BEGINNING THE JOURNEY
OCTOBER 1947 - Grand Lodge of Manitoba
No man has a mind big enough, quick enough, open enough, to absorb and understand in an evening, even the introduction to what Freemasonry knows; not in a month of evenings. No degree, no matter how impressively delivered, can possibly take him far along this road. All that the E.A. degree can do is to point the way, and give the seeker sustenance by which he may travel.
And equally true it is that while men do receive the degrees of Freemasonry at the hands of their brethren, there is no Freemasonry in a man's heart if he is not willing to sacrifice some time, give some effort, some study, ask some questions, digest some philosophy, to make it truly his own.
The candidate is designated an Entered Apprentice because we have conferred the initiatory degree, in which he took a central part. No man however, can in reality be "Entered" unless he is willing to enter.
In the character of a candidate you were brought into a large place - a very large place - a universal brotherhood. Henceforth a pathway lies before you, and whether you will travel blindly or not, depends only and wholly upon you.
As a newly initiated craftsman you should ask yourself this question, "Have I become a real Freemason, or merely joined the Lodge as another member?"
An Entered Apprentice is barely born, Masonically. He must learn and learn well, if he is to enter into his heritage. That which is worth having is worth working for. Experience in life teaches that what comes without labor turns soon to ashes in the mouth. Without labor there can be no rest; without work there can be no vacation: without pain there can be no pleasure; without sorrow there is no joy.
You have crossed the threshold of a very old and very ancient craft. What you do in the future, and how well you learn the lessons taught you as an Entered Apprentice, will be the yardstick by which your craftsmanship is measured.
In your Lodge you will find faithful brethren ready and willing to help you, on your journey. In your Masonic Library you will find a literature replete with the story of Freemasonry, and these books may be borrowed simply by asking for them.
These observations have been prepared, from one of our Library books written by Carl H. Claudy, and most of his writings can be found on the shelves in the Library.
