Fellowcraft

Then begin and I will assist if necessary. [obligation] (part 1)

I, John Martinez, of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God, and this Fellowcraft Masons lodge, do hearby and here on, sincerely and solemnly promise and swear, as I have here to fore done, with these additions,

Nay begin you my brother.

A

From what to what?

From the grip of an Entered Apprentice Mason to the past grip of a Fellowcraft Mason.

From what to what?

From the past grip of a Fellowcraft Mason to the grip of the same.

Shibboleth is the word. Where ye be offer from?

From.

(Dialogue) Where ye be offer from?

From?

What was your answer?

Further light.

What did the Worshipful Master then do with you?

He ordered me to the Senior Warden who taught me how to approach the holy altar of freemasonry, the place of masonic light, in due and ancient form.

H (prompt)

I

Are you a Fellowcraft Mason?

I am. Try me.

Will you give it to me?

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

Did you receive it?

I did.

obligation (part 4)

I furthermore promise and swear that I will answer and obey, all due signs and summons, handed or sent me, from a Fellowcraft Mason's lodge or from a brother Fellowcraft Mason, if within length of my cable tow.

obligation (part 5)

I furthermore promise and swear that I will help aide and assist all poor and pennyless Fellowcraft Masons, so far as their necessities may require and my ability will permit. they applying to me as such, and I deeming them worthy.

obligation ( part 3]

I furthermore promise and swear, that I will stand to and abide by the rules and regulations of this or any other Fellowcraft Mason's lodge of which I may become a member.

Had you the password?

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

Have you the obligation?

I have.

How were you then disposed of?

I was led twice regularly around the lodge room, then to the Junior Warden in the south, Senior Warden in the west, and Worshipful Master in the east, at each of which station the same questions were asked and like answers returned as at the door.

What was there done with you?

I was made a Fellowcraft Mason.

How were you then disposed of?

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 instructions.

How will you dispose of it that I may arrive at a knowledge of it.

I will letter or syllable it with you, prefer lettering.

How will you dispose of it, that I may arrive at a knowledge of it?

I will letter or syllable it with you, prefer syllabling.

Will you give it to me?

I will with your assistance.

Upon what were you recieved?

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.

Why do they thus wear it?

We are taught that in the building of King Solomon's temple, Fellowcraft Masons were more expert workmen than Entered Apprentice Masons and wore their aprons with the lefthand corner tucked up in order to form a convenient pocket in which to carry their working tools.

What was said to you from within?

Who comes, Who comes here?

How do Fellowcraft Masons wear their aprons?

With the left hand corner tucked up.

Where did you receive 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 Solomon's temple.

Letter and begin

You begin.

Syllable and begin.

You begin.

Nay, you begin my brother.

bo

Pass

(go from past Fellowcraft grip to Fellowcraft grip)

Pass

(go from EA grip to past Fellowcraft grip)

Jachin is the word.

...

obligation (part 7)

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 willingly violate or transgress any part of the Fellowcraft Mason's obligation so help me God and keep me steadfast.

What is a square?

An angle of 90 degrees or the fourth part of a circle

obligation (part 6)

And I furthermore promise and swear that I will not cheat, wrong, nor defraud a Fellowcraft Mason's lodge or a brother Fellowcraft Mason out of the value of anything, knowingly, nor permit it to be done, if within my power to prevent it.

Why by the square?

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

What was your answer?

Brother John Martinez who has been regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice Mason, served the proper time as such, and now desires further light in masonry by being passed to the degree of Fellowcraft

How were you prepared?

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

What was your answer?

By benefit of the password.

You being hoodwinked how did you know it was a door?

By first meeting with resistance, and afterwards gaining admission.

How?

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

How will you be tried?

By the square.

How did you gain admission?

By three distinct knocks upon the outside of the door.

J (prompt)

C

What questions were then asked you?

If it was of my own free will and accord I make the request, if I was duly and truly prepared, worthy and well qualified, and had made suitable proficiency in the proceeding degree, and was properly vouched for, all of which being answered in the affirmative, I was then asked by what further right I expected to gain admission?

Where were you prepared to be made a Fellowcraft Mason?

In a room adjoining the lodge.

How?

In due and ancient form.

After the obligation what was asked you?

In my then condition what I most desired?

Has it a name?

It has

Has it a name?

It has.

What is this?

It is the grip of a Fellowcraft Mason.

What is this?

It is the past grip of a Fellowcraft Mason.

N (prompt)

Ja

chin (prompt)

Jachin

What was that 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 Fellowcraft Mason's obligation.

What was his answer?

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

leth (prompt)

Shibboleth

What was that 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 heel of the left to the hollow of the right, my feet forming a right angle, and my body erect.

obligation (part 2)

That I will not communicate the secrets of this degree to anyone except 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.

Upon being brought to light in this degree what did you behold different from the preceding degree?

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 of yet only partial.

What did you next behold?

The Worshipful Master approaching me from the east upon the step under the due guard and penal sign of a Fellowcraft Mason, who extended to me his right hand in continuation of friendship and brotherly love, and proceeded to instruct me in the past grip and word, grip and word of a Fellowcraft Mason, then bad me to arise and salute the wardens as a Fellowcraft Mason, and step to the Senior Warden who would teach me how to wear my apron as such, then return to the east for further instruction.

What makes you a Fellowcraft Mason?

The obligation.

How are they explained?

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 are actions by the square of virtue and remembering that we're traveling upon the level of time to that undiscovered country from who's borne, no traveler returns.

What are the working tools of a Fellowcraft Mason?

The plumb, square, and level.

Upon returning to the east, what were you presented with?

The working tools of a Fellowcraft Mason.

What was then told you?

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

Shibb (prompt)

leth

bo (prompt)

shibb