Open 1 St Degree Flashcards
CEREMONY OF OPENING THE LODGE
IN THE FIRST DEGREE (The lot)
CEREMONY OF OPENING THE LODGE
IN THE FIRST DEGREE
When the brethren are assembled, the I. G. calls them up to receive the Worshipful Master Past Masters and Officers of the lodge, who enter in the following order: D.C.. Treasurer. Secretary, Chaplain, Wardens, P.Ms.,
I.P.M.. W.M. (escorted by Deacons).
W.M. gives I, which is followed by the S.W. and then the J.W.
W.M. - I greet you all.
W.M. - Have all the brethren signed the Attendance Book? (Any brother who has omitted to do so must retire for that purpose.)
W.M. - Brethren, assist me to open the lodge.
W.M. (to J.W., calling him by name) - Bro. A.B. (pause. J.W. assumes att. of rev), what is the first care of every Freemason?
J.W. - To see that the lodge is properly tyled.
W.M. - Direct that duty to be done.
J.W. (to AG., calling him by name) - Bro. A.B. (pause. I.G. assumes att. of rev), see that the lodge is properly tyled.
(I.G. gives I, and on receiving a reply opens the door and satisfies himself that the T. is at his post. He closes the door, faces E., and assumes att. of rev.)
I.G. (to J.W.) - Bro. A.B. (pause. J.W. assumes att. of rev.), the lodge is properly tyled.
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Opening in First Degree
J.W. (gives I, and assumes att. of rev. To W.M) - W. Bro. A.B. (pause. W.M. assumes att. of rev.) the lodge is properly tyled.
W.M. (to S.W., calling him by name) - Bro. A.B (pause. S.W. assumes att. of rev), our next care?
S.W. - To see that none but Freemasons are present.
W.M. - Brethren, you will prove yourselves to be E.A. Freemasons by the sign. (Brethren take the step and complete the sign.)
W.M. - I acknowledge the correctness of the sign. (W.M. takes the step and completes the sign.)
W.M. - Bro. J.W. (pause. J.W. stands to order as an E.A. Freemason, W.M. assumes att. of rev), how many principal officers are there in the lodge?
J.W. - Three: the W.M., and the S. and J.Ws. (J.W. completes the sign.)
W M - Bro. S.W. (pause. S.W. stands to order as an E.A. Freemason, W.M. assumes att. of rev), how many assistant officers are there?
S.W. - Three, besides the O.G. or T, namely, the S and J.Ds, and the I.G. (S.W. completes the sign.)
W.M. - Bro. J.W. (pause. J.W stands to as
an E.A. Freemasonf W.M. assumes att. of rev), the situation of the T.
J.W. - At and without the door of the lodge.
W.M. - His duty.
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J.W. - Being armed with a drawn sword, to keep off all cowans and intruders, to see that the brethren are correctly clothed, and the candidates properly prepared. (J.W. completes the sign.)
W.M. - Bro. I.G. (pause. I.G. stands to order as an E.A. Freemason, W.M. assumes att. of rev.), your situation in the lodge?
I.G. - At and within the entrance of the lodge?
W.M. - Your duty?
I.G. - To admit Freemasons on proof, receive candidates in due form, and obey the commands of the J.W.
(I.G. completes the sign.)
W.M. - Bro. J.D. (pause. JD. stands to order as
an E.A. Freemason, W.M. assumes att. of rev), your situation in the lodge?
J.D. - Near the r… of the S.W.
W.M. - Your duty?
J.D. - To carry all messages and communications from the S. to the J.W., and see that the same are punctually obeyed. (J.D. completes the sign.)
W.M. - Bro. S.D. (pause. S.D. facing south stands to order as an E.A. Freemason, W.M. assumes .of rev.). your situation in the lodge?
S.D. - Near the r… of the W.M.
W.M. - Your duty?
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Opening in First Degree
S.D. - To carry all messages and commands from the W.M. to the S.W., and await the return of the J.D. (S.D. completes the sign.)
W.M. - Bro. J.W. (pause. J.W. stands to order as an E.A. Freemason, W.M. assumes att. of rev) your place in the lodge?
J.W. - In the S.
W.M. - Why are you so placed?
J.W. - To mark the sun at its meridian, to call the brethren from labour to refreshment and from refreshment to labour, that profit and pleasure may be the result. (J.W. completes the sign.)
W.M. - Bro. S.W. (pause. S.W. stands to order as an E.A. Freemason, W.M. assumes att. of rev), your place in the lodge?
S.W. - In the W.
W.M. - Why are you so placed?
SW - To mark the setting sun and to close the
lodge by command of the W.M., after having seen that every brother has had his due. (S.W. completes the sign.)
WM - W.Bro. I.P.M. (or Bro. S.W.) (pause, The
I.P.M. turns, faces N., and stands to order as an E.A. Freemason, W.M. assumes att. of rev.), the Masters place in the lodge?
I.RM. (or S.W.) - In the E.
W.M. - Why is he so placed?
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I.P.M. (or S.W.) - As the sun rises in the East to open and illumine the day, so ,is the W.M. placed in the E. to open the lodge, and to employ and instruct the brethren in Freemasonry.
(I.PM. (or S.W.) completes the sign.)
W.M. (or Chaplain) (All assume att. of rev.) - The lodge being duly formed, before it is declared open, let us invoke the blessing of T.G.A.OT.U on all our undertakings. May our labours thus begun in order, be conducted in peace, and closed in harmony. (All respond) S.M.I.B.
W.M. - To order, brethren, as E.A. Freemasons. (W.M. and all brethren stand to order.) I
W.M. - Brethren, in the name of T.G.A.O.T.U.. I
declare the lodge duly open for the purposes of Freemasonry in the First Degree, this (all complete the sign) being our due guard and sign.
(W.M gives I I I and lights his light, which is
followed by the S.W. and then the J.W. The S W. raises his column. The I.G. and T. repeat the knocks. The G and B.S. are illuminated.)
An anthem or ode may now sung, during which the I.P.M.
, escorted by two stewards, proceeds to the W., opens the V.S.L., and adjusts the square and compasses, whilst the D.C. performs a similar duty in the E. The J.d. then exposes the First Degree T.B. The I.P.M. with his escorts, and the J.D., return to their places.
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Opening in First Degree
W.M. or Chaplain may here read the following portions of Holy Writ, all assuming att. of rev.: Ruth 2:19, and Psalm 133.
W.M. gives I, which is followed by the S.W. and then the J.W and the brethren sit.
END OF THE CEREMONY OF OPENING THE LODGE IN THE FIRST DEGREE
If the meeting is a regular one, the minutes are put for confirmation, and other business is then proceeded with in the order prescribed by the By-laws of the lodge.
