Independent Order of Workingmen
Ritual of the Third, or Friendship Degree


1876


Candidate will be in charge of Conductor and be blindfolded. Five raps upon the door; same number of raps returned.
I.G.:
An alarm, Worthy Vice President.
V.P.:
Attend and learn who is there.
The Inside Guardian opens the door and says:
I.G.:
Who comes there?
CON.:
A brother of the Master Workman’s Degree who desires to become enlightened in and receive the benefits of Friendship Degree.
I.G.:
By what right does he here expect to gain admittance?
CON.:
By the right that his knowledge and progress in all the previous work of this Order, step by step, to the door of this Lodge giveth him.
I.G.:
Has the brother claims upon this Lodge for admission?
CON.:
He has; the recommendations of his fellows of the Master Workman’s Degree.
I.G.:
What other claims can he present?
CON.:
That of an honest man, who sustains the character of a gentleman, and is well recommended for his sobriety, virtue and charity.
I.G.:
I will make known his request, and represent his claims to our Worthy President, and return with his decision.
V.P.:
Worthy President, a brother without who desires to become enlightened in and receive the benefits of this Lodge and the Friendship Degree.
P.:
What claims does the brother present that will enable him to receive the benefits he desires?
V.P.:
That he has labored diligently, thereby acquired sufficient knowledge of the work of our Order; and being well recommended by his fellows of the Master Workman’s Degree.
P.:
has he no other claims to present?
V.P.:
He has; that of an honest man, who sustains the character of a gentleman, and is well recommended for his sobriety, virtue and charity.
P.:
Since he comes with all these important qualifications, let him be admitted.
V.P.:
Admit the applicant.
The Inside Guardian opens the door and says:
I.G.:
By direction of the Worthy President the brother’s request is granted. He can now enter and receive instructions in this Degree.
Advances up left side of room to first sentinel.
FIRST SENTINEL:
Who comes here?
CON.:
A brother, who has the permission of the President to enter this Lodge and receive further instruction in the work of the Order.
FIRST SENTINEL:
How can I know you to be a brother?
CON.:
By proving me in the work of the Workman’s Degree.
FIRST SENTINEL:
Give me the Pass-word.
Conductor gives the sentinel the pass-word in a whisper.
FIRST SENTINEL:
Pass on, my brother, the word is right. May the true friendship of all good brothers be your happy lot.
SECOND SENTINEL:
Who comes here?
CON.:
A brother, who has the permission of the President to enter this Lodge and receive further instruction in the work of this Degree.
SECOND SENTINEL:
How can I know you to be a brother?
CON.:
By proving me.
SECOND SENTINEL:
In what Degree?
CON.:
In the Master’s Degree.
SECOND SENTINEL:
Then advance and give the Pass-word.
Conductor gives the Sentinel the Pass-word in whisper.
SECOND SENTINEL:
The word is right, pass on, my brother, and take thus trusty weapon in thy hand, and may you safely reach the end of the way to Friendship Lodge.
A noise, a struggle, a fall, all made in rear of Candidate, a groan, and the Candidate is brought facing the scene, the blind raised, a person passes quickly by and looks on the prostrate form, then another passes by, looks on the fallen man, and quickly passes on, then the prostrate man raises partly up with difficulty, then gives the words which are the sign of distress; a brother comes quick from one point, and another from the opposite point, and render needed assistance and help into the ante-room; then the Chaplain or some other person repeats the narrative of the Good Samaritan, at the same time the blind is put down, and the Conductor with the Candidate proceed to the altar and the President.
CON.:
Worthy President, I present this brother for further instruction in the rites of this Degree.
P.:
My brother, you will now kneel at the altar, place your right hand upon the Holy Bible, and your left hand will support a master Workman’s level; in which position you will receive the obligation of the Third or Friendship Degree of the Independent Order of Workingmen.
I, …, of my own free will and accord, do hereby and hereon, in the presence of Almighty God, and the brothers here present, most solemnly promise, declare and say, that I will be true and faithful to every brother of this Friendship Degree, that I will not wrong a brother or see him wronged, if in my power to prevent the same, that I will answer all signs of a brother in distress, if in my power to do so. I further promise and declare, that I will always conceal, and never reveal, to any person not legally entitled to the same, any part or parts, of the secret works or signs, of this Friendship Degree; that I will not write, cut, carve or engrave it, or cause it to be done, least any part thereof should be made known, unless it to be a brother of this Degree, knowing him to be such by strict examination, or upon the word of a vrother, or the Friendship Degree, or in the lawful discharge of official duties, in the work of this Degree.
All this I promise to do, upon my most sacred honor, so help me God and keep me faithful. Amen.
All say:
Amen.
President takes Candidate by the right hand: Arise, my brother, and be restored to the light of your natural vision, and receive further light in the work of this Degree. 1. Enter Sign; 2. Salutation; 3. Grip; 4. Pass-word.
P.:
Brother Conductor, please introduce our brother to our Worthy Chaplain for further explanation and instruction.
CON.:
Worthy Chaplain, by order of the Worthy President I now introduce brother … for further explanation in this Degree.
CHAP.:
My brother, I congratulate you upon your advancement to this Degree of Friendship in our beloved Order. It is one of the primary objects in the teachings of this Order, to show that Labor is honourable, and that laborers as such should qualify themselves to meet and associate upon a common level of a high moral standard, and this Friendship Degree is the attainment of that object.
Upon entering this Lodge, you soon came to a sentinel, who, as a faithful guardian, required you to prove to him that you were entitled to pass beyond him; when found correct, he kindly bade you pass, with his friendly wishes for your happy lot. You then came to the second sentinel, who in like manner bade you pass on, when found correct, not forgetting to provide you means of defense, should a foe intercept your pathway; you were then brought to view a scene illustrating a remarkable instance of practical friendship and neighbourly kindness, (taken from the teachings of Christ, whose precepts, like the illustration, He introduced to elucidate them, are faultless). Should you, like the Good Samaritan, ever find your brother in peril, "go thou and do likewise." These ceremonies are designed to illustrate practical friendship and the legitimate workings of our Order.
My brother, there cannot exist the feelings of true friendship without confidence, and no confidence without integrity. Friendship is personal attachment, and develops itself in acts of amicable assistance and kindly aid. Friendship, like Charity, suffereth long and is kind. Let us carefully cultivate the heaven-born principle, Charity. It is the foundation of our most exalted virtue, the brightest jewel of manhood’s diadem; without it our fraternal love is but selfishness, our benevolence, heartless hypocrisy; our friendship, miserable duplicity, and our humanity a mere iceberg on the ocean of time. We should ever remember our mutual pledge, to assist each other in times of peril come quick to aid. We should ever be careful of our brothers’ good name and reputation. Let us be slow to believe evil of our fellows. We cannot always judge by results, and therefore should not determine the right or the wrong by issues of failure or success, nor count a man more evil because he is more unfortunate. Ever keep in mind the Golden Rule to "Do unto others as we wish them to do unto us."
My brother, in token of our cordial reception, and fraternal regard, I extend to you the hand of Friendship, hoping that the ties, that now bind us may never be broken, and when summoned away from all the relations of an earthly nature, we shall unite in holier ties and more perfect friendship in the spirit land.
All the brothers pass along and give the hand of Friendship.


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