ENTERED APPRENTICE OPENING PRAYER


Most glorious Lord God, as we are led from darkness into light, may we see Thee as
Thou art, revealed in Thy word of truth, and worship Thee in the beauty of holiness
forever and ever.
So mote it be.        Amen.





ENTERED APPRENTICE SCRIPTURE

*       
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

*
It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even
Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

*
As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for
there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."
Psalm 133





INITIATION PRAYER

Vouchsafe Thine aid, Almighty Father of the Universe, to this our present convention;
and grant that this candidate for Masonry may dedicate and devote his life to Thy
service, and become a true and faithful brother among us!  Endue him with a
competency of Thy divine wisdom, that by the secrets of our art he may be better
enabled to display the beauties of holiness, to the honor of Thy holy name.
So mote it be.         Amen.






APRON PRESENTATION


I now present you the lambskin or white leather apron, which is an emblem of
innocence, and the badge of a mason, more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman
Eagle; more honorable than the Star and Garter, or any other order that can be
conferred upon you at this time, or at any future period, by king, prince, potentate, or
any other person, except he be a Mason, and which I hope you will wear with equal
pleasure to yourself, and honor to the fraternity.

It may be that, in coming years, upon your head shall rest the laurel leaves of victory;
on your breast may hang jewels fit to grace the diadem of an eastern potentate; nay,
more than these, with light added to the coming light, your ambitious feet may tread
round after round the ladder that leads to fame in our mystic circle, and even the
purple of our fraternity may rest upon your honored shoulders; but never again from
mortal hands, never again, until your enfranchised spirit shall have passed upward and
inward through the Pearly gates, shall any honor so distinguished, so emblematic of
purity and all perfections, be bestowed upon you as this which I now confer.  It is
yours to wear throughout an honorable life, and at your death to be placed upon the
coffin which shall contain your earthly remains, and with them laid beneath the silent
clods of the valley.

Let its pure and spotless surface be to you an ever-present reminder of a "purity of life
and rectitude of conduct," a never-ending argument for nobler deeds, for higher
thoughts, for greater achievements.  And when at last your weary feet shall have come
to the end of their toilsome journey, and from your nerveless grasp shall drop forever
the working tools of life, may the record of your life and actions be as pure and
spotless as the fair emblem which I place within your hands tonight.  And when your
trembling soul shall stand naked and alone before the Great White Throne, may it be
your portion to hear from Him who sitteth as the Judge Supreme the welcome words--
"Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of the Lord!"



THE NORTHEAST CORNER



Freemasonry, a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by
symbols.  The most ancient society in the world; its principles are based on pure
morality, its ethics are the ethics of pure religion; its doctrines, the doctrines of
brotherly love, and its sentiments, the sentiments of exalted benevolence.  It
encourages all that is good, kind and charitable; and reproves all that is vicious, cruel
and oppressive.



ENTERED APPRENTICE WORKING TOOLS



The working tools of an Entered Apprentice are the twenty-four inch gauge and the
common gavel.

The twenty-four inch gauge is an instrument made use of by operative Masons to
measure and lay out their work, but we, as Free and Accepted Masons are taught to
make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of dividing our time. It being
divided into twenty-four equal parts, is emblematic of the twenty-four hours of the
day, which we are taught to divide into three equal parts, whereby are found eight
hours for the service of God, and a distressed worthy brother; eight for our usual
avocations; and eight for refreshment and sleep.

The common gavel is an instrument made use of by operative Masons to break off the
corners of rough stones, the better to fit them for the builder's use; but we, as Free
and Accepted Masons are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious
purpose of divesting our hearts and consciences of all the vices and superfluities of
life, thereby fitting our minds as living stones for that spiritual building, "that house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

ENTERED APPRENTICE CHARGE

Brother- as you are now introduced into the first principles of Masonry, I congratulate
you upon being accepted into this ancient and honorable order; ancient, as having
existed from time immemorial, and honorable as tending in every particular, so to
render all men who will be conformable to its precepts.  No institution was ever raised
on a better principle or more solid foundation, nor were ever more excellent rules and
useful maxims laid down than are inculcated in the several Masonic lectures. The
greatest and best men of all ages have been promoters and encouragers of the art, and
have never deemed it derogatory to their dignity to level themselves with the fraternity,
extend their privileges and patronize their assemblies. There are three great duties
which as a Mason you are charged to inculcate; to God, your neighbor and yourself; to
God in never mentioning His name but with that reverential awe which is due from a
creature to his creator, in imploring His aid in all your laudable undertakings, and in
esteeming Him as the chief good, to your neighbor in acting upon the square, and
doing unto him as you wish he would do unto you; and to yourself in avoiding all
irregularity and intemperance, which may impair your faculties or debase the dignity of
your profession. The performance of these duties will entitle you to public and private
esteem.

In the state you are to be a quiet and peaceable citizen, true to your government and
just to your country. You are not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion, but patiently
submit to legal authority, and conform with cheerfulness to the government of the
country in which you live. In your outward demeanor, be particularly careful to avoid
censure or reproach.

Your frequent appearance at our regular meetings is earnestly solicited, yet it is not
meant that Masonry should interfere with your other duties, for these are on no
account to be neglected. Neither are you to suffer your zeal for the institution to lead
you into argument with those who through ignorance, may ridicule it.

During your leisure hours, that you may improve in Masonic knowledge, you are to
converse with well-informed brethren, who will always be as ready to give as you will
be to receive, instruction.

Finally, keep sacred and inviolable the mysteries of the order; as these are to
distinguish you from the rest of the community and mark your consequence among
Masons.

ENTERED APPRENTICE CLOSING PRAYER

Supreme Ruler of the Universe, accept our humble praises for the many mercies and
blessings which Thy bounty hath conferred on us. May we be enabled to divest our
hearts and consciences of all the vices and superfluities of life, and serve Thee with
freedom, fervency and zeal until we are brought together into that house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens.                               So mote it be.          Amen.             
           
E.:A.: Section
Balfour Lodge #188 AF & AM
Chartered December 2, 1856 - Grand Lodge of North Carolina
Balfour Masonic Temple
632 Sunset Ave.
Asheboro, NC  27203
(336) 625-5363
info@balfourlodge.com
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