Order of American Farmers and Mechanics
Ritual of the First Degree

1875

Opening of the Castle

The C.M.A. gives one rap with his mallet and says: The Officers of the Castle will take their respective stations, and the members will come to order. All who are not members of the Order will please retire.
All take their stations and perfect order is maintained.
C.M.A.: Bro. J.S., where is your station?
J.S.: Within the hall; and at the inner door of entrance of our Castle.
C.M.A.: What is your duty?
J.S.: To see that the Sentinel is at his post; and that the Castle is duly guarded.
C.M.A.: Where is the post of the Sentinel?
J.S.: On, and about, the ramparts of the Castle.
C.M.A.: What is his duty?
J.S.: To watch, to give notice, and welcome, on the appearance of friends; and to alarm the Castle on the appearance of enemies.
C.M.A.: Bro. Jun. Steward! You will see that the Sentinel is at his post, and that the Castle is duly guarded!
He does so and reports:
Jun.S.: Worthy Chief Master Artizan, The Sentinel is at his post and the Castle is duly guarded.
C.M.A.: It is well, my Brother. Be seated.
This ceremony takes place at the opening and closing of each degree, the language being made applicable to the Castle of Industry, to that degree.
C.M.A.: Friend Chief Farmer, are all here assembled members of our beneficent Order?
C.F.: Not knowing, I will inquire of the Stewards and report. Brother Stewards, you will observe if all present are members of the Order of American Farmers and Mechanics, and collect from each the Password of this degree.
The Stewards pass through the Hall, and their respective sides examining, and if all are recognized as members and give the Pass, they report to the C.F. through S.S.
S.S.: All present are members of our Order.
If any be present who are not known as members and cannot be vouched for by known members present, they are asked to, and do retire, before the report is made by the S.S.
C.F.: Chief Master Artizan, all present are members of our Order.
C.M.A.: What is the password of this degree?
C.F.: ….
C.M.A.: What is the object of our Order?
C.F.: Mutual protection against great wrongs of every kind and nature; mutual protection against the oppressions of monopolies, and against tyrannies of all kinds; for the promotion of friendly social intercourse, and for mutual support and comfort among the evils attendant upon human life.
C.M.A.: Where do we meet, my Brother?
C.F.: In the home-like Castle of our Order.
C.M.A.: What floats from the top of our Castle?
C.F.: The flag of our country.
C.M.A.: What does our flag denote?
C.F.: Every earthly good which can be conferred on humanity.
C.M.A.: Does it at all times protect the good alone?
C.F.: It does not; for monopolies and bad men have disgraced it, and have dragged it down to protection of their frauds and corruption.
C.M.A.: How can such wrongs be prevented?
C.F.: By the masses of the people uniting for that common and noble purpose; and by showing the strength of their united power, as taught us by the bundle of rods.
C.M.A.: With such unity, can our Castle be taken by foes from without?
C.F.: It can not; from without it is impregnable; none but traitors from within, can harm us.
C.M.A.: Why is our Castle impregnable?
C.F.: Because foundations are laid deep in the hearts of the people; who, within our Castle, are bound together by bands which are stronger than iron.
C.M.A. * * *, all rise.: Friends! You will together give the sign of this degree.
The sign is given by all.
C.M.A.: Before declaring this body open and ready for business, let us invoke the blessing of "Him who gathereth the heavens together as a scroll, and sustaineth the earth in the hollow of His hand," and yet, who heedeth the young ravens when they cry.
All bow heads.
 

Prayer
 
Supreme Architect of the Universe, and giver of every good; we ask Thy blessing on this convocation. Grant that the members here present may be imbued with wisdom from the great source of intelligence; and that all that may be done at this meeting, may result in good. Wilt Thou point out the way, and direct the steps of each of us; so that at the close of our meeting, all may feel that "it is good to be here;" and the honor shall be Thine forever. Amen.
Response by all: Amen.
C.M.A.: I now declare this Castle of the Order of American farmers and Mechanics, open and in order for business. The Junior Steward will inform the Sentinel; and the Secretary will read the proceedings of the last regular and degree meeting.
 
 
Initiation
 
The business being finished, the conferring of the first degree is in order. The candidates being in the ante-room, with the J.S. or appointed assistants. Two raps on the door of the ante-room give notice to the Castle.
S.S.: Chief Master Artizan, candidates for initiation have alarmed the Castle.
C.M.A.: You will retire to the ante-room, together with the Secretary, who will receive the fee; and you will propound the necessary questions, and return to the Castle and report.
On retiring, and also on entering an open Castle, all members pass to near the center of the room in rear of the table and facing the C.M.A. salute him with the sign of the degree, and a graceful wave of the hand &c., passing it from near the forehead off to the right. The S.S. and Sec. salute, and retire.
In the ante-room the Sec. collects the fee from each candidate and returns. The S.S. propounds to the candidate the following questions:
S.S.: Do you and each of you solemnly declare upon your sacred honor that you voluntarily, and of your own desire, present yourselves as candidates for the mysteries of the Order of American Farmers and Mechanics?
Each Candidate: I do.
S.S.: Do you promise upon your sacred honor, to comply with all its rules? To forever withhold its secrets from every person who has not been initiated within its halls? To keep ever inviolate its secret signs and words? And that you will recommend no person for initiation within its sacred portals except those whom you sincerely believe to be honorable, worthy, and good citizens, and will be true to the objects and principles of our Order?
Each Candidate: I do.
S.S.: With this solemn assurance on your part, I will communicate your desire to the C.M.A., and the members of our Order assembled in the Castle; and his and their pleasure shall be returned to you.
S.S. enters the hall, closes the door, and gives one rap on it, which the J.S. or assistant returns. He then passes to the proper place, and salutes.
S.S.: C.M.A. Several worthy persons giving the names of all, who have duly petitioned this beneficent body of A.F. & M. for initiation into its noble mysteries, are now without, and pray for present initiation.
C.M.A.: Members of the Castle! You have heard the report of our worthy S.S. What is your pleasure?
Notwithstanding the candidates have petitioned, been balloted for and elected; a motion is made and seconded that "The request of the candidates be now granted." The question is put and carried by viva voce vote, but seven negative votes reject any candidates even here.
C.M.A.: Bro. S.S., you will retire and inform the candidates, that it is the pleasure of the Order that they be admitted within the hall of our noble Castle and initiated into the solemn mysteries of our beneficent Order.
The S.S. returns to the door; gives one rap; opens the door and says:
S.S.: It is the pleasure of the members that you be admitted within the hall of our noble Castle; and that you be initiated into the solemn mysteries of our beneficent Order.
They are then admitted within the door and halted in front of the suspended bow or arch, on each side of which are inscribed the words "Sincerity, Truth and Justice."
S.S.: Upon your first admission within our Castle hall, which is intended to be sacred to noble impulses and the generous acts, I call your attention to the bow above us, on which are inscribed the names of the principal foundation stones on which our solid structure stands; namely Sincerity, Truth and Justice, for these should be, at the foundation of all human action. These three are united by the Godlike attribute called Love, which crowns the arch of human life, and joins our hearts as one. May you, my friends, ever be sincere in all you say and do; truthful in all your words and acts; and just to all persons and to yourselves; and may the unsullied crown of pure and perfect love be yours, until you are called to your home beyond the skies.
The candidates then advance two and two, around the hall and are formed in line at the opposite of the room from, and facing the C.M.A. Music on the organ or singing, should accompany the marching if convenient.
S.S.: Chief Master Artizan, Farmers and Mechanics of … Castle Number …, you see before you persons worthy and good, who in sincerity and truth desire to be free indeed; and to secure so noble an object, now ask to be initiated into the secret mysteries of our beneficent Order.
C.M.A. to candidates: Is this indeed your sincere desire?
Candidates: It is.
C.M.A., * * *, all members rise: To be free indeed is the gift of God alone, and perfect freedom can be maintained only by constant watchfulness and human exertions. God made all men free; and as Freedom is our birthright; the free gift of the great Author of our being, let us, at the very entrance of these portals pf Freedom, look to Him, and invoke His blessing upon our action at this time, and His aid in attaining the noble object which you seek.
All bow heads.
 

Prayer
 
Oh Thou who didst from nothing, call the universe, and who didst spread out the heavens as a span; Thou who didst mantle the earth with generous soil, and dost cause it to bring forth seeds, each after its kind; Thou who didst separate the sea from the dry land, and didst appoint to each, its supply of food for man; Thou who didst make man in miniature of Thyself; we Thy creatures look to Thee. Do Thou grant Thy presence and Thy blessing on this convocation of laboresr on Thine earth, and tillers of Thy soil. May these candidates for the mysteries of our Order, who are now in Thy presence, be Sincere, and Truthful, and Just, in all their thoughts, and words, and actions. May they be filled with a love of true wisdom, and with that perfect freedom which is Thy gift to all who will maintain it.
Enable them, heartily, and in all sincerity and truth, to unite their efforts with our own, that all may act as one, in breaking of the shackles of mammon of unrighteousness which now oppress this nation, and may they become shining lights in the firmament of true American freedom; and the honor for the establishment of our beneficent Order; and for every good which may result from it, and which may result from the labors of these candidates, and from our labors for the common good, shall be Thine forever. Amen.
All respond: Amen.
C.M.A., *: The workmen will resume their labors.
All are seated.
The candidates are conducted around the hall, music on organ or singing if practicable and are brought facing the C.M.A. to the center-table covered with the national flag, on which are laid the Declaration of American Independence and the Constitution of the United States.
S.S.: Chief M.A., the candidates are now before the altar of our Castle, and await you permission for further advancement in the mysteries of our beneficent Order.
C.M.A.: My friends! To proceed further, it will be necessary for you first, to give a solemn promise and declaration, in the presence of the great Searcher of all hearts and before these witnesses; which promise will, in no manner, conflict with your religious or political opinions, or with any duties, you owe to yourself, your family, your neighbor, or your God, but has reference to this Order, and to its objects alone. All others, present here, have made this promise, we believe in sincerity and truth; and with this assurance on behalf of the Order are you each willing to make such promise upon your sacred honor?
Each candidate: I am.
C.M.A.: You will then lay your right hand upon the Constitution, the Declaration of American Independence, and the Flag of our common country, which rest upon the altar before you, and I will administer to you the solemn pledge of our Order.
* * *.
 

Pledge
 
You, and each of you, in the presence of Him who searches all hearts, and of the witnesses here assembled; upon the Declaration of American Independence; the Constitution of our common country, and our national Flag, do most solemnly and sincerely promise and declare, that you will keep the secrets of the Order of American Farmers and Mechanics from all persons whatsoever who are not entitled to the same according to the rules and regulations of the Order. Do you so promise?
Each candidate: I do.
That you will recognize and respond the authority by which the Castle of the Order is constituted, and the rules, regulations and Order governing the same; together with the Constitution, laws, rules and regulations of the Grand Castle to which the same may be subordinate, and of the General Grand Castle of the Order in the United States; That you will obey all orders of the Chief Master Artizan of this Castle, which he may give you, and of the C.M.A. of any other Castle of the Order to which you may hereafter belong, together with all orders sent to you by his direction, over the hand of the Secretary and seal of the Castle if you can conscientiously obey such order, consistently with your duties: Do you promise this?
Each candidate: I do.
That you will not do any injustice or wrong, of any kind or nature whatsoever, to this or any other castle to which you may hereafter belong; nor to any member of this Order; nor permit the same to be done by others if it be in your power to prevent it. Do you promise this?
Each candidate: I do.
That you will aid the sick, the afflicted and distressed members of this Order wherever you may be, so far as you can, consistently with your duties to yourself and your family. Do you promise this?
Each candidate: I do.
That to the best of your ability you will oppose injustice and wrong at all proper times and in whatever garb they may appear; and that you will particularly oppose the wrongs and oppressions of all unjust monopolies, by every legal and honorable means. Do you promise this?
Each candidate: I do.
That you will use your influence at all proper and convenient times to control such monopolies, and their receipts; by the enactment of good, just and equal laws for the government of such monopolies and corporations, and for the equalizing and just regulations of the prices of freights, and the passenger travel, upon all lines of the railroads and steam boats, in all sections of the United States, where the same are or may hereafter be in use; and that you wikll encourage and sustain just laws which are inimical to the wrongs of all monopolies, and to all fraud and corruption, both in the State in which you reside, and throughout all the States of this nation. Do you promise this?
Each candidate: I do.
You do further promise and declare that you will not knowingly recommend, of vote for initiation, or admission, into this, or any other Castle of this Order to which you may hereafter belong, any professional gambler, libertine, grossly and notoriously immoral person, drunken, dishonest, criminal, malicious, or evilly disposed person; or any railroad president, director, stock holder, railroad stock or other stock gambler, superintendent, general agent, or free pass favorite, or spy, or any other confidential agent thereof; and that you will oppose to the admission of all such persons into this order, by all proper means to the extent of your ability. Do you promise all this?
Each candidate: I do.
You may then again replace your hands, and repeat after me, together, the final clause of our promise.
They do so.
All this I most solemnly, sincerely and truthfully promise and declare; and to maintain the same, I do hereby pledge my life, my fortune and my sacred honor, Amen.
Members respond: Amen.
After the pledge is administered, which is done, the C.M.A. standing in front of the table, he passes to his station, gives a rap, which seats the members, and coming forward presents to each candidate a small square stick, a foot long, and ¼ of an inch diameter and says: Upon your initiation into this most worthy and beneficent order, I desire to present you this small rod as a testimonial of my own regard, and of the interest of the members of this Castle in your future welfare. This little gift you will carry to the chief officers of the Castle, ask their explanation of its use, and follow their instructions. They know my work and will receive you.
Each takes a stick, and accompanied by the S.S. proceeds to the Farmer’s station; and forming in line before him, the S.S. gives one rap on the stand or pedestal. The Farmer rises and asks:
F.: Who are these who break in upon my quiet and disturb my thoughts? Are you emissaries of monopolies? Who, not satisfied with all the profits of my labors, have now come to steal my lands?
S.S.: We are not. We are lovers of justice, and we search after truth in all sincerity of heart. Instead of being enemies, we come to you by order of the C.M.A. of this Castle, who, a short time since, gave us these trifling presents, and bid us ask your interpretation of their meaning, and do with them as the chief officers should direct.
F.: Trifling presents do you call them? Our C.M.A. does not often make trifling gifts. They must be valuable. Let me see your presents.
Candidates present the sticks.
F., examining them reflectively: These do indeed seem small gifts for so prominent a personage to bestow. I admit it is a mystery. Yet I have no doubt these sticks may possess merits which I know nothing of. You may carry them to the Chief Farmer and perhaps his wisdom may axplain the mystery.
They go to the C.F.’s station, form as before and S.S. give a loud rap. C.F. rises hurriedly and exclaims:
C.F.: What! Here again! Are you the agents of those detestable monopolies; who not satisfied with all the profits of my labors and of my farm, seek to absorb the whole? To rob my children of their just inheritance, and make them pensioners upon your greed?
S.S.: We are not. We, too, detest oppression, injustice and wrong, from whatever source they spring. All feel the wrong which robs us of our money, of our means of livelihood. Pockets are very sensitive to wrongful touch. But we are your friends. We came to you by order of the C.M.A., to learn instruction from your wisdom and experience; and we now ask this of you in all sincerity and truth.
C.F.: What! Did the C.M.A. send you here? I beg your pardon for mistaking you for such bad characters; for agents of the common enemies of man or of our country; for agents of thieves protected by color of law. But what evidence do you bring to show me that you came by order of our great Artist.
S.S.: We have only these small rod, which he presented us. Presents them.
C.F.: Nothing is small in which he presents. These are enough. I know his works, though their objects are sometimes deeply hidden mysteries to me; yet as the blade of grass, which no human hand can counterfeit; as the beautiful flower, which no artist can copy; and as the majestic monarch of the wood─all point to the divine author of every good, so does each work of our C.M.A. points to its author, and to his labors for our common welfare. You may break the sticks.
They break them.
C.F.: What fragile things they are! And yet I do not doubt they were intended for some important use, which I cannot interpret. Take these broken parts to the master Mechanic, and ask who can repair your loss? And how it can be remedied?
They pass to the station of the M.M., form as before, and the S.S. gives one rap on the pedestal.
S.S.: Worthy M.M., we have been directed by the C.F. to call on you, and to ask you "who can repair our loss? And how can it be remedied?"
M.M.: What is your loss?
S.S.: These rods are broken.
M.M.: Well, why should you grieve for that?
S.S.: They were presented to us by the C.M.A., who directed us to carry them to the principal officers of the Castle for instruction; and on presenting them to the Chief Farmer, he ordered us to break them.
M.M.: And did you do so?
S.S.: Yes sir. Thoughtlessly, we did; for from his high position in the Castle, we supposed his order was for our good, and to teach us some important lesson.
M.M.: How often we fail to appreciate a good, until it is beyond our grasp. Show me the rods! Truly, these rods were presented you by our C.M.A. They were emblems of individual character, and in breaking them, your loss is great indeed. Who can repair a broken character? Or who can remedy a willful act or wrong? Can either of you make these little rods the perfect things they were before?
S.S.: We can not.
M.M.: Let this then teach you, henceforth not to act too hastily; and that character is as fragile as the rods which you wantonly broke. With your own character, and with the character of others placed in your hands, deal gently, justly and sincerely. The parts of these rods may be united indeed; and character may be redeemed; but the wound will yet remain, leaving traces often of pungent sorrow, and of wrong. You may united the parts of the rods; and as a deeper lesson may have been intended, you may pass on again to the C.M.A., and asking his pardon for your thoughtlessness, seek the hidden meaning of the broken rods.
The C.M.A. reads well, the following: I have seen burdens of my people, and I hated the works of their oppressors;
And I said in my wrath, ‘the wrath of my people, yea my wrath, shall be turned against their oppressors; and their oppressors shall be made to deal justly with my people, forever.’
For my people shall arise in their might, and shall give law unto their oppressors; and they shall rule their oppressors forever.
During the reading, if the hall can be carpeted, the candidates are permitted to pass once around the hall, and just at its close are halted in line, facing the C.M.A.; the S.S. always on the right of column.
S.S.: Chief Master Artizan! As you directed us, we called upon the other principal officers of the Castle, and have received instructions from them; but there seems a deeper meaning in the rods you gave, than they have imparted to us.
C.M.A.: Where are the rods?
S.S.: Chief Master Artizan! We humbly ask your pardon, for the light estimate we appear to have placed upon your gift; but the C.F. ordered us to break the rods, and thoughtlessly we broke them in his presence.
C.M.A.: So character is sometimes, thoughtlessly destroyed reflectingly. That they were fragile things I should have charged you. Well, return me the rods, and I will give you others in their place, and ask you to break them in my presence, and in the presence of all now assembled in this Castle.
They return the broken rods.
C.M.A.: I accept the broken rods, and now present you these, which, though separately, no stronger than the first, united, will defy a giant’s power. Take these united rods, and try your strength upon them, in presence of us all.
The rods are tied in a square bundle, and all the candidates and S.S. try to break them.
C.M.A.: Well, can you break the rods when joined?
S.S.: We can not.
C.M.A., continuing: No! you cannot break them. Singly, they are fragile things, but united, they are strong indeed. So may the weak ones of earth, by uniting their wisdom and their strength confound the things of the wise and set naught the oppressions of the heartless, the unjust, and the strong. Myriads of ants destroy the lion, and leave his bones alone, bleaching on the plains. How much more easily can thirty millions of united people, destroy the power of organized monopolies, and strip from them their vaunted, but ill gotten power.
Here seats are furnished the candidates, and the C.M.A. resumes.
C.M.A.: My friends! The simple ceremony through which you have just passed, is intended to impress upon your minds most valuable lessons. The single rod presented to you, is emblematical of your self; of the talent God has given you, and of the perfect character each of you should maintain through life. But this has been explained. Your breaking of the rod teaches, that, as by the combined efforts of your hands, the little rod was broken, so by the joint efforts of unjust men the people are oppressed, their spirits are broken, and the just reward for the labors of the hardy sons of toil, is taken from them. To day, from Maine to California; and from Washington Territory to Florida; all through the valley of the Mississippi; and in the rock bound basin beyond the Rocky Mountains, the cry of the masses of the people is heard against oppressions of wealthy monopolies. Farmers labor in the field; mechanics in their shops; operatives in factories; professional men in their offices; merchants behind their counters; and miners in the bowels of the earth; to glut the cormorant appetites of purse proud princes, who have been made rich through our free gifts; and who now cry scornfully to us, "Give Slaves! Give." Nor, unless we arrest them, will they be satisfied until the wealth of the entire nation is in their hands; and the masses of the American people, become their slaves indeed. Shall these things be? Will we, without one manly struggle, give up the noble inheritance of true freedom, bequeathed to us by our fathers; and become the abject slaves of a moneyed aristocracy, which sprang up in a day? A fungus produced from our carelessness and neglect? Will we, the descendants, and the adopted sons and daughters of revolutionary mothers and sires, be basely recreant to our sacred trusts, and bequeath to our children, slavery only, instead of the glorious boon of well regulated Liberty? No! no! let thirty millions answer no! Why once, to be a true American "was greater than a King." And once again I swear; Hear me ye spirits of the mighty dead who led the van at Bunker Hill; ye whose bones were bleached on Saratoga’s plains; and ye who crushed the British Lion’s power at Yorktown; once again, I swear; America’s sons shall be free; her daughters shall consort with Princes.
As each rod taken separately, was easily broken, so efforts of each individual of the entire nation, if exerted singly, may be broken by the power of unjust monopolies. But by uniting the efforts of individuals in each State, and acting as one through the nation, as the united rods resisted every attempt to break them, so the rank and file of the people combined as a unit, can defy the efforts of unjust power; can secure equity and justice, to themselves and to their children; and can give the law, to those unworthy servants, who have become their oppressors.
In conclusion, I congratulate you, my friends, upon becoming members of this most excellent and beneficent order. The main object of this society, is organization, for our mutual benefit, and instruction, and for the good of the people. For organized and determined resistance against wrong and injustice of all kinds; but more especially at this time against the oppressions of the gigantic monopolies which, like vultures over their prey, are now fattening on the life blood of the land. These, and all other wrongs, by united efforts on the part of the people, can be controlled. We, the people, gave them their wealth, and we can control it. Has not the Creator power to give law to the thing he created? We can control them! Our officers in the County, the State, and the Nation, are creatures of our making. They are our servants. We are their masters; and if they will not obey us, we will sweep them all, President, Cabinet, Congress, State Legislatures, and State and County dignitaries, from the positions they would corrupt and disgrace, and place honest and true citizens in their stead. There is virtue, among the people, and we can find honest, sincere, and candid men; men who are fixed and immovable, constant and unwavering, in favor of the right, and opposed to every corruption, injustice and wrong.
Remember, my friends, that "Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty." Let the admonitions of "the Father of his country," our glorious Washington, be ever present in your hearts; and be ever ready to maintain that perfect freedom which is consistent only with right, with good order in society, and with just and equal laws. That you, my friends, may be ever vigilant, and ever ready to maintain the right, and to crush the wrong, is the prayer of each member of this Castle. Amen.
All respond: Amen.
C.M.A.: My friends! I have already detained you long, but previous to your being seated as members of this Castle, I desire to present you with a token of my high regard, ans I ask you ever to keep and preserve it as such, and as a constant reminder of the high position you have assumed on this solemn occasion.─This simple envelope, contains a jewel; of inestimable worth; greater in value than gold; or diamonds, or other precious gems. This jewel, I present you freely; and I ask you, not here, but in the quiet of your home, and in your rooms to break the seal, take out the jewel, and ponder on its value. Let no one rob you of it. Be careful that you do not yourself, destroy it. Preserve it, even at the sacrifice of your life; and that by so doing, your children, and your children’s children may bless your memory forever, is the fervent prayer of the Chief Master Artizan.
You will now, if you desire to retain membership in this Castle, please advance to the Secretary’s desk and sign your name and correct age within the year, to the roll, after which you will receive the sign and password of the degree, be congratulated by the other members of the Castle, and be seated among them.
Recess.

Closing the Castle
 
The C.M.A. gives one rap with his mallet and says: The Officers of the Castle will take their respective stations, and the members will come to order. All who are not members of the Order will please retire.
All take their stations and perfect order is maintained.
C.M.A.: Bro. J.S., where is your station?
J.S.: Within the hall; and at the inner door of entrance of our Castle.
C.M.A.: What is your duty?
J.S.: To see that the Sentinel is at his post; and that the Castle is duly guarded.
C.M.A.: Where is the post of the Sentinel?
J.S.: On, and about, the ramparts of the Castle.
C.M.A.: What is his duty?
J.S.: To watch, to give notice, and welcome, on the appearance of friends; and to alarm the Castle on the appearance of enemies.
C.M.A.: Bro. Jun. Steward! You will see that the Sentinel is at his post, and that the Castle is duly guarded!
He does so and reports:
Jun.S.: Worthy Chief Master Artizan, The Sentinel is at his post and the Castle is duly guarded.
C.M.A.: It is well, my Brother. Be seated.
This ceremony takes place at the opening and closing of each degree, the language being made applicable to the Castle of Industry, to that degree.
C.M.A.: What is the password of this degree?
C.F.: ….
C.M.A.: What is the object of our Order?
C.F.: Mutual protection against great wrongs of every kind and nature; mutual protection against the oppressions of monopolies, and against tyrannies of all kinds; for the promotion of friendly social intercourse, and for mutual support and comfort among the evils attendant upon human life.
C.M.A.: Where do we meet, my Brother?
C.F.: In the home-like Castle of our Order.
C.M.A.: What floats from the top of our Castle?
C.F.: The flag of our country.
C.M.A.: What does our flag denote?
C.F.: Every earthly good which can be conferred on humanity.
C.M.A.: Does it at all times protect the good alone?
C.F.: It does not; for monopolies and bad men have disgraced it, and have dragged it down to protection of their frauds and corruption.
C.M.A.: How can such wrongs be prevented?
C.F.: By the masses of the people uniting for that common and noble purpose; and by showing the strength of their united power, as taught us by the bundle of rods.
C.M.A.: With such unity, can our Castle be taken by foes from without?
C.F.: It can not; from without it is impregnable; none but traitors from within, can harm us.
C.M.A.: Why is our Castle impregnable?
C.F.: Because foundations are laid deep in the hearts of the people; who, within our Castle, are bound together by bands which are stronger than iron.
C.M.A. * * *, all rise.: Friends! You will together give the sign of this degree.
The sign is given by all.
C.M.A.: And now my friends: May the God of our Fathers watch over us and keep us, guiding all our thoughts and directing all our actions. May brotherly love prevail among us, and may the moral virtues , and the social good inculcated by the lessons of this degree, unite us and all members of our Order. Amen.
I now declare this castle of the Order of American Farmers and Mechanics duly closed until ….

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