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All this, in some measure, is what the Entered Apprentice Degree means. The First Degree, in essence and final significance, stands on a parity with either of the other two. Masonry in all the plentitude of its being stands in it, and if there it does not utter its last word what it does utter is of importance equal to any other. If during his (too) brief career on probation a Brother Apprentice discovers that truth for himself, one may prophesy that all in the future will be well for him. His feet are set on a path that will lead him far, even to a way of living that is as fine and satisfying as any that the best men thus far have discovered, a way that bears the noble name of- THE MASONIC LIFE!

Two or three generations ago (and before) Lodges were small compared with Lodges today (in our State they average more than 215 members per Lodge). Masons, like other men, did very little moving about, but lived, most of them in the same community from boyhood to old age; when entering a Lodge a candidate entered into a lifelong fellowship with the same group of men. For that reason the members themselves were all the more careful to see that a newcomer was such a one as was fitted for so intimate a relationship, and once admitted they took great pains to assimilate him to their ways and customs. The older members, ripely experienced in all the intricacies of the Craft, were accustomed to play the part of the intender to an Apprentice, would take hold of him in a fatherly way to train him, to counsel him in his new duties, to rebuke him frankly for his faults. They were the "well informed Brethren" spoken of in the Lecture of the First Degree.

Suppose, Brother Entered Apprentice, that one of those old-fashioned Masonic sages were to sit down with you tonight to talk to you about your duties as a beginner. What would he say? We may be sure that he would talk with a disarming frankness, not sparing your self-conceit, or dodging behind timid circumlocutions. He would strike out straight from the shoulder. He would be direct and honest. He would give you that which nowadays has so much gone out of fashion; good sound advice. We could well imagine that he would say something like the following, in each case introduced by uncompromising "do's' and "don'ts", and we here as doubtless would be the case with you, may well grant him the privilege of saying the last word. "Young man", he would begin, "since you are now an Entered Apprentice", and he would thus continue:

Make up your mind now never to betray any of the secrets of Masonry. Don't talk about them, even in a roundabout way, with outsiders. Most of the Ritual you must never write down, or print, or make use of anything written or printed by others; you have pledged your solemn word as a man not to do such a thing, and you must prove yourself to be a man of your word even in the privacy of your own home. The other portion of the Ritual may be written, is indeed published in the Monitor printed by Grand Lodge, but even that is confidential among Masons only, and does not belong to outsiders. Never discuss with anybody what occurs behind the tyled doors of the Lodge; never discuss petitioners, or why they were, or were not, elected to receive the Degrees; never discuss with anybody, even other members of your own Lodge, how or why you vote--you will not have a vote until you become a member but I add this here because it belongs to the rule of secrecy. If ever you go around gabbing about Lodge affairs outside our own circles you will prove false to your own words and will receive the contempt of your fellows.
 
While you are learning the catechism of the First Degree learn it for once and all. Go over it again and again, drill it into your memory, engrave it so indelibly in your mind that you will never forget it. In the future, even long after you have become a Master Mason, rehearse it from time to time. Don't be content to learn it well enough merely to pass your examination; make it a permanent possession. You will need it in after years as much as you do now.

Give your Worshipful Master your respect and cooperation. He is the head of the Lodge, as much so in the First Degree as in the Third. What he says do, do without question. Don't discuss him fault-findingly with others, speak respectfully of him and of his fellow officers, and never speak disrespectfully of the Fraternity itself to any man. You do not confer honor upon the Craft by joining it; it conferred honor on you by receiving you.

Attend your Lodge as often as you can when it is open in your Degree. It is the one best school of Masonry. It does not expect you to attend if it will work an injury to yourself or family but does expect you to attend when it is possible to do so. When you became a Mason you pledged yourself to do that; see that you redeem your pledge. The Fraternity isn't content merely to have your name in its books; it wants you to be an active worker. If a man is not willing to give a reasonable amount of time to his Lodge he should not petition for membership.

Consult with well-informed Brethren, especially with those who hold, or have held, responsible offices. They have learned by experience, not by hearsay, and theirs will be golden advice. Some who have been members for years remain so confused about Masonry, have studied it so superficially, that their advice is misleading; all the more reason, therefore, for seeking out the Brethren of seasoned experience to counsel with.

Don't be in a hurry to pass on to the next Degree. You have plenty of time before you. The First Degree is as worthy of careful study as the Second, or Third. Take time to study it, reflect upon it, analyze its ritual for yourself, don't go forward until you have mastered it. You have nothing to gain by hurrying on; you have everything to gain by remaining where you are until you know yourself well prepared to advance to the next stage.

Read something about the First Degree. Make sure to get books written by competent and trustworthy Masonic scholars; what they have to give you will be of the utmost value to you in the future. You owe many things to the Fraternity, but nothing you owe is of greater importance than for you to understand Masonry, so that you will always know what you are doing, what you ought to do, how to do it, and will not through blundering bring discredit to yourself and trouble to your Lodge.

Think and reflect. The First Degree is not all secrecy and mystery. Much of it you can understand for yourself, without assistance, if you will give it your attention.

Never, anywhere or to anybody, be flippant about Masonry. To do so rains judgement down on your own head. It will prove you to have a misplaced sense of humor, or have made the blunder of taking as play-acting what is serious. There is an Altar at the center of the Lodge. A man must be on his knees when he becomes a Mason. There will be nothing more fatal to your future than for you to develop a blasphemous spirit of irreverence.

If at this stage you discover that Masonry is not what you expected it to be, if you cannot believe in it, if you cannot accept its teachings and principles with absolute sincerity, or if it does not interest you so that you will drop away from it with indifference, now is the time for ' you to stop. To some men Masonry opens up slowly, and they don't catch its spirit at first, or
feel its appeal. This may prove to be the case with you.

Above all things make up your mind that you are going to be a Mason in dead earnest. It will grow upon you as you grow. You will always be finding something new in it; its horizon will travel beyond you. In the years to come you wilI thank the Grand Architect that you set your feet in its path.