Oath of 1st Degree – Entered Apprentice Mason
I, ___________, of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty
God, and this Worshipful Lodge, erected to Him, and dedicated to the holy Sts.
John, do hereby and hereon (Master presses his
gavel on candidate's knuckles) most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear,
that I will always hail, ever conceal, and never reveal, any of the
arts, parts, or points of the hidden mysteries of Ancient Free Masonry, which
may have been, or hereafter shall be, at this time, or any future period,
communicated to me, as such, to any person or persons whomsoever, except it be
to a true and lawful brother Mason, or in a regularly constituted Lodge of
Masons; nor unto him or them until, by strict trial, due examination, or lawful
information, I shall have found him, or them, as lawfully entitled to the same
as I am myself. I furthermore promise and swear that I will not print, paint,
stamp, stain, cut, carve, mark, or engrave them, or cause the same to be done,
on any thing movable or immovable, capable of receiving the least impression of
a word, syllable, letter, or character, whereby the same may become legible or
intelligible to any person under the canopy of heaven, and the secrets of
Masonry thereby unlawfully obtained through my unworthiness.
All this I most solemnly, sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and
steadfast resolution to perform the same, without any mental reservation or
secret evasion of mind whatever, binding myself under no less penalty than that
of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by
its roots, and my body buried in the rough sands of the sea, at
low-water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in
twenty-four hours, should I ever knowingly violate this my Entered Apprentice
obligation. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the
same.
Full details of the Masonic Ritual for the Entered Apprentice degree can be found here.
Oath of 2nd Degree – Fellow Craft
I, ____________,
of my own free-will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God, and this
worshipful Lodge, erected to Him, and dedicated to the holy STS. JOHN, do hereby and hereon (Master presses candidate's hand with
the gavel), most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear that I will always
hail, and ever conceal, and never reveal any of the secret arts, parts, or
points of the Fellow Craft Degree to any person whomsoever, except it be to a
true and lawful brother of this degree, or in a regularly constituted Lodge of
Fellow Crafts; nor unto him or them until, by strict trial, due examination, or
lawful information, I shall find him, or them, as lawfully entitled to the same
as I am myself.
I
furthermore promise and swear that I will stand to, and abide by, all the laws,
rules, and regulations of the Fellow Craft Degree, as far as the same shall
come to my knowledge.
Further. I
will acknowledge and obey all due signs and summons sent to me from a Lodge of
Fellow Crafts, or given me by a brother of that degree, if within the length of
my cable-tow.
Further,
that I will aid and assist all poor, distressed, worthy Fellow Crafts, knowing
them to be such, as far as their necessities may require, and my ability
permit, without any injury to myself.
Further,
that I will not cheat, wrong, nor defraud a brother of this degree, knowingly,
nor supplant him in any of his laudable undertakings.
All this I
most solemnly promise and swear with a firm and steadfast resolution to perform
the same, without any hesitation, mental reservation, or self-evasion of mind
whatever, binding myself under no less penalty than of having my breast torn
open my heart plucked out, and
placed on the highest pinnacle of the temple (some say, My heart and vitals
taken from thence, and thrown over my left shoulder, and carried into the
valley of Jehoshaphat, &c., &c.), there to be devoured by the vultures
of the air, should I ever knowingly violate the Fellow Craft obligation. So
help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same.
Full details of the Masonic Ritual for the Fellow Craft Degree can be found here.
Oath of the 3rd Degree – Master Mason
"I, ______________ (Master gives three raps with his gavel, when all
present assemble round the altar), of my own free-will and accord, in the
presence of Almighty God, and this worshipful Lodge, erected to him and
dedicated to the holy Sts. John, do hereby and hereon most solemnly and
sincerely promise and swear, that I will always hail, ever conceal, and never
reveal any of the secrets, arts, parts, point or points, of the Master Masons'
Degree, to any person or persons whomsoever, except it be to a true and lawful
brother of this Degree, or in a regularly constituted Lodge of Master Masons,
nor unto him, or them, until by strict trial, due examination, or lawful
information, I shall have found him, or them, as lawfully entitled to the same
as I am myself.
"I furthermore promise and swear, that I will stand to and abide by all
laws, rules, and regulations of the Master Masons' Degree, and of the Lodge of
which I may hereafter become a member, as far as the same shall come to my
knowledge; and that I will ever maintain and support the constitution, laws,
and edicts of the Grand Lodge under which the same shall be holden.
"Further, that I will acknowledge and obey all due signs and summonses
sent to me from a Master Masons' Lodge, or given me by a brother of that
Degree, if within the length of my cable-tow.
"Further, that I will always aid and assist all poor, distressed,
worthy Master Masons, their widows and orphans, knowing them to be such, as far
as their necessities may require, and my ability permit, without material
injury to myself and family.
"Further, that I will keep a worthy brother Master Mason's secrets
inviolable, when communicated to and received by me as such, murder and treason
excepted.
"Further, that I will not aid, nor be present at, the initiation,
passing, or raising of a woman, an old man in his dotage, a young man in his
nonage, an atheist, a madman, or fool, knowing them to be such.
"Further, that I will not sit in a Lodge of clandestine-made Masons,
nor converse on the subject of Masonry with a clandestine-made Mason, nor one
who has been expelled or suspended from a Lodge, while under that sentence,
knowing him or them to be such.
"Further, I will not cheat, wrong, nor defraud a Master Mason's Lodge,
nor a brother of this Degree, knowingly, nor supplant him in any of his
laudable undertakings, but will give him due and timely notice, that he may
ward off all danger.
"Further, that I will not knowingly strike a brother Master Mason, or
otherwise do him personal violence in anger, except in the necessary defence of
my family or property.
"Further, that I will not have illegal carnal intercourse with a Master
Mason's wife, his mother, sister, or daughter, nor suffer the same to be done
by others, if in my power to prevent.
"Further, that I will not give the Grand Masonic word, in any other
manner or form than that in which I shall receive it, and then in a low breath.
"Further, that I will not give the Grand Hailing Sign of Distress,
except in case of the most imminent danger, in a just and lawful Lodge, or for
the benefit of instruction; and if ever I should see it given, or hear the
words accompanying it, by a worthy brother in distress, I will fly to his
relief, if there is a greater probability of saving his life than losing my
own.
"All this I most solemnly, sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and
steady resolution to perform the same, without any hesitation, mental
reservation, or secret evasion of mind what-ever, binding myself, under no less
penalty than that of having my body severed in two, my bowels taken from thence and burned to
ashes, the ashes scattered before the four winds of heaven, that no more
remembrance might be had of so vile and wicked a wretch as I would be, should I
ever, knowingly, violate this my Master Mason's obligation. So help me God, and
keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same."
W. M.--You will detach your hands and kiss the book. In your present
condition, what do you most desire?
Candidate (prompted by conductor.)--Further light in Masonry.
W. M.--Let him receive further light.
Full details of the Masonic Ritual for the Master Mason degree can be found here.
