CLC - ENTERED APPRENTICE - 05.22.17

Table of Contents Section I: Freemasonry ................................ 5 Video: What Distinguishes Freemasonry from Other Organizations? ...................... 6 Definition of Freemasonry............... 7 Freemasonry as an Initiatic Order.....10 The Use of Tools and Symbols .........11 Section II: The Initiation Process............... 12 Preparation ...............................13 Free will and accord ....................14 Preparation Room .......................15 Divestiture ................................16 Hoodwink and Cable Tow...............17 Tiled Space ...............................18 Entrance to Lodge .......................19 Acknowledging Our Trust in God ......20 Circumambulation .......................21 Obligation.................................22 Secrecy....................................23 Penalties ..................................24 Signs, Words, and Modes of Recognition .............................................25 Perfect Points of Entrance .............26 Taking Your Initiation as a Whole, Its Overreaching Lessons ...................27 2

Section III: Tools and Symbols .................. 28 Tools and Symbols .......................29 The Northeast Corner ...................33 The Lodge.................................34 The Moveable and Immovable Jewels 35 The Square, Level and Plump..........36 Rough and Perfect Ashlars..............36 Trestleboard..............................39 The Three Great Lights of Masonry ...40 Holy Bible, Square and Compass ......42 The Point Within a Circle...............43 Section IV: Tenets and Virtues .................. 45 Brotherly Love ...........................46 Relief ......................................47 Truth ......................................48 The Four Cardinal Virtues ..............49 Section V: Exemplary Behavior ................. 51 Honesty ...................................52 Compassion ...............................53 Self control ...............................54 Courage ...................................55 Tolerance .................................56

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Charity ....................................57 Fairness ...................................58 Good Judgment ..........................59 Photography Credits.....................60 Glossary of Terms........................61

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Section I: Freemasonry

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WHAT DISTINGUISHES F REEMASONRY FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS?

(CLICK THE VIDEO TO PLAY)

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D EFINITION OF F REEMASONRY Freemasonry is a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. It uses the tools and techniques of the stonemasons’ guilds of the Middle Ages to illustrate simple moral and ethical principles. To this it adds a philosophical and spiritual framework for personal improvement, portions of which come from other philosophical schools. Freemasonry seeks to make good men better by encouraging its members to focus on improving their relationships with others, and to practice a life of tolerance, compassion, honesty, and the pursuit of justice. It makes the world a better place by making its members better citizens of the communities in which they live. Freemasonry is not for business or other commercial advantage but for self- improvement.

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F REEMASONRY AS AN I NITIATIC O RDER Freemasonry is an initiatic order. An initiatic order is an organization whose teachings are only disclosed to those who have been accepted as members. This disclosure is called an “initiation,” and it is presented to a candidate for membership through a series of ceremonies called “degrees.” The first degree in the Masonic system is the Entered Apprentice Degree.

Click here to see the related article “Origins of Freemasonry”

Click here to see the related article “The entered Apprentice Mason”

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T HE U SE OF T OOLS AND S YMBOLS Symbolism involves using one thing to represent another. Words, signs, gestures, drawings, and even physical articles such as our “working tools” are all forms of symbols. Some symbols have external meanings, which Masons call exoteric, and some have internal meanings, which are called esoteric. Some symbols are more abstract. For example, the Mason’s quest for truth is often referred to as a quest for “light.” Symbols are a way of expressing our commitment to certain principles and describe the things we do to improve ourselves. Symbols can also be very personal. Each of two Masons may take something different from a particular symbol, based on different needs which each man brings to Freemasonry.

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Section II: The Initiation Process

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P REPARATION Masons refer to a candidate as being duly and truly prepared. Being "duly and truly prepared” refers to being divested of all mineral and metallic objects on or about your person and being properly dressed, or clad, so as to emphasize our concern with a man’s internal qualifications, rather than his worldly wealth, honors, and position in society. By undergoing the rites of preparation, the candidate signifies the sincerity of his intentions.

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F REE WILL AND ACCORD Every candidate for Freemasonry must first prepare himself in heart and mind for the ceremonies which will follow. The rites of Freemasonry are of a serious nature, dignified in their presentation, and intended to obligate him to lead a better life. The candidate must approach Freemasonry’s door acknowledging his need to learn more and his willingness to place himself in the care of men whom he has asked to be his brothers. His approach must be of his own free will and accord, unpressured by others. Otherwise, he may lack the zeal required for a lifetime commitment to Freemasonry.

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P REPARATION R OOM You were placed in a preparation room to provide you not only privacy to change into proper attire, but also to allow you the time to mentally prepare to begin a Masonic journey that will extend your whole life. The room was bare and simple to signify to you that you should so allow your mind to be free of outside concerns and thoughts.

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D IVESTITURE In the preparation for your admission into the lodge, you were asked to leave behind all “minerals and metals.” At a later time you were told that this was to keep out of the lodge anything that could be construed as a weapon, which might disturb the peace and harmony of the lodge. You later learned that divestiture also referred to charity. As you were then without any worldly wealth and goods and thus totally reliant on the aid and assistance of others, it was to teach you to offer that same aid and assistance when you find a friend or brother in need.

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H OODWINK AND C ABLE T OW Two essentials of preparation are the hoodwink and the cable-tow. These are Masonic terms for a blindfold and for a simple rope which the candidate wears. The symbolism of the Masonic hoodwink is twofold:

It emphasizes the veil of secrecy and silence surrounding the mysteries of Freemasonry.

It represents the “darkness,” or ignorance, of the uninitiated. It is removed at the appropriate time, when the candidate is in the proper state of mind and qualified by his obligation to receive Masonic light. The cable-tow is a rope such as would be used to tow or restrain a heavy load. It is also generally regarded as a symbol of the voluntary and complete acceptance of, and pledged compliance with, whatever Masonry may have in store for the candidate.

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T ILED S PACE The lodge room is secure, because it is protected from intrusion by the Tiler. It is therefore said to be tiled. Only Masons who have received or are receiving the degree being conferred may be present. The candidate is thus assured that everyone with whom he comes in contact during his transformation into a Mason is a brother on whom he can rely.

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E NTRANCE TO L ODGE Entrance into the lodge is symbolic of the movement from the outer to the inner, from the exoteric to the esoteric, from the world of material senses into the spiritual world of better understanding one’s true self and purpose. The reception, or greeting, of the candidate upon his entrance into the lodge room teaches him that our rituals are serious and confidential and that there are consequences for violating this confidence. It also reminds a man that his every act has a consequence, either in the form of a reward or a penalty. A man must demonstrate the virtue of fortitude before he may gain admission into the mysteries of Masonry.

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A CKNOWLEDGING O UR T RUST IN G OD

In order to become a Mason, a man must express a belief in a Supreme Being and a future existence. This is not an idle commitment, but one which will determine

whether Freemasonry will be of any value to him. Unless there is a trust in something greater than ourselves, we can become frustrated when we do not make the progress in life that we expect. And so, at the very beginning of the Masonic journey, a candidate is asked once more to affirm his trust in God. Before he is asked that question, a prayer is offered on his behalf. The prayer, like all prayers in Freemasonry, is universal in nature. The act of invoking the blessings of Deity before and after our Masonic labors is central to Masonic practice. It continually reminds us that harmony with Deity and our fellow creatures is central to our advancement and happiness.

Click here to see the related article “Belief in a Supreme Being and a Future Existence”

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C IRCUMAMBULATION A candidate is conducted around the lodge room as a preparation to his taking upon himself a solemn obligation. There are several reasons for this symbolic journey. The lodge obtains further assurance that you are properly prepared and qualified for the degree. There are extended meanings of this circumambulation, as Masons call it. Because the candidate moves in a clockwise manner, some see this as a symbol of the path of the sun as it moves from east to west. Others liken this to the journey of life itself, from childhood to maturity to old age, or from ignorance and solitude to light and brotherhood, as represented in the 133rd Psalm. Still others see it as a symbol of advancement in Masonry and the idea of progress.

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O BLIGATION Your obligation is the heart of the degree, for when it is assumed, you have solemnly bound yourself to Freemasonry and accepted certain duties and responsibilities which are yours to fulfill for the rest of your life. Your obligation is visible and audible evidence of your sincerity of purpose. In addition to binding you to Freemasonry and its duties, the obligation also protects the fraternity against improper disclosure of the modes of recognition and those symbolic instructions and ceremonies unique to the degree being conferred.

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S ECRECY Secrecy is the first lesson taught to the Entered Apprentice. While much of what we do and stand for as Masons is not a secret, the

ritual in the three degrees of Masonry is not intended to be disclosed to non-Masons. This privacy is fundamental to the transformation process. While the rituals of Freemasonry have been available to the public for centuries, the initiate still comes into Freemasonry expecting that the ceremonies will be for him and for him alone. In order for the ceremonies to make sense to him, they must be revealed to him in the context of a Masonic degree by those who will become his brothers. You have two responsibilities in this regard: you will not disclose the ritual to non-masons; and you will not share the grips, signs or words with a non- Mason, as these are the means by which Masons recognize each other. The true “secrets” of Freemasonry will be made clear to the world by the personal transformation each new member undergoes. Click here to see the related article "Freemasonry Confidential" 23

P ENALTIES

When considering the penalties of the obligation, it is important to remember that Freemasonry is veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. Every Mason symbolically binds himself to fulfill his obligations under these penalties.

To be clear, the only penalties Freemasonry inflicts are reprimand, suspension, and expulsion. The candidate has already been assured that the obligation contains nothing contrary to moral, civil, or religious duties. The penalties should make plain the torture and agony of the conscience that any good man should feel at the thought that he violated his sworn word.

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S IGNS , W ORDS , AND M ODES OF R ECOGNITION A Mason can make himself known to a brother by certain signs, grips and words. We refer to these signs, grips and words as the modes of recognition. They remind an Entered Apprentice of his promise to protect the secrets of Masonry. As part of the oral proficiency which you must learn before advancing to the Degree of Fellow Craft, you will learn the proper way to exchange the modes of recognition with a man whom you suspect might be a brother, without violat ing your obligation.

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P ERFECT P OINTS OF E NTRANCE Initiatic ceremonies require certain actions for admission into the group to be effective. In the Entered Apprentice Degree, we call these actions the Perfect Points of Entrance. Although these points were earlier understood to mean preparation, obligation, sign, grip or token and word, we now consider only four. The Guttural refers to your entrance upon the penal responsibilities; the Pectoral, to your entrance into the lodge; the Manual, to your entrance on the obligation; and the Pedal, to your entrance for lifelong learning, starting in the northeast corner.

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T AKING Y OUR I NITIATION AS A W HOLE , I TS O VERREACHING L ESSONS

The Entered Apprentice Degree has two overarching purposes: it emphasize secrecy and brotherhood. As you attend conferrals of the Entered Apprentice Degree and study the portion of the lecture explaining what occurred during those ceremonies, consider the following questions. What is said or done in the degree which involves secrecy? What is said or done in the degree which involves brotherhood? How will these lessons of secrecy and brotherhood change your approach to situations which you may in future encounter? Freemasonry’s lessons can be life changing but that change is incomplete unless you apply its lessons in your dealings with others.

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Section III: Tools and Symbols

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T OOLS AND S YMBOLS

Twenty Four Inch Gauge The stone-working mason used a twenty-four inch gauge to layout and measure his work. As a Freemason, this tool is a symbol of the importance of planning your work and your time. This tool is used to bring order to your life, bringing your responsibilities to your family, your occupation, your lodge and your community in balance with one another. Time is the substance of life. Wisely used, carefully budgeted, it goes far and does much. Carelessly used, wasted, allowed to slip away, it becomes an expression of a useless and wasted life.

Click here to see the related article “Working Tools: Twenty-Four Inch Gauge and Common Gavel”

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Common Gavel The gavel is tool of creative destruction. It is used by the operative Mason to break off undesirable parts of the stone. It teaches you, as a Freemason, to be the sculptor of your own character. You may have, up to this point, allowed your character to be built by circumstance and coincidence. This tool is a reminder that your behaviors and habits are yours to keep or break off, and you will be responsible for your choices. While they do not contain the whole philosophy of Masonry, the various working tools allocated to the three degrees indicate that there is always constructive work to be done and the direction this work is to take. You are charged to care for your tools like any good craftsman and to keep them bright with use.

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The Lambskin Apron

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The Lambskin Apron The lambskin apron is at

once an emblem of innocence and the

distinctive badge or device identifying the wearer as a Mason. By innocence is meant clean thinking and clean living, a loyal obedience to the laws of Freemasonry, and sincere goodwill and charity toward one’s brethren. The “badge

of a Mason” signifies, among other things, that Masons are workers and builders, as you wear an apron in reference to a similar garment worn by the stonemasons whose operative guilds were the source of our lodges. The lamb has always been a symbol of innocence and sacrifice. There are two senses in which innocence is being used here: Innocence, in one sense, meaning free from moral defect; the other sense is that of being newly born and without blemish, in the sense of fulfilling the goal of Masonic initiation—an entrance into a new relationship and a new life. Click here to see related article “Aprons”

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T HE N ORTHEAST C ORNER The northeast corner is traditionally the place where the vital cornerstone (the first stone) of a building is laid. A cornerstone must be perfectly square in shape and set perfectly level to the building site or else the rest of the fabric of the building will be out of plumb and unsafe. The new Entered Apprentice is therefore placed in the northeast corner where he may begin to erect his own temple by the principles of Freemasonry. He is placed in close proximity to the master so as to better receive instruction and guidance as befits a young Mason just entering Freemasonry.

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T HE L ODGE The lodge is not just the place where we meet. More importantly, it is a community of brothers authorized to meet as Masons and accept others into the fraternity. It is in this sense a symbol of the world which we hope to improve through the practice in it of the pure principles of Freemasonry.

Click here to see the related article “The Lodge: Its Form, Supports, Coverings and Lights”

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T HE M OVEABLE AND I MMOVABLE J EWELS There are six Jewels of the lodge. Three are considered moveable and three immovable. The square, level and plumb are considered immovable because they are the jewels of the three principal officers of the lodge that must always be present. The moveable jewels are the rough ashlar, the perfect ashlar and the trestleboard.

Click here to see related article “The Immovable and Movable Jewels”

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T HE S QUARE , L EVEL AND P LUMB

Square The square is a symbol of morality, truthfulness and honesty. To “act on the square” is to act honestly and in conformity with the accepted rules of right conduct. The square is also the symbol of the lodge Master. Level The level is a symbol of equality. In Freemasonry, equality refers to the internal qualifications of the human being and the soul, without regard to man- made distinctions. In a lodge, we say that all brethren are “on the level,” meaning that we are all equal in the lodge regardless of our rank or station in our professional or social lives. The level is also a symbol of the Senior Warden. Plumb The plumb is a symbol of moral and ethical integrity. Just as a plumb line can judge the integrity of stone, a mason uses the plumb to remind him of the importance of upright living. The plumb is also the symbol of the Junior Warden.

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R OUGH AND P ERFECT A SHLARS

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R OUGH AND P ERFECT A SHLARS Freemasonry expects its members to make a commitment to personal transformation. One symbol of this in the Entered Apprentice Degree is a set of two stones which are frequently present in the lodge room. One of these stones is roughly

shaped, and the other has smooth sides. The rough stone represents the state of the Mason as he begins his Masonic journey.

The smooth stone represents the ideal of self-improvement to which he strives by study and contemplation, as well as practice. These two stones are called the Rough Ashlar and the Perfect Ashlar.

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T RESTLEBOARD In operative masonry, the master draws his designs on the trestleboard to illustrate how to make the perfect ashlar from the rough ashlar and later built into walls to construct the building. To a speculative Mason, the trestleboard symbolizes the plans he will draw for his future character and spiritual growth.

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T HE T HREE G REAT L IGHTS OF M ASONRY

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T HE T HREE G REAT L IGHTS OF M ASONRY

On every Masonic altar are displayed a Volume of the Sacred Law, with a square and compass upon it. These are referred to as The Three Great Lights of Masonry. In California, as in other American jurisdictions, this Volume of the Sacred Law is a Bible. Candidates in California may take their obligations on the sacred book of their

own religion, selecting it from a list approved by Grand Lodge. The Three Great Lights are sometimes referred to as the furniture of a lodge, because they are the necessary equipment for a lodge to meet.

Click here to see the related article “Three Great Lights of Masonry – Furniture of a Lodge”

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H OLY B IBLE , S QUARE AND C OMPASS The open Bible signifies that we should regulate our conduct according to its teachings because it is the rule and guide of our faith and is a symbol of man’s acknowledgment of his relationship to Deity. The square is a symbol of virtue, morality, truthfulness, and honesty. The compass is a symbol of restraint, skill, and knowledge, as you have already been taught. We might also properly regard the compass as excluding beyond its circle that which is harmful or unworthy. Today, the general public universally recognizes the square and compass as the primary symbols of Freemasonry.

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Click here to see the related article “The Point Within the Circle”

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T HE P OINT W ITHIN A C IRCLE Circles are drawn with a compass – or with “compasses,” as this instrument is sometimes known. Freemasonry uses the symbolism of both the compass, and the circle which it draws, to teach the concept of limits. At an important point in the Entered Apprentice Degree, you were taught to use the compass to draw a boundary line between your desires and the rights of others. This lesson can also be understood to mean that others have the same right to their beliefs as you have to yours, and that respect for the beliefs of others is essential to brotherly love. At a later time your attention was called to the actual circle itself, with a reminder once more that there must be limits to your passions, prejudices and personal interests. Freemasonry expects its members to learn how to set limits for themselves so that they do not damage relationships with others.

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Section IV: Tenets and Virtues

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B ROTHERLY L OVE

Through the practice of brotherly love, Masons learn to build friendships and communities through unity and tolerance. As Masons, we focus on what unites mankind and not what divides it. Racial or ethnic background, color of skin, political views or

religious beliefs, except for the requirement of a belief in a Supreme Being and a future existence, are not considered when admitting a man to membership in or as a visitor to a lodge. Freemasons, when at Masonic activities, do not discuss partisan politics or sectarian, religious matters. In fact, the fraternity values ethnic, religious, cultural, educational, and social differences. We respect the opinions of others and realize that by respecting and understanding people with differences, we improve ourselves as human beings.

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R ELIEF In understanding the role of relief in our lives, Masons learn to be compassionate and charitable. We are committed to the well-being of our members and their families, especially when they are in need. We seek to aid our communities through charitable giving and community service.

To be compassionate and charitable is an expression of love for mankind and interest in the wellness, fair-treatment, and happiness of others.

Click here to view the related article "The Indissoluble Chain"

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T RUTH The Entered Apprentice is not asked to give his own understanding of “truth.” Although the search for truth is an important undertaking in the life of a Mason, Freemasonry neither gives a definition of “truth,” nor asks a new Mason to offer his own

idea of “truth” at this early stage in his Masonic life. It is a lifetime search to make ourselves true: true to God and true to those things that God wishes us to be. The third Principal Tenet of Freemasonry – Truth – is the practice of a virtue which eventually leads to an understanding of this ultimate reality. You should so regulate your own conduct that others will trust you to do the right thing, and a life of doing that which is right will lead you to an understanding of the requirements of Truth. The reputation of Freemasons is such that “hypocrisy and deceit are unknown amongst us.” But that only happens if each Mason practices the virtue of “trustworthiness,” by being “good and true” at all times.

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T HE F OUR C ARDINAL V IRTUES

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T HE F OUR C ARDINAL V IRTUES The Cardinal Virtues are found in Plato’s Republic, which was written in approximately 380 B.C.E. The English word cardinal comes from the Latin word cardo, which means “hinge.” These virtues are considered cardinal because all other virtues hinge on them. They form a portal to a virtuous life. Temperance is obedience to the rules of the society and one’s promises, and it is also self-control in one’s conduct. Fortitude is the courage to do what must be done. Prudence is sound judgment. It is also another word for Wisdom - an understanding of how all things interact. Justice is fairness - giving to each his due.

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Section V: Exemplary Behavior

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H ONESTY From the three main tenets or principles of Freemasonry – Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, and the Four Cardinal Virtues, are derived other behaviors that we expect a Freemason to exhibit. Although only a partial list, the following are considered to be of prime importance: honesty, compassion, self-control, courage, tolerance, charity, fairness and good judgment. Honesty may be likened to the “honesty” of the ashlars – the building blocks of a wall that our stonemason ancestors made smooth, square and true. Unless the block of stone has these characteristics, it will not be of much use in building a wall of soundness and integrity. In a similar way, a life which is not characterized by soundness and integrity will not be of much use in building the spiritual house which is the chief Masonic labor. Honesty is therefore a foundation of a useful life. A Mason’s word is his bond, and above all else, a Mason is honest in his dealings with others.

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C OMPASSION Compassion flows from the Masonic commitment to Relief. In the words of our lecture, “To soothe the unhappy, to sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries, and to restore peace to their troubled minds, is the great aim we have in view.” And a noble aim it is. Where joy is to be found, sorrow is often close at hand. In another part of the lecture we are reminded that the symbolic ground floor of King Solomon’s Temple was a pavement of alternating squares of black and white, symbolizing that human life itself is “checkered with good and evil.” We can expect “rough patches” in life, and as Masons we watch for ways to help others over the setbacks that come our way. That is what compassion is all about. It is a watchful caring for others, an entering into their misfortunes in a way that lets them know that we share their pain as well as their joy.

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S ELF CONTROL As you have already learned, self-control is an important aspect of the cardinal virtue Temperance. As with the symbol of the “point within a circle,” a Freemason is expected to learn how to rein in his temper and his ambition so that these do not become damaging to his relationship with others. Self-control enables us to channel our energies productively, rather than allowing emotions to dominate our lives. A Freemason is expected to be passionate about things that are important. But self-control ensures that this passion is productively focused, and does not do damage to those around us. Our effectiveness depends in a large measure on understanding this virtue. While they do not contain the whole philosophy of Masonry, the various working tools allocated to the three degrees, by their very presence, declare that there is always constructive work to be done, and indicate the direction this work is to take. You are charged to care for your tools like any good craftsman and to keep them bright with use.

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C OURAGE The Masonic term for “courage” is “fortitude,” one of the Four Cardinal Virtues in Freemasonry. Courage is not the reckless pursuit of any cause, but rather a steadfast determination to do something that needs to be done in a common-sense way. Thus, wisdom is always linked with courage. It is taking a risk because the cause is appropriate and pursuing that cause with a “noble and steady purpose of the mind,” which the lecture declares are hallmarks of the truly good man. Courage is a willingness to take a stand for something when those about you may be tempted to run in the other direction. Courage is about commitment to that which is right, and never letting go when you can make a difference. It is that strength of character which enables a Mason to do that which is right even if others fail to do so. A Mason is strong and lends this strength to his brethren.

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T OLERANCE Tolerance is not simply “putting up” with others. It is an affirmative appreciation of the interests and beliefs of others. Masons are tolerant, not because they must, but because they can. This virtue finds its origin in Brotherly Love. In order to truly love one another, we must respect one another. And respect for one another begins with an acknowledgement that the interests and beliefs of others are important to them in the same way that our interests and beliefs are important to us. Freemasons do not discuss sectarian religion or partisan politics in a Masonic environment – not because these things are unimportant, but rather as a mark of respect for the deeply held beliefs of others. By the practice of tolerance, we learn to respect others as well as ourselves. Unlike many organizations, we are men of “every country, sect and opinion,’’ and as such, Freemasons individually hold many different interests and beliefs. Our appreciation for this diversity is one of our defining characteristics.

Click here to see the related article "Concerning God and Religion"

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C HARITY We are reminded as Masons of the importance of having Faith in God at the very beginning of our Masonic journey. We are also told that Masons understand the importance of Hope – a hope that leads us to trust the tenets of our faith as we each understand that faith. But there is more. We are told that there is something beyond these essentials. It is a love for Deity and for one another that transcends all other earthly virtues. We use the old fashioned term “Charity” to express this idea, and we are told that its importance lies in the recognition that “Charity” never fails. It never dies. It goes on through all eternity. When translated as “Love,” we perhaps understand it a bit better. Love for Deity and love for one another is the very foundation of our faith and of our hope. Every Mason is expected to make such love for Deity, and for his fellow men, a foundation stone in his life.

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F AIRNESS The more formal Masonic term for “fairness” is Justice. Our lecture says that Justice is a “standard or boundary of right.” We are further reminded that fairness defines the “really good man.” It is doubtful if anyone would call a man “good” if he did not have a reputation as a fair and just human being. But “fairness” is not easily worked out, for it has to be understood in context. Fairness does not necessarily mean treating each person the same, regardless of condition. We are expected to take conditions into account when applying “fairness.” A brother who is in need of the basic necessities of life has a claim on our compassion and charity, but there are occasions where fairness requires us to balance these claims with the claims of others – and especially our obligation to our family. Freemasonry recognizes this. But properly understood, Justice – which is what “fairness” truly is – will become clear to us. As with other virtues, fairness takes thought and practice.

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G OOD J UDGMENT Good Judgment is important in Freemasonry. We call it Prudence, but nowadays “prudence” is often confused with indecision. When properly understood, Prudence or good judgment becomes an important characteristic of a truly good Mason. Balance in all things is an important aspect of Good Judgment. Symbols such as the Point within a Circle speak to this. Our interests are balanced against the interests of others, and harmony prevails when that balance is achieved. Another important aspect of The result of seeking wisdom is that wise actions often result. The lecture reminds us that we are to “regulate our lives and actions agreeably to the dictates of reason.” The operative word here is regulate. A wise person is one who regulates his life in a way that shows good judgment at all times. In the words of King Solomon, “Prudence will watch over you, and understanding will guard you.” Good Judgment is Wisdom. Wisdom is an understanding of how all things interact.

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P HOTOGRAPHY C REDITS 1. Pages 19, 28-29, 31, 35, 37: photography by Dick Hixon. 2. Page 13 used with permission by the Grand Lodge Of New York. 3. Page 20: Photography by Thomas Monteforte, courtesy of Shawn Eyer. All other images courtesy of the collection of the Henry W. Coil Library & Museum of Freemasonry. Artifact photography and digital reproduction by Adam Kendall.

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THE ENTERED APPRENTICE DEGREE Altar. Symbol of worship, of faith and of the Sanctum Sanctorum, or Holy of Holies, of King Solomon’s Temple. The focus of Masonic life in lodge, its support of the Great Lights is itself a symbol that faith supports life. Appertaining . Belonging to, or connected with, as a rightful part or attribute; relating to. Architecture. Symbol of the foundation of Freemasonry which is a speculative science derived from an operative art. Operative Freemasons were principally concerned in the erection of edifices for public use, such as cathedrals, churches, monasteries and castles for the feudal lords. Inasmuch as all these structures required a deep knowledge of many arts, architecture survives in Speculative Masonry as a symbol for the need of knowledge and skill in all important undertakings. The whole internal structure of Freemasonry’s ritual is permeated with and built around matters of architecture and of building, not used for their original purposes, but for “the more noble and glorious purpose” of setting forth some principle of life, some philosophy, some aspect of character making. Buildings are the “documents in stone” of men, civilizations, even races which have long perished from the earth. Freemasonry’s use of architecture as a foundation symbol also has reference to a need for a study of history to

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round out the liberal education otherwise taught in the Fellow Craft Degree. Ashlar. Rough ashlar, a stone from the quarry before squaring, a symbol of untutored man. Perfect ashlar, a stone squared and smooth, symbol of enlightened manhood. Perfection is sought by a process of taking away; no stroke of gavel or chisel can add anything to a rough ashlar; it may only remove. Perfection, then, is already within. In the Bible we read that the kingdom of heaven is within us. To reveal it, we must remove the roughness by “divesting or hearts and consciences of the vices and superfluities of life.” Bade/Bad . Told; ordered; requested; directed. Bible. Symbol of the Volume of the Sacred Law. In English speaking countries, it is universally one of the three Great Lights of Masonry. In lands predominately Christian, it is the volume of the Sacred Law, as is its Old Testament to Jews. In other lands, the holy book of the common faith becomes the Great Light upon the Altar. Candidates in California may take their obligations on the sacred book of their own religion, selecting it from a list approved by Grand Lodge. The Volume of the Sacred Law is a silent symbol of a Freemason’s faith in a Great Architect of the Universe. Cable Tow. A cable—a very strong rope—and tow, to pull a great weight or mass; a rope used in

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Freemasonry to symbolically bind. While sailors consider the length of a cable tow to be about 100 fathoms or 600 feet, its symbolic length in Freemasonry differs for various brethren. It is almost universally now considered to be the “scope of a brother’s ability.” As that ability increases, so does the length of the cable tow. Cardinal . Of basic importance; main; primary; essential; principal. Chalk, Charcoal and Clay. The first two words mean what they say: clay is here used in the widest sense to mean all earth. “Drawing the lodge” was a custom which antedated the modern Masonic chart containing the symbols. Early symbols were drawn on the floor of the room in which the lodge met, even if it was but earth or clay, with chalk, or charcoal, and erased after the lodge meeting was over. Circumambulation. Walking around a central point. In Masonic usage, it is always clockwise, from East to West by way of the South. In many early civilizations, God was the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun travels from East to West by way of the South. Hence, early man circled his stone altar on which a fire might be built, in imitation of the sun, by travelling from East to West by way of the South, in humble imitation of the God in the sky. Circumscribe . To draw a line around; to limit in range of activity definitely and clearly.

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Circumspection . Looking around; carefulness in considering all circumstances and possible consequences. Clad . Covered or clothed. Colors. In symbolic Masonry, they are white, black and blue. White in all ages and among all peoples has always stood for purity, innocence, sinlessness, and black in the same places and times has been the color of death and sorrow. No symbolism beyond what has been universal is to be found in the Masonic use of black and white. One theory as to blue is that it is the color of the blue vault of heaven. The starry-decked canopy was adopted in Freemasonry as an emblem of its universality and limitlessness. Another theory is that blue was adopted by the first Grand Lodge (after having first adopted white) as the especial color for its principal officers. Some believe that blue, the color of the ribbon in the Most Noble Order of the Garter, was adopted by early Masons in order to add to Freemasonry some of the dignity which surrounded that decoration. The garter is one of the honors referred to when the apron was presented as being “more honorable than the Star or Garter.” Whatever the reason for the adoption of the color, its use is now universal and “Blue Lodge” and “Blue Lodge Masonry” are terms understood throughout Freemasonry. Compass. Symbol of restraint; of the principle tenets of the Order; of skill and knowledge, since without

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its use a square cannot be erected and without a square a building cannot be built. The square and compass united are universally as the symbol of a Master Mason and of Freemasonry. Both symbols are much older than Freemasonry. Chinese manuscripts from two thousand years ago give them a significance consistent with our understanding of them in Freemasonry. No symbols in Freemasonry offer so many possible interpretations. But many symbols may mean different things to different men. Each interprets what he can and what he needs from Freemasonry’s symbols. In modern Masonic rituals, the compass is “dedicated to the Craft” and is emblematic of restraint. Years ago the philosopher Burke said “men of intemperate passions cannot be free; passions forge their fetters.” It is our passions in the larger sense; intemperance, excess temper, unjust judgment, intolerance, selfishness; that the spiritual compass seeks to circumscribe. Cornerstone. Symbol of beginning; symbol of sacrifice. Cornerstones are laid in the Northeast corner point, midway between the darkness of the North and the brilliance of the East and were chosen by ancient builders as the point of beginning, a commencement of a new structure. Halfway between, then, is a symbol of a beginning—the traveler has left the darkness and moved towards the light. Those who build have left the “darkness” in which is no building, and progressed far enough toward “light” to lay a foundation stone. Freemasons lay cornerstones and in the hollowed center put

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mementoes of the day, the remains of the ancient superstition that without a sacrifice the building would collapse. Covering of the Lodge. When our ancient brethren “met on high hills or in low vales,” the “clouded canopy or starry-decked heavens” was their only covering. If the lodge is considered as a symbol of the world, then the “star-decked heaven” is the only possible “covering of the lodge.” In general, it is a symbol of the universality of Freemasonry: its indeterminate extent and its coexistence with the spread of humanity. Discalceation, Rite of. “Plucking the shoe” was the ancient Israelitish custom “for to confirm all things” as the Book of Ruth has it. It is possible that man took off his shoe when “redeeming or changing” or making any kind of a contract, as a testimony that he would not run away from his obligation. A shoeless man cannot run fast or far on stony ground. Divested . To deprive or take away from; to undress or remove clothing, ornaments or equipment. Due . Proper; according to accepted standards or procedures. Due Guard. A symbol of obligation. It reminds the man using it and those seeing it of our obligations as Masons. East. Symbolic of light and knowledge. The symbolism must originally have come from the risings of

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the sun in the East, putting to flight the darkness. In Freemasonry, the East is the seat of the Master of a lodge, from whom, at least in theory, proceeds all Masonic knowledge. Brethren “approach the East in search of light.” This is Masonic language for approaching the source in search of knowledge. Engrave . To cut figures or letters into wood or metal. Entered Apprentice Degree. A symbol of youth. The word apprentice comes through the French prendre from the Latin praehendere , to take, to hold, to seize. An apprentice is one who has been taken by a more skilled worker to learn. Equivocation . To avoid committing oneself to what one says; uncertainty; uncertain or questioning disposition of mind. Etch . To produce as a pattern on a hard surface by eating into the material’s surface as with acid or a laser beam. Fellow . A member of a group having common characteristics; an associate; an equal in rank or power or character. Fortitude. Strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger, or bear pain or adversity, with steadfastness.

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Gauge, Twenty-four Inch. Symbol of time as wealth; one of the working tools of Freemasonry. (See Scythe, symbol of the shortness of human time.) The twenty-four inch gauge infers the importance of the allotment of time for various activities. Time is the substance of life. Wisely used, carefully budgeted, it goes far and does much. Carelessly used, wasted, allowed to slip away, it becomes an expression of a useless and wasted life. Gavel (Common). Symbol of means of perfecting; one of the working tools of Freemasonry. As the common gavel is used to breaking off the corners of rough stones, gradually making the rough ashlar into a perfect ashlar, the common gavel is used symbolically to divest the character of the vices and superfluities of life. The stonemason’s common gavel has a short handle and a head which is hammer-like on one end and chisel sharp on the other. This form is the correct Masonic “common gavel.” The term gavel may have come from its shape, being that of the gable end of a house. The round-head gavel with a turned handle, often used by the presiding officer at meetings, is not symbolic although this form is commonly used in Masonic lodges. The round-hear gavel could not break off the corners of rough stones. Great Architect or Great Artificer of the Universe. Under these titles, Freemasonry refers to Deity. As Freemasonry is nonsectarian, any man of any religion may offer his devotions to the Deity he reveres, no matter what name he may use in his mind. The use of the term Great Architect of the Universe (or any of its variations)

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arose during the Enlightenment to refer to the Deity in a manner that all moral men could agree. Great Lights, The Three. (See Bible, Square, Compass.) Taken together, a symbol of Freemasonry, because no lodge may open or work without them upon the Altar. In the public eye, the square and compass is universally a symbol of Freemasonry. Guttural. Of, or having to do with, or involving, the throat. Hele . To hide or conceal; to cover; to keep out of view. Highest Hills and Lowest Vales. Symbols of the need for secrecy. Ancient meeting places not only of lodges but of religious observances, both in the high and low places, were believed to be sacred. An early eighteenth century Masonic Lecture states: “the lodge stands upon holy ground or the highest hill or lowest vale or in the Vale of Jehosephat or any other secret place,” which seems to mark the transition period between these places as holy and as secret. Hoodwink. Symbol of secrecy. Many initiations begin with the temporary blindfolding of the candidate. He is not blindfolded because is something secret in a lodge room. Our meeting places are often open to non-Masons when the lodge is meeting in tiled session. Blindfolding a candidate in any rite is not for practical but for spiritual reasons. The temporary blinding is a symbol of present

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darkness, which will be displaced by light when and if the initiate succeeds in penetrating the mysteries before him. House Not Made With Hands . That which lies beyond death; the world of spiritual truth. Immemorial . Extending or existing since beyond the reach of memory. Indite . To write down; to put down in writing. Initiatic Of, or relating to, initiation. Initiation . A new undertaking; the beginning of a new approach or perspective on one’s life; the process of becoming a part of a group or organization which involves personal transformation. Intrinsic . Belonging to a thing by its very nature; the essential nature or constitution of a thing; inherent; in and of itself. Invest . To give; to furnish; to clothe. Inviolate . Not broken or disregarded; not told to others; respected. Jacob’s Ladder. Symbol of hope, faith and charity. Modern Bible translations use love in place of charity. The “charity” which extends beyond the grave though the “boundless realms of eternity” is more than giving to the poor. It truly is “love” which extends through eternity, and brotherly love is one of the great teachings of

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Freemasonry. The use of a ladder or steps is also a symbol of a climb towards perfection. Just and Upright. A phrase used to denominate an Entered Apprentice, as he stands in his lodge. “Just” means “complete, perfect” as a lodge is “just” when it has the required number of brethren present to open and work. “Upright” refers to character rather than posture, although the cringing bent head of the slave before the master is apparently the inspiration for applying a contrary definition to a Mason. Light. (See Circumambulation, East, Cornerstone.) Universally as well as in Freemasonry, a symbol of knowledge, both temporal and spiritual. The opposite is also true. Darkness is universally as well as n Freemasonry a symbol of ignorance. Manual . Having to do with, or involving, the hands. Masonic Formation . The process of experiencing the Masonic tradition, becoming a part of it, and improving oneself through its lessons and taking those lessons out into the world to demonstrate the values of Freemasonry to others. An ever continuing process of moral, ethical, spiritual, and intellectual formation or growth that all Freemasons should continuously undergo. Mystery . The modern meaning of the term “mystery” means something unknown; to the ancients,

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mystery meant something divine, deeply profound, and worth knowing. North. (See Circumambulation, East, Cornerstone.) Symbol of darkness, therefore of ignorance. In Freemasonry, the “North” is a “place of darkness,” a small echo of a day when early man observed that in Europe the sun never travelled far enough into the northern part of the sky to shine into the northern windows of a building. Oblong. Symbol of the “form of a lodge” which in turn is a symbol of the known world of the ancients—Spain in the West, Asia Minor in the East, and a few miles North and South of the Mediterranean. Ornaments of a Lodge. The mosaic pavement is ritualistically symbolic of the floor of King Solomon’s Temple, the indented tessel of the border surrounding it, and the blazing star of the figure at its center, a representation of Divine Providence. The blazing star was one of the early symbols of Freemasonry. Passions . Emotions, as distinguished from reason; powerful or compelling feelings or desires. Pectoral . In, on, or of the chest. Pedal . Of, or relating to, the foot or feet. Perfect Youth, Doctrine of the. Originally, Masons were not allowed to take maimed youths as Apprentices, an important and practical requirement in the

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