m." The Junior
Deacon then asks, "Is it of his own free will and accord he makes this
request? Is he duly and truly prepared? Worthy and well qualified? And
properly avouched for?" All of which being answered in the
affirmative, the Junior Deacon says to the Senior Deacon, "By what
further right does he expect to obtain this benefit?" The Senior
Deacon replies, "By being a man, free born, of lawful age, and under
the tongue of good report." The Junior Deacon then says, "Since this
is the case you will wait till the Worshipful Master in the East is
made acquainted with his request, and his answer returned." The Junior
Deacon repairs to the Master, when the same questions are asked, and
answers returned as at the door; after which the Master says, "Since
he comes endowed with all these necessary qualifications, let him
enter this worshipful Lodge in the name of the Lord, and take heed on
what he enters." The candidate then enters, the Junior Deacon at the
same time pressing his naked left breast with the point of the
compass, and asks the candidate, "Did you feel anything?" ANS.--"I
did." Junior Deacon to the candidate, "What was it?" ANS.--"A
torture." The Junior Deacon then says, "As this is a torture to your
flesh, so may it ever be to your mind and conscience, if ever you
should attempt to reveal the secrets of Masonry unlawfully." The
candidate is then conducted to the centre of the Lodge, where he and
the Senior Deacon kneel, and the Deacon says the following prayer:

"Vouchsafe Thine aid, Almighty Father of the Universe, to this, our
present convention; and grant that this candidate for Masonry may
dedicate and devote his life to Thy service, and become a true and
faithful brother among us! Endue him with a competency of Thy divine
wisdom, that by the secrets of our art, he may be the better enabled
to display the beauties of holiness, to the honor of Thy holy name. So
mote it be. Amen!"

The Master then asks the candidate, "In whom do you put your trust?"
The candidate answers, "In God." The Master then takes him by the
right hand, and says, "Since in God you put your trust, arise, follow
your leader, and fear no danger." The Senior Deacon then conducts the
candidate three times regularly around the Lodge and halts at the
Junior Warden in the South, where the same questions are asked, and
answers returned as at the door.

As the candidate and the conductor are going around the room, the
Master reads the follow