Ronaynes Handbook Of Freemasonry 14

Ronaynes Handbook Of Freemasonry 14

52 HAND BOOK OF 1 FREEMASONRY.

 

 

 

Supposing that it is a regular communication, and

the Lodge being opened on the third degree, it must

be reduced down to the first for initiation, which is

done as follows:

 

Worshipful Master: "Brother Senior Warden,

it is my order that we now dispense with labor on the

third degree, and resume on the first for work; this

you will communicate to the Junior Warden in the

South, and he to the brethren, that all having due

notice thereof may govern themselves accordingly

 

Senior Warden (one rap): "Brother Junior

Warden, it is the order of the Worshipful Master that

we now dispense with labor on the third degree, and

resume on the first for work. This you will communi-

cate to the brethren, that all having due notice there-

of may govern themselves accordingly/'

 

Junior Warden (three raps) : "Brethren, it is the

order of the Worshipful Master, communicated to me

by way of the West, that we now/ dispense with

labor on the third degree, and resume on the first

for work. Take due notice thereof, and govern your-

selves accordingly."

 

Worshipful Master: "Together, brethren."

 

All make the due-guard and sign of an Entered

Apprentice, as explained on page 16. The" Master

gives one rap, and the Senior and Junior Wardens also

one each, when the Master continues :

 

Worshipful Master: "Accordingly, I declare

Keystone Lodge, No. 639, duly at labor on the first

degree of Masonry. Brother Senior Deacon, arrange

the altar. Brother Junior Deacon, inform the Tyler."

 

The Master then gives one rap, and the Lodge is

again seated. The Junior Deacon informs the Tyler,

as explained already on page 10, and the Senior Dea-

 

 

 

WORK ON THE FIRST DEGREE.

 

 

 

53

 

 

 

con opens the Bible at Psalm 133, and places upon it

 

 

 

the Square and Compass, with both points below the

Square, as in the annexed figure.

 

 

 

Worshipful Master (one rap) : "Brother Junior

Deacon, you will ascertain if there are any candidates

in waiting."

 

Junior Deacon: Repairs to the door and gives

three raps.

 

Tyler: Three raps.

 

Junior Deacon: "Worshipful Master, Mr. James

Hunt is in waiting for the first degree in Masonry."

 

Worshipful Master: "Brother Secretary, you

will take with you the Stewards, retire and propound

the usual interrogatories."

 

Junior Deacon (at the door) : Three raps.

 

Tyler: Three raps.

 

(Exit, Secretary and Stewards.)

 

 

 

 

INITIATION.

 

 

 

CHARGE TO CANDIDATES.

 

 

 

Secretary: "Mr , as you have peti-

tioned for initiation into our mysteries, it becomes my

 

 

 

54

 

 

 

HAND BOOK OF FREEMASONRY.

 

 

 

duty to propound to you several interrogatories of

which I must require of you unequivocal answers.

 

As you have been elected by unanimous ballot to

become a member of our fraternity, it becomes my

duty to inform you that the institution of which you

are about to become a member is of no light and

trifling character, but of high importance and due sol-

emnity. Masonry consists of a course of ancient hiero-

glyphics, moral instructions taught agreeably to ancient

usages by types, emblems and allegorical figures. Even

the ceremonies of gaining admission, within these

walls are emblematic of events which all mankind

must sooner or later experience. They are emblematic

at least in some small degree of jyour great and last

change, of your exit from this world, to the world

to come. You are undoubtedly aware that whatever

man may acquire on earth, whether wealth, honor, titles

or even his own merits, can never serve him as a pass-

port to the Grand Lodge above, but previous to his

gaining admission there, he must find himself poor and

penniless, blind and naked dependent on the will and

pleasure of the Supreme Grand Master. He must be

divested of the rags of his own righteousness and

clothed with a garment from on high. And in order

to impress this more deeply on your mind it will be

necessary that you be divested of a portion of your

outward apparel and clothed in a garment furnished

by the Worshipful Master of this Lodge, a garment

similar to that worn by all candidates who have gone

this way before you.

 

Are you willing to submit to these rules ? (Candi-

date answer.)

 

I will then leave you in the hands of true and

trusted friends, who will give you the necessary in-

structions and prepare you in a proper manner for

 

 

 

your initiation as an candidates nave Deen wno nave

gone this way before."

 

The foregoing questions being thus proposed and

answered, the Secretary retires into the Lodge, ap-

proaches the altar as usual, makes the due-guard and

sign, and reports:

 

"Worshipful Master, the usual questions have

been satisfactorily answered; the first four being an-

swered in the affirmative, and the fifth in the nega-

tive ,* and the usual fee has been collected/'

 

The Junior Deacon then proceeds^ with the as-

sistance of the Stewards, to prepare the candidate for

initiation, which is done in the following manner : He

is divested of his coa^, vest, pants, boots, stockings,

drawers, neck tie, collar, — in fact everything except

 

 

 

 

his shirt. He is then handed a pair of drawers (al-

ways furnished by the Lodge), which he puts on. J*d\

 

 

 

56

 

 

 

HAND BOOK OF FREEMASONRY.

 

 

 

the studs, sleeve-buttons, etc., are taken off his shirt,

and any iron buttons in his inside shirt, are cut out.

Everything of a metalic kind is taken away; the

left leg of the drawers is rolled above the knee, so

as to make the left foot, leg and knee bare; the left

sleeve of his shirt is raised above the elbow, so as to

make the left arm bare and the left breast of the shirt

is tucked back, so as to make his left breast bare. A

slipper is put on his right foot, with the heel slipshod,

a hood-wink is fastened over his eyes, a blue rope,

called a cable-tow is put once around his neck, and he

is then duly and truly prepared to be made a Mason.