Ronaynes Handbook Of Freemasonry 36

Ronaynes Handbook Of Freemasonry 36

The following questions and answers are Masonic-

airy termed "the lecture," and is that upon which the

candidate must be closely examined before receiving

the Master Mason's degree. Every stranger also who

desires to visit, is examined on these lectures, and none

will be allowed a seat in the lodge unless proficient in

this catechism. The brother who has "posted" the

candidate usually examines him as follows :

 

lecture:.

 

Q. "Will you be off or from?"

A. "From."

 

Q. "From what to what?"

 

A. "From the degree of Entered Apprentice to

that of Fellow Craft."

 

Q. "Are you a Fellow Craft?"

 

A. "I am, try me."

 

Q. "How will you be tried ? "

 

A. "By the square."

 

Q. "Why by the square? "

 

A. "Because it is an emblem of morality and one

of the working tools of a Fellow Craft."

Q. "What is a square?"

 

A. "An angle of ninety degrees or the fourth

part of a circle."

 

Q. "What makes you a Fellow Craft? "

A. "My obligation."

 

Q. "Where were you made a Fellow Craft?"

A. "In a regularly constituted lodge of Fellow

Crafts."

 

 

 

148

 

 

 

I^CTURE ON SECOND DEGREE).

 

 

 

V49

 

 

 

Q. "How were you prepared?"

 

A. "By being divested of all metals, neither

naked nor clad, bare-foot nor shod, hood-winked and

with a cable-tow twice around my naked right arm, in

which condition I was conducted to the door of the

lodge by a brother."

 

Q. "Why had you a cable-tow twice around your

right arm?"

 

A. "To signify that as a Fellow Craft I was un-

der a double tie to the fraternity."

 

Q. "How gained you admission?''

 

A. "By three distinct knocks."

 

O, "What was said to you from within ? "

 

A. "Who comes here ? "

 

0. "Your answer?"

 

A, "Bro. James Hunt, who has been regularly

initiated as an Entered Apprentice and now seeks more

light in Masonry bv being passed to the degree of

Fellow Craft."

 

Q. "What were you then asked?"

 

A. "If it was of my own free-will and accord;

if I was worthy and well qualified, duly and truly

prepared, and had made suitable proficiency in the

preceding degree ; all of which being answered in the

affirmative I was asked by what further right or bene-

fit I expected to gain admission?"

 

Q. "Your answer?"

 

A. "By the benefit of the pass."

 

Q. "Did you give the pass?"

 

A. "I did not, but my conductor gave it for me."

 

Q. "How were you then disposed of?"

 

A. "I was directed to wait with patience until

the Worshipful Master was informed of my request

and his answer returned?"

 

 

 

150 HAND' BOOK CF FREEMASONRY.

 

Q. "What answer did he return?"

 

A. "Let him enter in the name of the Lord and

be received in due form."

 

Q. "How were you received?"

 

A, "On the angle of a square applied to my.

naked right breast, which was to teach me that the

square of virtue should be the rule and guide of my

conduct in all my future transactions with mankind."

 

Q. "How were you then disposed of?"

 

A. "I was conducted twice around the lodge to

the Junior Warden in the South, where the same ques-

tions were asked and like answers returned as at the

door/'

 

Q. "How did the Junior Warden dispose of

you?"

 

A. "He directed me to the Senior Warden in the

West, and he to the Worshipful Master in the East,

where the same questions were asked and like answers

returned as before."

 

Q. "How did the Worshipful Master dispose of

you?"

 

A. "He ordered me to be reconducted to the

Senior Warden in the West, who taught me to ap-

proach the East by two upright regular steps, my

feet forming the angle of a square, my body erect at

the altar before the Worshipful Master."

 

Q. "What did the Worshipful Master then do

with you?"

 

A. "He made me a Fellow Craft Mason in due

form.

 

Q. "What is that due form?"

 

A. "Kneeling on my naked right knee, my left

forming a square, my right hand resting on the Holy

Bible, square and compass, my left arm forming a

 

 

 

LECTURE ON SECOND DEGREE. 151

 

right angle supported by a square, in which due form

I took upon myself the solemn oath or obligation of a

Fellow Craft Maso^ which is as follows." (See page

122.)

 

Q. "After taking the obligation what were you

asked?"

 

A. "What I most desired."

 

Q. "Your answer?"

 

A. "More light in Masonry."

 

Q. "Did you receive more light in Masonry?"

 

A. "I did, by order of the Worshipful Master

and the assistance of the brethren."

 

Q. "Upon being brought to light what did you

discover more than before?"

 

A. "One point of the compass elevated above

the square, which was to teach me that I had as yet

received light in Masonry but partially."

 

Q. "What did you next discover?"

 

A. "The Worshipful Master approaching me

from the East, under the due-guard and sign of a Fel-

low Craft, who, in token of the continuance of friend-

ship and brotherly love, presented me with his right

hand and with it the pass, token of the pass, grip and

word of a Fellow Craft, ordered me to arise and salute

the Junior and Senior Wardens as such."

 

Q. "After saluting the Wardens, what did you

next discover ? "

 

A. "The Worshipful Master, who ordered me

to be re-conducted to the Senior Warden in the West,

who taught me how to wear my apron as a Fellow

Craft."

 

Q. "How should a Fellow Craft wear his

apron?"

 

A. "With the , bib turned down, and the left corner turned up in the form of a triangle."