ENTERED APPRENTICE.
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As an encouragement and example to the candidate, he is reminded that our ancient brethren served their masters with freedom, fervency, and zeal—which qualities are symbolically illustrated—and the lecture closes with an appropriate reflection on the certainty of death.
CHARGE AT INITIATION INTO THE FIRST DEGREE.[1]
Brother:
As you are now introduced into the first principles of Masonry, I congratulate you on being accepted into this ancient and honorable Order: ancient, as having subsisted from time immemorial; and honorable, as tending, in every particular, so to render all men who will be conformable to its precepts. No institution was ever raised on a better principle or more solid foundation; nor were ever more excellent rules and useful maxims laid down than are inculcated in the several Masonic lectures. The greatest and best of men, in all ages, have been encouragers and promoters of the art, and have never deemed it derogatory to their dignity to level themselves with the fraternity, extend their privileges, and patronize their assemblies. There are three great duties which, as a Mason, you are charged to inculcate—to God, your neighbor, and yourself. To God, in never mentioning his name but with that reverential awe which is due from a creature to his Creator; to implore his aid in all your laudable undertakings, and to esteem him as
- ↑ This to a very old charge. The substance of it was written in 1774 by Hutchinson, and published in bis "Spirit of Masonry." Preston considerably enlarged and improved it subsequently, and inserted it in his "Illustrations." Webb afterward reduced it to its present abridged form, simply by omitting many of Preston's paragraphs.
