IV. — The Apprentice First Degree.

The usual age for an apprentice to be made is 14 to 15. years and he is bound for 7 years during which time he is. taught his trade. His admission as an apprentice corrc-
spends to the Speculative Initiation and is a formid£ibIe ceremony for so young a lad.
He first has to apply for permission to join the Society, and then, if approved signs the following petition which is posted up at the entrance of the quarry or workshop for 14 days. On three occasions he must stand by his applica- tion when the men are going to or from work so that all may see him ; and if any one knows anything against him they report it at the office, and the matter is investigated.
Form A.
Application to the Superintendent of the Works of The Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Wall- ers, Slaters, Paviors, Plasterers, and Bricklayers.
I, , being the son of a Free Man, and ....
years of age, humbly crave to be made an Apprentice to the Ancient and Honourable Craft.
I am prompted by a favourable opinion preconceived of the Fraternity and the desire for knowledge to enable me to work at the Trade.
I further promise and swear that I will conform to all the ancient usages and established customs of the Order.
Witness my hand, this day of
Signed
Witness
The fact that the applicant has to state that he is the son of a Free Man shows the origin of this application dates back to a time "when all men were not free. Serfdom exist- ed in Great Britain to a much later period than is generally recognized. In Saxon times the theow and the ceorl were serfs pure and simple. In Anglo-Norman times they became known as serfs and villeins and they were attached to the land.
Usually the condition of a child followed the status of the mother. Hagar and Ishmael are well known Biblical examples. This rule is voiced in the old Engli^i proverb, "It is my calf that is born of my cow" ; but by a peculiarity in the usage of Britain this was not always so, and a child followed the status of his father, certainly if born in lawful wedlock.
Hence the applicant claims to be the son of a free man. -
Serfdom practically died out in England following the dislocation of society caused by the Black Death in 1348 and the Peasants' Revolt, 1377-81 followed by the Wars of the Roses, 1 399- 1485. From this time serfdom was practically extinct in England, but remnants of this condition are to be found in the latter part of the XVIth Century and traces are to be found so late as the time of Charles I. In Scot- land Colliers and Salters were not quite free until the end of the i8th Century but statutes of 1775 and 1789 removed the last traces of serfdom from the British Isles. Laus Deo !
The candidate has to be proposed by one Mason, second- ed by another, and supported by five more. If accepted he has to repair on the appointed day — the sixth of the week — at high XII to the Quarry or Workshop. The probable reason that high XII on Friday is selected is because the Guild of Operatives holds the tradition that it was at high XII on a Friday that Hiram Abifi was slain when he went at that hour, according to his wonted custom, to make his prayers ; and that Friday was the last working day of the week in the days of King Solomon.
He applies at the door and is admitted on giving the pass word F.A.O.G.R., which has been previously given to him. He is admitted within the entrance of the Lodge, usually a Porch with double doors,, and has to take an oath not to reveal any part of the proceedings in the event of his being rejected at any part of the ceremony. This is done by his reading aloud his application and "kissing the book" when he says "promise and swear."
He also takes a second short oath that avoiding fear on the one hand and rashness on the other, he. will persevere through the ceremony. Then the outer door is locked, and the key is taken to the Masters. The candidate puts his proper fee on the lower ledge of a "footing stone" and the Treasurer counts it, but does not pick it up until after the candidate has taken his obligation.
Here let me draw your attention to the plan of a Lodge in this First Degree.
You will notice the three Masters sit in the West so that they face and can see the rising sun. The Junior Warden sits in the North so that he can see the Sun at its meridian and the Senior Warden sits in the East so that he can see the Setting Sun. The Altar is in the center of the Lodge un-
der the "G" and the Rough Ashlar Stone is on the East side of the Altar. There are three Deacons present, one for the Masters and one for each Warden. Inside the Porch the candidate is divested of all money and hoodwinked. Then three men come out of the Lodge, divest him of all his clothes and dirty hirn "with mud. The Doctor then arrives and removes the hoodwink. He is J;old to "Wash and be clean." The bath is ready and the candidate bathes. Seven times does he dip. The Doctor then examines him to see that he is sound in wind and limb and reports him "perfect in all his parts." Then he is elected by the "clean-hand" sign. He is clothed in a white cloak, where the original symbolism of white signifying a candidate is retained. The word candidate meaning literally, I am white. The Candi- date is again hoodwinked and still clothed in the white cloak. He has also a blue cord looped round his neck, held by a man in front and a man behind, and a second blue cord around his centre held by a man on each side. The neck cord being longer than the center cord the four men make a diamond with the candidate in the center. This diamond has a reference to Operative Masonry and the candidate and his four attendants make "five points" which has another reference to Operative methods.
The candidate now makes application at the Inner door. How do you hope to obtain admission? By the help of El Shaddai and F.A.O.G.R. The sword is held to his n.l.b. so as to draw blood. He is then admitted and led to the N.E. corner. Here he is questioned.
What age are you? What is your character? What is your knowledge? Where have you been working? Have you ever been a Member of any Guild or Company before ? Do you swear you have never been expelled, discharged or "run away" from any work? In all cases of D and D I, W. D. you put y. t ? In El Shaddai is all my t. Right Rise. The Brothers in the E.S.W. and N. will take notice that
is about to pass before them. He is asked if
he sees anything, he replies No, and the hookwink is slight- ly raised so that by bending his head a little forward he is able to see his own feet and for two or three feet in front of them. He is then cautioned to keep strictly to the track or teselated border and is led once round it. He has put one foot in front of the other, toe to heel and so on, it is called "end on work" or "work in line." The candidate has
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to make this Perambulation once correctly, without failure. From the N.E. corner he goes to the S.E., then to S.W., then to N.W. Then he comes to the Junior Warden who bars liis progress — on due report the bar is raised and the candi- date proceeds. Then back to N.E. corner and so to Senior Warden who bars progress again — on due report the bar is removed and then a strip of carpet is laid down leading to the Rough Ashlar Stone on the East side of the Altar, so that the candidate shall not step on the squares of the Mo- saic pavement as he is led to the Ashlar Stone. Here he Tcneels with both knees bare on the Rough Ashlar Stone, with the left hand S.T.H.B.T.R.R.T.
It is interesting to note that this is still preserved as a sign in the Lodges under the Scotch Grand Lodge, as well as among the Operative Free Masons.
He then takes the following obligation which is the sarhe to-day as it was when written out and signed by Robert Padget, Clearke to the Wofshipful Society of Free Masons of the City of London in 1686. This copy by Padgett is Relieved to have been taken by Anderson and is now in the possession of the Lodge of Antiquity, London.
The Worshipful Sochjty of the Free Masons of the City of York and Division.
OATH OF NIMROD. Apprentice Degree (ist).
I, , do, in the presence of El Shaddai
and of this Worshipful Assembly of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers and Brick- layers, promise and declare that I will not at any time here- after, by any act or circumstance whatsoever, directly or in- directly, write, print, cut, mark, publish, discover, reveal, or make known, any part or parts of the trade secrets, priv- iledges, or counsells of the Worshipful Fraternity or Fel- lowship of Free Masonry, which I may have known at any time, or at any time hereafter shall be made known unto me.
The penalty for breaking this great oath shall be the loss of my life.
That I shall be branded with the Mark of the Traitor and slain according to ancient custom by being throatalled
so that my soul have no rest by night or by day.
Given under my hand and sealed with my lips, this
day of , 191 1.
So help me El Shaddai and the holy contents of this book.
The First Master Mason : Take good heed to keep it right well, for it is perilous and great danger for a man to forswear himself upon the Holy Book.
A reference to a similar oath is found in the Kilwinning M.S. No. 4, under the heading of "Question and Answer."
"What punishment is inflicted on those yt reveals ye secret. Yr. heart is to be taken out alive yr head is to be cut of and yr bodys to be buried in ye sea mark and not in any place wr christians are buried."
The form of these oaths explains the archaic form of the obligation still retained in the Speculative Ritual. People in the Middle Ages believed the soul could not rest unless the body was properly buried, hence the craving for cere- monial burial which is still existent. Although the craving was for Christian burial it is really the remnant of a Pagan idea transmitted to Christian times. The ancient Rom.ans believed that the soul of an unburied body could not pass the Styx for at least a hundred years. Many of our present funeral customs are traceable to similar Pagan and pre- Christian beliefs.
There is no doubt but that in ancient times it was con- templated that these penalties should be actually infficted ; indeed at a time when physical mutilation such as amputa- tion of a hand, and hanging, drawing and quartering were still on our Statute books there was nothing incongruous in such an oath. Papworth and Gould record that in 1099 a Bishop of Utrecht was slain for extracting the Grand secret from the son of a Master Mason.
After taking the obligation the candidate is requested to seal it with his lips. As his lips are brought to the book a large seal of soft wax is placed underneath them ; his head is forcibly pushed downwards so that an actual impression of his lips is taken by the wax, and his obligation is "sealed with his lips" actually and literally. When the obligation
is finished the Master says to the Deacons, "give light that he may place his hand to the bond." A pen is put in his hand and he signs the bond "Given under my hand and seal- ed with my lips this day of ." He says,
"I deliver this as my act and deed."
The candidate is then assisted to rise with the words, "Rise, Apprentice to the Craft of Free Masons."
He is then taught the Grip, which is the same as that of the Speculatives, only it must be "covered;" and the Word which is "Jabal." Then the Charge is given, which is the same as the one that was promulgated on December 8th, 1663.
Worshipful Bro. Stretton informs me that the same Charge is used in all the eight Operative Divisions in the Kingdom. Charge to the Apprentice to the Craft op Free Mason.
1. You shall truly honour El Shaddai, and his holy Church, the King, your Master and Warden; you shall not absent yourself, but with the Licence of one or both of them from their Service, by Day or Night.
2. You shall not Purloyn or Steal, or be Privy or acces- sary to the Purloyning or Stealing of the value of six-pence from them or either of them.
3. You shall not commit Adultery or Fornication in the House of your Master, with his Wife, Daughter or Maid.
4. You shall not disclose your Master's or Warden's Secrets or Councils, which they have reported unto you, or what is to be concealed, spoken or done within the Privities of their House, by them, or either of them, or by any Free- Mason.
5. You shall not maintain any disobedient Argument with your Master, Warden, or any Free-Mason.
6. You shall reverently behave your self towards all' Free-Masons, using neither Cards, Dice, or any other unlaw- ful Games, Christmas Time excepted.
7. You shall not haunt, or frequent any Taverns or Ale- houses, or so much as go inside any of them, except it be upon your Master or your Warden, their or any of their Affairs, or with their or the one of their Consents.
8. You shall not commit Adultery or Fornication in any Man's House where you shall be at table or at Work.
g. You shall not marry, or contract yourself to any Woman during your Apprenticeship.
10. You shall not steal any Man's goods, but especially 3'our Master's, or any of his Fellow Masons, nor suffer any to steal their Goods, but shall hinder the Felon, if you can ; and if you cannot, then you shall acquaint the said Master and his Fellows presently.
11. All these Articles and Charges, which I have now recited unto you, you shall well and truly observe, perform and keep to the best of your Power and knowledge.
So help you El Shaddai, and the true and holy contents of this Book.
From this Charge you will see that the Operative Free Masons require their apprentices to respect the chastity of the women kind of Free Masons. It is also noteworthy that the Dame of the House where they hold a Lodge is protect- ed; and she is also sworn not to lead any member of the Craft into sin.
The candidate is then actually presented with his Work- ing Tools, which are the Chisel, the small Maul, and the Straight F,dge ; and is invested with the Apprentice's Apron.
He is next taken back to the N.E. corner Stone. Here he is asked by the Foreman how he is going to live until he draws his first week's money. If he says he is poor then h'= Foreman takes him before the Masters in the Chair, and re- ports that he has no means of living. The Master craves Charity for him and a collection is made on his behalf. This is doubtless the origin of the collection Speculative Free Ma- sons ask for from the candidate. If however he says he has money or will live with his father, no collection is made.
For seven years he remains an Apprentice. During this time he wears his blue neck-cord as a sign that he is still bound as an apprentice.
This wearing a collar as a sign of bondage is a very old ■custom. In Anglo-Saxon and Norman days in .this coun- try serfs and bondsmen were accustomed to wear collars of metal securely riveted round their necks.
At the end of seven years the apprentice applies to be made free of his Bond. The following application has to be posted up at the entrance of the Stone Yard Quarry or Works.
Form B.
Application to the Super-Intendent of the Works of the Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Wall-* ers, Slaters, Plaisterers and Bricklayers.
^' having well and truly served as an En- tered Apprentice to the Craft of Free Mason for seven years,, and being of the full age of twenty-one years, humbly crave- to be made free of that Bond, to enable me to be Passed to. the Honourable Degree of Fellow of the Craft of Free Ma- son. I further promise and swear that if once admitted to. the Fellowship I will for ever conform to the ancient charges, usages and established customs of the Fraternity, as Fellows have done in all ages.
Signed
Registrar.
Witness my hand this day of
Signed
Witness
Certificate of Character
Signed
Approved.
Signed .
Enrolled.
Super-Intendent of Works.
Grand Master Mason VIP.
The applicant has to go and kneel on the same Ashlar- he was bound seven years before. The Bond is torn up, the- blue cord is removed from his neck.
"Rise, Free Brother, you are now superior to an Appren- tice, but inferior to a Fellovi' of the Craft of Free Mason."'
He is then given the Pass Grip and Pass Word leading; from the First to the Second Degree. Both are the same
as the Speculatives Here again the
Grip must be "Covered." He then takes a formal farewell' of the Apprentices, and for the future he must associate with- the Fellows.
The Fei^low oe the Craft. — Second Degree.
Before the Candidate can be accepted as suitable to be passed to the Second Degree he has to prepare a rough dressed ashlar stone as a specimen of his work. A rough dressed ashlar stone is the ashlar as it is prepared in the First Degree or Apprentice Yard for the more expert work- man. It is dressed i/i6th of an inch too large all over;, and this stone has to be prepared by the candidate and passed by the Inspector of Material before the Free Brother can be passed as a Fellow of the Craft.
When the candidate goes into the Second Degree Lodge to be made a Fellow of the Craft he must have this speci- men of his work with him. He must swear it is all his own work. "No man hath used a tool upon it."
At the appointed time, again at XII noon on a Friday, he goes to the door of the Second Degree Yard and knocks. On giving the Pass Grip and Pass Word he is admitted. The Master gives notice, "The Fellows in the E., S., W. and
N. will take notice that Brother is about to
pass in view before them to show that he is a candidate properly prepared to be made a Fellow of the Craft of Free Mason." He is then led round the Candidate's Track twice. This time his right foot is put transversely across the axis of the Lodge and then his left foot parallel to the axis of the Lodge. This is "Header and stretcher" work, or "one atid one," the Operatives call it. He is then led to the Altar where kneeling on a rough dressed ashlar stone on both knees bare he takes the obligation.
The Worshipfui sons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Peaisterers, AND Bricklayers.
(YoKK Division.)
OATH OF NIMROD.
Fellow oe the Craet (2nd).