such perfect union with each other, that persons situated so as to hear
it, would suppose it the precursor of some dreadful catastrophe.  This is
called "the shock."  The members of the Lodge then separate.

The above comprise all the secret forms and ceremonies in a Lodge of
Entered Apprentice Masons; but if the candidate would thoroughly
understand the whole, he must commit to memory the following "lecture."
Very few do this except the officers of the Lodge.  The "lecture" is
nothing more nor less than a recapitulation of the preceding ceremonies
and forms by way of question and answer, in order fully to explain the
same.  In fact, the ceremonies and forms (masonically called the work) and
lecture are so much the same, that he who possesses a knowledge of the
lectures cannot be destitute of a knowledge of what the ceremonies and
forms are.  The ceremonies used in opening and closing are the same in all
the degrees.

FIRST SECTION - Lecture on the First Degree of Masonry

Question -- From whence came you as an Entered Apprentice Mason?  Answer
-- From the Holy Lodge of St. John of Jerusalem.
Q.  What recommendations do you bring?
A.  Recommendations from the Worshipful Master, Wardens and brethren of
that Right Worshipful Lodge, who greet you.
Q.  What comest thou hither to do?
A.  To learn to subdue my passions, and improve myself in the secret arts
and mysteries of Ancient Free Masonry.
Q.  You are a Mason, then, I presume?
A.  I am.
Q.  How do you know that you are a Mason?
A.  By being often tried, never denied, and willing to be tried again.
Q.  How shall I know you to be a Mason?
A.  By certain signs, and a token.
Q.  What is a token?
A.  A certain friendly and brotherly grip whereby one Mason may know
another in the dark as well as in the light.
Q.  Where was you first prepared to be a Mason?
A.  In my heart.
Q.  Where secondly?
A.  In a room adjacent to the body of a just and lawfully constituted
Lodge of such.
Q.  How was you prepared?
A.  By being divested of all metals, neither naked nor clothed, barefoot
nor shod, hood-winked, with a cable-tow about my neck, in which situation
I was conducted to the door of the Lodge.
Q.  You being hood-winked how did you know it to be a door?
A.  By first meeting with resistance and afterwards gaining admission.
Q.  How did you gain admission?
A.  By three distinct knocks from without, answered by the same from
within.
Q.  What was said to you from within?
A.  Who comes there?  Who comes there?  Who comes there?
Q.  Your answer?
A.  A poor blind candidate who has long been desirous of having and
receiving a part of the rights and benefits of this Worshipful Lodge
dedicated to God, and held forth to the holy order of St. John, as all
true fellows and brothers have done, who have gone this way before me.
Q.  What further was said to you from within?
A.  I was asked if it was my own free will and accord I made this request;
if I was duly and truly prepared, worth and well qualified; all of which
being answered int he affirmative, I was asked by what further rights I
expected to obtain so great a favor or benefit.
Q.  Your answer?
A.  By being a man, free born, of lawful age and well recommended.
Q.  What was then said to you?
A.  I was bid to wait till the Worshipful Master in the East was made
acquainted with my request and his answered returned.
Q.  After his answer was returned what followed?
A.  I was caused to enter the Lodge.
Q.  How?
A.  On the point of some sharp instrument pressing my naked left breast in
the name of the Lord.
Q.  How was you then diposed of?
A.  I was conducted to the centre of the Lodge and there caused to kneel
for the benefit of a prayer.
Q.  After prayer what was said to you?
A.  I was asked in whom I put my trust.
Q.  Your answer??
A.  God.
Q.  What followed?
A.  The Worshipful Master took me by the right hand and said, since in God
you put your trust, arise, follow your leader, and fear no danger.
Q.  How was you then disposed of?
A.  I was conducted three times regularly around the Lodge, and halted at
the Junior Warden in the South, where the same questions were asked and
answers returned as before.
Q.  How did the Senior Warden dispose of you?
A.  He ordered me to be conducted to the Worshipful Master in the East,
where the same questions were asked and answers returned as before, who
likewise demanded me from whence I came and whither I was traveling.
Q.  Your answer?
A.  From the West and travelling to the East.
Q.  How did the Worshipful Maser then dispose of you?
A.  He ordered me to be conducted back to the West from whence I came, and
put in care of the Senior Warden, who taught me how to approach the East,
the place of light, by advancing upon one upright regular step to the
first step, my feet forming the right angle of an oblong square, my body
erect at the altar before the Worshipful Master.
Q.  What did the Worshipful Master do with you?
A.  He made an Entered Apprentice Mason of me.
Q.  How?
A.  In due form.