The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

27. Obligation
Chapter 5 - Technical Terminology 285
The obligation, in German Masonry "die Verpflichtung," is the solemn
promise made by a candidate during his admission into a degree. The word
comes from the Latin obligato, literally signifying a tying or binding. Thus, the
obligation binds the Mason to his duty and to his order. In each degree, there is a
different obligation. When a Worshipful Master is installed in his "chair," he has
a special obligation, as well as all newly elected Principals of Royal Arch
Masonry. Anglo-Saxon lodges, for example in Ireland and America, use a
particular kind of obligation, the Tyler's Obligation. The obligation consists of
several points:
The Masonic obligation is that moral one which, although it cannot be
enforced by the courts of law, is binding on the party who makes it, in
conscience and according to moral justice. It varies in each degree, but
in each is perfect. Its different clauses, in which different duties are
prescribed, are called its points, which are either affirmative or negative
[...]. The affirmative points are those which require certain acts to be
performed; the negative points are those which forbid certain other acts
to be done. The whole of them is preceded by a general point of secrecy,
common to all the degrees, and this point is called the tie. 835
The obligation is both religious and moral: "Religieux, parce que le candidat,
agenouillé, prête serment sur le Livre saint de la religion à laquelle il appartient.
Moral, en raison de l'appel fait à sa conscience et parce qu'il s'engage en pleine
liberté. Il est même préalablement interpellé sur ce point, et invité à affirmer sur
l'honneur que sa vonlonté est libre." 836 The obligations of the first three degrees
include the symbolic forms of punishment that can be found in our chapter 8.1.4
on Emulation working.
28. Purge the lodge
Purging is an action of cleansing. In the Masonic terminology, it denotes the
proper tyling of the lodge, i.e. the getting rid of profanes or brethren of a lower
degree who are not allowed to experience the ceremony: "This means to free the
lodge of non-Masons or even Masons who for any reason are not entitled to be
present. It is usually the first step taken in the opening of a lodge." 837
835 MD, p. 377/378.
836 DFM, p. 177. See also IFL, p. 1138.
837 CME, p. 491.