Page 21 - LESTER'S LOOK TOTHE EAST

We receive none knowingly into our ranks who are not moral and
upright before God, and of good repute before the world. Such persons,
when associated together, will naturally seek each other's welfare and
happiness equally with their own. That they may do so upon a common
platform, and become not weary in well doing, we obligate them by
solemn and irrevocable ties to perform the requirements of, and avoid
the things prohibited by Masonry. You have been elected by the
members of this Lodge, upon your own voluntary petition, to become
united with us in this great and good work. At your entrance into the
Lodge, you professed faith in God; that God whom we, as Masons,
reverence and serve. The solemn engagements which you will be
required to make before you can participate in our labors and privileges
are made in the name of God, and when once taken they can never be
repudiated or laid aside. Yet, I am free to inform you that our obligation
contains nothing which can conflict with your duty to God, your country,
your neighbor or yourself.

With this pledge on my part, as the Master of the Lodge, I ask you,
are you willing to take such an obligation, as all Masons have done
before you; or do you prefer to retire, as you have a perfect right to do,
and proceed no further?

If the candidate consents to take the obligation, the Master orders as
follows:

W.M. to S.D. Place the candidate in due form to be made a Mason.

S.D. to Candidate. Advance! kneel on your naked left knee, place your
right knee so as to form a square, your body erect, your naked left hand
supporting the Holy Bible, square and compasses; your naked right
hand resting thereon. (The Senior Deacon assists candidate to do
this.)

S.D. to W.M. The Candidate is in due form, Worshipful Master.

The Worshipful Master calls up the Lodge by three raps; he rises last,
uncovers his head, goes to and stands erect before the altar, and places
his right hand upon the Bible. The Senior Deacon takes a position
behind the candidate.

W.M. to Candidate. You will repeat your name, and say after me:
I, A. B., of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty
God, and this Worshipful Lodge erected to Him and dedicated to the
Holy Saints John, do hereby and her eon (Master presses his gavel on
candidate's knuckles) most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear
that I will always hail, forever conceal, never reveal any of the secret
arts, parts or points of the hidden mysteries of Masonry which may have
been heretofore, or shall be, at this time, or at any future period,
communicated to me as such, to any person or persons, whomsoever,
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