ENTERED APPRENTICE DEGREE
by Byron E. Hams
The Entered Apprentice Degree is far removed from all that is
trivial, selfish and ungodly.
Its structure is built upon the everlasting foundation of that God-given
law-the Brotherhood of man, in the family whose Father Is God.
From the 1st degree to the 33rd degree I have searched for Masonic light.
Light that has been veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols. After years
of studying the allegories and symbols of the many degrees I have found that I
received the light I was looking for in the 1st degree.
Let us start with the Holy Bible which is given us as the rule and guide for
our faith and practice.
In the Holy Bible are found those simple teachings of the universality of
brotherhood, the love of God for his children, and the hope of immortality of
the soul. These are the teachings of masonry in every tongue, in every land, for
those of every faith.
The Square to square our actions, and the Compasses to circumscribe our
desires and to keep our passions in due bounds with all mankind, especially the
brethren.
The Working Tools of Entered Apprentice are the Twenty-four-inch Gauge and
the Common Gavel, and are thus explained:
The Twenty-four-inch Gauge is an instrument used by operative masons to
measure and lay out their work; but we, as 1st degree masons, are taught to use
it for the more noble and glorious purpose of dividing our time. It being
divided 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 are
found eight hours for the service of God and a distressed worthy brother, (and I
stress the importance of the word worthy) eight for our usual vocations, and
eight for refreshment and sleep.
The Common Gavel is an instrument used by operative masons to break off the
corners of rough stones, the better to fit them for the builder's use; but we,
as 1st degree masons, are taught to use it for the more noble and glorious
purpose of divesting our hearts and consciences of all 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 were given a new name, Caution, which is to teach you to be cautious over
all your words and actions, especially on the subject of Freemasonry when in the
presence of its enemies.
The Supports of a Lodge, Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.
Wisdom, because there should be wisdom to contrive, Strength to support, and
Beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings.
The Covering of a Lodge is no less than the clouded canopy, or starry-decked
heaven, where all good Masons hope at last to arrive by aid of that ladder which
Jacob in his vision saw extended from earth to heaven, the principal rounds of
which are denominated Faith, Hope and Charity,which admonish us to have Faith in
God, Hope In immortality, and Charity to all mankind. The greatest of these is
Charity; for our Faith may be lost in sight, Hope ends in fruit ion, but Charity
extends beyond the grave, through the boundless realms of eternity.
Faith Is the foundation of justice, the bond of amity, and the chief support
of society. We live by Faith; we walk by Faith; by Faith we have a continual
hope in the acknowledgment of a Supreme Being; by Faith we are justified,
accepted and finally saved.
Hope is the anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and enters into that
within the veil: let a firm reliance on the Almighty's faithfulness animate our
endeavors, and teach us to fix our Hopes within the limits of his promises.
Charity is the brightest gem that can adorn our Masonic profession. Happy is
the man who has sowed in his breast the seeds of benevolence; the produce
thereof is love and peace. The objects of true charity among Masons are merit
and virtue in distress; persons who are incapable of extricating themselves from
misfortunes in their journey through life; industrious men who, from unavoidable
accidents, have fallen into ruin; Widows left destitute by lack of husbands'
support; orphans in tender years, needing a father's care; and the aged, whose
strength is exhausted, and who are thereby rendered unable to procure for
themselves that substance necessary to nourish their declining years. This is
Charity the keystone of our mystic institution.
The Furniture of a Lodge, the Holy Bible, the Square, and the Compasses. As a
more definite guide for a Freemason, the Lodge furnishes him with unerring rules
whereby he should form his conduct.
The Holy Bible is laid before him, that he may not say through ignorance he
erred. Whatever the Great Architect of the world hath dictated to mankind, as to
the path in which to tread, and as to the mode in which He would be served, is
upright and just, and will obtain His approbation; whatever precepts He hath
administered, and with whatever laws He hath inspired the sages of old, the same
are faithfully comprised in the Book of the Law of Freemasonry.
The Rule, the Square, and the Compasses are emblematical of the conduct we
should pursue in society; to observe punctuality in all our engagements;
faithfully and religiously to discharge those important obligations which we owe
to God and to our neighbor; to be upright in all our dealings; to keep within
bounds those unruly passions which often oftentimes interfere with the enjoyment
of society and degrade both the man and the Freemason.
The Movable Jewels are the Rough Ashlar, the Perfect Ashlar and the Trestle
board. By the Rough Ashlar we are reminded of our rude and imperfect state by
nature; by the Perfect Ashier, of that state of perfection at which we hope to
arrive by a virtuous education, our own endeavors and the blessing of Deity; and
as the operative workman erects his temporal building in accordance with the
designs laid down upon the Trestle-board by the master workman, so should we,
both operative and speculative, endeavor to erect our spiritual building in
accordance with the designs laid down by the Supreme Architect of the Universe
in the Great Book of Nature and Revelation, which is our spiritual, moral and
Masonic Trestle board.
The principal tenets of our profession are threefold, including the
inculcation and practice of those truly commendable virtues, Brotherly Love,
Relief and Truth.
By the exercise of Brotherly Love we are taught to regard the whole human
race as one family--the high, the low, the rich, the poor--who, being created by
one Almighty Parent, and inhabitants of the same planet, ought to aid, support
and protect each other. On this principle Masonry unites men of every country,
sect and opinion, and conciliates true friendship among those who might
otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance.
To Relieve the Distressed is a duty incumbent on all men, but particularly on
Masons, who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection.
To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with them in their misfortunes, to
compassionate their miseries, and to restore peace to their troubled minds is
the great aim we have in view. On this basis we form our friendships and
establish our connections.
Truth is a divine attribute and the foundation of every virtue. To be good
men and true is the first lesson we are taught in Freemasonry. On this theme we
contemplate, and by its dictates endeavor to regulate our conduct. Hence, while
influenced by this principle, hypocrisy and deceit are unknown among us,
sincerity and plain-dealing distinguish us, and the heart and the tongue join in
promoting each other's welfare and rejoicing in each other's prosperity.
The four cardinal virtues- Fortitude, Prudence, Temperance, and Justice.
Fortitude is that noble and steady purpose of the mind whereby we are enabled
to undergo any pain, peril or danger, when prudently deemed expedient. This
virtue is equally distant from rashness and cowardice, and should be deeply
impressed upon your mind as a safeguard or security against any attempt that may
be made, by force or otherwise, to extort from you any of those valuable secrets
with which you have been so solemnly entrusted, and which was emblematically
represented upon your first admission into the Lodge.
Prudence teaches us to regulate our lives and actions agreeably to the
dictates of Reason, and is that habit by which we wisely judge and prudently
determine on all things relative to our present as well as to our future
happiness. This virtue should be your peculiar characteristic, not only for the
government of your conduct while in the Lodge, but also when abroad in the
world. You should be particularly cautious in all strange or mixed companies
never to let the least sign, token or word whereby the secrets of Freemasonry
might be obtained.
Temperance is that due restraint upon our affections and passions which
renders the body tame and governable, and frees the mind from the allurements of
vice. This virtue should be your constant practice, as you are thereby taught to
avoid excess or contracting any licentious or vicious habits, the indulgence of
which might lead you to disclose some of those valuable secrets which you have
promised to conceal and never reveal, and Which would consequently subject you
to the contempt and detestation of all good Masons.
Justice is that standard or boundary of right which enables us to render to
every man his just due without distinction. This virtue is not only consistent
With divine and human laws, but it is the very cement and support of civil
society; and as justice in a great measure constitutes the really good man, so
should it he Your Invariable practice never to deviate from the minutest
principles thereof.
The Three Precious Jewels of an Entered Apprentice, a listening ear, a silent
tongue, and a faithful heart.
A listening ear teaches us to listen to the instructions of the Worshipful
Master, but more especially to the cries of a worthy distressed brother.
A silent tongue teaches us to be silent in the Lodge, that the peace and
harmony thereof may not be disturbed, but more especially before the enemies of
Masonry.
A faithful heart, that I should be faithful and keep and conceal the secrets
of Masonry and those of a brother when delivered to me in charge as such, that
they may remain as secure and inviolable In my breast as in his own, before
being communicated to me.
Entered Apprentices should serve their masters with freedom, fervency and
zeal, which are resented by Chalk, Charcoal and Clay.
There is nothing freer than Chalk, the slightest touch of which leaves a
trace; there is nothing more fervent than Charcoal, for to it, when properly
ignited, the most obdurate metals will yield; there is nothing more zealous than
Clay, our Mother- Earth, for it alone of all the elements has never proved
unfriendly to man. Bodies of Water deluge him with rain, oppress him with hail
and drown him with inundation; the Air rushes in storms and prepares the
tempest; and Fire lights up the volcano; but the Earth, ever kind and indulgent,
is found subservient to his wishes. Though constantly harassed, more to furnish
the luxuries than the necessaries of life, she never refuses her accustomed
yield, spreading his pathway with flowers and his table with plenty. Though she
produces poison, still she supplies the antidote, and returns with interest
every good committed to her care; and when at last we are called upon to pass
through the "dark Valley of the shadow of death" she once more receives us, and
piously covers our remains within her bosom, thus admonishing us that as from it
we came, so to it we must shortly return.
As from earth we came, so to the earth we must return.
As from the Entered Apprentice Degree I started my search for light, so to
the Entered Apprentice Degree I returned to find light.
All the secrets of Masonry are contained in the first three degrees, and it
is those degrees we need to study to become well informed masons of any degree.
All this light can be found in the Duncan's Ritual and Standard Monitor in
the Entered Apprentice Degree.
There are short cuts to degrees, but the only road to education is to read
and learn all you can.
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