APRON CHARGES
From the Grand Lodge of Maine
Table of Contents
First Degree Charge
Second Degree Charge
Preamble to On Yonder Book
On Yonder Book Charge
Special Third Degree Charge
FIRST DEGREE
It may be that, in the coming years, upon your head may rest the
laurel wreaths of victory; pendant from your breast may hang jewels fit to grace the diadem
of an Eastern potentate; nay, more than these, with light added to the coming light, your
ambitious feet may tread round after round of the ladder that leads to fame in
our mystic circle, and even the purple of the Fraternity may rest upon your
honored shoulders; but never again from mortal hands, never again until your
enfranchised spirit shall have passed upward and inward through the pearly
gates, shall any honor so distinguished, so emblematical of purity and all
perfection's, be conferred upon you as this which I now bestow.
It is yours; yours to wear throughout an honorable life, and at
your death be deposited upon the coffin which shall inclose your lifeless
remains, and with them laid beneath the clods of the valley.
Let its pure and spotless surface be to you an ever present
reminder of a "purity of life and rectitude of conduct, " a
never-ending argument for nobler deeds, for higher thoughts, for greater
achievements.
And when at last your weary feet shall have come to the end of
life's toilsome journey, and from your nerveless grasp shall drop forever the
working tools of life, may the record of your life and actions be as pure and
spotless as this fair emblem which I place in your hands tonight; and when your trembling soul shall stand naked and alone before
the Great White Throne, there to receive judgment for the deeds done while
here in the body, may it be your portion to hear from Him who sitteth as the
Judge Supreme the welcome words,
"Well done, good and faithful servant!
Thou hast been faithful over a few things; will make thee ruler over many things! Enter thou into the joy of thy
Lord."
back to top
CHARGE AT THE INITIATION OF THE SECOND
DEGREE
BROTHER: Being advanced to the second degree of
Masonry, we congratulate you on your preferment. The internal, and not the
external, qualifications of a man are what Masonry regards. As you increase in
knowledge, you will improve in social intercourse.
It is unnecessary to recapitulate the duties which, as a Mason, you
are bound to discharge; or enlarge on the necessity of a strict adherence to
them, as your own experience must have established their value.
Our laws and regulations you are strenuously to support; and be
always ready to assist in seeing them duly executed. You are not to paginate
or aggravate the offenses of your brethren; but, in the decision of every
trespass against our rules, you are to judge with candor, admonish with
friendship, and reprehend with justice.
The study of the liberal arts, that valuable branch of education,
which tends so effectually to polish and adorn the mind, is earnestly
recommended to your consideration; especially the science of geometry, which
is established as the basis of our art. Geometry or Masonry, originally
synonymous terms, being of a divine and moral nature, is enriched with the
most useful knowledge; while it proves the wonderful properties of nature, it
demonstrates the more important truths of morality.
Your past behavior and regular deportment have merited the honor
which we have now conferred; and in your new character it is expected that you
will conform to the principles of the order, by steadily preserving in the
practice of every commendable virtue.
Such
is the nature of your engagements as a Fellowcraft, and to these duties you
are bound by the most sacred of ties.
back to top
PREAMBLE TO ON YONDER BOOK
(optional)
It must indeed be gratifying to know that you are at last a Master
Mason, and once you have affixed your signature to the Bylaws of this lodge,
you will have sealed your allegiance to the oldest and greatest fraternity in
existence, one that encircles the globe and whose influence for good is never
ending.
The particular reason that you chose to become a member of this
grand and noble order is known only to yourself.It might have been the
prompting of idle curiosity. That being true, you should now be well
satisfied. It might have been for financial reasons. That being true, be at
once undeceived for Freemasonry offers no financial benefits to any of its
members. It might have been for social aspirations. That being true, you are
now afforded the opportunity to acquaint yourself with many interesting and
intelligent gentlemen. It might have been because a relative or close friend (can
also name the relative such as father, brother, etc. as appropriate) is a
Mason and expressed a desire that you should become one also and follow in
their footsteps. That being true, it is not only an honor to yourself, but to
the fraternity as well.
But, be the reason that it may, there are two great questions that
still confront you. Will you be worth anything or nothing to Freemasonry and,
will Freemasonry be worth anything or nothing to you? The answers lie within
you yourself, for if you will apply to your own life the lessons that you have
received in the three degrees, it will make you a better citizen, a better
father, a better son and a fonder husband............for
back to top
ON YONDER BOOK CHARGE
(sometimes referred to as the
"Candle Light Charge")
written by M.W. Benjamin L. Hadley, P.G.M.
In Mason's Lodge, with darkened eyes
With cable tow about me,
I swore to hale all mysteries,
That Masons keep, and Masons prize,
All brothers' secrets whispered low,
All words they speak, all
things they do,
In mystic manner taught me.
On yonder Book that Oath I took,
And will I break it? Never!
But stand by this, and this, and this,
Forever and forever.
(Giving D-G and S. on step of E.A. Degree)
2.
I swore to answer and obey,
All summons sent me duly,
By brothers' hand or Lodge array,
I swore that I would never stray,
From Ancient laws and rules that bound,
Freemasons in days renowned,
But would observe them truly.
(On yonder Book that Oath I took, etc...
as above and giving D-G and S.on step of F.C. Degree)
3
.
I swore to lead with generous care,
All those in sorrow hidden,
A brother on the darkened square,
The mourners with disheveled hair,
The orphan doomed, alas, to stray,
Upon a rough and rugged way,
While tears gush forth unbidden.
(On yonder Book, etc... giving D-G and S. on step of M.M. Degree)
4 .
I swore to deal in honesty,
With each true heart around me,
That Honor ... bright should ever be,
Unbroken bonds 'tween him and me,
Nor wrong „ nor guile, nor cruel fraud,
Should ever break the sacred cord,
By which my vows have bound me.
(On yonder Book, etc... giving D-G of all 3 Degrees - one with each
"this")
5.
I swore the Portals close to guard,
Of the Masonic Temple,
To rid the quarries of their dross,
To build each mystic wall across,
With body perfect, upright heart,
And mind mature in moral art
In Precept and example.
(On yonder Book, etc... pointing to Greater and Lesser Lights and
letter
6.
I swore the Chastity to guard,
Of Mason's widow, wife, or child,
His mother or sister, undefiled.
To them I pledge a brother's love,
By Him who rules the Lodge above,
To be a true defender.
(On yonder Book, etc... giving Distress sign - one motion with
each this )
7.
My Brother (or Brothers):
These are your Vows, Be they your cares.
And may such aid be given,
In answer to your earnest prayer,
That you may ever do and dare,
All that God's gracious Laws enjoin,
So that when evening shades decline,
You may be found in Heaven.
On yonder Book these Oaths we took,
And will we break them? Never:
But stand by this, and this, and this,
Forever and forever.
(Have candidates join with you in giving D-G and S. on the step of
all three Degrees - one with each "this)
Have lesser lights arranged around the alter or dim lights
and use alter spot as case may be..
back to top
SPECIAL THIRD DEGREE CHARGE
You have now received all the instruction that pertains
to our noble craft, and have advanced by regular gradations to the summit of
ancient Masonry.
You have been conducted around the courts of the
temple, have viewed its beautiful proportions, its massive pillars, its starry
decked canopy, its mosaic pavements, its furniture, ornaments, lights and
jewels. You have been admitted within the Middle Chamber, and have learned
from the example of our ancient Brethren to reverence the Sabbath Day, keep a
tongue of good report, to maintain secrecy and practice charity.
You have now entered the Sanctum Sanctorum, and in the
inflexible integrity of the illustrious Tyrian, have witnessed an example of
firmness and fortitude never surpassed in the history of man. Your
representation of our Grand Master Hiram Abiff is a type of the upright man in
his passage through life, endowed with power and intelligence to carry out the
designs of the Grand Architect of the Universe.
He enters the South Gate upon the sunny period of
youth, and is met by allurements which, like the ruffian, would turn him from
the path of duty; but deaf to the siren tones and sustained by the unerring
dictates of the Monitor within, he moves on to the West Gate or middle period
of life.
Here he is met again by misfortunes, desires and
trials, tempting him to betray his trust; but, with firmness too deeply rooted
to be shaken by the vicissitudes of fate, he treads the way of life
unfalteringly and arrives in age at the East Gate; that opening through which
he looks out on a brighter and better world. Here he is met by the inexorable
enemy to whom all must yield. At the fatal blow of death he sinks to the dust
and is buried in the rubbish of his earthly nature; but not forever, for by
the sprig of Acacia we are reminded of that part which never dies.
And now, my brother, if in all these things you have
witnessed a series of unmeaning rites, if the spirit of Truth has not applied
to your heart the morals of these teachings; then indeed have our labors been
in vain. But I am persuaded that such is not the case. I trust you have
entered into the spirit of these solemn rites and understand the full meaning
of these interesting symbols; that all the forms and ceremonies through which
you have passed from the moment you first knocked at the door of the lodge for
admission, until the sublimity of this degree appeared to you, have deeply
impressed upon your mind the great fundamental principles of our time honored
institution; for then, and only then, can you claim the name of Mason; for
then, and only then, can you feel that friendship, that unity, that fervency
and zeal, that purity of heart which should actuate everyone who would
appropriate to himself the proud title of Master Mason.
As such I welcome you to this lodge, and my sincere
wish is that you may so live up to the tenets of your profession that when you
are summoned to appear before the Grand Architect of the Universe you may be
found worthy to be admitted to the Sanctum Sanctorum, there to rest secure in
the protecting love of our Heavenly Father through the boundless ages of a
never ending happiness, and enjoy the. reflections of a well spent life, in a
world where all are equal.
There's a world where all are equal, we are hastening
to it fast,
We shall meet upon the level when the gates of death are passed;
We shall stand before the Orient, and our Master will be there
To try the blocks we offer with his own unerring square.
We shall meet upon the level there,
but never thence depart;
There's a mansion, 'tis all ready for each trusting faithful heart;
There's a mansion and a welcome, and a multitude is there;
have met upon the level and been tried upon the square.
back to top |