Entered Apprentice

This booklet may act as the basic guide, which will enable you to navigate through the avenues of English Freemasonry as being practised by the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) in general and by those members of your own Lodge you have just joined in particular.

W Bro Petros N. Zenieris

PM of the Lodge of St George No 1152 EC

HOW FREEMASONRY CAME INTO BEING

No one can declare with a firm confidence the exact origin of Freemasonry. Its tradition hails back to the Middle Ages and to the link of the guilds of stonemasons who with their utter devotion and dedication supported with knowledge and expertise they built the great cathedrals and numerous solid-walled castles all around the European continent.  

It was with their well-founded knowledge of geometry, arithmetic and stone masonry supported with the precise and right tools that they were able to build such monuments and leave behind a long lasting legacy for us all to learn from.

These highly skilled workmen – stonemasons – in order to firstly protect themselves and secondly their treasured secrets of their profession from abundant outsiders (cowans and eavesdroppers), they established lodges and betrothed themselves into passing their skills and secrets with all due secrecy only to meticulously selected and worthy apprentices.

Certain secrets and passwords were also established to ensure that only people from the same trade will get access to their confidential knowledge and extraordinary skills.

They were also free to travel to places in order to practice their trade and render their highly skilled services wherever there was a requirement for the construction of such building hence, they were called Freemasons.

Quator Coronati Lodge of Research has suggested that such masons/travellers were called “Free” because they could claim exemption from the control of the local guilds of those towns they visited as well as they were not subjected to any local regulations for the period they temporarily settled in there.

However, during the early part of the seventeenth century, when the demand for the construction of places of worship and the requirement for the erection of numerous castles toned-down, stonemasonry began to lose its “operative” characteristics and therefore certain selected worthy men who were not stonemasons were gradually accepted into membership of such guilds.

It was from this time onwards that Masons became known as “Free and Accepted Masons”, as they have been continued to be known in our today’s world.

The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) was then established around London area in England in 1717 and consecutively the Freemasonry quickly spread its wings throughout the rest of the world.

GUIDANCE OFFERED TO YOU AS A NEWLY INITIATED BROTHER

Congratulations! You are now a newly initiated Brother among Brethren and you may call yourself an Entered Apprentice.

Being an Entered Apprentice you may seek guidance and advice from other more senior members of your Lodge which will endow you with comprehension of the tenets of Freemasonry.

There are several Brethren in the Lodge who may act as an advisor to you in order to provide guidance and advices whenever requested by you. 

You Proposer and Seconder act as such and they shall become your personal mentors till you become more proficient in Freemasonry and successfully reach the degree of a Master Mason.

Your Lodge’s Worshipful Master (WM) during his installation ceremony appointed an officer, among other officers, called Mentor who will also act as your advisor and he will be more than happy to provide guidance to you in order to enhance your masonic knowledge.

These three Brethren will provide you with necessary explanations on your respective ritual questions you may be having and also ensure that various subjects related to your duties as a Mason will be clearly explained and comprehended.

Such duties may include subjects such as your regular attendance to meetings, punctuality during meetings, prompt settlement of required annual fees, dress code and proper use of regalia in the Lodge, attendance and demeanour during Festive Boards and social behaviour in general.

They can assist you in the comprehension and learning of certain questions and answers required by you in order to give proof of learning and understanding prior to being progressed to the next degree during your Masonic journey.

They can also accompany you during a visit to another Lodge’s Regular meeting performing the same degree you are now in to enable you get a clearer insight of Lodge’s activities as such transpired during your own initiation ceremony.

Finally, upon reaching the degree of a Master Mason, they will also guide you on matters related to the District level – the District of Eastern Archipelago (such as your duties to attend Annual and Half-Annual Communications) and to the United Grand Lodge of England level as well as they will introduce you to higher degrees and side orders of Freemasonry.

LODGE’S OPERATION AND WARRANT

Each and every Lodge being an entity itself operates independently on the strength of its own personalised Warrant or Charter being issued by United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE).

A Lodge’s Warrant represents the passport-permission for the Lodge to conduct its regular ceremonies and represents a legal requirement prior to any Lodge activities.

On the other hand, the absence of a Lodge Warrant constitutes any Lodge illegal, unable to conduct ceremonies and its members not able to be considered as Freemasons.

It is also a stern requirement for the Lodge Warrant or Charter to be clearly displayed during a Lodge’s Regular meeting.

During the ceremony of Initiation, the Warrant or Charter will be presented to the newly initiated Brother for his inspection during the meeting or on any other subsequent meeting of the Lodge.

  LODGE’S FEES & OBLIGATIONS

Each Lodge, from its annual dues collected from all its members, is obligated to pay two separate levies for each of its members to:

a) District Grand Lodge; in this case District Grand Lodge of Eastern Archipelago (DGLEA),

b) United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE).

Such fees are meant to cover expenses related to the various administration, documentation and governing matters of the Order and to ensure continuous and proficient relations with all Lodges.

Lodges may also contribute funds to the District Grand Charity frequently or as and when requested by the District.

Such fees may be paid regularly by each Lodge, usually annually.

Therefore, it is advisable for you to pay your annual dues on time to avoid placing unnecessary burden to your Lodge’s accounts.

Lodge’s accounts can be separated into:

a) General account,

b) Benevolent account,

c) Charity account.

Such funds are to be kept separate and distinct from each other for always ensuring accurate and truthful accountability at all times.

A detailed monthly report is to be presented by Bro Treasurer during each Regular meeting - hence the need for a particular item under the Summons - and a complete set of accounts is presented and voted by all present Brethren at the end of Lodge’s financial year.

  LODGE’S STRUCTURE & OPERATION

The Worshipful Master (WM) is the overall person in charge within the Lodge and he is supported by his Junior and Senior Wardens (JW – SW).

Being the Master of the Lodge, your Brethren will seek his guidance and advice for matters related to the Lodge operation. He will also find needed support by his Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Ceremonies and of course by his Immediate Past Master (IPM).

The Immediate Past Master (IPM) although not an officer of the Lodge, he acts as an advisor to the Worshipful Master.

There are also the two offices of the Secretary and Treasurer who have been handling administration matters and financial matters respectively.

The office of Director of Ceremonies (DoC) handles matters related to the proper and timely execution of the Lodge’s regular meetings and to matters related to the Lodge of Instruction (LOI) as well as matters during the Festive Board.

It is crucial that the Director of Ceremonies must be a well-qualified member, preferably a Past Master, as the Lodge will heavily depend on his vast knowledge and expertise of ceremonial and general overall masonic procedures.

Other office positions include Chaplain, Charity Steward, Almoner, Mentor, Lodge Membership Officer, Organist, Junior and Senior Deacons, Inner Guard, Outer Guard or Tyler and Assistant Secretary as well as Assistant Director of Ceremonies.

Each of the above-stated positions / officers play a very important role for the precise and prompt operation of the Lodge’s meetings.  

There are also Stewards (which might be your first role in the Lodge) who are to assist the Junior Warden in the discharge of his duties and they are responsible for the preparation of the Festive Board and general dining arrangements for members as well as guests.

The office of Inner Guard (IG) may be considered as your first office appointment, followed by Junior Deacon (JD) and Senior Deacon (SD), followed by Junior Warden (JW) and Senior Warden (SW) and ultimately in to the chair of the Worshipful Master (WM).

The offices of Almoner, Charity Steward, Secretary and Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Lodge Membership Officer may also be considered in between the above-stated organic appointments.

In addition to the above, Lodges form a management committee which customarily include certain members and officers such as the Worshipful Master, Past Masters and certain senior officers (Junior and Senior Wardens, Secretary, Treasurer, Mentor, Charity Steward, Lodge Membership Officer) who are to meet once a month and handle administrative and ceremonial matters as well as conducting interviews of all potential candidates due for initiation.

ENTERED APPRENTICE FREEMASON

You are now an Entered Apprentice Freemason; this is your first regular step in Freemasonry.

You have already been invested with your apron of the degree, which is one made of pure white lambskin without any markings.

Towards the end of your Initiation ceremony the Worshipful Master will hand over various documents to you for your reading pleasure and safe keeping.

The first one will be the Book of Constitutions, which contains the Rules and Regulations governing United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) Freemasonry. This book provides clear answers to all your questions in relation to numerous masonic matters. You are strongly encouraged to spend time to read and frequently refer to it for obtaining a richer insight and a proper guidance in the progression of your masonic career.

Another document given to you will be the Lodge By-laws. This one refers to the rules and regulations of your own Lodge and the manner your Lodge governs itself and conducts its masonic affairs.

The third document will be a little booklet entitled “Information for the Guidance of Members of the Craft”, which is loaded with very useful and valuable information of the Craft in general.     

Finally, a fourth document, a little card, will be presented to you containing some questions and answers which you have to familiarise yourself with prior to your progression to the Second Degree ceremony or the Fellowcraft Degree.

I am positively sure that you will do your best by learning these answers and be ready to recite them when you are called for.

Having being now a newly initiated mason - an Entered Apprentice, you major task will be to gain a basic understanding of the moral teaching of the First Degree ceremony.

To achieve that, your frequent attendance at the Lodge regular meetings or Lodge of Instruction meetings is highly advisable as it will be beneficial to the enhancement of your Masonic knowledge.

Don’t feel hesitant to ask questions (there are no silly questions) on aspects related to Freemasonry.

Your initial contacts – your Proposer, Seconder or the Lodge Mentor – or any other Brother in the Lodge will be more than happy to provide you with answers to any potential questions you may be having.

Furthermore, you are strongly encouraged to visit another Lodge being accompanied by your Worshipful Master or any Past Master, should that Lodge works on the First Degree ceremony which will enable you to obtain a supplementary educational experience.

Visiting other Lodges represents a great pleasure for a new Brother as one can safely observe the ceremony in a rather relaxed manner for a greater benefit.

Finally, it is imperative to remember that being an Entered Apprentice you are as much a Brother and as respected as all other Freemasons of higher degrees and you should always conduct yourself with the utmost respect to yourself, to your Lodge and to others.

THE FESTIVE BOARD

The Festive Board represents the dining activity which takes place after the completion of each Regular meeting.

It is as important as the Regular meeting itself in terms of the correct protocol and decorum.

Efficient management and accurate time keeping of all proceedings must always be observed.

During this session, the Director of Ceremonies (DoC) acts as the Master of Ceremonies ensuring that the dining gathering will proceed as per Lodge’s established customary standards.

The gavel, being an emblem of power of the Worshipful Master (WM) owes to be respected and total silence must be maintained before the Director of Ceremonies (DoC) and the Worshipful Master (WM) speaks.

Following your Initiation, and on this occasion only, you are privileged to sit on the VIP table; your place will be next (right hand-side) to the Worshipful Master’s (WM) place.

Several traditional masonic toasts will be observed during the evening including toasts to the President of the country, the King, the Grand Master and his officers, and the District Grand Master and his officers.

The Worshipful Master will also include a toast to the newly initiated brother – you – for which you may afterwards express your thanks and appreciation in return.

A toast to the visitors may also be given if the Lodge has happened to have visitor(s) in attendance.

The Tyler’s toast will be the final one being given by the Tyler of the Lodge, signifying that the formal proceedings of the evening has come to its end. 

Do remember, that although the Festive Board represents the relaxed social part of the evening your conduct and that of your Brethren should always follow high standards which will be deemed as highly respectful and acceptable to all Freemasons.

Every Festive Board session offers a unique opportunity for attending Brethren to strengthen and expand their camaraderie and bond among Masons not only to those belonging in the same Lodge but also to those Brethren from other Lodges who may find pleasure and enjoyment through regular visits and interactions.

YOUR OWN PROGRESS

Your own progress in Freemasonry in general and in your Lodge in particular will depend entirely up to you and at your own pace.

The speed of your advancement within the Lodge should be in relation to your family and career’s overall established commitments.

Being a Freemason your first two paramount priorities evolved around your family and your business.

You, based on your established priorities, are to decide when and how fast you are to take higher responsibilities regarding your advancement within the Lodge.

It goes without saying that the same applies for any floor work or ritual part required for you to learn and contribute in the Lodge.      

Lodges usually tend to encourage Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts to learn certain parts of their respective rituals, most of the times being small parts and easy to recite, which will enable them to participate during the Lodge’s ceremony.  

Being an Entered Apprentice pay serious attention to the layout and furniture of the Lodge, the location and positions of numerous officers of the Lodge, floor work and steps which will empower you with means to familiarise yourself of the relevant ceremony and on various administration matters.

For a better and clearer elucidation of the roles and duties of the officers of the Lodge may I draw your attention to the booklet I authored entitled: “Officers of the Lodge”. (It will be posted at a later date).

Finally, a warm welcome to Freemasonry and I wish you many years of enjoyment and happiness.