n shaking hands, and each sticks his thumb nail into the third
joint or upper end of the forefinger; the name of the grip is BOAZ,
and is to be given in the following manner and no other: The Master
gives the grip and word, and divides it for the instruction of the
candidate; the questions are as follows: The Master and candidate
holding each other by the grip as before described, the Master says,
"What is this?" Candidate--"A grip." Master "A grip of what?"
Candidate--"The grip of an Entered Apprentice Mason." Master--"Has it
a name?" Candidate--"It has." Master--"Will you give it to me?"
Candidate--"I did not so receive it, neither can I so impart it."
Master--"What will you do with it?" Candidate--"Letter it, or halve
it." Master--"Halve it and begin." Candidate--"You begin."
Master--"Begin you." Candidate--"BO." Master--"AZ." Candidate--"BOAZ."
Master says, "Right, Brother BOAZ, I greet you. It is the name of the
left hand pillar of the porch of King Solomon's Temple--arise, Brother
Boaz, and salute the Junior and Senior Wardens as such, and convince
them that you have been regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice
Mason, and have got the sign, grip, and word." The Master returns to
his seat, while the Wardens are examining the candidate, and gets a
lamb-skin or white apron, presents it to the candidate and observes,
"Brother, I now present you with a lamb-skin, or white apron; it is an
emblem of innocence, and the badge of a Mason; it has been worn by
kings, princes, and potentates of the earth, who have never been
ashamed to wear it; it is more honorable than the diamonds of kings,
or pearls of princesses, when worthily worn; it is more ancient than
the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle; more honorable than the Star and
Garter, or any other order that can be conferred upon you at this or
any other time, except it be in the body of a just and fully
constituted Lodge; you will carry it to the Senior Warden in the West,
who will teach you how to wear it as an Entered Apprentice Mason." The
Senior Warden ties the apron on, and turns up the flap, instead of
letting it fall down in front of the apron. This is the way Entered
Apprentice Masons wear, or ought to wear, their aprons until they are
advanced. The candidate is now conducted to the Master in the East,
who says, "Brother, as you are dressed, it is necessary you should
have tools to work with; I will now present you with the working tools
of an Entered Apprentice Ma