Enter Apprentice

From a Lodge of the Sts. John of Jerusalem.

To learn to subdue my passions and improve myself in Masonry.

I am so taken and accepted among all brothers and fellows.

By having been often tried, never denied, and willing to be tried again.

By certain signs, a token, a word, and the perfect points of my entrance.

Right angles, horizontals, and perpendiculars

Certain friendly or brotherly grips, by which one Mason may know another in the dark as well as in the light.

Here give sign of Entered Apprentice.

It has; to the penalty of my obligation.

Here give grip of a Entered Apprentice.

In my heart

In a room adjacent to a regularly constituted lodge of Free & Accepted Masons

By being divested of all metals, neither naked nor clothed; barefoot nor shod, hoodwinked, with a cable-tow around my neck; in which condition I was conducted to the door of a Lodge by a friend, whom I afterward found to be a brother.

By first meeting with resistance, afterward gaining admission

By three distinct knocks

Who comes here

This candidate, who has long been in darkness, and now seeks to be brought to light, and to receive a part in the rights and benefits of this worshipful Lodge, erected to God, and dedicated to the holy Ste. John, as all brothers and fellows have done 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 right or benefit I expected to gain admission.

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

I was directed to wait with patience until the Worshipful Master should be informed of my request, and his answer returned.

Let him enter, and be received in due form.

On the point of a sharp instrument pressing my naked left breast.

I was conducted to the centre of the Lodge, caused to kneel, and attend at prayer.

In whom I put my trust.

In God.

My trust being in God, I was taken by the right hand, and informed that my faith was well founded; ordered to arise, follow my conductor, and fear no danger.

For the reason, first, that I should carry nothing offensive or defensive into the Lodge; second, at the building of King Solomon's Temple, there was not heard the sound of an axe, hammer, or any tool of iron.

Because Masonry regards no one for his worldly wealth or honors; it is the internal, and not the external qualifications of a man that should recommend him to be made a Mason.

To alarm the Lodge, and inform the Worshipful Master that I was prepared for Masonry, and, in accordance to our ancient custom, that I should ask. "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

A certain number of Masons duly assembled, with the Holy Bible, square, and compasses, and charter, or warrant empowering them to work.

On a high hill or in a low valley.

The better to observe the approach of cowans, or eaves-droppers, ascending or descending.

An oblong square, extending from east to west, between the north and south, from the earth to the heavens, and from the surface to the centre.

To signify the universality of Masonry, and that a Mason's charity should be equally extensive.

Three great pillars, constituting Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty.

Because it is necessary there should be wisdom to contrive, strength to support, and beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings.

By the Worshipful Master, and the Senior and Junior Wardens.

The Worshipful Master represents the pillar of Wisdom, because he should have wisdom to open his Lodge, set the craft at work, and give them proper instructions. The Senior Warden represents the pillar of Strength, it being his duty to assist the Worshipful Master in opening and closing his Lodge, to pay the craft their wages, if any be due, and see that none go away dissatisfied, harmony being the strength of all institutions, more especially of ours. The Junior Warden represents the pillar of Beauty, it being his duty at all times to observe the sun at high meridian, which is the glory and beauty of the day.

A clouded canopy, or starry-decked heavens, where all good Masons hope to arrive, &c., &c.

The Holy Bible, square, and compasses.

The Bible is dedicated to God, the square to the Master, and the compasses to the craft.

The Bible is dedicated to God, because it is the inestimable gift of God to man, &c., &c.

The mosaic pavement, the indented tessel, and the blazing star.

The mosaic pavement is a representation of the Ground Floor of King Solomon's Temple, with a blazing star in the centre; the indented tessel, that beautiful tessellated border which surrounds it.

The mosaic pavement represents this world, which, though checkered over with good and evil, yet brethren may walk to-ether thereon, and not stumble.

Three

East, west, and south.

No

The Holy Bible, square, and compasses.

Three burning tapers, in a triangular position.

The sun, moon, and Master of the Lodge.

Caution

Three precious jewels.

A listening ear, a silent tongue, and a faithful heart.

With freedom, fervency, and zeal.

By Chalk, Charcoal, and Clay.

Because it was said there was nothing more free than chalk, which, under the slightest touch, leaves a trace behind; nothing more fervent than charcoal to melt-- when well lit, the most obdurate metals will yield; nothing more zealous than clay, or our mother earth, to bring forth.

Brotherly love, relief, and truth