The Lodge room of the operatives was different than the Lodges of today.  There were three Masters.  They sat in the west so they could see the rising sun.  The Junior Warden sat in the north so that he could see the sun at its meridian height, and the Senior Warden sat in the east so that he could see the setting sun. The altar was in the center of the Lodge and over it was suspended the letter G with a rough Ashlar sitting on the east side. There were three deacons in the Lodge, one for the three Masters and one for each Warden.

       Inside the porch, the candidate was divested of all money and hoodwinked.  Three men would then come out of the Lodge, remove is clothes, and dirty him with mud.  A doctor then arrived, removed the hoodwink, and instructed the candidate to “wash and be clean”.  A bath is made ready and the candidate bathes.  He was instructed to dip seven times in the bath.  Following the bathing, the doctor examined the candidate and reported back to the Lodge that he was “perfect in all his parts”.  He was then elected by what the operatives called the “clean hand sign”.  He was clothed in a white cloak.  (the word “candidate” literally mean “I am white”)  The candidate was again hoodwinked and a blue cord was looped around his neck, held by a man in front and a man behind, and a second blue cord was wrapped around his waist, held by a man on each side.  The neck cord being longer than the waist cord, the four men formed a diamond, with the candidate in he center.  This diamond had a reference to operative Masonry and the candidate and his four attendants made “five points”, which has another reference to operative methods.

      The candidate was now conducted to the inner door where a sword was held to his naked left breast so as to draw blood.  He was admitted and led to the N. E. corner.  Here a series of interrogatories were asked: What age are you?  What is your character? What is your knowledge? Where have you been working? Have you ever been a member of any Guild before?  Do you swear you have never been expelled, discharges or “run away” from any work? 

       He was then asked “In all cases of difficulty and danger, in whom do you put your trust”?  His answer was “In El Shaddai is all my trust”.  He was ordered to arise and it was announced, “Brothers in the East, South, West and North will take notice that _______ is about to pass before you.”  The candidate was then asked if he could see anything.  He replied no and the hoodwink was slightly raised so that by bending his head a little forward he was able to see his own feet and a couple of feet in front of them.  He was then cautioned to keep strictly to the track or tessellated border and once led once around it.  He was to carefully put one foot in front of the other, toe to heel, and so on.  This was referred to as “end on work” or “work in line”.  The candidate was required to make this trek correctly without getting off the border.  After all, as operative Masons they would be working in high places and having to walk on beams and other high placed braces to get from place to place.  From the N.E. corner he went to the S.E., then to the S.W., then to the N.W.  Upon arriving in the North at the station of the J.W., his progress was barred. On due report, the bar was raised and the candidate proceeded to the station of he S.W. On due report, a strip of scarlet colored cloth was laid down which led to the rough Ashlar on the east side of the altar so that the candidate did not step on the Mosaic Pavement as he was led to the stone.   He then kneeled on the stone, on both bare knees, with his left hand supporting the Holy Bible, and his right hand resting thereon.  He then took the following oath or obligation:

I, ______, do in the presence of El Shaddai and of this worshipful assembly of Freemasons, Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers, and Brick layers, promise and declare that I will not at any time hereafter, by an act or circumstance whatsoever, directly or indirectly, write, print, cut, mark, publish, discover, reveal, or make known any part of parts of the trade secrets, privileges, or councils of the Worshipful Fraternity or Fellowship of Freemasonry, which I may have known at any time, or at any time hereafter shall be made known unto me.  The penalty for breaking the great oath shall be the loss of my life.  That I shall be branded with the mark of a traitor and slain according to ancient customs by being throatalled  and my body unburied so that my soul have no rest by night or day.  Given under my hand and sealed with my lips.  So help me El Shaddai and the holy contents of this book.

      After taking the oath, a large seal of soft wax was placed on the Bible and an impression of his lips made in the wax. Once this was completed, the Master said to the Deacons “Give light that he may place his hand to the bond”.  The new apprentice was then legally bonded to a Master with the Deacons being the official keeps of this legal document.

      The candidate was then assisted to rise with the words, “ Rise, apprentice of the Craft of Freemasons” and was invested with grip and word.  The grip was the same as used in today’s Lodges except that it must be covered when being given.  The word was “Jabal”  Then the following charge was given:

      

 

       Following the charge, the apprentice was taken back to the NE corner where he was asked how he was going to live until he draws his first week’s money. If he says he is poor, then he is taken before the Master’s where they crave charity on his behalf.  If he has money, no collection is made. He was actually presented working tools, a small maul, chisel, and straight edge and an apron to protect his clothing. He was finally presented with a blue neck cord as a sign that he was an apprentice and he served 7 years in that position.

      You shall truly honor El Shaddai, and his holy church, the King, your Master, and Warden; you shall not absent yourself, but with the license of one or both of them from their service, by day or by night.

      You shall not purloin or steal, or be privy or accessory to the purloining or stealing of the value of six pence from them.

      You shall not commit adultery or fornication in the house of your Master, with his wife, daughter, or maid.

      You shall not disclose your Master’s or Warden’s secrets or councils, which they have been reported to you.

      You shall not maintain an disobedient argument with your Master, Warden, or any Freemason.

      You shall reverently behave yourself toward all Freemasons, using neither cards, dice, nor any other unlawful games, Christmas time excepted.

      You shall not haunt or frequent any taverns or alehouses, or so much as to go inside any of them, except it be your Master’s or your Warden’s , with their or with one of their consents.

      You shall not commit adultery or fornication in the any man’s house where you shall be at table or work

      You shall not marry, or contract yourself to any woman during your apprenticeship.

      You shall not steal any man’s goods, but especially your Master’s or any of his fellow Masons, nor suffer any to steal their goods, but shall hinder the felon if you can.