Second Degree or Ceremony of Passing Flashcards
The next business of the evening is … I would request all EAs other than the Can to withdraw
releases h.
WM — Brethren, Bro …… is this evening a Can to be passed to the Second Degree, but it is first requisite that he give proofs of proficiency in the former. I shall therefore proceed to put the necessary questions — to Can — Where were you first prepared to be made a Mason?
JD must be prepared, if necessary, to prompt Can.
Can — In my h.
WM — Where next?
Can — In a convenient room adjoining the Lodge.
WM — Describe the mode of your preparation.
Can — I was d…v…d of m…l and h…w…d. My r a, l b, and k were made b, my r h was s s and a c t placed about my n.
WM — Where were you made a Mason?
Can — In the body of a Lodge, just, perfect, and regular.
WM — And when?
Can — When the sun was at its meridian.
WM — In this country Freemasons’ Lodges are usually held in the evening; how do you account for that which at first view appears a paradox?
Can — The earth constantly revolving on its axis in its orbit round the sun and Freemasonry being universally spread over its surface, it necessarily follows that the sun must always be at its meridian with respect to Freemasonry.
WM — What is Freemasonry?
Can — A peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.
WM — Name the grand principles on which the Order is founded.
Can — Brotherly love, relief and truth.
WM — Who are fit and proper persons to be made Masons?
Can — Just, upright and free men, of mature age, sound judgment, and strict morals.
WM — How do you know yourself to be a Mason?
Can — By the regularity of my initiation, repeated trials and approbations, and a willingness at all times to undergo an examination when properly called on.
WM — How do you demonstrate the p of your being a Mason to others?
Can — By sns, ts, and the perfect pts of my entrance.
WM — These are the usual questions: I will put others if any Brother wishes me to do so.
JD conducts Can by r h direct to N side of WM’s ped and a convenient distance from it, both facing S. Releases hand.
WM — Do you pledge your honour as a man, and your fidelity as a Mason, that you will steadily persevere through the ceremony of being passed to the Degree of a FC?
JD prompting Can aloud — I do (Can repeats).
WM — Do you likewise pledge yourself that you will conceal what I shall now impart to you with the same strict caution as the other secrets in Masonry?
JD prompting Can aloud — I do (Can repeats).
WM — Then I will entrust you with a test of merit, which is a p g and p w leading to the Degree to which you seek to be admitted — rises, faces Can, and takes the latter’s r h in his own r h and holds it — the p g is given — adjusts p g by placing Can’s t in position before placing his own — by a distinct p of the t between t f a s js o t h. This p g demands a p w, which is ……
JD — prompting Can, speaks word aloud (Can repeats).
WM — …… denotes …… and is usually depicted in our Lodges by an e o c near to a f o w. You must be particularly careful to remember this word, as without it you cannot gain admission into a Lodge in a superior degree. Pass, …… — restores Can’s r h to l h of JD and sits.
IG — WM, — names Can — Bro …… who has been regularly initiated into Freemasonry and has made such progress as he hopes will recommend him to be passed to the Degree of a FC, for which ceremony he is properly prepared.
WM — How does he hope to obtain the privileges of the Second Degree?
IG — By the help of God, the assistance of the Sq and the benefit of a p w.
WM — We acknowledge the propriety of the aid by which he seeks admission. Do you, Bro IG, vouch that he is in possession of the p w?
IG — I do, WM.
WM — Then let him be admitted in due form.
IG cuts Sn.
WM — Bro Deacons.
SD to Can — Advance as a Mason — ensures that Can takes Sp, gives and cuts EA Sn.
WM — Let the Can kneel while the blessing of Heaven is invoked on what we are about to do. SD ensures Can kneels and gives Sn of R.
WM one imge SW one imge JW one imge.
Ds hold wands in l h, cross them over head of Can and give Sn of R.
ALL stand with Sn of R.
PRAYER
*(WM says prayer in E L of I.)
We supplicate the continuance of Thine aid, O merciful Lord, on behalf of ourselves and him who kneels before Thee. May the work begun in Thy Name be continued to Thy Glory and evermore established in us by obedience to Thy precepts.
*IPM — So mote it be.
ALL drop Sn of R. Ds uncross wands and hold them again in r h.
WM — Let the Can rise (He does so).
1st lap ends: SD takes Can’s r h, instructs him to step off with l f and leads him to N of SW’s ped, wheels clockwise so that both face WM and releases hand.
WM one SW one JW one
WM — The Brethren will take notice that Bro ….., who has been regularly initiated into Freemasonry, is about to pass in view before them, to show that he is the Can properly prepared to be passed to the Degree of a FC.
2nd lap ends: SW holding up Can’s r h, Sp, and Sn of F — WM, I present to you Bro ….., a Can properly prepared to be passed to the Second Degree — maintains Sn and continues to hold Can’s r h.
WM — Bro SW, you will direct the SD to instruct the Can to advance to the E in due form.
All three are now in front of WM’s ped, SD on r and JD on l of Can, all facing E.
WM — As in every case the Degrees in Freemasonry are to be kept separate and distinct, another Obl will now be required of you, in many respects similar to the former. Are you willing to take it?
Can — I am. (If Can does not answer voluntarily SD should whisper to him ‘Answer.’)
WM — Then you will kneel on your r k, your l f formed in a sq, (Can does so) place your r h on the VSL, (Can does so) while your l a will be supported in the angle of the sq.
Obligation, 3 knocks, cross wands,
WM, to Can — Repeat your name at length and say after me:
I, …… — Can gives name in full — in the presence of the Grand Geometrician of the Universe and of this worthy and worshipful Lodge of FC FMs, regularly held, assembled, and properly dedicated, of my own free will and accord, do hereby — with l h touches Can’s r h — and hereon — with l h touches VSL — solemnly promise and swear that I will always h* (pronounced hail), conceal, and never improperly reveal any or either of the ss or mys of or belonging to the Second Degree in Freemasonry, denominated the FC’s, to him who is but an EA, any more than I would either of them to the uninstructed and popular world who are not Masons. I further solemnly pledge myself to act as a true and faithful Craftsman, answer Sns, obey summonses, and maintain the principles inculcated in the former degree. These several points I solemnly swear to observe, without evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation of any kind.
So help me, A G, and keep me steadfast in this my solemn Obl of a FC FM.
ALL cut Sn.
So help me, A G, and keep me steadfast in this my solemn Obl of a FC FM.
ALL cut Sn.
Ds lower wands to r h.
JD removes Sq, and passes it behind Can to SD, who replaces it; JD lowers Can’s l h to his side.
WM — As a pledge of your F, and to render this a S O which might otherwise be considered but a serious promise, you will s i w y l t on the VSL (Can does so).
SD if necessary instructs in whisper.
WM — Your progress in Masonry is marked by the position of the Sq and Cs. When you were made an EA, both pts were hid; in this Degree one is disclosed, implying that you are now in the midway of Freemasonry, superior to an EA, but inferior to that to which I trust you will hereafter attain.
WM takes Can’s r h from VSL with his r h — Rise, newly obligated FC FM — restores Can’s r h to SD.
