THE ENTERED
APPRENTICE
WHO COMES HERE? A poor fellow-man walking a lonely road, footsore and weary, hoodwinked by
the darkness of the world, and held by a tether to the earth as a child to its mother. Free-born yet not free,
save in my will to seek the light, feebly I grope my way, oppressed by dread; I fear to god, yet dare not stay,
lest I die without ever having lived. Through scenes unknown I journey in a shadow land, losing my way but
for the touch of a brother-hand.
WHENCE CAME YOU? Thou askest what I seek to know, not having learned the import of my days and
years, whence I came or wither bound. A pilgrim, I humbly follow whither I am led, trusting a hand to lead me
in a I know not nor can see. Yet am I troubled by a dim dream of a city four-square, and a Temple vast and
white , in which wanderers are welcomed and seekers find light. Lead me thither where I seek to go, and
in wisdom show the way.
IN WHOM DO YOU TRUST? In God over all, within all, everywhere and everlasting, the Master Builder
of a city that has foundations, in whose great Hand we stand. He hath made us and not we ourselves; in His
law is our life, in his will our peace. Other foundation can no man lay than that, laid in his righteousness.
Eternal God! guide me through this night, guard me with Thy might, and lead me step by step, into the
Light.
WHY CAME YOU HERE? To seek the good that makes us Men and the Love that makes us Brothers;
to build my life on simple faith and the eternal law of right; to learn the Truth which none may learn
for another and no one may learn alone; to do justly by the square, to walk uprightly upon the Level by
the Plumb, within the Compass of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth, a brother and a builder in love
of man and the service of God.