The ENTERED APPRENTICE
AN ADDRESS TO NEW MASONS, LOOKING AT THE THREE CRAFT DEGREES
by
Raymond Hollins
Published in MQ MAGAZINE - JULY 2005
You
are now an Entered Apprentice Freemason – the first step in your
journey through what is known as The Craft Degrees. The word
‘apprentice’ means ‘learner’ or ‘beginner’ – one who is taking his
first steps in mastering a trade or profession.
The builders of
the Middle Ages we call ‘Operative Masons’ because they were builders in the
literal sense, hewing stone from the quarries, dressing to shape, and laying
into walls and creating some of the most remarkable structures the world has
ever seen.
As a modern
Entered Apprentice Freemason you are a beginner in what we call ‘Speculative
Masonry’. This means that we do not build in stone – we build in the hearts and
minds of men ‘a system of morality’.
We do this with
a series of interesting stories that contain symbols to help us illustrate and
understand moral truth and justice.
Today you are an
Entered Apprentice, in a short while you will become a ‘Fellowcraft’ and, in due
time a ‘Master Mason’ and the day will come when into your hands will be placed
the responsibility of your Lodge as Master.
What Freemasonry
is to be in the future depends upon what you are now, as an Entered Apprentice.
You are a symbol, a cornerstone on which Freemasonry of the future will be
built. It is hoped that you will prove to be a solid foundation, true and
tried, set four-square, on which our great Fraternity may safely progress.
This world of
Freemasonry into which you have entered is dedicated to Brotherhood. Unless
you, as an Apprentice, are willing and qualified to lead a brotherly life, you
will never really learn the genuine secrets of our Order. It is therefore
extremely important that the obligation into which you have entered will pledge
you with heartfelt sincerity to live ‘a brotherly life’.
In this First
Degree, an Apprentice takes his first step into this life. He passes through
the portals of birth into this remarkable new sphere. He leaves the darkness of
ignorance and helplessness of the ‘popular world’ for the light and warmth of
this new experience.
This is the most
important and great meaning of the First Degree. The ceremony is not an idle
formality, like joining some social club or society, but a unique and genuine
experience, the beginning of a new career, in which duties, rights and
privileges are real and long-lasting.
It is most
important that you are not an Apprentice in name only. You must be ready at
once to begin to examine your own nature, and to work upon it to make you a
different and better man.
It is wise to
begin at once to make that Daily Advancement in Masonic Knowledge. This does
not mean learning the ritual, it means to study a little Masonic literature, not
necessarily at length, but enough to familiarise yourself a little with its
history, philosophy, laws and regulations.
To become a
Freemason is a serious and solemn undertaking. Once this step is taken it may
well change the course of your life.
The principal
tenets of Freemasonry are Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
It is necessary
not to overlook the word ‘principal’, for it signifies that whilst our
Fraternity lays the greatest emphasis on these three teachings, yet there are
others of almost equal importance.
By a ‘tenet’ we
mean some principle so obviously true, and so universally accepted, that we all
believe it without exception. For example, that day follows night. Everyone
takes that for granted. That is a ‘tenet’.
What then is
‘Brotherly Love’? Manifestly, it means that we place on another man the highest
possible valuation as a friend, a companion, an associate or even a neighbour.
We do not ask
that from our relationship we shall make money, or further our business
interests or achieve any selfish gain. This is not a hope or a dream, but a
fact.
‘Relief’ is one
form of charity. However, the Masonic concept of the word ‘Relief’ is
different. Masonic Relief takes it for granted that any man, no matter who or
what he may be, through sudden misfortune or conditions outside his control,
becomes unable to support himself and his family, may temporarily be in need of
a helping hand.
To provide that
help is not what is generally described as charity. It is one of the natural
and inevitable acts of Brotherhood.
The third and
last of the principal tenets is ‘Truth’. It means something more than the
search for truth in the intellectual sense. Freemasonry’s Motto is “Let there
be Light”. In a Brotherhood such as Freemasonry, members must be truthful in
character and habit, dependable, men of honour as well of honesty, men on whom
we can rely to be faithful fellows and loyal friends.
These are the
principal tenets of the Craft, teachings so obvious that argument is never
necessary to sustain them. It is important to remember that they are the tenets
of Freemasonry for the simple reason that always and everywhere they have been
the tenets of successful human life.
There is not an
item contained within a Masonic Lodge, or a facet in the jewel of Masonic ritual
that does not have a symbolic meaning. It is going to take you a Masonic
lifetime to discover what they are.
Then, this
fleeting opportunity will not enable you to fully complete your task. This
article is too brief to give a complete explanation of even The First Degree.
It can be no
more than a simple example. The ‘hoodwink’ not only represents the darkness in
which a candidate stands with regards to his Masonic life, it is more than that.
It is:
The
anticipation of Masonic illumination of knowledge to come.
Its
removal – a reminder of the treasures of darkness.
Its
revelation of the hidden riches of secret places.
‘Slipshod’
reminds us of two important extracts from the Bible:
“Put off`thy
shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”
“…a man plucked
off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour and this was a testimony of sincere
and truthful intentions.”
The ‘cable tow’
is a symbol of all those external restraints by which a man is controlled by
others, or by forces outside himself. If a man does not keep the law of his own
free will, he must be compelled to do so. The removal of the cable tow
signifies that when a man becomes a Freemason, he learns to be master of
himself. By his own character he will keep the law instinctively.
We hope that
these few examples of our symbolic meanings will lead you to seek for more
Masonic light, not only to progress your Masonic knowledge, but also for their
value to you as a citizen in the world outside.
As an Entered
Apprentice you are now not only a member of your Masonic Lodge, but belong to
the Antient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons under the United Grand Lodge
of England, and you are therefore bound by its laws and regulations.
Your duties
require that you remain faithful to your Obligation that clearly describes what
is now required of you. You should study this Obligation very carefully,
because both its words and their meaning will remain with you for as long as you
live.
You now possess
certain privileges that entitle you sit in a Masonic Lodge opened in the First
Degree. You are now permitted to attend as a visitor other Lodges within our
Constitution, but you would be wise, at this very early stage, to attend only
when accompanied by either your Proposer, Seconder or Lodge Mentor.
You are now
expected, as part of your duties, to begin to learn, and above all understand,
the required portions of Masonic ritual so that you can prove yourself to be
proficient in order to advance to the next stage of your Masonic career.
From now on, and
throughout your Masonic career, make it your personal objective to make your
Daily Advancement in Masonic Knowledge. There is so much to learn, and there is
no time to be wasted.
To begin with,
find out what is meant by “The Grand Charity”. There is an officer in your
Lodge called the ‘Almoner’ – ask him for some information.
Finally, you
should have received, at your Initiation, a Book of Constitutions. This is the
set of rules and regulations. You may find to read it is hard going.
Just taking a
few ‘snippets’ from time to time will be helpful.
With
acknowledgement to MSANA: Tried and Proven – A Lodge System of Masonic
Instruction.
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