The Candidate's Ritual
[You arrive at the door to Acacia Lodge #1 at the appointed time and knock three times on the door as previously instructed. The door opens and a man/woman dressed in suitable attire greets you at the door. You know that suitable attire for a Lodge of Esoteric Masons is slacks and a nice shirt for men and slacks or skirt and a blouse for women.]
Guide: Good evening [extending her/his right hand as a gesture of friendship] (your name) . I am Sister/Brother [blank] and I will be your Guide this evening. My title in this lodge is Sister/Brother Senior Deacon.
[She/He guides you inside the hallway and closes the door behind you.]
Sr. Deacon: Having decided to become a Candidate for Masonic Degrees in Acacia Lodge #1, you were invited here to see the Lodge and meet all of us. You now stand in the foyer adjacent to a Lodge of Esoteric Master Masons. This door [ taking you by the arm and leading you to the door on your left ] is the door to the Candidate's Preparation Room.
[She/He knocks on the candidate's door three times. You hear the sound a lock being disengaged. The door opens and a man/woman wearing suitable attire opens the door.]
Sr. Deacon: Good evening Brother/Sister Junior Deacon. I bring with me (your name) who desires to become a Candidate for Masonic Degrees and asks that you instruct him/her as to the purpose of this room.
[The Brother/Sister invites you both into the room and extends his/her right hand as a gesture of friendship. The Senior Deacon opens the door to the Lodge room, enters the Lodge, and closes the door. You can hear the Senior Deacon saying: "Master of the Lodge, a Candidate is in the Preparation Room receiving instruction." You hear somebody say: "Thank you."]
Jr. Deacon: This is the preparation room where the Sr. Deacon and myself assist the Candidate in selecting the proper attire for the degree to be conferred. You can see that here we store various hand-held items on these shelves [pointing to other paraphernalia ] which are to be used in the various rituals we perform. We also keep a stock of emergency items [pointing to a drawer containing an array of first aid items and sewing kits] . Do you have any questions?
[The Junior Deacon answers your questions.]
Jr. Deacon: If there are no [more] questions, shall we proceed?
You: Yes.
Jr. Deacon: (your name) do you wish to learn more about Masonry and become a Candidate for Degrees while not obligating yourself to the Lodge in any way?
You: Yes, I do. [If not, the Junior Deacon will bid you "Good-bye."]
Jr. Deacon: Do you make this request of your own free will?
You: Yes, I do.
Jr. Deacon: (your name) Are you of lawful age and willing to work to attain your goal?
You: Yes, I am.
Jr. Deacon: (your name) Do you believe in one Divine Creator of all that is whom we in Masonry call the Grand Architect of the Universe?
You: Yes, I do.
[The Junior Deacon waits to receive a positive response from you and then knocks on the door to the Lodge three times. You hear voices coming from the other side of the door.]
Sr. Deacon: Master of the Lodge, there is an alarm at the door.
Master: Brother/Sister Senior Deacon, you will attend to the alarm and ascertain it's cause.
[The door opens and a woman/man wearing suitable attire stands in the doorway.]
Sr. Deacon: Sister/Brother Junior Deacon, why do you raise the alarm?
Jr. Deacon: Brother/Sister Senior Deacon, I raise this alarm because (your name) wishes to become a Candidate for Masonic Degrees in order to decide whether to become a Mason or not.
Sr. Deacon: (your name) Do you make this request of your own free will?
You: [prompted by Jr. Deacon] Yes, I do.
Sr. Deacon: (your name) Are you of lawful age and willing to work to attain your goal?
You: [prompted by Jr. Deacon] Yes, I am.
Sr. Deacon: (your name) Do you believe in one Divine Creator of all that is whom we in Masonry call the Grand Architect of the Universe?
You: [prompted by the Jr. Deacon] Yes, I do.
Sr. Deacon: Please wait with patience while the Master of the Lodge is informed of your request.
[The Senior Deacon closes the door. You hear voices from the other side.]
Sr. Deacon: Master, the alarm was caused by (your name) who desires to become a Candidate for Masonic Degrees in order to decide whether to become a Mason or not.
[Master] : Has (your name) answered the questions in the affirmative?
Sr. Deacon: She/He has.
[Master] : Then let (your name) be admitted into this Lodge of Masons and be instructed in our ways.
[You hear a shuffling of feet. The door opens wide.]
Sr. Deacon: It is the order of the Master of the Lodge that you be admitted into this Lodge and be instructed in our ways.
[The Senior Deacon takes you by the arm and leads you into the Lodge directly to the altar. The Junior Deacon steps inside the room, closes the door, walks to his/her place near the main door to the Lodge and is seated.]
Sr. Deacon: Master of the Lodge it gives me pleasure to introduce to you and the members of Acacia Lodge No. 1 Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons, (your name) who desires to become a Candidate for Masonic Degrees in order to decide whether to become a Mason or not.
[The Master of the Lodge stands, picks up his/her gavel in his/her left hand and walks directly across the floor to you.]
Master: (your name) [extending her/his right hand as a gesture of friendship] I welcome you to this Lodge of Esoteric Masons and offer you my hand in friendship. No matter what decision you make, whether you become an Esoteric Mason or not, I want you to know my hand, and the hand of every Mason here, is always extended to you in friendship. Sister/Brother Senior Deacon, please instruct the Candidate in the usual manner.
[The Master of the Lodge returns to the east and is seated. The Senior Deacon leads you to a place located between the Senior Warden in the west and the door to the Lodge. Here is seated the Junior Deacon whom you have already met. The Jr. Deacon rises as you approach.]
Sr. Deacon: Brother/Sister Junior Deacon, it is the desire of the Master of the Lodge that you instruct (your name) as to your duty in the Lodge.
Jr. Deacon: (your name) [extending his/her right hand as a gesture of friendship] I am the Junior Deacon of this Lodge as you already know. It is my duty to answer alarms at the door, to see that the Lodge is properly protected and to serve as Messenger between the officers of the Lodge. I serve according to the wishes of the Master of the Lodge. I am also available to present Masonic lessons, lectures, and instruction according to the wishes of the Master of the Lodge and to assist a Brother or Sister Master Mason in any possible way to the best of my ability. My place in the Lodge is here beside the main entrance to the Lodge and the Senior Warden in the west. Esoterically I represent your Guardian Angel who serves you on behalf of the Grand Architect of the Universe. My esoteric duty is to teach you how to protect yourself with the aid of your Guardian Angel.
[The Junior Deacon is seated. The Sr. Deacon leads you to the empty chair north and east of the Altar.]
Sr. Deacon: (your name) I am the Senior Deacon and this is my place in this Lodge. It is my duty to conduct all Candidates on their journey through each degree of Masonry, to attend to the Altar and lead the Lodge in prayer. I serve according to the wishes of the Master of the Lodge. I am also available to present Masonic lessons, lectures, and instruction according to the wishes of the Master of the Lodge and to assist a Brother or Sister Master Mason in any possible way to the best of my ability. My place is here north of the altar, near the Master of the Lodge in the east. Esoterically, I represent your spiritual guides. My esoteric duty is to teach you how to initiate communication with your spiritual guides and improve yourself through Esoteric Freemasonry.
[The Senior Deacon leads you to the station of the Junior Warden in the south. The Junior Warden arises as you approach.]
Sr. Deacon: Brother/Sister Junior Warden, it is the desire of the Master of the Lodge that you instruct (your name) as to your duty in the Lodge.
Jr. Warden: (your name) [extending her/his right hand as a gesture of friendship] I am the Junior Warden of this Lodge. It is my duty to manage and protect the property of this Lodge, to keep everything in good repair and in suitable condition. I am also the communications officer of the Lodge responsible for correspondence and record keeping. I serve according to the wishes of the Master of the Lodge. I am also available to present Masonic lessons, lectures, and instruction according to the wishes of the Master of the Lodge and to assist a Brother or Sister Master Mason in any possible way to the best of my ability. My station is in the south emblematic of the World of Fire of which you will learn much as you pass through the Masonic degrees. Esoterically I represent your Ego tied down to the management and protection of your mind, body and personal affairs and yet seeking communion with the Grand Architect of the Universe. My esoteric duty is to teach you how to achieve the first alchemical marriage by improving yourself through Masonry.
[The Junior Warden is seated. The Senior Deacon leads you to the station of the Senior Warden in the west. The Senior Warden arises as you approach.]
Sr. Deacon: Sister/Brother Senior Warden, it is the desire of the Master of the Lodge that you instruct (your name) as to your duty in the Lodge.
Sr. Warden: (your name)
[extending her/his right hand as a gesture of friendship]
I am the Senior Warden
of this Lodge. It is my duty to see that all Master Masons have an
opportunity to participate in the activities of this Lodge and serve as our
morale officer. I am the financial officer of the Lodge and I handle all the
financial affairs of the Lodge. I serve according to the wishes of the
Master of the Lodge. I am also available to present Masonic lessons,
lectures, and instruction according to the wishes of the Master of the Lodge and
to assist a Brother or Sister Master Mason in any possible way to the best of my
ability. My station is in the west
emblematic of the World of Water of which you will learn much as you pass
through the Masonic degrees. Esoterically I represent your Soul aspiring
for enlightenment and seeking communion with the Grand Architect of the
Universe. My esoteric duty is to teach you how to achieve the second
alchemical marriage by continuing to improve yourself through Masonry.
[The Senior Warden is seated. The Senior Deacon leads you to the altar.]
Sr. Deacon: (your name), you see before you the altar of Freemasonry upon which is placed the symbols of Masonry; a Holy Book according to your faith and the Square and Compasses. Around the altar you see the representatives of the three great lights of Masonry, the Sun, the Moon and the Master of the Lodge. This Altar is the Holy of Holies in this Lodge and it represents your personal Holy of Holies which resides in the center of your Temple. This Lodge represents your Temple and it is here in the Holy of Holies of your Temple where you will learn to improve yourself through Esoteric Freemasonry.
The Master of the Lodge in the east is the chief executive officer of this Lodge. It is the Master's duty to lead the members of the Lodge according to the grand plan of the Grand Architect of the Universe. The station of the Master of the Lodge is in the east emblematic of the World of Air where the archetypes of all that is created reside and of which you will learn much as you pass through the Masonic degrees. Esoterically, the Master of the Lodge represents your Guiding Spirit which leads you on your spiritual journey according to the grand plan of the Grand Architect of the Universe. The Master's duty is to teach you how to achieve the third alchemical marriage by continuing to improve yourself through Masonry. [Looking from you to the east] Master of the Lodge, the Candidate has been fully instructed about this Lodge in the usual manner.
Master: It is well. (your name), please be seated. The lecture for this degree will be given by brother/sister [name of Lecturer]. [The Senior Deacon returns to his or her place and the Lecturer comes to stand in front of you.]
[ Candidate Index ]