tion of an Entered Apprentice Mason. As soon as the candidate is placed in
this position, the Worshipful Master approaches him, and says, "Mr. A. B.
you are now placed in a proper position to take upon you the solemn oath
of obligation of an Entered Apprentice Mason, * which I assure you is
neither to affect your religion nor politics.  If you are willing to take
it, repeat your name and say after me : --

"I, A. B. of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God,
and this worshipful Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, dedicated to God
and held forth to the holy order of St. John, do hereby and hereon most
solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will always hail, ever
conceal, and never reveal any part or parts, art or arts, point, or points
of the secrets, arts and mysteries of ancient Free Masonry, which I have
received, am about to receive, or may hereafter be instructed in, to any
person or persons in the known world, except it be a true and lawful
brother Mason, or within the body of a just a lawfully constituted Lodge
of such, and not unto him, nor unto them whom I shall hear so to be, but
unto him and them only whom I shall find so to be, after strict trial and
due examination or lawful information.  Furthermore, do I promise and
swear that I will not write, print, stamp, stain, hew, cut, carve,
indent, paint, or engrave it on anything moveable or immoveable, under the
whole canopy of heaven, whereby, or whereon the least letter, figure,
character, mark, stain, shadow, or resemblance of the same may become
legible or intelligible to myself or any other person in the known world,
whereby the secrets of Masonry may be unlawfully obtained through my
unworthiness.  To all which I do most solemnly and sincerely promise and
sear, without the least equivocation, mental reservation, or self evasion
of mind in me whatever; binding myself under no less penalty, than to have
my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by the roots, and my body buried
in the rough sands of the sea at low water mark, where the tide ebbs and
flows twice in twenty four hours; so help me God, and keep me steadfast in
the true performance of the same."

After the obligation, the Master addresses the candidate in the following
manner: "Brother, to you the secrets of Masonry are about to be unveiled ,
and a brighter sun never shone lustre on your eyes; while prostrate before
this sacred altar, do you not shudder at every crime? have you not
confidence in every virtue?  May these thoughts ever inspire you with the
most noble sentiments; may you ever feel that elevation of soul, that
shall scorn a dishonest act.  Brother, what do you most desire?"  The
candidate answers, "Light."  Master to brethren, "Brethren, stretch forth
your hands and assist in bringing this new made brother from darkness to
light."  The members having formed a circle round the candidate, the
Master says, "And God said, let there be light, and there was light."  At
the same time, all the brethren clap their hands, and stamp on the floor
with their right feet as heavy as possible, the bandage dropping from the
candidate's eyes at the same instant, which, after having been so long
blind, and full of fearful apprehensions all the time, this great and
sudden transition from perfect darkness to a light brighter (if possible)
than the meridian sun in a midsummer day, sometimes produces an alarming
effect.

After the candidate is brought to light, the Master addresses him as
follows: "Brother, on being brought to light, you first discover three
great lights in Masonry by the assistance of three lesser; they are thus
explained: the three great lights in Masonry are the Holy Bible, Square
and Compass.  The Holy Bible is given to us as a rule and guide for our
faith and practice; the Square, to square our actions, and the Compass to
keep us in due bounds with all mankind, but more especially with the
brethren.  The three lesser lights are three burning tapers, or candles
placed on candlesticks, (some say, or candles on pedestals,) they
represent the Sun, Moon and Maser of the Lodge, and are thus explained.
As the sun rules the day and the moon governs the night, so ought the
Worshipful Master with equal regularity to rule and govern his Lodge, or
cause the same to be done; you next discover me as Master of this Lodge,
approaching you from the East upon the first step of Masonry, under the
sign and due-guard of an Entered Apprentice Mason, as already revealed to
you.  This is the manner of giving them; imitate me, as near as you can,
keeping your position.  First, step off with your left foot, and bring the
heel of the right into the hollow thereof so as to form a square."  [This
is the first step in Masonry.]  the following is the sign of distress in
this degree; you are not to give it unless in distress [It is given by
holding your two hands traversely across each other, the right hand
upwards, and one inch from the left.]  The following is the due-guard of
an Entered Apprentice Mason.  [This is given by drawing your right hand
across your throat, the thumb next to your throat, your arm as high as the
elbow, in a horizontal position.]  "Brother, I now present you my right
hand, in token of brotherly love and esteem, and with it the grip and name
of the grip of an Entered Apprentice Mason."  The right hands are joined
together, as in shaking hands, and each sticks his thumb nail into the
third joint of upper end of the fore finger; the name of the grip is Boaz,
and is to be given in the following manner and no other: the Master give
the grip and word, and divides it for the instruction of the candidate;
the questions are as follows.  the master and candidate hold-

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*  In many Lodges this is put in the form of a question, thus: "Are you
willing to take an obligation upon you that does not affect your politics
or religion?"  The promise "to conform," made before entering the Lodge,
the "assurance tat the oath is not to interfere with their political or
religious principles," and the manner the obligation is administered --
only two or three words being repeated at a time, consequently not fully
understood, are among the reasons which have led many great and good men
to take oaths incompatible with the laws of God and our country.