1Sr Degree Part 2

In a regular Lodge on the 1st degree of masonry.

In my heart

In a room adjoining the lodge.

I was divested of all minerals and metals, neither naked nor clothed, barefoot nor shod, hoodwinked and a cable toe once about my neck. In which condition I was conducted to a door by a friend whom I afterwards found to be a brother.

By first meeting resistance and afterwards gaining admission.

By 3 distinct knocks

Who comes here?

Mr. Gary Hiatt a poor blind candidate who wishes to be brought from darkness to light to receive a part of the rights and benefits of this worshipful Lodge, erected to God, and dedicated to the Holy Saints John, as many brothers and fellows before.

If it was of my own free will and Accord.

If I was worthy and well qualified.

Duly and truly prepared.

Of lawful age and properly vouched for.

All of which being answered in the affirmative.

I was asked by what further rights or benefit I expected to obtain this important privilege.

By being a man, free born, of good report and well recommended.

I was directed to wait until the worshipful master could be informed of my request and his answered returned.

Let him enter in the name of God and be received in due form.

Upon the point of a sharp instrument piercing my naked left breast, to teach me that as it was an instrument of torture to the flesh, so should the recollection thereof be to my conscience, should I ever attempt to reveal the secrets of masonry unlawfully.

I was conducted to the center of the lodge, caused to kneel, and attend prayer.

In whom I put my trust.

In God

By trusting in God, my faith was well founded. I was taken by the right hand, ordered to arise, follow my conductor and fear no danger.

Once about the lodge to the junior warden in the south where the same questions were asked and like answers returned as at the door.

I was conducted to the senior warden in the west, where the same questions were asked and like answers returned as before.

I was conducted to the worshipful master in the east where the same questions were asked and like answers returned as before.

He ordered that I be reconducted to the senior warden in the west who taught me to advance by one upright regular masonic step. My feet forming the angle of an oblong square, my body erect to the worshipful master.

He made me an entered apprentice in due form.

Kneeling on my naked left knee, my right forming a square, my body erect, my left hand supporting the Holy Bible, square and compasses my right resting thereon in which due form I took the obligation of an entered apprentice which is as follows...

I Gary Hiatt of my own free will and Accord in the presence of Almighty God and this worshipful Lodge of ancient free and accepted masons on the first degree of masonry erected to Him and dedicated to the Holy Saints John do hereon solemnly swear that I will always hail ever conceal and never reveal any of the secrets of masonry that have been, maybe now or at any future time communicated to me or any way come to my knowledge to any person except it be in a regular Lodge on the 1st degree of masonry or to a known brother Mason nor unto him or them until by strict trial, due examination, or lawful masonic information I shall have found him or them as justly entitled to the same as I am about to be.

I furthermore solemnly swear that I will not write indict cut carve print paint stamp stain mark or engrave the same upon anything movable or immovable under the canopy of heaven and will make no letter figure cipher or character legible or intelligible to myself or any other person whereby the secrets of masonry might be unlawfully obtained.

To all this I solemnly swear with a fixed and steady purpose to keep and perform without hesitation mental reservation or secret evasion of mind binding myself under no less penalty than that of having my throat cut from ear to ear, my tongue torn out by the roots and buried in the sands of the sea a cable toe length from shore where the tide ebbs and flows twice in 24 hours should I violate this my entered apprentice solemn obligation so help me God and keep me steadfast.

What I most desired

Light in masonry

I did! By order of the worshipful master and assistance of the brethren

The three great lights in masonry by aid of the representative of the three lesser.

The Holy Bible, square, and compasses.

The Holy Bible is the rule and guide of faith. The square to square our actions and the compasses to circumscribe and keep us within due bounds with all mankind, but more especially with the brethren in masonry.

The sun, moon and master of the lodge

As the sun rules the day and the moon governs the night, so should the worshipful master endeavor to rule and govern the lodge with equal regularity.

By 3 burning tapers placed in a triangular position in the lodge.

The worshipful master approaching me from the east under the due guard and sign of an entered apprentice. Who in token of brotherly love and friendship presented me his right hand and with it the grip and word of an entered apprentice and ordered me to arise and salute the wardens as such.

The worshipful master approaching me from the east a second time, who presented me with the lamb skin or white leather apron who informed me that it was an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason. More ancient than the Golden fleece or Roman Eagle. More honorable than the star and garter or any other order that could be conferred upon me at that time or any future period by King, Prince, potentate, or any other person, except he be a Mason which he hoped I would wear with equal pleasure to myself and honor to the fraternity and ordered me to take it to the senior warden in the west who taught me to wear it as an entered apprentice.

With the flap turned up to protect his clothing. Masonically to prevent dobbing with untempered mortar.

I was conducted to the worshipful master in the east who informed me that agreeable to an ancient custom in all regular and well governed lodges it then became necessary that I be requested to deposit something of metallic kind. Not for the intrinsic worth or value thereof but that it might be laid up among the records, in the archives , of the lodge, as a memorial that I was therein initiated but upon strict search I found myself entirely destitute.

He ordered that I be reconducted to the place whence I came and be invested with that of which I had been divested and return to the lodge for further instruction

In the northeast corner my feet forming the angle of a square, my body erect to the worshipful master, who was pleased to say that I there stood as a just and upright Mason and gave it me strictly in charge ever to walk and act as such.

The working tools of an Entered Apprentice.

The 24 inch gauge and common gavel.

The 24 inch gauge is an instrument made use of by operative Mason's to measure and lay out their work, but we, as free and accepted masons, or 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 emblematic of the 24 hours of the day. Which we are taught to divide into 3 equal parts whereby are found 8 hours for the service of God and a distressed worthy brother, 8 for our usual avocations, and 8 for refreshment and sleep.

The common gavel is an instrument made use of by operative Mason's 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 the divesting our hearts and consciences of all the vices and superfluities of Life, thereby fitting our minds as living stones for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, Eternal in the heavens. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 1