teach you to approach the east, advancing by one upright regular step, your feet forming a right angle of an oblong square, your body erect to the Worshipful Master in the east. 

[Pass with candidate, left side of altar, to the West]

Senior Deacon: Brother SW, it is the will and pleasure of the Worshipful Master that you teach the candidate to approach the east  advancing by one upright regular step, his feet forming a right angle of an oblong square, his body erect to the Worshipful Master in the East.

Senior Warden: Face to the east. Advance one step with your left foot. Bring the heel of the right to the hollow of the left and form a right angle of an oblong square, your body erect. Worshipful Master (salute) your order has been obeyed. 

Worshipful Master: My friend, for the first time in your life you have approached the altar of freemasonry. You stand before us a candidate, seeking admission into our order. But before going farther, be warned of the solemnity and importance of the step you are about to take, and if unwilling to proceed, withdraw while there is yet time. 

The design of the Masonic institution is to make its votaries wiser, better, and consequently happier. We receive none, knowingly, into our ranks who are not moral and upright before God, and of good repute before the world. Such persons, when associated together, will naturally seek each other’s welfare and happiness equally with their own. That they may do so upon a common platform, and become not weary in well doing, we obligate them by solemn and irrevocable ties, to perform the requirements of, and avoid the things prohibited by, freemasonry. 

You have been elected by the members of this lodge, upon your own voluntary petition, to become united with us in this great and good work. At your entrance into the lodge, you professed faith in God, that God whom we as Masons reverence and serve. The solemn engagements, which you will be required to make before you can participate with us in our labors and privileges, are made in the name of God, and when once taken, they can never be repudiated or laid aside. 

Yet, I am free to inform you that our obligations contain nothing which can conflict with your duty to God, your country, your neighbor, or yourself. With this promise on my part, as master of the lodge, I ask you, are you willing to take such an obligation, as all Masons have done before you, or do you prefer to retire, as you have a perfect right to do, and proceed no farther. Will you take the obligation? 

Candidate: I will

Worshipful Master: Brother Senior Deacon, place the candidate in due form to be made a Mason. 

[Conducts the candidate at the altar]

Senior Deacon: Advance to the altar, kneel on your naked left knee, your right forming a square, your body erect, your naked left hand supporting the Holy Bible, Square and Compass, your naked right resting thereon. 

[Salute] Senior Deacon: Worshipful Master, the candidate is in due form!

========================================================================

Worshipful Master: (Uncover) You will say I, your name, and repeat after me: of my own free will and accord, in the presence of almighty God and this worshipful lodge, erected to him and dedicated to the holy Saints John, do hereby and hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will always hail, forever conceal, and never reveal, any of the secret arts, parts, or points, of the hidden mysteries of freemasonry, which may have been heretofore, or shall be at this time, or at any future period, communicated to me as such, to any person or persons whomsoever, except it be to a true and lawful brother Mason, or in the body of a just and lawfully constituted lodge of Masons, nor unto him or them, until by strict trial, due examination, or lawful information, shall have found him or them as lawfully entitled to the same as I am myself. 


I furthermore promise and swear that I will not write, print, paint, stamp, stain, cut, carve, letter, mark, or engrave them on anything movable or immovable, capable of receiving the least impression of a single word, syllable, letter, or character, whereby the same might become legible or intelligible to any person under the canopy of heaven, and the secrets of freemasonry be thereby unlawfully obtained by my unworthiness.

All this, I most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steadfast resolution to perform the same, without the least equivocation, mental reservation, or self evasion whatsoever, binding myself under no less penalty than that of having my throat cut from ear to ear, my tongue torn out by its roots, and my body buried in the rough sand of the sea, at lower water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in 24 hours, should I, in the least, knowingly or wittingly, violate or transgress,this, my EA obligation, so help me God and keep me steadfast. 

In token of your sincerity of purpose in these solemn engagements, you will kiss the holy bible now open before you. 

Brother Senior Deacon, our brother being bound to us by a covenant which can never be broken, you will release him from his cable tow. 

(Worshipful Master places hand on candidates head)

My brother, for by that sacred appellation I now address you, in your present blind condition, what do you most desire? 

Candidate: Light

Worshipful Master: You shall receive it. Brethren, assist me in bringing our brother to light!

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void, And darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, and God said, “Let there be Light.” And there was light. In solemn commemoration of that sublime event, I know masonically declare, “Let there be light.” 

And there is light. 

My brother, on being brought to light, you first discover the three great lights of Masonry, by the assistance of the representatives of the lesser. The three great lights of Masonry are the Holy Bible, square, and compass. The holy bible is to rule and guide our faith, the square to square our actions, the compass to circumscribe and keep us within due bounds with all mankind, but more especially a brother Mason. 

The three lesser lights are the sun, moon, and master of the lodge, and are thus explained; as the sun rules the day, and the moon governs the night, so ought the Worshipful Master to endeavor to rule and govern his lidge with equal regularity. They are represented by three burning tapers placed in a triangular position in the lodge. 

(Recover)

You now (start walking) discover me as master of the lodge, approaching you from the east, under the due guard and sign of an EA. (stop) You were taught to advance one step with your left foot, bringing the heel of the fight to the hollow of the left, forming a right angle of an oblong square. This is the due guard, and alludes to the position your hands were placed in when you took the obligation. This is the sign, and alludes to the penalty of the obligation. This due guard and sign are always to be given upon entering or retiring from a lodge of EAs. 

(Move forward) In token of my brotherly love and friendship, I present you my right hand, and with it, the grip and word of an EA. As you are uninstructed, brother Senior Deacon will answer for you. Take me as I take you. 

(Take candidates hand) I hail

Senior Deacon: I conceal

Worshipful Master: What do you conceal?

Senior Deacon All the secrets of Masons in Masonry, except it be from him or them to whom they of right belong. 

Worshipful Master What is this?

Senior Deacon A grip

Worshipful Master A grip of what?

Senior Deacon Of an EA

Worshipful Master Has it a name?

Senior Deacon It has

Worshipful Master Give it me?

Senior Deacon I did not so receive it, neither can I so impart it

Worshipful Master How will you dispose of it?

Senior Deacon Letter and halve it

Worshipful Master Letter it and being

Senior Deacon Begin you

Worshipful Master Nay, you begin

Senior Deacon/Worshipful Master A-B-O-Z BO-AZ BOAZ

Worshipful Master The word is right, I greet you brother. Arise and salute the wardens as an EA. 

Senior Deacon: Worshipful Master (salute) your order has been obeyed

Worshipful Master: My brother, I present you with a lambskin, or white leather apron. It is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason, more ancient that the golden fleece or Roman Eagle, more honorable than the Star and Garter or any other order that can be conferred upon you at this time or at any future period, by king, prince, potentate, or any other person, except he be a Mason, and which I hope you will wear with equal pleasure to yourself and honor to the fraternity. 

Take it. Carry it to the Senior Warden, who will teach you how to wear it as an EA. 

Senior Deacon: Brother Senior Warden, it is the will and pleasure of the Worshipful Master that you teach our brother how to wear his apron as an EA. 

Senior Warden: My brother, at the building of King Solomon’s Temple, the several classes of Masons were known and distinguished by the peculiar manner in which they wore their aprons. There were 70,000 EAs, or bearers of burdens, who were directed to wear theirs with the bib turned up, the better to protect their clothing. Thus, my brother, you will wear yours while laboring among us as a speculative EA. But remember, that although stains upon this garment broughts credit, rather than disgrace, to the ancient operative Mason, you , as a speculative Mason, must keep this apron, as an emblem of innocence, unspotted by the world. 

Senior Deacon: Worshipful Master (salute) your order has been obeyed. 

Worshipful Master: My brother, agreeably to an ancient custom, established in all regular and well governed lodges, it is now necessary that you be requested to deposit something of a metallic kind, not for its intrinsic worth or value alone, but that it may be laid up among the records, n the archives of the lodge, as a memorial that you are here made a Mason. Anything of a trifling metallic nature, a small coin. Brother Senior Deacon, you will receive the deposit. 

Candidate: Worshipful Master, on strict examination, I find myself entirely destitute. 

Worshipful Master: My brother, this is to remind you of your present extremely poor and penniless situation. Should you ever hereafter meet with a friend, more especially a worthy brother in like condition, you must contribute as liberally to his relief as you can do without injury to yourself. You will now be reconducted to the place from whence you came, and there be reinvested of what you have been divested, and returned to the lodge for further instruction.

Worshipful Master: Brother Senior Deacon, place our newly admitted brother in the northeast corner of the lodge as the youngest Entered Apprentice

Senior Deacon: Form with your feet a right angle of an oblong square, your body erect to the Worshipful Master in the east. Worshipful Master,. (salute), your order has been obeyed. 

Worshipful Master: My brother, you now stand as a just and upright Mason, and I give it you, strictly in charge, ever to walk and act as such. I now present you with the working tools of an Entered Apprentice, and will teach you their uses. They are the 24 inch gauge and common gavel. 

The 24 inch gauge is an instrument made us of by operative Masons to measure and lay out their work. But we, as free and accepted Masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of dividing our time. It being divided into 24 equal parts, is emblematical of the 24 hours of the day, which we are taught to divide into three equal parts, whereby we find eight hours for the service of God and a distressed worthy brother, eight hours for our usual vocations, and eight for refreshment and sleep. 

The common gavel is an instrument made use of by operative Masons to break off the corners of rough stones, the better to fit them for the builders use, but we, as free and accepted Masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of divesting our minds and consciences of all the vices and superfluities of life, thereby fitting ourselves, as living stones, for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Entered Apprentice Close


Worshipful Master: Brother SW, have you anything further in the west claiming our attention in this degree?

Senior Warden: Nothing in the W (salute) WM

Worshipful Master: Have you anything in the South, brother JW?

Junior Warden: Nothing in the South (salute) WM

Worshipful Master: Have you anything on your table, brother S?

S: Nothing, (salute)

Worshipful Master: Has any brother anything to offer for the good of masonry in general, or of this lodge of EA’s in particular, before we proceed to close? 

Worshipful Master: * Brother JD, what is the first great care of Masons when in Lodge assembled?

JD: To see that the lodge is duly tiled

Worshipful Master: Perform that duty. Inform the tyler that I am about to close this lodge of EA’s and direct him to tile accordingly. 

JD: Brother tyler, the WM is about to close this lodge of EAs and you are directed to tyle accordingly.

JD: *

Tyl: *

JD: The Lodge is duly tiled, WM

Worshipful Master: How are we tiled, brother JD

JD: By a brother MM without the door, armed with the proper instrument of his office.

Worshipful Master: What are his duties there? 

JD: To keep off all cowans and eavesdroppers, to see that none pass or repass but such as are duly qualified and have your permission.





Worshipful Master: * Br SW, as an EA, from whence came you?

Senior Warden: From the lodge of the Holy Saints John at Jerusalem

Worshipful Master: What came you here to do?

Senior Warden: To learn to subdue my passions and improve myself in Masonry

Worshipful Master: Then I presume you are a M?

Senior Warden: I am so taken and accepted among brothers and fellows

Worshipful Master: What makes you a M?


Senior Warden: My obligation

Worshipful Master: How do you know yourself to be a M?

Senior Warden: By having been often tried, never denied, and am willing to be tried again

Worshipful Master: How shall I know you to be a M?


Senior Warden: By certain signs, a token, a word, and the perfect points of my entrance


Worshipful Master: What are signs

Senior Warden: Right angles, horizontals, and perpendiculars

Worshipful Master: Give me a sign (sign) 
        What is that called?

Senior Warden: The due guard of an EA

Worshipful Master: Has it an allusion?

Senior Warden: It has, to the position my hands were placed in when I took the obligation

Worshipful Master: Give me another sign (sign) 
        What is that called?

Senior Warden: The sign of an EA

Worshipful Master: Has it an allusion?

Senior Warden: It has, to the penalty of my obligation









Worshipful Master: What are tokens?

Senior Warden: Certain friendly or brotherly grips, whereby one M may know another in the dark as well as in the light

Worshipful Master: Give me a token
 (Junior Deacon gives to Senior Warden) I hail

Senior Warden: I conceal

Worshipful Master: What do you conceal? 

Senior Warden: All the secrets of Ms in Masonry, except it be from him or them to whom they of right belong.




Worshipful Master: What is that?

Senior Warden: A grip

Worshipful Master: A grip of what?

Senior Warden: Of an EA

Worshipful Master: Has it a name? 

Senior Warden: It has

Worshipful Master: give it me

Senior Warden: I did not so receive it, neither can I so impart it

Worshipful Master: How will you dispose of it?

Senior Warden: Letter and halve it

Worshipful Master: Letter it and begin

Senior Warden: Begin you

Worshipful Master: Nay, you begin

Senior Warden/Worshipful Master: O B A Z | BO AZ | BOAZ

Worshipful Master: The word is right, I greet you brother, BOAZ. 





Worshipful Master: Where were you made a M?

Senior Warden: IN a just and lawfully constituted lodge of Ms

Worshipful Master: What number formerly constituted a lodge of EAs?

Senior Warden: Seven or more

Worshipful Master: When composed of only seven, who were they?

Senior Warden: The WM, SW, JW, Treasurer, Sec, SD, and JD

Worshipful Master: What is the JD’s place in the lodge?

Senior Warden: On the right of the SW in the West

Worshipful Master: * What are your duties there, Brother JD? 

Junior Deacon: To carry messages from the SW in the West to the JW in the S, and elsewhere about the lodge as he may direct, and see that the lodge is duly tiled.






Worshipful Master: What is the SDs place in the lodge?

Junior Deacon: On the right of the WM in the E

Worshipful Master: What are your duties there brother SD?

Senior Deacon: To carry orders from the WM in the E to the SW in the W, and elsewhere about the lodge as he may direct, to introduce and accommodate visiting brethren, to receive and conduct candidates.

Worshipful Master: What is the Sec place in the lodge

Senior Deacon: On the left of the WM in the E

Worshipful Master: ** What are your duties there brother Sec?

Secretary To observe the WM’s will and pleasure, to record the proceedings of the lodge, to receive all moneys, pay them over to the Tr, and take his receipt therefore. 

Worshipful Master: What is the treasurers place in the lodge?

Secretary On the right of the WM in the E

Worshipful Master: What are your duties there brother Treasurer? 

Treasurer: To receive all moneys from the hands of the Sec, keep just and regular account of the same, and pay them out at the WM will and pleasure, with the consent of the lodge. 

Worshipful Master: What is the JW’s station in the lodge?

Treasurer: In the South

Worshipful Master: Why are you in the south, brother JW, what are your duties there?

Junior Warden: As the sun in the South at its meridian height is the glory and beauty of the day, so stands the Junior Warden in the South, the better to observe the time, to call the craft from labor to refreshment, to superintend them during the hours thereof, and see that they do not convert the purposes of refreshment into intemperance and excess, to call them on again in due season, that the WM may have pleasure, and the craft profit thereby. 

Worshipful Master: What is the SW’s station in the lodge?

Junior Warden: In the W

Worshipful Master: Why are you in the west, brother SW. What are your duties there? 

Senior Warden: As the sun is in the west at the close of the day, so is the SW in the west, to assist the WM in opening and closing the lodge, to pay the craft their wages, if any be due, and see that none go away dissatisfied, harmony being the strength and support of all societies, more especially of ours. 

Worshipful Master: What is the WM’s station in the lodge?

Senior Warden: In the E

Worshipful Master: Why is he in the E, brother SW, what are his duties there?

Senior Warden: As the sun rises in the east to open and govern the day, so rises the WM in the east, to open and govern his lodge, set the craft at work, and give them proper instruction. 
Worshipful Master: Brother SW, it is my will and pleasure that XXX lodge, number yyy, be now closed. Communicate this order to the JW in the south and he to the craft for their government. 

Senior Warden: Brother JW, it is the will and pleasure of the WM in the east that XX lodge, number yyy, be now closed. Communicate this order to the craft for their government. 

Junior Warden: *** Brethren, it is the will and pleasure of the WM in the east, communicated to me by the SW in the W, that XXX lodge, number yyy, be now closed. Take notice and govern yourselves accordingly. 

Worshipful Master: As proclaimed in the South, by way of the West, so let it be done. Together brethren. (Due guard and salute)

Junior Warden: **

Senior Warden: **

Worshipful Master: ** Brother SW, how should Masons meet?

Senior Warden: On the level

Worshipful Master: How act, brother JW?

Junior Warden: By the plumb

Worshipful Master: And part upon the square. So may we ever meet, act, and part. And now, may the blessing of heaven rest upon us and all regular masons. May brotherly love prevail, and every moral and social virtue cement us. Amen. 

ALL: So mote it be

Worshipful Master: In the name of God, and the Holy Saints John, I declare XXX lodge, number yyy, closed in form on the first degree. Brother JD, inform the Tyler. 

Junior Deacon: ***

Tyler: ***

Junior Deacon: Brother Tyler, the lodge is closed in form on the first degree. The duty is performed, WM. 

Worshipful Master: *


Entered Apprentice Q&A

Q: In passing through the forms and ceremonies of your initiation, many of them may have seemed to you to be of a light and trifling character, such as might have been waived or adopted at pleasure. They are such however, as have prevailed in every regular and well-governed lodge from time immemorial, and for reasons which will now be explained to you.

Why were you divested of all metals when made a Mason?

A: For two reasons: first, that I should carry nothing offensive or defensive into the lodge; second, at the building of King Solomon's Temple, there was not heard the sound of ax, hammer, or any iron tool.

Q: How could a building of such stupendous magnitude have been erected without the aid of some iron tool?

A: Because the stones were all hewed, squared, and numbered in the quarries whence they were raised, the timbered felled and prepared in the forests of Lebanon, conveyed by sea in floats to Jappa, from thence by land to Jerusalem, where they were set up by wooden mauls prepared for the purpose. And when the building was completed, the several parts fitted with such exactness that it had more the appearance of being the handiwork of the Supreme Architect of the Universe than of human hands.

Q: Why were you neither naked nor clad?

A: Because Masonry regards no man for his worldly wealth or honors. It was to signify that internal and not external qualifications made me worthy to be a Mason.

Q: Why were you neither bare-foot nor shod?

A: This was agreeably to an ancient Israeli custom. We read in the book of Ruth that it was the custom in former times, concerning redeeming and changing, that to confirm all things, a man plucked off his shoe and gave it to his neighbor. This was testimony in Israel. This we did to signify the sincerity of our intentions in the business in which we were then engaged.

Q: Why were you hood-winked, with a cable-tow around your neck?

A: For three reasons. First, as I was then in darkness, so should keep those without as regards the secrets of Freemasonry until they should obtain them as lawfully as I was then about to do. Second, that my heart should be taught to conceal before my eyes beheld the beauties of Freemasonry. Third, had I refused to submit to the forms and ceremonies of my initiation, being found unworthy to be taken by the hand as a brother, I might, by the help of the cable-tow, have been conducted out of the lodge without being able to discover even the form thereof.

Q: Why were you caused to give three distinct knocks?

A: For two reasons. First to alarm the lodge and inform the WM that I was prepared for initiation. Second, to remind me of a certain text in scripture, "Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened onto you.”

Q: How do you apply that to your then situation?

A: I asked the recommendation of a friend to be made a Mason, through his recommendation I sought initiation, I knocked at the door of the lodge and it was opened onto me.

Q: Why were you received on the point of a sharp instrument, applied to your naked left breast?

A: It was to signify, that as that was an instrument of torture to my flesh, so should the recollection of it be to my conscience, should I ever presume to reveal any of the secrets of Freemasonry.

Q: Why were you caused to kneel and attend prayer?

A: Because no man should ever enter upon any great and important undertaking without first invoking the blessing of deity.

Q: Why were you asked in whom you put your trust?

A: Because agreeably to our Masonic institutes, no atheist can be made a Mason.

Q: Why were you taken by the right hand, ordered to rise, follow your guide and fear no danger?

A: It was to signify that at a time when I could neither foresee nor prevent danger, that I was in the hands of a true and trusty friend, in whose fidelity I might with safety confide.

Q: Why were you conducted once about the altar?

A: That the brethren might all see that I was duly qualified.

Q: Why were you caused to meet three several obstructions on your passage?

A: Because in every regular and well-governed lodge there is a representation of King Solomon's Temple, in which, when completed, guards were stationed at the South, West, and East gates to see that none passed or repassed but such as were duly qualified and had his permission. It was necessary that I should meet these several obstructions that I might be duly examined before being made a Mason.

Q: Why were you caused to kneel on your naked left knee?

A: Because the left is regarded as the weaker part of man. It was to signify that it was the weaker part of Masonry I was then entering upon, it being the degree of an Entered Apprentice.

Q: Why were you caused to lay your naked right hand on the Holy Bible, Square, and Compass?

A: Because the right hand was presumed, by our ancient brethren, to be the seat of fidelity, which we see symbolized by two right hands joined, again by two human figures holding each other by the right hand. The right hand we made use of as a token of our sincerity, and a pledge of our fidelity, in the business in which we were then engaged.

Q: Why were you presented with a Lambskin, and why is that the badge of a Mason?

A: Because the lamb has, in all ages, been deemed an emblem of innocence. He therefore who wears the lambskin as a badge of Freemasonry, is thereby continually reminded of that purity of life and conduct which is essentially necessary to gaining admission into the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.

Q: Why were you requested to deposit something of a metallic kind?

A: It was to remind me of my then extremely poor and penniless situation; that should I ever thereafter meet with a friend, more especially a worthy brother in like condition, I should contribute as liberally to his relief as I could do without injury to myself.

Q: Why were you placed in the North-east corner of the lodge as the youngest Entered Apprentice?

A: Because in operative masonry, the first stone of a building is usually placed in the northeast corner. I was therefore placed in the northeast corner to receive my first instruction on which to build my moral and Masonic edifice.