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done."  The Master now give three raps, when all the brethren rise, and
the Master, taking off his hat, proceeds as follows; "In like manner so
do I, strictly forbidding all profane language, private committees, or any
other disorderly conduct, whereby the peace and harmony of this Lodge may
be interrupted while engaged in its lawful pursuits, under no less penalty
than the bye-laws or such penalty as a majority of the brethren present
may see fit to inflict.  Brethren, attend to giving the signs."  [Here
Lodges differ very much.  In some they declare the Lodge open as follows,
before they give the sign.]  The Master (all the brethren imitating him)
extends his left arm from his body so as to form an angle of about
forty-five degrees and holds his right hand transversely across his left,
the palms thereof one inch apart.  This is called the first sigh of a mason
- is the sign of distress in this degree, and alludes to the position a
candidate's hands are place in when he takes the obligation of an Entered
Apprentice Mason.  The Master then draw his right hand across his throat,
the hand open, with the thumb next to the throat, and drops it down by his
side.  this is called the du guard of an Entered Apprentice Mason, (may
call it the sign,) and alludes to the penalty of an obligation.  The
Master then declares the Lodge opened, in the following manner: "I now
declare this Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons duly opened for the
dispatch of business."  The Senior Warden declares it to the Junior
Warden, and he to the brethren.  "Come brethren, let us pray"

PRAYER - Most holy and glorious God!  The great Architect of the Universe;
the giver of all good gifts and graces; Thou hast promised that "Where two
or three are gathered together in thy name, thou wilt be in the midst of
them, and bless them."  In thy name we assemble, most humbly beseeching
thee to bless us in all our undertakings; that we may know and serve thee
aright, and that all our actions may tend to thy glory, and our
advancement in knowledge and virtue.  And we beseech thee, O Lord God, to
bless our present assembling; and to illumine our minds through the
influence of the Son of Righteousness, that we may walk in the light of
thy countenance,; and when the trials of our probationary state are over,
be admitted into the temple not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Amen.  So mote it be.

ANOTHER PRAYER - Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious ointment upon the head
that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the
skirts of his garments: as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew and descended
upon the mountains of Zion, for there the Lord commanded the blessings,
evermore.  Amen.  So mote it be  [This prayer is likewise used on closing
the Lodge.]

The Lodge being now open and ready to proceed to business, the Maser
directs the Secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting, which
naturally brings to view the business of the present.  If there are any
candidates to be brought forward, tis the first business to attend to. *

Ceremonies of the Admission and Initiation of a Candidate in the First
Degree of Free Masonry.

At the first regular communication after the candidate petitioned for
admission, if no objection has been urged against him, the Lodge proceeds
to a ballot.  One black ball will reject a candidate.  The boxes may be
passed three times.  The Deacons are the proper persons to pass them; one
of the boxes has black and white beans, or balls in it, the other empty;
the one with the balls in it goes before, and furnishes each member with a
black and white ball; the empty box follows and receives them.  There are
two wholes in the top of this box, with a small tube in each one of which
is black, and the other white, with a partition in the box.  the members
put both their balls into the box as their feelings dictate; when the
balls are received, the box is presented to the Master, Senior, and Junior
Wardens, who pronounce clear or not clear, as the case may be.  The ballot
proving clear, the candidate (if present) is conducted into a small
preparation room adjoining the Lodge; he is asked the following questions,
and gives the following answers.  Senior Deacon to candidate "Do you
sincerely declare, upon your honor before these gentlemen, that unbiassed
by friends, uninfluenced by unworthy motives, you freely and voluntarily
offer yourself a candidate for the myteries of Masonry?"  Candidate
answers, "I do."  Senior Deacon to candidate, "Do you sincerly declare,
upon your honor before these gentlemen, that you are prompt to solicit the
privileges of Masonry, by favorable opinion conceived of the institution,
a desire of knowledge, and a sincere wish of being serviceable to your
fellow creatures?"  Candidate answers, "I do."  Senior Deacon to
candidate, "Do you sincerely declare, upon your honor before these
gentlemen, that you will cheerfully conform to all ancient established
usages and customs of the fraternity?"  Candidate answers, "I do."  After
the above questions are proposed and answered, and the results reported
to the Master, he says, "Brethren, at the request of Mr. A. B., he has
been

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* A person wising to become a Mason must get some one who is a Mason to
present his petition to a Lodge when, if there are no serious objections,
it will be entered on the minutes, and a committee of two or three
appointed to inquire into his character, and report to the next regular
communication.  The following is the form of a petition used by a
candidate; but a worthy candidate will not be rejected for the want of
formality in his petition.

To the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Brethren of Lodge No. __, of Free
and Accepted Masons.

The subscriber, residing in _____, of lawful age, and by occupation a
_____, begs leave to state that, unbiassed by friends, and uninfluenced by
mercenary motives, he freely and voluntarily offers himself a candidate
for the mysteries of Masonry, and that he is prompt to solicit this
privilege by a favorable opinion conceived of the institutions, a desire
of knowledge and a sincere wish of being serviceable to his fellow
creatures.  Should this petition be granted, he will cheerfully conform to
all the ancient established usages and customs of the fraternity.
(Signed)         A.B.