5114

I am, try me.

By the square.

Because it is AN emblem of virtue and the principle working tool of this degree.

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

The obligation.

Within the body of a just and legally constituted lodge, duly assembled in a room or place representing the middle chamber of King Solomons Temple.

In a room adjoining the lodge.

By being divested of all metallic substances, being neither naked nor clad, barefooted nor shod, hoodwinked and with a cable-toe twice around my naked right arm in which condition I was led to the door of the lodge by a brother.

By first meeting with resistance and afterwards gaining admission.

By three distinct knocks upon the outside of the door.

Who comes, who comes here?

Br _______ who has been regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason, served a proper time as such and now desires further light in masonry by being passed to the degree of Fellow Craft

If it was of my own free will and accord that I made the request. 

If I was duly and duly and truly prepared, worthy and well qualified, had made suitable proficiency in the preceding degree and properly vouched for.

All of which being answered in the affirmative, I was then asked, by what FURTHER rights I expected to gain admission.

By benefit of the password.

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

To await the time with patience until my request should be made known to the Worshipful Master and his answer returned.

Let the candidate enter and be received in due and ancient form.

Upon the angle of the square applied to my naked right breast, WHICH was to teach me to square my actions by the square of virtue towards all mankind.

More especially a brother Mason.

I was led twice regularly around the lodge room, then to the Jr. Warden in the south, the Sr. Warden in the west and the worshipful master in the east, at each of which stations the same questions were asked and like answers returned as at the door.

He ordered me to the Sr. Warden who taught me how to approach the holy alter of free masonry, the place of masonic light in due and ancient form.

Taking two regular upright steps. The first, as in the preceding degree.

Then stepping off upon my right foot. Bringing the heal of the left to the hollow of the right, my feet forming a right angle, my body erect.

I was made a Fellow Craft Mason.

In due and ancient form.

Kneeling upon my naked right knee, my left forming a square, my left arm extended forming a square, supported by a square.

My right HAND resting upon the Holy Bible, Square and Compasses in which due form I took upon myself the Fellow Craft Masons obligation.

I have.

I will, with your assistance.

I _________ of my own free will and accord, in the presence of almighty God and this Fellow Craft Masons lodge do hereby and hereon, sincerely and solemnly, promise and swear, as I have here to for done with these additions:

That I will not communicate the secrets of this degree to anyone, accept it be to a true and lawful brother or within the body of a just and legally constituted lodge and not to him or them whom I may hear so to be, but unto him AND them only whom I shall find so to be. After strict trial, due examination or lawful information.

I further more promise and swear that I will stand to and abide by the rules and regulations of this or any other Fellow Craft Masons lodge of which I may become a member.

I further more promise and swear that I will answer and obey all due signs and summons handed or sent me from a Fellow Craft Masons lodge or from a brother Fellow Craft Mason if within length of my cable tow.

I further more promise and swear that I will help, aid and assist all poor and penniless Fellow Craft Masons so far as their NECESSITIES may require and my ability will permit.

They applying to me as such and I deeming them worthy.

and I further more promise and swear, that I will not cheat, wrong nor defraud a Fellow Craft Masons lodge or a brother Fellow Craft Mason out of the value of anything, knowingly nor permitted to be done if within my power to prevent.

All of which I solemnly promise and swear to keep and perform without the least equivocation, mental reservation or secret evasion of mind

binding myself under the penalty of having my left breast torn open, my heart and vitals taken thence and cast as a prey to the vultures OF the air and the beasts OF the field

should I knowingly or wittingly, violate or transgress any part of the Fellow Craft Masons obligation, so help me God and keep me steadfast.

In my then condition, what I most desired?

Further light.

I did.

By order of the Worshipful Master and THE assistance of the brethren.

That one point of the Compasses was elevated above the square.

WHICH was to teach me that I had received further light in masonry.

But as yet, only partial.

The Worshipful Master approaching me from the east, upon the step, under the due guard and penal sign of a Fellow Craft Mason.

Who extended to me his right hand in continuation of friendship and brotherly love and proceeding to instruct me in the pass grip and word, grip and word, of a Fellow Craft Mason.

THEN bad me arise, salute the wardens as a Fellow Craft Mason AND step to the Sr. Warden who would teach me how to wear my apron as such

THEN return to the east for further instruction.

With the left hand corner tucked up?

We are taught in the building of King Solomons Temple that Fellow Craft Masons were more expert workmen than Entered Apprentice Masons and wore their aprons with the left hand corner tucked up in order to form a convenient pocket in which to carry their working tools.

The working tools of a Fellow Craft Mason.

The plumb, square and level.

The Plumb is an instrument made use of by operative masons to raise perpendiculars, the Square to square their work and the Level to lay horizontals;

But we as free and accepted Masons are taught to make use of them for more noble and glorious purposes;

The plumb admonishes us to WALK uprightly in our several stations BEFORE God and man,

Squaring our actions by the Square of Virtue, AND remembering that we are traveling upon THE Level of Time to "that undiscovered, country from whose bourne no traveler returns."

I was ordered to the room whence I came to be invested of what I had been divested and return to the lodge room for further instruction.

From

From the grip of an Entered Apprentice Mason to the pass grip of a Fellow Craft Mason.

It is the pass grip of a Fellow Craft Mason.

It has.

I did not so receive it, neither can I so impart it.

I will letter or syllable it with you. Prefer syllable.

You begin.

Bo

Leth

Shib

Shibboleth

From

From a pass grip of a Fellow Craft Mason to the grip of the same.

It is the grip of a Fellow Craft Mason.

It has.

I did no so receive it. Neither can I so impart it.

I will letter or syllable it with you. Prefer lettering.

You begin

A

C

I

Ja

Jachin