Masonic Fellowcraft Degree Work

I am, Try me!

By the square

Because it is the principal working tool of the Fellowcraft Mason

An angle of 90° or the fourth part of a circle

My obligation

That I might receive wages to enable me to support myself and contribute to the relief of all worthy, distressed, brother fellowcraft Masons wherever I may find them

Within a legally constituted and duly opened fellowcrafts lodge

In a room or place adjoining the same

I was divested of all metals, neither naked nor clad, barefoot nor shod, hoodwinked, with a cable tow wrapped twice around my naked right arm… in which condition, I was conducted to the door of the lodge where I was caused to make the regular alarm by giving three distinct knocks on the door without which was answered by a like number within accompanied by the question, who comes here?

Brother __________, who has been regularly initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason, served a time as such and now desires to receive more light by being passed to the degree of fellow craft if found worthy

If it was of my own free will and accord that I made this request, if I was duly and truly prepared, and if I had made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree to entitle me to this, all being answered in the affirmative, I was asked by what particular right or benefit I expected to obtain so important a privilege

By the benefit of the password

I had it not, but my conductor gave it for me

Shibboleth

To wait until the Worshipful Master could be informed of my request and his answer returned

Let the brother enter and be received in due and ancient form

I was received on the angle of a square presented to my naked right breast, the moral of which was explained to me

I was conducted twice regularly around the lodge, to the Junior warden in the south, senior warden in the West, and the worshipful master in the East where the same questions were asked and answers given as at the door with the additional question from the worshipful master, whence comes the brother and wither is he traveling

From the west, traveling towards the East

Why I again left the west and traveled towards the East

In search of more light

That I be reconducted to the senior warden in the west, who would teach me how to approach the East in the proper manner to obtain more light

I was caused to take my second step in masonry by advancing my naked right foot, placing the heel of the left in the hollow of the right, feet forming right angles, body erect before the alter facing the worshipful master in the East

I was made a fellowcraft Mason

In due and ancient form

I was caused to kneel upon my naked right knee, my left extended forming a right angle. My right hand resting on the holy Bible, square and compasses, my left raised in a vertical position, my arm forming a right angle in which position I took upon myself the solemn oath or obligation of a fellowcraft mason.

I have

I, __________, of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God and this worshipful fellowcrafts lodge erected to God and dedicated to the memory of the holy Saints John do hereby and hereon sincerely promise and solemnly swear that I will not reveal the secrets of this degree to a brother of the preceding degree, nor to any person in the world, except it be within a legally constituted and duly opened fellowcrafts lodge, or to a brother of this degree, and not unto him until by due trial, strict examination, or legal information I shall have found him as lawfully entitled to the same as myself. I furthermore promise and swear that I will not cheat, wrong, or defraud a fellowcrafts lodge or a brother of this degree, nor will I permit the same to be done if within my power to prevent. I furthermore promise and swear that I will not traduce the good name of a fellowcrafts lodge or a brother of this degree, nor will I permit the same to be done in my presence without vindicating them so far as I may be justifiable in so doing. I furthermore promise and swear that I will help, aid, and assist all worthy, distressed, brother, fellowcraft Masons wherever I may find them so far as their necessities may require and my means of relief permit. I furthermore promise and swear that I will answer and obey all due signs and summonses sent to and received by me from a fellowcrafts lodge, or given me by a brother of this degree if within the length of my cable tow. All this I sincerely promise and solemnly swear without the least hesitation, equivocation, or mental reservation, binding myself under no less a penalty then that of having my breast torn open, my heart and vitals taken thence and suspended from the highest pinnacle of the temple, there to become a prey to the vultures of the air should I knowingly violate this my solemn oath or obligation so help me God and keep me steadfast in due performance of the same

To detach my hands, and in token of my sincerity, kiss the holy Bible

More light

I did

By the order of the worshipful master and the assistance of the brethren

The three great lights off Masonry, which are the holy Bible, square and compasses and also the representative of the three lesser lights placed in triangular form around the altar, all which had been previously explained to me, but on this occasion, I noticed the marked difference that one point of the compasses was elevated above the square which was to teach me that freemasonry is a progressive moral science and can be attained only by degrees

The worshipful master approving me from the East with the step, due guard, and penal sign of the fellow craft Mason, extending to me his right hand in token of continued friendship and brotherly love and raising me from a right angle to a perpendicular, he proceeded with the assistance of the senior deacon to invest me with the grips and words of a fellowcraft Mason and ordered me to salute the Junior and senior warden as such and approach the East

A lambskin, or white leatheren apron which I was ordered to take to the senior warden in the west who would teach me how to wear it as a fellowcraft Mason and return to the East for further instructions

The working tools of a fellowcraft Mason which are the plumb, square, and level, the uses of which the worshipful master was pleased to explain to me

I was ordered to return to the room or place whence I came and there be invested with that I had been divested and in due time return to the lodge

I was caused to pass through a long porch or gallery to ascend a flight of winding stairs consisting of three, five, and seven steps to pass through an outer and in to an inner chamber representing the middle chamber of King Solomon’s temple where I was taught the wages of fellowcraft masons and had my name enrolled as such

Corn, Wine, and Oil… Corn of nourishment, wine of refreshment, and oil of joy