Opening in the First Flashcards
Brethren we will sing our opening ode.
WM one SW one JW one
WM — Brethren, assist me to open the Lodge.
ALL rise (if not already standing after opening ode).
WM names JW — Bro ….., what is the first care of every Mason?
JW — To see that the Lodge is properly tyled.
WM — Direct that duty to be done.
JW names IG — Bro ….., see that the Lodge is properly tyled.
IG goes to door, does not open it, gives three distinct ks and returns to position in front of his chair.*
Tyler responds with same ks.
IG, no Sp or Sn, names JW — Bro ….., the Lodge is properly tyled.
JW three distinct imge no Sp or Sn, to WM, no name — The Lodge is properly tyled.
WM names SW — Bro ……, the next care?
SW — To see that none but Masons are present.
WM — To order, Brethren, in the First Degree.
ALL take Sp, with EA Sn.
WM — Bro JW, how many principal officers are there in the Lodge?
JW — Three: the WM, and the S and JWs.
WM — Bro SW, how many assistant officers are there?
SW — Three, besides the T or OG: namely, the S and JDs, and the IG.
WM to JW — The situation of the T?
JW — Outside the door of the Lodge.
WM — His duty?
JW — Being armed with a drawn sword, to keep off all intruders and cowans to Masonry and to see that the Candidates are properly prepared.
WM to SW — The situation of the IG?
SW — Within the entrance of the Lodge.
WM — His duty?
SW — To admit Masons on proof, receive the Candidates in due form, and obey the commands of the JW.
WM to JW — The situation of the JD?
JW — At the right of the SW.
WM — His duty?
JW — To carry all messages and communications of the WM from the S to the JW, and to see that the same are punctually obeyed.
WM to SW — The situation of the SD?
SW — At or near to the right of the WM.
WM — His duty ?
SW — To bear all messages and commands from the WM to the SW, and await the return of the JD.
WM — Bro JW, your place in the Lodge?
JW — In the S.
WM — Why are you placed there?
JW — 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.
WM — Bro SW, your place in the Lodge?
SW — In the W.
WM — Why are you placed there?
SW — To mark the setting sun, to close the Lodge by command of the WM, after having seen that every Brother has had his due.
WM to SW — The Master’s place?
SW — In the E.
WM — Why is he placed there?
SW — As the sun rises in the E to open and enliven the day, so the WM is placed in the E to open the Lodge, and employ and instruct the Brethren in Freemasonry.
WM — The Lodge being duly formed, before I declare it open, let us invoke the assistance of the Great Architect of the Universe in all our undertakings; may our labours, thus begun in order, be conducted in peace, and closed in harmony.
IPM — So mote it be.
WM — Brethren, in the name of the Great Architect of the Universe, I declare the Lodge duly open (ALL cut Sn) for the purposes of Freemasonry in the First Degree.
WM — EA ks .
SW — EA ks and raises Cn.
JW — EA ks and lowers Cn.
TB is attended to when JW has given ks.
IG goes to door, gives EA ks and returns to position in front of his chair.
Tyler responds with same ks.
IPM, opens VSL and arranges Sq and Cs. VSL is placed so that WM can read it: pts of the Cs are directed to WM and hidden by the arms of the Sq, angle towards WM.
WM sits when this has been completed.
