Independent Order of Workingmen
Ritual of the Third, or Friendship Degree
Candidate will be in charge of Conductor and be blindfolded. Five raps upon
the door; same number of raps returned.
1876
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.