1st Degree Catechism

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New York Standard Works

Catechisms Expounded

By. Brother Daniel J. Di Natale

Harmonie Lodge No. 699



Basic History• Most of what we know about early Ritual is

from exposures or accidents.

– Edinburgh Registry House Manuscript(ERHM) of 1696

• Earliest extant ritual.

• Uses “words” as methods of recognition explicitly.

• Signs and Signals.



Basic History – Samuel Prichard’s Masonry Dissected (1730)

• First time Degrees are clearly organized (1-3).• Organized catechismal forms.



The Men Who Formed The Ritual• William Preston(1742-1818)

– Illustrations ofMasonry of 1772• First major work on

Masonic ritual.

• It gives no specifics inform or execution.

– The PrestonianLectures were adaptedinto the Modern ritualpretty much worldwide.

• It makes only passingremarks of a 3rd degree,while the 2nd degree is

substantially longer in itslecture.



The Men Who Formed The Ritual• Thomas Smith Webb (1771-

1819)

– Freemason’s Monitor orIllustrations of Masonry of 1797

• Significantly impacted the formationof Continental (American) Masonry.

• So proud of the Masonic Order hepublished his book to the world.

• “Barrowed” heavily from Preston.



The Men Who Formed The Ritual• Jeremy L. Cross (1783-1891)

– The True Masonic Chart or

Hieroglyphic Monitor of 1819 • “Barrowed” heavily from Webb,

whom he was a student.

• Popularized Webb’s ritual system,thus forming it as the core ofAmerican ritual systems.

• First to use pictorial “aids” formemory with the work.



Cross’s Chart



Different Types of Ritual• Standardized Works and Lectures

– A phenomena of Continental Masonry.• Rarely found outside the US.

– A standardized frame on which all ritual is

used, without deviation.



Different Types of Ritual• Non-standardized or Proprietary Works

– Found the world over.

– Work follows basic “landmarks”.

– Written by the Lodge the performs the work.



Who Controls The Ritual Anyway?

• The Grand Master is the end all be all.

• The Master of a Lodge.

• The Custodians of the Work. (§ 334)

– A committee of 5 appointed by the GrandMaster for 3 year terms.

– Only body able to recommend changes to the

Standard Work.



Who Controls The Ritual Anyway?

• The Grand Lecturer

– Appointed by the Grand Master for a 1 yearterm. (§138)

– Must show mastery of the whole Works before

the Custodians allow appointment. (§295)

– Responsible for checking the skill of a Lodgeunder dispensation. (§299)

• Assistant Grand Lecturers help with needs acrossthe districts as apposed the whole jurisdiction.



Secrets• The Work in a cipher is an aid to memory.

– mnemonic device. (Cross used method of loci)

• The majority of Standardized Ritual ,when first

printed, was not put into complicated codes.

– Often Ritual ciphers were sold with another book(s),the key to the code.

• The only true secrets is that which is not written.

– Modes of recognition.



The Catechisms of the Standard Worksand Lectures of the Grand Lodge of the

State of New York

Details of the forms and meaningsup to the Obligation



The Lodge of the Holy Saint John

of Jerusalem• WE ARE NOT TEMPLARS!!!!

– Added in the 18th Century to create a non-historical connection to

the Knights Hospitallers & Templars. (Mackey)• It is meant to bring a Crusader attachment to the Temple of

Solomon or “The Lodging of the Poor Knights of St. John”. (Mackey)

• “Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem…”

• What you are really saying is: – “From that of King Solomon's Temple where the first Lodge wasformed.” (symbolically)

• Also eludes to the change in dedication from Solomon tothe Saints John. (First found in 1598, Roberts) – Also to the astrological constant of the solstices dates in which

the Saint Johns’ (the Baptist & the Evangelist) have their feastdays and a deep relation to the monad as expressedMasonically.



The Tropics and Path of the Sun



The Ground Floor• Esoterically, it references scared geometry

found on the floor of the Temple. (Bromwell)• Elusion to the materiality of the Degree.

– Foundation.

• Masonic Law- – Dispensation allows a Lodge to function but must

meet requirements before being granted a full Charter

that recognize its sovereignty as a Masonic Lodge.• Lodges been known to use the Gothic

Constitutions as their Charter.



The Ground Floor or Mosaic

Pavement



Modes of Recognition• These forms have roots in the deepest

history of Masonic Ritual.• Due-Guard- a word adopted into English,

theorized to be of French origin.

– To be on guard – Found in the older Ritual of 1750s but as it

what is now called the sign.

• The passwords of the 1st and 2nd are theoldest in the Craft. (See ERHM)



In My Heart• The deep esoteric mysteries of the Craft

will expound upon this statement.• Your membership is no accident.

• You already hold all the secrets toMasonry.

– You were born with them.



Perpetration• You were not prepped in the Lodge but

outside of it, you entered ready.• The removal of metal is used in many

ancient traditions, as metal is seen as acontaminating force…

– It is also represents equality, submission and

“blind” trust.



Trial and Knocking• At the door you are questioned.

• Knocking (gavel or otherwise) is also a commonfeature in all ritual. – The use of “3” follows this tradition closely.

• “Of my own free will…” – Seems easy enough but is not contextual simple.• Free will implies “freedom”, the old charges make distinctions

that no slave or serf could be a Mason.

• It also becomes contextual blurry after the completion of thethree degrees.



Deity Without Name or Limit• According to our oldest documents a belief

in deity was needed to become a Mason. – Early Masonry (operative) undoubtedly

needed that belief to be Catholic.

• A common feature in any trade guild of the 1300sand onward.

• Masonic Guild were nothing special having thisbelief.

– Speculative adapted and changed that toencompass all faiths. Thus the religioustolerance and acceptance we know today.



The Rite of Circumambulation

• The name given by archeologist to theprocession of of ancient initiations arounda sacred alter. (Mackey)

– Freemasonry practice the same tradition withall context intact.

• Ties tightly with the secession of the sun

and the monad.



Duncan's Diagram of

Circumambulation 1866



Traveling East• The East has been seen in many Western

esoteric traditions as the place of enlightenmentand always sacred. – Tied again with the rising of the sun.

• The Greeks were said to be from the schools ofthe East. – Supported with Hermes and traditions tied to Osiris.

– The Prestonian System asks:

• Q- What induces you to leave the West and travel East? – A- In search of a Master, and from him to gain instruction.



Due From; Due and Ancient Form• The use of the step and signs finds mention in

our earliest rituals. (see ERHM)• The term “Due Form” finds its origin in the

French language.

– Du or Devoir- “To owe” or “Ought” – What is being said is “The candidate is the proper

form that which owed and must be done.”

• Thus or Lodges are acting in the prescribed way from timeimmortal.

• It also has a deeper esoteric message. (look to J.S.M WardEA Book)



The Obligation



The History• The Obligation is one of oldest section of

the ritual.• Some early ritual documents have a very

short opening and an obligation.

– The ERHM is mostly short forms with a long

obligation and explanations of signs.



The Form• Preamble

• Obligation Charges

• Penalty



Preamble• Agreement of nondisclosure.

– Very operative in its design, nothing having todo with morality in a sense but trade secrets.

• Only time used “…hidden Mysteries of

Ancient Freemasonry….” – Mystery

• Derived from Greek.

• Not meaning unknown or hidden as we know it.• Originally secrets of the operative craft.



Obligation Charges• Easily distinguished by the use of “Further

more…” – By far the most confusing of the Charges in any of the

degrees.

• Limited content.

– It becomes apparent later that the “true secrets” areimpossible to record.

• Operative roots.

• Illusion to the esoteric vain found deep in the ritual, at leastfor those that want to look, know and understand.



Penalty• Found in almost every Ritual system.

– Note- In 1986 the Emulation School of Improvement(UGLE) removed the penalty from their obligationtotally.

– The use of the word “symbolic” is a much later

addition to our work.• Most Ritual sets, not finding their roots in the US, excluded

the word “symbolic”.

– There are many “colorful” penalties found over the

historical record.• The one used in the NY 1st degree is a sound overview to

those found in the earliest work.



The Catechisms of the StandardWorks and Lectures of the Grand

Lodge of the State of New YorkDetails of the forms and meanings

after the Obligation



“Light’• The use of “Light” is a common to Masonic

ideology. – “Light” is a common expression of enlightenmentthought.

• It is not just “Truth and Knowledge” but a more

penetrative and persuasive force.• It is the first symbol and neophyte sees and

experiences in Masonic ritual.

– It is not just the material light of the 1st degree but adeeper more esoteric symbol.



The Three Great Lights• The Square and Compasses are neatly

explained in the Historical Lecture, the Bibleleaves room for conjecture.

• The first mention is in Colne No. 1 MS of 1685 – …One of the eldest taking the Bible shall hould it

forth that he or the(y) which are to bee maidMasones, may Impoase and lay thear Right handupon it…

• The use of the Bible as a “Light” is not founduntil after 1750s. Preston makes it “Furniture”in 1760. Codifying it 43 years after the GrandLodge.



The Three Great Lights• In the majority of the True Old Charges no

mention of a Sacred Book(s) just “faith of whichmen agree.”

• The use of a “Book” to obligate is mentioned but

never the type of book. – It is just as likely it was the Book of Constitutions of

the Guild doing the initiation.

– It was more common to initiate members on a sacredrelics.

• (see, The Whole Institution of Freemasons Opened of 1725)



The Three Great Lights• Historical Developments

– In 1813 the then feuding Moderns and Ancientsformed the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) inwhich all Masonic bodies lineage from.

• They formed the Lodge of Reconciliation (1813-1816) tasked

with the construction of a standardized framework of ritual. – They can be credited with removing sectarian messages that

had worked their way into the Craft.

– Their work ended and the Emulation Lodge of Improvement

formed, thus taking from the whole of that being practiced inEngland, they list a V.S.L and no further mention is made of thename of any Sacred Volume.



The Three Great Lights• American Freemasonry progressed without the

modernizations of 1813. – The War of 1812 spurred much in the way of anti

English sentiment.

• Ancient Craft Masonry appeared to have astronger foot hold in the US.

– V.S.L never completely work into the the whole ofstandardized ritual.

• Although it is found in NY.

– (Officer Instillation, NY Monitor, Book Six and the InvestitureCeremony)



The Three Great Lights• Many American Ritual writers pulled information

from one another and took much out of contextfrom those sources.

– Many liberties were taken by authors. (See Cross)

• NY Ritual adds an explanation of the Bible which I can findno other source for.

– From pages 45-47 this explanation is added seeming in the20th century. As it is not found in Lester’s “Look to the East” or“More Light” in which the ritual lectures are partial based.

(Both printed in the early 1800s)



The Three Great Lights• Mackey speaks as to what the Bible should say

to each Mason, – “The Bible is used amongst Masons as a symbol of

the will of God, however it may be expressed. And,therefore, whatever to any people expresses that will

may be used as a substitute for the Bible in aMasonic Lodge…. {The V.S.L} it everywhereMasonically conveys the same idea- that of the

symbolism of the Divine Will revealed to man.”(Mackey pg.104)



The Three Lesser Lights• The Lodge is symbolically the world. More

deeply the Universe, the mind and creation. – The Sun is the provider of the material light but also

gives us due regulation of the hours on Earth and thefunction of gravity on the solar system.

– The Moon- Provides the dichotomy needed for dueregulation of the Earth (the tide for instances, etc.)

– The Master of the Lodge- Symbolically the Master ofthe Universe, that force which binds the two forces

into a perfect harmony.• Three forces (passive, aggressive and regulatory)

• Their placement (E,W,S) is also very important.



The Apprentices’ Investiture• The Master moves from the East and invests the

material secrets of the Craft after the obligation. – You’re not a Brother Mason until after the obligation.

– Hele• Roots in Anglo Saxon English, meaning to “hide or keep

secret” – This wording sees form in almost ever ritual set, exposure or

MS (even in the Cooke!). Leading some to believe it could be aunknown third party source.

• Evidence supports the word made have been used for

rhyming scheme – A felowe that can wel concel And Kepe thy counsel and wel

hele.

» (Romaunt of the Rose, c. 1360s).

The White



The White

Apron• The very Icon of

the Masonic

Order.

– Strange as norecorded of the

apron existeduntil 1723 withthe portrait of the

first GrandMaster.



The Manner Worn• The explanation of the bandsof workmen is a legend. Nohistorical evidences supports

that assumption.

– The style of Aprons ,oursbeing an oblong square,others a perfect square,

others a bib etc. Wouldfurther bifurcate that point.

– So why? The answers isfound in the folds…



Apron Proportions



The Working Tools• The use of

tools tomoralize is oneof our oldest

traditions.

Baal’s Bridge Square (1507)



The Working Tool• Their use and type have changed over the

years.• Not every jurisdiction uses the same

tool(s).

– Emulation uses the chisel and mallet in the

1st degree.



A New Name• The changing of names at initiation is a

common feature of initiatory rites. – Masonry changes yours to caution to

reminded of the serious nature of our

institution.



Lecture of Reasons



History• Originally part of a much longer Q & A.

– Definitely a product of the early 1800s. – A combination of epic histories from the Old

Charges.

• To further elaborate the length of the original Q &As, the historical lecture has a catechism as well!

– That’s around 25 full pages of Q & A in the 1st degreealone, much longer then any of the full ritual today.



The Metal in the Temple• Deeply metaphorical.

– The Temple was the house of God andshould be a place of peace and harmony.

– Each stone (that’s you) should be perfected

before entrances into that structure.



Details of Preparation• Cable-Tow-

– Early ritual sees it as “cable rope”, no matterwhat it is a Masonic word.

– German “Kabeltau” which it probably found

roots to English as a lone word. – In the 1st degree it is a tool of restraint and

ejection.



Details of Preparation• Hoodwink-

– “A symbol of the secrecy, silence and darkness inwhich the mysteries of our art should be preservedfrom the unhallowed gaze of the profane.” (Mackey)

• Illusions to St. John’s Gospel – “And the light shineth in the darkness and the darkness

comprehended in not.” John 1:4-6 (KJV)» That is one the same St. John we dedicate our Craft to.

• The Corpus Hermeticum

– “Seek one that may lead you by the hand, and conduct you to

the door of Truth and Knowledge, where the clear Light is thatis pure from Darkness, where there is not one drunken, but allare sober and in their heart look up to him, whose pleasure it isto be seen.” (Hermes, 8th Book, 5th Verse)



Details of Preparation• Rite of Discalceation

– The removing of shoes is a common practicewhen entering a sacred space.

• JSM Ward speculated it in a relation to contact

with the Earth and the Tau cross of the step. – Pythagoras instructs,

• “Offer sacrifice and worship with thy shoes off.”



Obstructions• The lodge is emblematical of the world.

– Each station a point in life.• Each representative of those struggles life brings.

– Each challenged overcome until we meet with the“Master” and our due reward earned.



Fides• Often misunderstood

and called faith. – Another Roman deity

called Fidius who wouldpreside over oaths and

contracts.• He was represented by two

human figures holding oneanother.

– Thus the sign of Fidelity.



Rite of Destitution• How else would you learn this lesson?

– Have you ever known real destitution?• Always remember the human family and what it

means to be a Brother Mason.



The North East Corner• You are the foundation.

– Each in your class was the foundation of anew Masonic edifice.

• Each generation dies to be replaced by the next.

– We build our foundations the stronger we will bestronger and the Craft will prosper.



The End

Our thanks from Harmonie LodgeNo. 699

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