Ea Lecture Flashcards ionicons-v5-c

Nothing remains my Brother but the charge required by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of VA to be read to all who are regularly initiated into the first degree of Masonry in this Grand Jurisdiction.

Entered Apprentices served their masters with freedom, fervency and zeal, illustrated by Chalk, Charcoal, and Clay; for there being nothing freer than Chalk, the slightest touch of which leaves a trace; nothing more fervent than Charcoal, when properly ignited, the most obdurate metals will yield; nothing more zealous than Clay, our mother Earth, which being constantly employed for man’s use, he is thereby ever reminded that from it he came; so, to it, at last, he must return.

Closing remarks

4 Justice is that standard or boundary of right, which enables us to render to every man his just due without distinction. This virtue is not only consistent with Divine and human laws, but is the very cement and support of all civil society; and as justice in a great measure constitutes the really good man, so should it be the invariable practice of every Mason never to deviate from the minutest principle thereof; ever recollecting, as the youngest Entered Apprentice, you were placed in the north-east corner of the Lodge, your feet forming a Square, your body erect and to the right of the Worshipful Master in the East, who was pleased to inform you that you there stood an upright Mason, and gave it you strictly in charge ever to walk and act as. This is the fourth Perfect Point of Entrance, the Pedal.

3 Prudence teaches us to regulate our lives agreeably to the dictates of Reason, and is the habit by which we wisely judge, and prudentially determine in all things relative to our present as well as our future happiness. This virtue should be your peculiar characteristic of every Mason, not only for the government of his conduct while in the Lodge, but also when abroad in the world. It should be particularly attended to in all strange and mixed companies, never to let fall the least expression or hint whereby the secrets of Freemasonry might be unlawfully obtained, ever remembering that interesting moment, while kneeling at the sacred altar, your left hand supporting the Holy Bible, Square, and Compasses, your right resting thereon, you took upon yourself the solemn obligation of an Entered Apprentice. (make due guard/no feet) This is the third Perfect Point of Entrance, denominated the Manual and this is the due guard of an Entered Apprentice. Make it. (make due guard/ with feet) On entering and retiring from the Lodge, or in rising to address the Worshipful Master, you make this sign.

2 Fortitude is that noble and steady purpose of the mind whereby we are enabled to undergo any pain, peril or danger, when prudentially deemed expedient. This virtue is equally distant from cowardice and rashness, and, like the former, should be deeply impressed upon the mind of every Mason as a safeguard or security against any illegal attack that may be made by force or otherwise to extort from him any of those valuable secrets with which he has been entrusted, and which was emblematically represented to you upon your first admission into the Lodge, when you were received on the point of a sharp instrument piercing your naked left breast and were told that, as it is an instrument of torture to the flesh, so should the recollection thereof be to your conscience, should you ever presume to reveal any of the secrets of Freemasonry unlawfully. This is the second perfect point of your entrance, the Pectoral.

1 Temperance is that due restraint upon our affections and passions, which renders the body tame and governable, and frees the mind from the allurements of vice. This virtue should be the constant practice of every Mason, as he is thereby taught to avoid excess or contracting any vicious or licentious habit, the indulgence of which might lead him to disclose some of those valuable secrets which he has promised to conceal and never reveal, and which would subject him to the contempt and detestation of all good Masons. Also, to the penalty of your obligation wherein you swore that sooner than reveal any of the secrets of Freemasonry unlawfully, you would have your throat cut from ear to ear (make sign/no feet) and so forth. This is the 1st Perfect Point of Entrance denominated the Guttural, and is the sign of an Entered Apprentice, make it. (make sign with feet)

into Masonry are denominated the Guttural, Pectoral, Manual, and Pedal, illustrated by the four Cardinal Virtues to wit: TEMPERANCE – FORTITUDE – PRUDENCE – and JUSTICE.

The Perfect Points of Entrance

On this theme we contemplate, and by its dictates endeavor to regulate our conduct; hence, while influenced by this principle, hypocrisy and deceit are unknown among us, sincerity and plain dealing characterize us, and the heart and tongue join in promoting each other’s welfare and rejoice in each other’s prosperity.

3 Truth is a divine attribute and the foundation of every virtue; to be good men and true is the first lesson we are taught in Masonry.

On this basis, we form our friendships, and establish our connections.

· and restore peace to their troubled minds, is the grand aim we have in view.

· to compassionate their miseries,

· to sympathize with their misfortunes,

· to soothe the unhappy,

2 To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men, but particularly upon Masons, who are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection;

On this principle, Freemasonry unites men of every country, sect, and opinion, and conciliates true friendship among those who might otherwise remain at a perpetual distance.

1 By the exercise of brotherly Love, we are taught to regard the whole human species as one common family – the high, the low, the rich and poor, who, as created by one Almighty Parent and inhabitants of the same planet, are sent into the world to aid, support, and protect each other.

are brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.

The Tenets of our profession

to King Solomon, who was our first Most Excellent Grand Master; but Masons professing Christianity, dedicate theirs to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, who were two eminent Christian patrons in Masonry; and since their time there is represented in every well-governed Lodge a certain point within a Circle, embordered by two perfect Parallel Lines, representing St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, and on the top rests the Book of Constitutions. In going ‘round this Circle we necessarily touch upon two Parallel Lines as well as the Book of Constitutions; and while a Mason keeps himself circumscribed within their precepts, it is impossible he can materially err.

Our ancient Brethren dedicated their Lodges

This served as an exact model for King Solomon’s Temple, of which this and every other Lodge is a representation, and therefore is situated, or should be, East and West.

When Moses had conducted the children of Israel safely through the Red Sea into the wilderness, when pursued by Pharaoh and his host, he there erected by divine command a tabernacle and situated it East and West, well as to perpetuate a remembrance of that miraculous East wind through which their mighty deliverance was wrought as to receive the first rays of the rising sun.

Lodges are situated East and West.

3 and by the Trestle Board we are reminded that as the operative workman erects his temporal building agreeably to the rules and designs laid down by the Master on his Trestle Board, so should we, both operative and speculative, endeavor to erect our spiritual building agreeably to the rules and designs laid down by the Supreme Architect of the Universe in the Great Book of Nature and of Revelation, which is our Spiritual, Moral, and Masonic Trestle Board.

2 by the Perfect Ashlar, of that state of perfection which we hope to attain by a virtuous education, our own endeavors, and the blessing of God;

1 By the Rough Ashlar we are reminded of our rude and imperfect state by nature;

· and the Trestle Board is for the Master Workman to draw his designs upon.

· the Perfect Ashlar is a stone made ready by the hands of the Apprentice, to be adjusted by the working tools of a Fellow Craft;

· The Rough Ashlar is a stone, as taken from the quarry in its rude and natural state;

The Movable Jewels are the Rough Ashlar, Perfect Ashlar, and Trestle-board.

· and the Plumb by the Junior Warden, rectitude of life.

· the Level by the Senior Warden, Equality;

· The Square by the Master; teaching morality;

The Immovable Jewels are the Square, the Level, and the Plumb, worn by the 3 stationed officers of the Lodge.

There are 6 Jewels in a Lodge: three, immovable; three, movable.

There are 6 Jewels in a Lodge

situated East, West, and South. None in the North. King Solomon’s Temple was situated so far north of the ecliptic that neither the sun nor moon at their highest altitude could dart a ray of light into the northernmost portion thereof. The North, therefore, has been ever deemed, Masonically, a place of darkness.

There are Three Lights in a Lodge,

is emblematical of human life, checkered with good and evil; the beautiful border which surrounds it, of the manifold blessings and comforts which surround us, and which we hope to enjoy by a faithful reliance on Divine Providence, which is hieroglyphically represented by the Blazing Star in the center.

The Mosaic Pavement

The Ornaments of a Lodge are the Mosaic Pavement, Indented Tessel, and Blazing Star. The Mosaic Pavement is a representation of the ground floor of King Solomon’s Temple; the Indented Tessel, of that beautiful border or skirting which surrounded it; and the Blazing Star is an emblem of Deity or an overruling Providence.

The Ornaments of a Lodge

· and the Compasses to the Craft, because, by a due observance of its use, they are taught to circumscribe their desires and keep their passions within due bounds toward all mankind, more to a Brother in Masonry.

· The Square to the Master, it being the proper Masonic emblem of his office,

· The Holy Bible is dedicated to God, it being the inestimable gift from God to man; and on its sacred pages, we obligate Entered Apprentices.

The furniture of a Lodge is the Holy Bible, Square, and Compasses.

The furniture of a Lodge

is no less than the Clouded Canopy or Starry Decked Heavens, where all good Masons hope at last to arrive, by aid of that theological ladder which Jacob in his vision saw extending from Earth to Heaven, the three principal rounds of which are denominated Faith, Hope and Charity; and which admonish us to have Faith in God, Hope in Immortality, and Charity toward all mankind. The greatest of these is Charity; for our Faith may be lost in sight; Hope ends in fruition, but Charity extends beyond the grave throughout the boundless realms of eternity.

The covering of a Lodge

· The Junior Warden represents the Pillar of Beauty, it being his duty to observe the sun in the south at meridian, which is the beauty and glory of the day, call the craft from labor to refreshment, see they convert not the means thereof to intemperance or excess, call them on again by order of the Worshipful Master that he may have honor and they profit thereby.

· the Senior Warden represents the Pillar of Strength, it being his duty to assist the Worshipful Master in opening and closing his lodge, pay the craft their wages if any be due, and see that none go away dissatisfied, harmony being the strength and support of all institutions, more especially this of ours;

· the Worshipful Master represents the Pillar of Wisdom, it being presumed he has wisdom to open and govern his lodge, set the craft to work, and give them proper instructions for their labor;

These are represented by the three stationed officers of the Lodge: the WM, S and JWs

is said to be supported by three vast pillars, denominated Wisdom, Strength and Beauty; for it is necessary there should be wisdom to contrive, strength to support, and beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings.

Our Institution

We claim these vast dimensions to denote universality in Masonry; for, in every clime a Mason may be found, and as unbounded should a Mason’s charity be.

is an oblong square extending from East to West, and between North and South, as high as from earth to heaven, as deep as from the surface to its center.

The form of a Lodge

Our ancient Brethren usually held their Lodges on the top of high hills or in low vales, the better to observe the approach of all cowans and eavesdroppers, ascending or descending.

is a certain number of Free and Accepted Masons, duly assembled with the Holy Bible, Square and the Compasses, and a Charter or Warrant from some Grand Lodge empowering them to work.

A Lodge

I will now explain to you (1) what a Lodge is, (2) its form, (3) supports, (4) covering, (5) furniture, (6) ornaments, (7) lights, (8) jewels, (9) how situated, and (10) to whom dedicated.

So much, my Brother, for the forms and ceremonies of initiation.

You were placed in the northeast corner of the Lodge. In operative Masonry, the first stone of public buildings is usually laid in the northeast corner. You were, therefore, as the youngest E.A, placed in the northeast corner of the Lodge, there to receive those first instructions whereon to build your future moral AND Masonic edifice.

You were requested to deposit something of a mineral or metallic substance that your then poor and penniless condition might make a deep and lasting impression on your mind and teach you this great and important, moral and Masonic lesson: that should you ever meet a fellow creature, more especially a Brother Mason , in like destitute condition, you should be ever ready and willing to contribute to his relief as liberally as you can without material injury to yourself.

You were presented with the Lambskin, or White Leather Apron. The lamb has in all ages been deemed an emblem of innocence; he, therefore, who wears the Lamb-skin, or white leather apron, as a badge of a Free and Accepted Mason, is thereby reminded of that purity of life and conduct which is so essentially necessary to his gaining admittance into the celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.

You were caused to rest your right hand on the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses, and not your left or both. The right has been ever deemed the seat of fidelity, sometimes represented by two human figures supporting each other by the right hand, at others by two right hands joined. The right, therefore, was used by you as a token of your sincerity and a pledge of your fidelity in the business on which you were then engaged.

You were caused to kneel on your naked left knee. The left has been ever deemed the weaker part man; it was therefore to signify to you that it was the weaker part of Masonry on which you were then about to enter, being that of Entered Apprentice.

You were therefore caused to meet with those several obstructions in order to prove yourself duly qualified before initiation.

You were caused to meet with three several obstructions in your passage round. At the building of King Solomon’s Temple guards were placed at the south, west, and east gates to see that none passed or re-passed except such as were duly qualified and had his permission.

You were conducted once around the Lodge that the Brethren might see that you were duly and truly prepared.

You were taken by the right hand, ordered to arise, follow your conductor, and fear no danger to signify to you that at a time when you could neither foresee nor prevent danger, you were in the hands of a true and trusty friend, on whose fidelity you might with confidence rely.

No atheist may be made a Mason. It was therefore necessary that you profess a belief in Deity, otherwise no obligation that you could have taken would have been considered as binding upon you.

You were asked in whom you put your trust. You replied, “In God,” agreeably to the laws of our ancient Masonic institution.

You were conducted to the center of the Lodge, caused to kneel, and attend lodge prayer. No man should ever engage in any great and important undertaking without first invoking the blessing of Deity.

You were received on the point of a sharp instrument piercing your naked left breast for reasons then assigned.

You asked of a friend his recommendation to be made a Mason; through that recommendation you sought initiation; you knocked, and the door of Freemasonry was opened unto you.

· Secondly, it is alluded to in the following passage of Scripture, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Which you apply to your then situation thus:

· First, to alarm the Lodge and inform the Worshipful Master that a candidate was in waiting for initiation.

You were caused to give three distinct knocks from without for two reasons:

3. And thirdly, had you refused to submit to any of the rules and ceremonies of initiation, thereby proving yourself unworthy to be taken by the hand as a Brother, you might have been, by aid of the cable tow, led out of the lodge without perceiving even the form thereof.

2. Secondly, that as you were then in darkness, so should you keep the rest of mankind, as regards the secrets of Freemasonry, until they become as justly entitled to the same as you were then about to be.

1. First, that your heart might be taught to conceal ere your eyes beheld the beauties of Freemasonry.

You were hoodwinked with a cable-tow about your neck for three reasons;

You were neither barefoot nor shod in accordance with an ancient Israelitish custom adopted among Masons. We read in the book of Ruth that it was the manner in former times concerning redeeming and changing. For, "to confirm all things, a man plucked off his shoe and gave it to his neighbor." This was testimony in Israel. This, therefore, was done by you as a testimony of your sincerity in the business on which you were then about to enter.

2. Secondly, At the building of King Solomon’s Temple, there was not heard the sound of axe, hammer, or any other tool of iron. The stones were hewn, squared, and numbered at the quarries where raised; the timbers felled and prepared in the forest of Lebanon and conveyed on floats by sea to Joppa, thence by land to Jerusalem, where they were set up by aide of wooden mauls prepared for that purpose. And when the building was completed, its several parts fitted with such exact nicety that it had more of the appearance of the handiwork of the Supreme Architect of the Universe than of human hands.

1. First that you might bring nothing offensive or defensive into the lodge.

You were first prepared to be made a Mason in your heart, next in a room adjoining the body of a just and legally constituted lodge on the First Degree of Masonry, by being divested of all minerals and metals for two reasons:

Brother A.B., Many of the forms and ceremonies through which you passed in your initiation into the Mysteries of Freemasonry may have appeared to you unimportant and might have been dispensed with, but they could not. They are, such as all who are initiated into the First Degree of Masonry are, subjected to and to each of which there is attached a beautiful moral meaning and masonic signification, which I will now proceed to impart to you.