Decoding the Ast Ritual

;Ast SC PE's L.

1. FM whce cm u ]oviz[ sa na PE ]gmz[ 2. fm ]gp[ e g f h st
jn t j ]mqz[ rsa ]pq[ lm 5 wt cm u hr o d ]mpq[ 8 o lrn o sbdu
ym psns nd mprv flsm n ysm 3 tn u r a ]vs[ n i prsm 4 i m os
tkn nd cptd mg brs nd swlf 7 hw d u no urslf ]pinz[ o b a n S
y hvg bn ftn trd ]ema[ nv dnd nd m wlng o b trd gn 3 wt mks
u a n 2 ym obn 1 hw shl i no u o b a n 4 y a ertn sn nkt drw
nd e prft stnp f ym ntnc 1 wt r sns 2 rt slgna, sltnzrh, nd
srlednprp . 3 pls o gv em e sn f n Pe . (rss nd gvs t) S hs tt ny
llsn . 4 t hs o e ytnp f ym obn tt i wd rthr hv ym | ct ssrca fm
re o re thn o rvl e stres f erf ysm nl ]qmp[ fly . 5 wt s a nkt
6 a crtn fndly r ]emz[ bry prg wrb ;a br yam no nthr n e krd
sa wl sa n e xl . 7 pls o gv ur lft dnh br e nkt nd prg f n pe
(ty rs nd gv t) A gvs B e prg. B sys wt s tt A i liah B i cncl
A. wt d u cncl B l stres f ns n ysm xet t shl b nt a urt nd l
]nmz[ fl br r wn e ydb f a tsj nd l ]pmq[ fl g f sch A wt s tt
cld B a prg A prg f wt B Pe A hs t a nm. B t hs A wl u pls
o gv t o em B i dd ut os rev t nthr en i os mpt t A hw wl u
dsps f t B i wl rettl r vhl t wh u A u wl pls o rettl t B . nigb
A u nigb f u pls (eton A gvs fast rettl Be ;e B poncs e drw) A
t s rt i grt u br * 1. whr wr u fast prpd o b md a n 2 n ym trh
S whr ;endy 4 n a moor djet o e g 5 hw wr u prpd 6 y bng
dvsd f l slrnm nd sltm nhr dkn nr clhd bt nr † ‡ wh a ¶ abt ym
ken n whh stn i ws cn ]vizh[ dctd o e dr f e g y e hd f a frnd
wm i ftrds fnd o b a br 7 hw dd u no t o b a dr bng ‡ 8 y fast
mtng wh rstnc nd ftrwds gng dmssn 9. hw gnd u dmssn 2 y ;i
dstnt skonk 3 wt ws sd o u fm wn 4 wo cms thr 9 ur nsr 2 n
roop dnlb cn ]amz[ ddt wo hs gnl bn dsrs f bng brt tuo f drkn
o xl o hv nd rev a trp f e rts nd bnfts f ts wRt g retd o § nd
ddctd o h st jn sa ynm brs nd swllf hv dn bfr em 1 wt mr wr
u skd 4 f i cm f ym wn fr wl nd crd f i ws dly nd trly prprd
yhtrw nd wl dflq f lwfl ega nd prpy dhcva fr 1 whh bng nsrd
u e vtrff i ws skd y wt rhtrf rt r bnft i xpcd o gn dmsn 7 ur
nsr 8 y bng a mn erf brn f gd rprt nd wl remd 9 wt flwd 2 i
ws rqsd o wt a tm wh ptnc ntl e wrt rm cd b nf ]qpt[ rmd f
ym rq ]azp[ st nd s nrs rtd . 1 wt ws hs nsr wn rtd 4 . lt mh
ntr . S hw dd u ntr 6. no e pt f a prhs nst ]enw[ rmt preg ym
dkn lft tsrb 5 whr wr u tn cn ]prz[ dctd 8 o e cnr f e g whr i
ws csd o lnk nd rev e tfnb f a ryrp (rm gvs ;i skonk 1 rs) i wl
thnk u o rpt e ryrp “ veh ]qmz[ thu dia” (es Mnr) 1. ftr revg

First Section Entered Apprentice's Lecture.

1. FROM whence came you ]oviz[ as an Entered Apprentice ]gmz[ 2. From ]gp[ the Lodge of Holy Saint
John at Je ]mqz[ rusa ]pq[ lem 5 What came you here to do ]mpq[ 8 To learn to subdue
my passions and improve myself in Masonry 3 Then you are a ]vs[ Mason I presume 4 I am so
taken and accepted among brothers and fellows 7 How do you know yourself ]pinz[ to be a Mason S
By having been often tried ]ema[ never denied and am willing to be tried again 3 What makes
you a Mason 2 My obligation 1 How shall I know you to be a Mason 4 By a certain signs token word
and the perfect points of my entrance 1 What are signs 2 Right angles, horizontals, and
perpendiculars . 3 Please to give me the signs of Mason Entered Apprentice . (rises and gives it) S Has that any
allusion . 4 It has to the penalty of my obligation that I would rather have my throat cut across from
ear to ear than to reveal the secrets of free Masonry unlaw ]qmp[ fully . 5 What is a token
6 A certain friendly or ]emz[ brotherly grip whereby one brother may know another in the dark
as well as in the light . 7 Please to give your left hand brother the token and grip of an Entered Apprentice
(ty rise and give it) A gives B the grip. B says what is that A I hail B I conceal
A. What do you conceal B All secrets of Masons in Masonry except it shall be to a true and law
]nmz[ ful brother or within the body of a just and law ]pmq[ ful Lodge of such A What is that
cld B A grip A Grip of what B Entered Apprentice A Has it a name. B It has A Will you please
to give it to me B I did not so receive it neither then I so impart it A How will you
dispose of it B I will letter or halve it with you A You will please to letter it B . Begin
A You begin if you please (note A gives first letter Be two B pronounces the word) A
It is right I greet you brother * 1. Where were you first prepared to be made a Mason 2 In my heart
S Where secondly 4 In a room adjacent to the Lodge 5 How were you prepared 6 By being
divested of all minerals and metals neither naked nor clothed barefoot nor shod hoodwinked with a cable-tow about my
neck in which situation I was con ]vizh[ ducted to the door of the Lodge by the hand of a friend
whom I afterward found to be a brother 7 How did you know it to be a door being hoodwinked 8 By first
meeting with resistance and afterwards gaining admission 9. How gained you admission 2 By three
distinct knocks 3 What was said to you from within 4 Who comes there 9 Your answer 2 A
poor blind can ]amz[ didate who has long been desirous of being brought out of darkness
to light to have and receive a part of the rights and benefits of this Worshipful Lodge erected to God and
dedicated to Holy Saint John as many brothers and fellows have done before me 1 What more were
you asked 4 If I came of my own free will and accord if I was duly and truly prepared
worthy and well qualified of lawful age and properly vouched for 1 Which being answered
you the affirmative I was asked by what further right or benefit I expected to again admission 7 Your
answer 8 By being a man free born of good repute and well recommended 9 What followed 2 I
was requested to wait a time with patience until the Worshipful Master could be inf ]qpt[ ormed of
my reque ]azp[ st and his answer returned . 1 What was his answer when returned 4 . Let him
enter . S How did you enter 6. On the point of a sharp inst ]enw[ rument pressing my
naked left breast 5 Where were you then con ]prz[ ducted 8 To the centre of the Lodge where I
was caused to kneel and receive the benefit of a prayer (Master gives three knocks 1 rs) I will
thank you to repeat the prayer “ veh ]qmz[ thu dia” (es Mnr) 1. ftr revg