You have entered into a New World, a new way of looking at life. You have made your first step into Freemasonry!

The Degree you have just received is that of Entered Apprentice. Traditionally, in the days when Masons were actual workers in stone, the Entered Apprentice represented the young man who was just beginning his career. He apprenticed himself to a Master Mason, who taught him the basics of the trade. In return, the young man did much of the manual labor, learned the rudiments of masonry, and was for all practical purposes, a bondsman for seven years. At the end of that time the young Mason became a Fellow of the Craft, or Fellowcraft, and was then able to work for wages.

Symbolically, you have done the same. You are now at the learning stage, the point where everything is new and unfamiliar.

In speculative, or symbolic Masonry, the Entered Apprentice represents Youth. In his full physical strength, he is as yet untried and unproven. He has much to learn and much to do before he can progress in his trade.

The Degrees of Masonry represent a man’s journey through life. The Entered Apprentice Degree represents the physical side of a man yet to be tempered by enhancing his mind in the Fellowcraft Degree and finally, spiritually, in the Master Mason Degree.

In a way, the Masonic ritual represents the rebirth of man. He begins in a State of darkness, and only through the aid of another can he begin to progress. He follows the route of the sun (from East to West) and, through preparation, begins to educate himself for the work God and man have laid out before him.

In its long experience Masonry has established many things that go beyond the realm of experiment and mere opinion. Among these is the fact that your appreciation of Masonry will increase with your understanding of its history, its symbolism and philosophy, its worldwide character, its high ethical standards, and the ideal of genuine Brotherhood fostered and generated among its multitude of members.

Much of the symbolism and language, through which the Degree was revealed, is strange to you. You are perhaps mystified, not wholly grasping the implications of all you have seen or heard. It is important that you be provided adequate interpretations of the meaning of the Degree, as well as instructions in your new responsibilities in order to prepare you to venture into the next Degree, that of Fellowcraft. Your mentor, in conjunction the following booklets, will guide you adequately in this task.