Masonic Mastor Mason Degree Work

I am.

My obligation and having been raised to the five points of fellowship

That I might receive more wages to better to enable me to support myself and family and contribute to the relieve of all worthy distressed brother Master Masons, their wives, widows, and orphans wherever I may find them

Within a legally constituted and duly opened and Master Masons lodge

In a room or place adjoining the same

I was divested of all metals, neither naked nor clad, barefoot, hoodwinked, and with a cable tow three times around my body, in which condition I was conducted to the door of the lodge and 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, passed to the degree of fellowcraft, wrought a time therein, and now desires to receive more light by being raised to the sublime degree of master mason of found worthy

If it was of my own free will and accord that I made this request. If I was duly and truly prepared, worthy and well qualified, and if i had made suitable proficiency in the preceeding degrees 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 inestimable a privilege.

By the benefit of the password

I had it not but my conductor gave it for me

Tubal Cain

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 extreme points of the compasses extending from my naked left to my naked right breast, the moral of which was explained to me

I was conducted three times regularly around the lodge to the Junior warden in the south, the 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 come 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 third step in masonry by advancing my naked left foot, placing the heal of the right to the heal of the left, my feet forming a right angle, my body erect before the altar, facing the worshipful master in the East

I was made a master Mason

In due and ancient form

I was caused to kneel on both naked knees, both hands resting on the holy Bible, square, and compasses in which position I took upon myself the solemn oath or obligation of a master Mason

I have

I, , of my own free will and accord, in the presence of almighty God and this worshipful master masons lodge erected to God and dedicated to the memory of the holy Saint’s John do hereby and here-on sincerely promise and solemnly swear that I will not reveal the secrets of this degree to a brother of a preceding degree, nor to any person in the world, except it be within a legally constituted and duly opened master masons 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 further more promise and swear I will not cheat, wrong, or defraud a master Masons lodge, or a brother of this degree, nor shall 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 master masons lodge or a brother of this degree, not shall I permit the same to be done in my presence with vindicating them so far as I may be justifiable in so doing. I furthermore promise and swear that I will not strike a brother Master Mason, nor shed his blood in anger except in necessary self defense. I furthermore promise and swear that I will not violate the chastity of a brother master mason's wife, his widow, his mother, his sister or his daughter, nor will I permit the same to be done if within my power to prevent. I furthermore promise and swear that I will not sit in a clandestine lodge of masons, nor hold masonic communication with a clandestinely made Mason, a mason suspended or expelled, I knowing them to be such. I furthermore promise and swear that I will not be at the initiating, passing, or raising of an old man in dotage, a young man in nonage, an irreligious libertine, an atheist, a bondsman, a female or a fool, I knowing them to be such. I furthermore promise and swear that I will not give the secret word of a master Mason in any other way, form, or manor than that in which I shall hereafter receive it. I furthermore promise and swear that I will not give the Grand hailing sign, the master masons sign of distress, except in case of extreme bodily peril, or for the purpose of instruction. And when I see that sign given or hear the words equivalent thereto I will fly to the relief of the brother thus claiming my aid even at the peril of my life provided that the chances of saving his life are greater than those of losing my own. I furthermore promise and swear that I will keep the secrets of a brother master Mason when communicated to and received by me as such, sacred and inviolable, Murder and Treason excepted and they left to my option. I furthermore promise and swear that I will help, aid, and assist all worthy distressed brother Master masons,, their wives, widows, and orphans wherever I may find them so far as their necessities may require and my means of relief permit without injury to myself or those having prior claim upon me. I furthermore promise and swear that I will stand to and abide by the bylaws, rules and regulations of or if any other subordinate lodge of free and accepted masons of which I may hereafter become a member together with the constitution, edicts and resolves of the Grand Lodge under whose authority the same may work. I furthermore promise and swear that I will answer and obey all due signs and summonses sent to or received by me from a master masons lodge or given me by a brother of this degree if within the length of my cable tow. All this I sincerely promise and solemly swear without the least hesitation, equivocation, or mental Reservation, binding me under no less a penalty than that of having my body severed in twain, one part thrown north, the other south, my bowels burnt to ashes in the center, and those ashes scattered to the four winds should I knowingly violate this, my solemn oath or obligation as a master Mason. 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

In my present condition what I must desired

More light

I did

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