W. M. Who comes here? who comes here? who comes here? S. D. A poor blind candidate, &c. (The same questions are asked and answers returned as at the door.) W. M. You will let him enter this lodge and be received in due form. S. D. (Steps to the door, opens it and says,)-It is the worshipful master's order that the candidate enter this lodge and be received in due form,- at the same time presses the point of the compass against his naked left breast.' S. D. (To candidate.) Do you feel any thing? Junior deacon prompts the candidate, who says-'I do.' Can. (prompted,) A prick. S. D. As this is a prick to your flesh, may the recollection of it be to your mind and conscience, and instant death in the case of revolt.-Follow me. Senior deacon conducts the candidate to the centre of the lodge, and directs him to kneel for the benefit of the lodge prayer. The master gives three raps with a gavel, which brings all the brethren upon their feet, and says, Let us pray with the candidate. PRAYER. W. M. "O thou, whose temple we are, on the mountain of thy truth, let our sublime edifice display its glory. Let the eye of the master meet the sun of light as he enters. Let the greater lights, by the help of the less, illuminate the whole scene of his duty, and of his pleasure. Behold us with thy brightness at this hour leading the young servant into thy temple. Like the temple let him be beauteous without and all glorious within. Let his soul be capacious as thy truth, and his affections as pure as the serene heavens when the silent moon gives her light. Let him obey as the sun who labors until perfect day with increasing strength; and let the purposes of his heart be as the stars that tell of worlds unknown, and are notices of a boundless benevolence. Let him move like the heavenly orbs in harmony; and should he stretch across the universe, may he disturb* no soul in his course. Within this temple may he be as sacred as the altar, sweet as the incense, and pure as the most holy place. Among thy ministering servants may he be ready as an angel of God and faithful as a beloved son. And when his service is finished, may his memory be cele brated by love on the durable monuments of eternity; and his *This means, if the candidate should happen to run away, may he run against no Freemason. reward in the silent, calm joy of heaven, be sure from the hand of God, the grand master of us all." [See Ahiman Rezon-page 136, 2d edition. By Samuel Cole, P. M.] After prayer, the master, placing his hand upon the candidate's head, says, In whom do you put your trust? He is directed to say, in God. The master takes him by the right hand, and says, Your trust being in God, your faith is well founded. Arise! follow your leader, and fear no danger. The candidate is now conducted with a quick pace around the lodge, with the sun; during which time the master resumes his place, and reads: 'Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.' It is like precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down the skirts of his garments. 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 ever more. [See Cross' chart, page 12th.] The reading being finished about the time the candidate had made his third evolution around the lodge, he is halted at the junior warden's in the south; and caused to make the regular alarm of three distinct knocks, when the same questions are asked, and answers returned, as at the door. The junior warden directs him to the senior warden in the west, where the same questions are asked, and answers returned as before. Junior warden directs him to the worshipful master in the east, where the same questions are asked, and like answers returned, &c. W. M. Then inquires, From whence came you? S. D.* W. M. S. D. W. M. S. D. Which way are you travelling? To the east. Why do you leave the west and travel to the east? In search of light. W. M. Since this is the case, you will conduct him back to the west, and place him in the care of the senior warden, who will teach him to approach the east, the place of light, with one regular and upright step to the first step of Masonry, his body erect, his feet forming the right angle of an oblong square. He will then kneel in due form to take upon himself the solemn oath and obligation of an entered apprentice Mason. * The senior deacon is with the candidate, and answers all questions for him during the ceremonies. The senior warden receives the candidate at his place, and leads him up the hall or lodge, to within about two paces of the altar, and stops. He directs the candidate to step off a full step with his left foot, and bring up the right and place the heel thereof in the hollow of the left, so that the feet stand at right angles. He then steps off with his right foot, and kneels upon his naked left knee, so that his left knee forms a square, and his right knee also forms a square. His left hand is placed with the palm up under the Holy Bible, square and compasses, (resting upon the altar) and the right hand rests on them. S. D. Says, Worshipful, the candidate is placed at the altar in due form to receive the solemn oath and obligation of an entered apprentice Mason. Worshipful master now gives three raps with the gavel. At this signal the brethren all form a circle as near the candidate as their numbers will admit. They approach in breathless silence so as not to apprize the candidate of their movements. W. M. Now addresses the candidate,-Mr. James Dupeasy, you are kneeling at the altar of masonry, for the first time in your life. Before we can communicate to you the mysteries of Masonry, you must take an obligation that you will never reveal the secrets of the order. And I assure you, as a man, as a Mason, and as master of this lodge, that it will not interfere in any way with the duty you owe to your country or your Maker. If you are willing to proceed, you will repeat your christian and surname, and say after me. Can. James Dupeasy. W. M. Of my own free will and accord- W. M. In presence of Almighty God Can. In presence of Almighty, &c. Thus, sentence by sentence, and word by word, the candidate repeats after the worshipful master until he has taken the following oath: "I, James Dupeasy, of my own free will and accord, in presence of Almighty God, and this worshipful lodge of free and accepted Masons, erected to God and dedicated to the holy St. Johns, do hereby and hereon, most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will always hail, ever conceal, and never reveal, any part or parts, art or arts, point or points, of the secret arts and mysteries, of ancient Freemasonry, which I have received, am about to receive, or may hereafter be instructed in, to any person or persons, in the known world; except it be to a true and lawful brother Mason, or within the body of a just and lawfully constituted lodge of such; and not unto him nor unto them, whom I shall hear so to be, but unto him and them, only, whom I shall find so to be; after strict trial, and due examination, or lawful information. Furthermore do I promise and swear, that I will not write, print, stamp, stain, hew, cut, carve, indent, paint or engrave it, on any thing movable, or immovable, under the whole canopy of heaven; whereby or whereon, the least letter, figure, character, mark, stain, shadow, or resemblance of the same, may become legible, or intelligible to myself, or any other person, in the known world; whereby the secrets of Masonry may unlawfully be obtained through my unworthiness. To all which I do most solemnly, and sincerely, promise and swear, without the least equivocation, mental reservation, or self-evasion of mind in me, whatever; binding myself under no less penalty, than to have my throat cut across, from ear to ear, my tongue torn out by the roots, and my body buried in the rough sands of the sea, a cable-tow's length from the shore, at low water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours; so help me God, and keep me stedfast in the due performance of the same." W. M. In token of your sincerity you will now kiss the book on which your hand rests. [Candidate kisses the book.] W. M. In your present situation, what do you most desire? Can. (Being prompted says) Light.' W. M. Brethren, will you stretch forth your hands and assist in bringing this candidate from darkness to true masonic light? And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.' At these words, some brother standing near the candidate for the purpose, strips off the bandage from his eyes; and at the same instant the brethren give the grand shock. The 'grand shock' is given, by the brethren clapping their hands and stamping their feet at the instant the bandage is removed from the candidate's eyes. After the candidate is brought to light, the master addresses him as follows: 'Brother, on being brought to light, you first discover the three great lights in Masonry by the assistance of the representatives of the three lesser. The three great lights in Masonry, are the holy bible, square, and compasses; and are thus explained: the Holy Bible is given to us as a rule and guide to our faith and practice; the Square to square our actions; and the Compasses to keep us in due bounds with all mankind; but more especially with the brethren. "These three burning tapers standing in a triangular form, are the representatives of the three lesser lights in Masonry. They represent the Sun, Moon, and Master of the Lodge; and teach us this important lesson, viz: as the sun rules the day, and the moon governs the night, so ought the worshipful master to endeavor to rule and govern his lodge.' The master then steps back a few paces, and the senior dea con addresses the candidate as follows. S. D. You now behold the master approaching you from the east, under the step, sign, and due-guard of an entered apprentice Mason. The master steps off with his left foot, brings the heel of the right into the hollow thereof, so that his feet form a right angle. He then gives the sign and due-guard, as before described, and explains them to the candidate. [See plate 4, fig. 1, 2.] W. M. Advancing to the candidate, says,-In token of friendship and brotherly love, I now present you with my right hand; and with it you will receive the grip and word of an entered apprentice Mason. Take me as I take you. [See plate 4, fig. 6.] As you are not instructed, brother, Senior deacon, you will answer for him. Q. What is that? A. A grip. Q. A grip of what? A. The grip of an entered apprentice Mason. Q. Has it a name? A. It has. Q. Will you give it to me? A. I did not so receive it, neither can I so impart it. Q. What will you do with it? A. Letter it, or halve it. Q. Halve it, and begin. Q. Begin you. A. BO Q. AZ. A. BOAZ. Master says, Right, brother Boaz. I greet you. [It is the name of the left hand pillar of the porch of king Solomon's temple.] Arise, brother Boaz, and salute the junior and senior wardens, and convince them that you have been regularly initiated as an entered apprentice Mason, and have got the sign, grip, and word. The master returns to his seat, while the wardens are examining the candidate, and gets a lamb-skin, or white apron, and presents it to the candidate, saying, Brother, I now present you with a lamb-skin, or white apron. It is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason. It has been worn by kings, princes, and potentates of the earth, who have never been ashamed to wear it. It is more honorable than the |