Ronaynes Handbook Of Freemasonry 19

Ronaynes Handbook Of Freemasonry 19

Senior Warden (rising and making the due-

guard) : "All right in the West, Worshipful."

 

The Master now takes a white leather apron and

approaches the candidate, saying:

 

 

 

Worshipful Master (one rap) : "My brother, I

now have the pleasure of presenting you with a lamb-

skin, or white leather apron. It is an emblem of inno-

cence 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 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. You will carry it to the Senior Warden

 

* For the origin of this rite, see "Master's Carpet," pp. 292-

 

296.

 

 

 

RITE OE INVESTITURE.*

 

 

 

 

WORK ON THE FIRST DEGREE.

 

 

 

77

 

 

 

in the West, who will teach you how to wear it as an

Entered Apprentice."*

 

The candidate should here be re-conducted to the

West, without passing round the altar; and the Sen-

ior Deacon, giving one rap, addresses the Senior War-

den as follows :

 

Senior Deacon: "Brother Senior Warden, it is

the order of the Worshipful Master that you teach

the brother how to wear his apron as an Entered

Apprentice."

 

The Senior Warden, taking the apron from the

candidate, unfolds it, and while tying it on, says:

 

Senior Warden: "My brother, Masonic tradition

informs us that at the building of King Solomon's

Temple, there were three principal classes of workmen,

each of whom, as a distinctive badge, wore their

aprons in a particular manner. Entered Apprentices,

being bearers of burden, wore theirs with the bib

turned up %o prevent soiling their clothing; and al-

though spots upon the apron of the operative work-

man brought credit, rather than disgrace, yet, you as a

speculative Mason, are taught to keep yours unspotted

from the world."

 

The candidate is then conducted in front of the

Worshipful Master in the East, who rises from his

seat, and addresses him as follows:

 

Worshipful Master: "My brother, it now be-

comes my duty in accordance with an ancient custom

adopted in every regular and well governed lodge to

request you to deposit something of a metalic kind,

not for its intrinsic worth, but that it may be laid up

among the records in the archives of the Lodge as a

memorial that you were here made a Mason. I there-

 

 

 

• "Standard Monitor," Cook, 1903, p. 11.

 

 

 

78 HAND BOOK OK FREEMASONRY.

 

fore make this request of you, something of a metalic

kind.

 

This proceeding often embarrasses the candidate

very much, especially if he has not read Masonic ex-

positions, for having left all his clothing, money, etc.,

in the preparation room, he is not at all in a fit con-

dition to respond to a request for a deposit of money

or anything else of a metalic kind, to be laid up in

the archives of the Lodge or elsewhere.

 

Worshipful Master: "My brother, you are poor

indeed, this request has not been made to trifle with

your feelings, as we well know, if you were duly and

truly prepared you had nothing of a metalic kind about

you, but it is to make a deep and lasting impression

on your mind and should you ever meet a friend more

especially a brother Mason in a like destitute situation

you should contribute as liberally to his relief as your

ability will permit without material injury to your-

self."

 

Senior Deacon then places candidate in the North-

East corner of Lodge, "his feet forming the angle

of a square/' — that is, on the step of an Entered

Apprentice, — and his body erect, where the Worshipful

Master gives him the following charge and performs

what is called "the North-East corner ceremony."

 

Worshipful Master: "My brother, you now stand

in the North-East corner of the Lodge as the youngest

Entered Apprentice, and it is with pleasure I can say

that you there stand as a just and upright Mason and

I give it you strictly in charge ever to walk and act

as such.

 

"As you are now clothed as an Entered Appren-

tice, you are entitled to your working tools.

 

 

 

WORK ON TH£ FIRST DEGREE. 79

 

 

 

THE WORKING TOOLS

 

of an Entered Apprentice are the twenty-four inch

gauge and the common gavel." (The Master, holding

these implements in his hand, presents them to the

candidate.)

 

p" ■ t 1 \ i 1 1 1 1 i | i 1 i [ i j 1 p \ r f

 

 

 

"The twenty- four inch gauge is an instrument

made use 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 di-

vided into twenty-four equal parts, is emblematical of

the twenty- four 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 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 rough and super-

fluous parts of stones, the better to fit them for the

builder's 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 hearts and con-

sciences of 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.* You will now be reconducted to the

place whence you came, invested with what you have

been divested of and returned to the