Just Another Entered Apprentice Degree

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

RW Robert H. Johnson

The shuffling of feet, the sound of men laughing and the clinking of people putting on jewels. The jokes about apron strings being too short and the sound of the gavel. We opened lodge, we obligated a new brother and then we had dessert. I spoke to men about the degree and about plans to push unity within our district. We had a great degree night, you can even ask the candidate, he'll tell you it was awesome...I hope ;)

We went out for drinks since there was a nice pub about two blocks from the lodge. We sat outside so a few members could have their cigars while we all sat around,  joked, pondered and talked about all manner of Masonic things. Too be sure, it was definitely too cold to sit outside under the dark autumn sky. But no one, no one at all wanted to get up and go inside where the music was a just a little too loud and the conversation would've been stifled. And no one wanted to go home either.

We were just eight guys, including the new Entered Apprentice, sitting around and enjoying the fellowship. After we shared some jokes and some hilarious, yet embarrassing stories, we asked him, "Did you join the right fraternity?" He nodded his head and laughed. He said, "I was in the service, I've heard it all." And we all chuckled at that. Other than jokes we also offered him something else, something we offer every man who asks and puts in the effort.

We offer true friendship and brotherhood. Not the kind that ends when you move away, or the kind that only lasts as long as you hang around. What we offer is something more, it's special and ineffable. I think he gets it, so we did our job. As we all fell silent for what seemed to be just about a second too long, we all stood up and started to shake hands as we walked to the door and parted ways.

And that's it guys. Nothing special, but yet it is. Just another Entered Apprentice Degree, just another day, changing the world.

~RHJ

Bro. Robert Johnson, PM is the Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Waukegan Lodge No. 78 where he is a Past Master. He also serves as the District Deputy for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focus on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four, works full time in the executive medical industry and is also an avid home brewer. He is currently working on a book of Masonic essays and one on Occult Anatomy to be released soon.