Ronaynes Handbook Of Freemasonry 30

Ronaynes Handbook Of Freemasonry 30

be such, so far as my ability will permit without ma-

terial injury to myself.

 

"Furthermore, that I will not cheat, wrong nor

defraud a lodge of Fellow Crafts, nor a brother of this

degree, nor supplant him in any of his laudable under-

takings.

 

"All this I most solemly and sincerely promise

and swear with a firm and steadfast resolution to keep

and perform the same, without any equivocation,

mental reservation or secret evasion of mind whatever,

binding myself under a no less penalty than that of

having my left breast torn open (see sign of Fellow

Craft, page 27), my heart plucked out and given as a

prey to the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air

should I ever knowingly violate this my solemn obli-

gation of a Fellow Craft Mason, so help me God and

keep me steadfast in the due performance of the

same."

 

Worshipful Master: "In token of your sincerity,

you will detach your hands and kiss the Bible."

(Candidate removes his hands and kisses the book.)

 

Worshipful Master (resuming his hat) : "Broth-

er Senior Deacon, you will release the brother from

the cable-tow he is bound to us by an obligation, a

tie stronger than human hands can impose."

 

Senior Deacon removes the rope from off the

candidate's right arm.

 

Worshipful Master (stepping back eight or ten

paces) : "Bro. Hunt, in your present condition what

do you most desire?"

 

Candidate (prompted by Senior Deacon) : "More

light in Masonry."

 

Worshipful Master: "Bro. Senior Deacon and

brethren, you will assist me in bringing this brother

from darkness to light."

 

 

 

124 HAND BOOK OF* FREEMASONRY.

 

m The two Stewards now raise their rods bringing

their points together over the Master's head, thus

forming a kind of triangular arch. (See Entered

Apprentice degree, page 71.)

 

RlT£ OF ILLUMINATION.

 

Worshipful Master; "In the beginning God cre-

ated the heavens 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 humble commemora-

tion of which august event we Masonically say, Xet

there be light' "

 

The Master and all the brethren together make

the due-guard of a Fellow Craft, retaining their hands

in the position for a few seconds, at the same time as

quick as the Master utters the word "light" the Senior

Deacon standing behind the candidate snatches off the

hoodwink, the entire scene being intended to make a

deep impression on his mind and give him an exalted

idea of the beauty and grandeur of Masonic light. The

Master and brethren then drop their hands and the

Worshipful Master continues :

 

Worshipful Master: "And there is light."*

 

Worshipful Master: "Upon being brought to

light in this degree, you discover the three great lights

in Masonry as before, with this difference, one point

of the compass is elevated above the square which is

to teach you that you have as yet received light in Ma-

sonry but partially."

 

The Worshipful Master again steps back a few

 

* For the meaning and origin of this rite, see "Master's Car-

pet." PP. 281-286.

 

 

 

WORK ON SECOND DEGREE.

 

 

 

125

 

 

 

paces and the Stewards crossing their rods as before,

the Senior Deacon addressing the candidate, says :

 

Senior Deacon: "Brother Hunt, you now behold

the Worshipful Master approaching you from the East

(Master steps off one step with the right foot, bring-

ing the heel of the left to the hollow of the right)

under the due-guard (makes the due-guard, see fig.

page 26) and sign (makes the sign, see fig. page 27)

of a Fellow Craft Mason/'

 

* Worshipful Master (to candidate) : "An Entered

Apprentice steps off with his left foot, bringing the

heel of the right to the hollow of the left, forming

the angle of a square and this is the first step in Ma-

sonry. A Fellow Craft steps off with his right foot

bringing the heel of the left to the hollow of the right

forming also the angle of a square, and this is the

second step in Masonry. This was given you as the

due-guard, and this as the sign of an Entered Appren-

tice, which were then explained to you. This is the

due-guard of a Fellow Craft and alludes to the position

in which your hands were placed, while taking your

obligation. This is the sign of a Fellow Craft and al-

ludes to the penalty of your obligation. In token of

the continuance of friendship and brotherly love, I

present you my right hand and with it the pass, token

of the pass, grip and word of a Fellow Craft, but as

you are uninstructed, I will explain them with Brother

Senior Deacon. Take me as I take you.

 

*RITE OF INTRUSTING.

The Master takes the candidate by the right hand

as in ordinary hand-shaking, pressing the top of his

thumb hard against the first knuckle joint of the first

finger. (See fig. page 74.)

 

* For the origin of this ceremony, see "Master's Carpet."

pp. 487-293.

 

 

 

126 HAND BOOK OF FREEMASONRY.

 

 

 

Worshipful Master: "Will you be off or from?"

(turning to Senior Deacon).

 

Senior Deacon (standing near the candidate) :

"From."

 

Worshipful Master: "From what to what?"

Senior Deacon: "From the grip of an Entered

Apprentice to the pass-grip of a Fellow Craft."

Worshipful Master: "Pass. What is this?"

 

 

 

 

Senior Deacon moves the candidate's thumb from

the first knuckle of the Master's hand to the space

between the first and second knuckles, the Master at

the same time moving his thumb to the same space of

the candidate's right hand. (See page 140.)

 

Senior Deacon: "The pass-grip of a Fellow

Craft."

 

Worshipful Master: "Has it a name?"

Senior Deacon: "It has."

 

Worshipful Master: "Will you give it to me?"

Senior Deacon: "I did not so receive it neither

will I so impart it."

 

Worshipful Master: "How will you dispose of

 

it?"

 

Senior Deacon: "I will s)dlable it with you?"

Worshipful Master: "Syllable and begin."

Senior Deacon: "No, you begin."

Worshipful Master: "You must begin."

Senior Deacon: "Bo."

Worshipful Master : "Shib."

Senior Deacon: "Leth."

 

 

 

WORK ON SECOND DEGREE. 12J

 

 

 

Worshipful Master: "Shibbo."

 

Senior Deacon (pronouncing) : "Shibboleth."

 

Worshipful Master (turning to Senior Deacon) :

"The pass is right. Will you be off or from ? "

 

Senior Deacon: "From."

 

Worshipful Master: "From what to what?"

 

Senior Deacon: "From the pass-grip of a Fellow

Craft to the real grip of the same."

 

Worshipful Master: "Pass. What is this?"