L. R.—g. The Worshipful Master alone uses

the gavel, not the Wardens. The Brethren use their hands, not their Badges. The effect of the whole may be, and often is,
220
The Ceremonies (Initiation)
marred by want of proper attention to the details here mentioned.
The Junior Deacon restrains the Candidate from movement, and the Worshipful Master
then points out to the attention of the Can- |
didate the three great though emblematical Ls., and welcomes the Candidate as a newly obligated Brother among Masons.
After directing the attention of the Candi- date to the three L....r Ls. and to other matters, the Worshipful Master communi- cates the Ss. without leaving his place. He should be careful at the proper moment
to take the Sp. and place the f. in the form
of the first R. S.
When the Candidate is conducted, still normally ‘squaring,’ to the Junior Warden, and presented, the examination* should proceed as far as the W. only, and should not include the derivation and the interpre-
tation, etc. These, however, should always.
be given to the Senior Warden in full. It should be clearly understood that the im- port of the W. is not S., but in S.
The examinations concluded, the Senior.
* The Junior Deacon, after himself saluting the Wardens, does not again give signs or salutes with
the Candidate; he merely directs the Candidate to,
ive them. give the fabs 7
-
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
Warden presents the Candidate and receives. the Worshipful Master’s command to invest the new-made Brother with the ancient and honourable distinguishing badge of a Mason —a Lambskin, entirely white: the badge of Innocence and bond of Friendship; a Symbol of anew and spiritual Service; an indication that he is now a Worker and Builder in the service of God and Man; a badge which, if he never disgraces it, will never disgrace him. At this point the Brethren strike their Badges, not their hanas.
In adjusting the E. A. badge, the S. W. should see that the ‘ flap ’ is up.
After a few observations by the Worship- ful Master the Candidate is placed in the N. E. to receive that touching if embarrassing Charge by the Worshipful Master which has thrilled the hearts of thousands on thousands, and to which may be traced the impulse of that Universal Masonic Charity which knows no bounds save those of prudence.
The presentation of the Working Tools, and the exhibition of the Warrant, follow in _ due sequence.
Mention is made in Chapter XVI., p. 158, of the custom of actually presenting a copy of the Book of Constitutions, and one of the
222
The Ceremonies (Initiation)
By-laws, to every Entered Apprentice. Good reasons are there given for this practice, and to these the reader will do well to refer. The newly initiated Brother is told that on his return a Charge will be delivered. He is then conducted along the N. side (no ‘ squaring ’) to the L. of the S. W., where the Deacon instructs* his charge to ‘ Salute the Worshipful Master as a Mason’; and he should, if necessary, correct any informality or slovenliness in the perform- ance of the salute. The hand should be raised at once to the appointed position; and the sign should be completed without bowing or bending of the body before or after. This position, and the manner of assuming it, should be uniformly prac- tised by every member when entering or leaving the Lodge, or when commanded to stand to order. A perfunctory or slovenly manner of giving the salute or of standing to order is a breach of Masonic etiquette. The Junior Deacon accompanies the Can- didate to the door and resumes his seat. After a brief interval the Candidate re- turns. The Junior Deacon receives him, conducts him to the left of the Senior Warden
* See footnote on p. 221. 223
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
and directs* him to ‘Salute the Worshipful Master asa Mason.’ The Charge is given to the Candidate at this stage and while he is in this position.
It is by no means a rare occurrence to hear the Senior or the Junior Warden or some Past Master deliver the Charge in this Degree. This is a relief to the Master, and an advantage to the Wardens, as being good practice in anticipation of their higher duties in the future. (See p. 354.)
The Junior Deacon remains in attendance on the Candidate while the charge is given, and at the conclusion of it he conducts the Candidate to a seat and resumes his own.
* * %* *
Brethren generally evince a warmer in- terest in, and will make more strenuous efforts to be present. at, the ceremony of Initiation than at either of the other two. It is naturally to be expected that this would be the case, because it is the formal reception of a new member into our Order, and most of us feel an excusable curiosity to see what manner of man the Candidate is, and how he will conduct himself under the entirely new circumstances in which he will find himself placed.
* See footnote on p. 221. 224
The Ceremonies (Initiation)
Most of us have heard newly-initiated Brethren express themselves to the effect that they understood and appreciated the Ceremony of Initiation in far greater measure after having witnessed and heard it per- formed with some other Candidate than they did at their own Initiation. Naturally this would be the case; the whole surround- ing circumstances, the action, the moral teaching, even the phraseology of the Cere- mony, being so far removed from anything within the range of their experience in the outer world, so different from any ‘ opinion preconceived ’ of that which actually takes place in the Lodge.
A very curious psychological study would be produced by a transcript of the various impressions made upon the minds of the majority of the newly-elected Members of our Order by the First Ceremony. It may be assumed generally that those impressions ~—favourable or the reverse—would be just in accordance with the degree of carefulness, accuracy, and impressiveness (or with the absence of those qualities) with which the Ceremony had in each case been performed. Instances of very varied results, consequent upon the Ceremony having been well or ill
225 Q
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
conducted, are within the experience of per- haps every member of mature years among us.
*A tree is known by its fruits,’ and in- creasingly numerous as our Fraternity is, we may conclude that, as a general rule, the seed sown in our Lodges is good seed, well planted, well nourished, or it would not—as it has done, and is doing—‘ take root down- ward, and bear fruit upward, a hundred-fold,’ as the number of new Lodges year by year added to the registry of the Grand Lodge abundantly testifies. Nevertheless in very many Lodges complaint is made of the falling away of good men and Brethren from our midst, and of the coldness and apathy of many who retain their membership, but whose visits to the Lodge are few and far ' between. This is perhaps inevitable. It is not given to everyone to appreciate at its proper value our excellent Institution, or to derive ‘ profit and pleasure’ from its moral teaching.
(AB.) ENTRUSTING THE ENTERED APPRENTICE.
The Junior Deacon with his left hand takes the right hand of the Candidate, and leads him towards the left of the Senior Warden.
226
The Ceremonies (Entrusting)
The Junior Deacon ‘ backs,’ bringing the Candidate to the proper position, facing the Worshipful Master. There is no ‘ advance’ or ‘ salute’ at this moment. The Worship- ful Master examines the Candidate by asking the prescribed questions. If the Candidate should falter it is the duty of the Junior Deacon to correct and prompt him.
At the conclusion of the prescribed ques- tions the Worshipful Master announces that he will put others if any Brother wishes him to do so.
What would happen if any Brother did so‘ wish’ we will not inquire. At this point some Brethren make a point of ejaculating, * Very well answered, Worshipful Master !’ | This is not orthodox, and should be dis- couraged in all cases; even in those cases where the commendation is earned.
The Junior Deacon (instructing the Candi- date, sotto voce, about L. F.) then conducts the Candidate, direct (there is no ‘squaring’ on this occasion), to the N. side of the Wor- shipful Master’s Pedestal, where, after pre- liminary assurances are given, the P G. and P. W. are communicated to him.
The Candidate is then taken stzaight back the way he came (there is no * squaring’ on
227
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
this occasion) towards the left of the Senior Warden, the Junior Deacon ‘ backing’ as before; and the Candidate is directed* to * Salute the Worshipful Master as a Mason.’ The Junior Deacon conducts him to the door and resumes his seat.
(B.) PASSING.
It is stated in Chapter XXIII. (p. 331, g.v.) that when a Candidate for the Second Degree is conducted by the T. to the outside’ of the door of the Lodge, the Ks. of the First Degree should be given; and the reasons are there fully explained why those Ks., and no others, should be given.
We will, as in the previous Degree, sup- pose the Candidate to have been properly prepared, the Ks. of E. A. to have been given, the Report made to the Worshipful Master, and the Candidate ordered to be admitted.
The Organist commences his introductory music (which he continues until the Candi- date reaches the K.S.). On his way to the door the Junior Deacon places the K.S.: after. which the Inner Guard opens the door and both the Deacons receive the Candidate at — the door; but ,this time the Senior Deacon
* See footnote on p. 221. 228
The Ceremonies (Passing)
has him in his especial charge, and leads him to the K. S., where he directs the Candidate to ‘Advance as a Mason.’ Senior Deacons should note the employment of this phrase when the Candidate is ‘advancing’ from one Degree to another. The two Deacons cross their wands over the Candidate during the Prayer, during which all stand with the Sn. of R. At the words ‘S. M. I. B.,’ whether said by the Immediate Past Master alone or sung by all the Brethren together, the Sn. of R. is ‘dropped,’ not ‘drawn.’ When the Prayer is concluded the Junior Deacon replaces the K. S. and resumes his seat; unless there is more than one Candidate; in that case the Junior Deacon, as a matter of course, takes charge of one of them; but the Senior Deacon leads throughout the Ceremony.
As soon as the way is clear, and without any preliminary remarks from the Worshipful Master, the Senior Deacon takes the Candi- date’s right hand in his own left, and they walk side by side, ‘squaring’ the L.
During the first perambulation the Candi- date has to prove to the Brethren that he has been duly initiated; and for this purpose he is halted at the W. M.’s Pedestal, and directed* by the Senior Deacon to ‘Salute the
* See footnote on p. 221. 229
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
Worshipful Master as a Mason.’ This the Candidate should do without turning his head or body towards the W. M. He is then halted at the R. of the Junior Warden and directed to ‘ Advance to the Junior Warden as such’; he is subjected to an examina- tion, in Sia he is called upon to show the Sn. and communicate the T. and W_ This having been accomplished, the Senior Deacon directs the Candidate to ‘Salute* the Senior Warden as a Mason’; he then passes the — Senior Warden’s pedestal; and having thus made one circuit, the Senior Deacon pauses; and the Brethren are bidden to observe that ‘ Bro. is about to pass in view before them, to show that he is the Candidate properly prepared,’ etc. Inthe second round he has to ‘Salute the Worshipful Master as a Mason,’ ‘Salute the Junior Warden as a Mason,’ ‘ Advance to the Senior Warden as such, showing the Sn., and communicating the P. G. and P. W..,’ leading from the First to the Second Degree.
* The Senior Deacon should in all cases bring the Candidate to a complete standstill before issuing directions; and the Candidate should salute without turning the head or body. The Senior Deacon does not illustrate the Candidateis salutes or signs. He merely superintends them.
230
The Ceremonies (Passing)
When the two rounds have been com- pleted nothing more in the way of examina- tion has to be done, and the Candidate is presented to the Worshipful Master by the Senior Warden as a Candidate properly pre- pared to be passed to the Second Degree.
The Candidate should be then placed on the North side of the Lodge, about six feet to the West of the Master’s pedestal, and facing full South, and the method of ad- vancing to the East in due form should then be verbally explained and physically described by the Senior Deacon; the Candi- date’s imitation in ‘due form’ will bring him to the proper place; at which the Junior Deacon should arrive at the same moment on L. of the Candidate.
Some of the remarks made upon the posture during the Ob. in the First Degree apply with equal force to the one in the Second, and the reader would do well to refer to pp. 218 and 219. If the Candidate has been properly instructed, the ... will already be formed in a S. without any neces- sity for further movement. A mistake is often made in placing the L. A. in the proper position; the . . . should rest in the angle of the S. with the ... elevated,
231
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
with the t.itf.o.a.S, and pointing over the Pads
The Deacons cross Wds. during Ob., and all stand with the P. S. of F.C.
When the words ‘hereby and hereon ’ are spoken, the Worshipful Master should place his left hand lightly—for a moment—upon the hand of the Candidate, and then upon the VisSseke
At the conclusion of the Ob. the P. S. is ‘drawn,’ and the Junior Deacon removes the S. On sealing the Ob. on V.S. L:, the Organist plays the Kyrie elevson ; after which the Worshipful Master says, ‘ Rise, newly-obligated Fellow-Craft Freemason.’
The Junior Deacon then resumes his seat.
The Senior Deacon places the Candidate at R. of the Worshipful Master for communica- tion of the S. T. and W.
The Worshipful Master should be careful, when he rises, to take the Sp., placing the f. in the form of the Second R..S.
In imparting the Ss., the Worshipful Mas- ter should see that the Candidate makes each portion of the three forms accurately, fairly, and squarely; especially in the H. S., in which, not only is the L. A. placed at ‘an angle of ninety Degrees,’ but the . . . is
232
The Ceremonies (Passing)
also, and is clearly pointed over the L. S.; and not, as a visitor to various Lodges in some Northern Provinces too often sees, stretched out across, with the .. . of the hand visible. An opinion upon this point chhas been obtained from high authority, and the custom here condemned has been pro- nounced to be entirely wrong.
As to the historical basis of the H. S., a great difference of opinion exists as to the locality in which these words were uttered, as well as in the rendering of the words themselves.
An unprejudiced examination of the facts, which undoubtedly connect the miracle with Joshua, and both with a certain locality (see Josh. x. 11-13), must lead to the con- clusion that our H. S. is derived from the events recorded in those verses.
The words and signs used in the various portions of the Ritual] are ‘according to our traditions,’ and therefore, not professing that they are the very words of the Bible, the use of them is not open to serious objection.
After the Worshipful Master has finished, the Candidate is conducted to the Junior 233
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
Warden, and presented by the Senior Deacon for examination. The Senior Deacon, in presenting the Candidate, of course salutes the Junior Warden, but when the Candidate’s turn to salute arrives, the Senior Deacon does not duplicate the Sns.; he merely in. structs the Candidate what to do. The Junior Warden’s examination should pro- ceed, as in the first Degree, as far as the W. only; and should not include the derivation and the interpretation, etc. These, how- ever, should always be given to the S. W. in full.
The examinations concluded, the Senior Warden receives the Worshipful Master’s command to invest the Brother with the dis- tinguishing badge of a Fellow-Craft Free- mason—a badge which bears two rosettes, and now has the flap down. After a few observations by the Worshipful Master, the Candidate is placed in the S. E. to mark the progress he has made in the Science.
* * * *
The ‘ Presentation of the Working Tools of the Second Degree’ gives occasion to point out one of the greatest anomalies in the Ceremonies of the three Degrees. In the Ritual the explanation of the Square,
234
The Ceremonies (Passing)
Level, and Plumb-rule is given with extreme brevity in the Ceremony of Passing to the Second Degree, whereas in the explanation of the Tracing Board of the First Degree they—the Working Tools of the Second Degree—are explained at unusual length.
Very little consideration is needed to show how inconsistent this is. The explana- tion of the First Tracing Board must of necessity be given when the Lodge is opened in the First, or Entered Apprentice, Degree, and in it the Ritual gives the long Explana- tion of the Working Tools of the Second, or Fellow-Craft’s, Degree; and then in the Ceremony of Passing, during which alone the Working Tools of the Second Degree can lawfully be explained, they are slurred over with a brevity not to be found in the Ex- planation of the Working Tools of the First or of the Third Degree.
This bouleversement ought to have been re- versed; the lengthy explanation of the uses of these Tools in Operative Masonry, and of their moral signification, should have been expunged from the First Tracing Board, and should have been included in the Ceremony of Passing, to which they legitimately belong.
235
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
The implements in question, being the * Movable Jewels’ of the Lodge, and being severally the distinctive. badges of the Master and the two Wardens, must of neces- sity be mentioned in the Tracing Board of the First Degree; but not necessarily de- scribed and moralized upon. They should be mentioned only in the quality of Movable Jewels, and as designating the three Prin- cipal Officers of the Lodge; it is unconstitu- tional to explain them in the First Degree.
The description of their uses and the ex- cellent moral lessons which they teach (the latter being far too good to be lost), should have been transferred bodily from the Tracing Board to their proper place in the Second Ceremony. Without this longer ex- position of the Working Tools, the Ceremony of Passing is poor and meagre as compared with the Initiation and the Raising; whereas with the full explanation it will compare not unfavourably with the First and the Third Ceremonies.
* * * Xk
Aiter the presentation of the Working Tools, the Candidate receives permission to retire.
Accordingly the Senior Deacon takes him
236
The Ceremonies (Passing)
(no squaring) to the L. of the Senior Warden, and instructs* him to ‘Salute the Worshipful Master as a Fellow-Craft, first asan Entered Apprentice.’
The Senior Deacon then accompanies the Candidate to the door, and resumes his seat.
On the return of the Candidate after a short interval, the Senior Deacon (only) meets him, conducts him to the L. of the Senior Warden, and instructs* him to ‘Salute the Worshipful Master as a Fellow-Craft, first as an Entered Apprentice.’
The Worshipful Master then proceeds to: the head of the Tracing Board.
The Senior Deacon leads the Candidate to the foot of the Tracing Board. The Junior Deacon arrives (L.) at the same moment, and hands his wand to the Worshipful Master, who gives the Explanation of the Second Tracing Board.
Towards the conclusion of the Explana- tion, and when the W. M. pronounces the letter,‘ G,’ the 1,,P..M.),S. Ws, andiogii Wi successively give =; and after the W. M. has said ‘denoting God’ (not before), the Sn. of R. is placed, and in due course dis.
At the conclusion the Senior Deacon con:-
* See footnote on p. 230. 237
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
ducts the Candidate to a seat, and then resumes his own.
Sometimes the Worshipful Master dele- gates the duty of giving this Lecture to some other Brother, thus lightening his own labours and at the same time varying what is apt to become the monotony of the pro- ceedings.
(BC.) ENTRUSTING THE FELLOW-CRAFT.
The Senior Deacon, in this ceremony, does exactly as the Junior Deacon does in the ceremony (AB.) Entrusting the E. A. (q.v.); except that at the conclusion, on arriving at the left of the Senior Warden, the Candi- date is directed to ‘ Salute the Worshipful Master as a F. C., first as an E. A.’ The
Deacons ext. Ls. and lay S. |
(C.) RAISING.
When a Candidate for the Third Degree is conducted by the T. to the outside of the door of the Lodge, the Ks. of the Second Degree are given. The reason for this is given on p. 331.
We will, as in the previous Degrees, sup- pose the Candidate to have been properly prepared, the Ks. of F. C. to have been given
238
The Ceremonies (Raising)
the Report made to the Worshipful Master, and the Candidate ordered to be admitted.
The Organist commences solemn and specially selected music, and continues it until the Candidate reaches the K. S.
On his way to the door the Junior Deacon places the K. S.; after which the Inner Guard opens the door; and both the Deacons receive the Candidate at the door, but, as in the Second Degree, the Senior Deacon has him in his especial charge, and leads him to the K. S., where he directs* the Candidate to ‘ Advance as a Fellow-Craft, first as an Entered Apprentice.’ (Senior Deacons should note the employment of this phrase when the Candidate is ‘ advancing’ from one Degree to another.) The two Deacons cross their wands over the Candi- date during the Prayer, during which all stand with the Sn. of R. At the words ‘S.M.I. B.,’ whether said by the Immediate Past Master alone, or sung by all the Brethren together, the Sn. of R. is ‘dropped,’ not ‘drawn.’ When the Prayer is concluded the Junior Deacon removes and subse- quently replaces the K. S. and follows the Senior Deacon closely all the time. In the
* See footnote on p. 30. 239
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
case of more than one candidate the Junior Deacon, as a matter of course, takes charge of one of them; but the Senior Deacon leads throughout the Ceremony.
As soon as the way is clear, and without any preliminary remarks from the Worship- ful Master, the Senior Deacon takes the Candidate’s right hand in his own left, and they walkside by side, squaring the L., closely followed by the Junior Deacon. They have to make three perambulations.
During the first circuit, the Candidate is directed by the Senior Deacon to ‘Salute the Worshipful Master as a Mason,’ and to ‘Advance to the Junior Warden as such, showing the Sn. and communicating the T. and W.’ Thus he has to prove to the Brethren, through an examination con- ducted by the Junior Warden, that he has been regularly initiated into Freemasonry.
During the second round the Candidate is directed to ‘Salute the Worshipful Master as. a Fellow-Craft’; to ‘Salute the Junior Warden as a Fellow-Craft’; to ‘Advance to the Senior Warden as such, showing the Sn., and communicating the T. and W. of that Degree.’ Thus he has to’ prove to the Senior Warden that he has been
240
¢€
The Ceremonies (Raising)
/ duly passed to the Second, or F ge _ Degree.
The Deacons and the Candidate then halt on the North side of the Senior Warden’s pedestal, and the Brethren are requested to observe that the Candidate ‘is about to pass in view before them, to show that he is the Candidate properly pre- pared,’ etc.
‘During the third round the Candidate is directed* to ‘Salute the Worshipful Master as a Fellow-Craft’; to ‘Salute the Junior Warden as a Fellow-Craft ’; to ‘ Advance to the Senior Warden as such, showing the Sn., and communicating the P. G. and P. W. he received from the Worshipful. Master pre- viously. to leaving the Lodge.’ Thus he has to prove to the Senior Warden that he is in possession of the P. G. and P. W. leading from the Second to the Third Degree.
Now, inasmuch.as it is the invariable rule in each Degree that the Candidate shall undergo one examination—no more, and no less—during each of these preliminary per- ambulations, it is clear that the correct rule is that there shall be one perambulation for the First Degree, and no more; two for the
* See footnote on p. 230. 241 R
Freemasonry and its Etiquette
Second Degree, no more and no less; and three for the Third Degree, no more and no less.
The Senior Warden then presents the Candidate to the Worshipful Master -a Candidate properly prepared to be raised to the Third Degree’; and then, by command of the Worshipful Master, directs both the ~ Deacons to instruct the Candidate to ‘ Ad- vance to. the E. by the proper Sps.’
The Senior Deacon (Junior Deacon still following) takes the Candidate to the N., where the Junior Deacon takes temporary charge of the Candidate.
The Senior Deacon by example instructs the Candidate; the Sps. should be well squared with the body erect; concluding with four distinct Sps. and the completion of the last one. The Junior Deacon arrives at the same time on the L. of the Candidate.
The Deacons cross Wds. during the Ob., and all stand to order with the P. S. of