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

Chapter 7 - Rituals 403
building of King Solomon's temple, different bands of workmen were
distinguished by the manner in which they wore their aprons, and therefore, as an
Entered Apprentice, he has to wear his with the flap turned up, to symbolically
prevent soiling his clothes with "untempered mortar 1277 ." Then follows a little
test, for according to "ancient custom," the candidate has to give "some metallic
substance," for deposal in the lodge archives as a memorial that he was made a
Mason. Of course, the candidate is embarrassed because he has not even a penny,
since he had to leave all his "metals" in the preparation room. The Worshipful
Master says that this is to teach him that should he ever meet another person,
especially a brother, in a like destitute situation, it is his duty to give him relief
according to his ability (cf. p. 47/48).
After this incident, the Worshipful Master presents the working tools, i.e. the
twenty-four inch gauge and the common gavel, to the candidate, and explains
their symbolic meaning. Then, the symbolism of the four points of the compass
is applied again, for the Senior Deacon has to lead the candidate to the North
East corner of the lodge. Here, the candidate is placed on the particular step of an
Entered Apprentice, facing the East. The symbolic meaning of the North East
corner relates to the setting of a cornerstone, which is always done in the North
East, and is thus defined in the catechetical lecture that is soon to follow:
In the erection of public buildings, especially those of a masonic form,
the first stone is, or ought to be, laid in the N. E. corner; I was therefore
placed in the N. E. corner of the Lodge to receive my first instructions
upon which to build my future moral and masonic [sic!] edifice. (p. 65)
Thus, the candidate becomes the foundation stone of Freemasonry; he is like
the first stone in the Masonic temple of humanity, having received his first
instructions. The Worshipful Master admonishes the candidate that, as he stands
there an upright man and Mason, he has ever to walk and act as such before God
and man. Further, the Worshipful presents to him a new name, which is
"Caution": "It teaches you to be cautious over all your words and actions,
especially on the subject of Freemasonry when in presence of its enemies." (p.
49). Then, the candidate is led back to the preparation room, where he receives
the things of which he has been divested. Meanwhile, the Worshipful Master
orders the Junior Warden to call the craft from labor to refreshment.
When the candidate is ready, the Senior Deacon conducts him to the altar to
salute, and seats him in front of the Worshipful Master in the East. There, he
receives the Entered Apprentice lecture, which is subdivided into three parts. The
first two parts consist of a dialogue similar to the ancient catechisms between the
Worshipful Master and the Senior Deacon, being a time-lapse reproduction of
the First Degree ceremony he has just gone through. The third part contains
explanations and definitions referring to the charter and to the architectural and
symbolic features of the lodge and its furniture. Further, the light symbolism, the
three tenets (brotherly love, relief, and truth), the four cardinal virtues (fortitude,
1277 Cf. chapter on technical terminology.