Q.  What was that due form?
A.  My left knee bare and bent, my right forming a square, my left hand
supporting the Holy Bible, Square and Compass; I took upon me the solemn
oath or obligation of an Entered Apprentice.
Q.  After you had taken your obligation what was said to you?
A.  I was asked what I most desired.
Q.  Was you immediately brought to light?
A.  I was.
Q.  How?
A.  By the direction of the Master and the assistance of the brethren.
Q.  What were those three lesser lights?
A.  Three burning tapers, or candles on candle-sticks
Q.  What do they represent?
A.  The Sun, Moon, and Master of the Lodge.
Q.  How are they explained?
A.  As the Sun rules the day and the Moon governs the night, so ought the
Worshipful Master to use his endeavors to rule and govern his Lodge with
equal regularity, or cause the same to be done?
Q.  What did you next discover?
A.  The Worshipful Master approaching me from the East, under the sign and
due-guard of an Entered Apprentice Mason, who presented me with his right
hand in token of brotherly love and esteem, and proceeded to give me the
grip and word of an Entered Apprentice Mason, and bid me arise and salute
the Junior and Senior Wardens, and convince them that I had been regularly
initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason, and was in possession of the sign,
grip and word.
Q.  What did you next discover?
A.  The Worshipful Master a second time approaching me from the East, who
presented me with a lamb-skin or white apron, which he said was an emblem
of innocence, and the badge of a Mason; that it had been worn by kings,
princes, and potentates of the earth, who had never been ashamed to wear
it; that it was more honorable than the diadems of kings, or pearls of
princesses, when worthily worn; and more ancient than the Golden Fleece,
or Roman Eagle; more honorable than the Star or Garter, or any other order
that could be conferred on me at the time, or any time thereafter, except
it be in a body of a just and lawfully constituted Lodge of Masons; and
bid me carry it to the Senior Warden in the West, who taught me how to
wear it as an Entered Apprentice Mason.
Q.  What was you next presented with?
A.  The working tools of an Entered Apprentice Mason.
Q.  What were they?
A.  The twenty-four inch guage and common gavel.
Q.  How were they explained ?
A.  The twenty-four inch guage is an instrument made use of by operative
masons to measure and lay out their work; but we, as Free and Accepted
Masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious
purpose of dividing our time; the twenty-four inches in the day, which we
are taught to divide into three equal parts, whereby we find eight hours
for the service of God, and a worthy distressed brother; eight hours for
our usual vocation, and eight hours for refreshment and sleep.  The common
gavel is an instrument made use of by operative Masons to break off the
corners of rough stones, and better to fit them for the builder's use; but
we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to make use of 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 lively
and living stones for that spiritual building, that house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens.
Q.  What was you next presented with?
A.  A new name.
Q.  What was that?
A.  Caution.
Q.  What does it teach?
A.  It teaches me, as I was barely instructed  in the rudiments of
Masonry, that I should be cautious over all my words, and actions,
especially when before its enemies.
Q.  What was you next presented with?
A.  Three precious jewels.
Q.  Where were they?
A.  A listening ear, a silent tongue, and a faithful heart.
Q.  What do they teach?
A.  A listening ear teaches me to listen to the instructions of the
Worshipful Master, but more especially that I should listen to the calls
and cries of a worthy distressed brother.  A silent tongue teaches me to
be silent in the Lodge, that the peace and harmony thereof may not be
disturbed; but more especially that I should be silent in the Lodge, that
the peace and harmony thereof may not be disturbed; but more especially
that I should be silent when before the enemies of Masonry.  A faithful
heart, that I should be faithful to the instructions of the Worshipful
Master at all times; but more especially 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 communicated to me.
Q.  What was you next presented with?
A.  Check-words two.
Q.  What were they?
A.  Truth and Union.
Q.  How explained?
*A. Truth is a divine attribute, and the foundation of every virtue.  Too
be good and true are the first lessons we are taught in Masonry.  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 amongst us; and the heart and tongue join in promoting each
other's welfare, and rejoicing in each other's prosperity.