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The Obligations in Freemasonry are those elements of ritual in which a candidate swears to (amoung other things) protect the "secrets of Freemasonry". These are the various signs, tokens and words associated with recognition in each degree. In regular jurisdictions these obligations are sworn on the Volume of the Sacred Law, that religious text which is appropriate to the belief of the candidate in question.

The detailed text of the obligations vary amongst the Masonic constitutions with some versions being published and others privately printed. Not all printed rituals are authentic, and some (such as that published by Leo Taxil) are proven Hoaxes.

The obligations are known for their so-called "bloody penalties", amongst various sources critical of Freemasonry, an allusion to the apparent physical penalties associated with each degree. This leads to some descriptions of the Obligations as "Oaths". The corresponding text, with regard to the penalties, does not appear in authoritative, endorsed sources, following a decision "that all references to physical penalties be omitted from the obligations taken by Candidates in the three Degrees and by a Master Elect at his Installation but retained elsewhere in the respective ceremonies". The penalties are interpreted symbolically, and not applied by a Lodge or any other body of Masonry. The description alludes to how the candidate should feel about himself should he knowingly violate his obligation.

Available printed ritual

Given the variety of rituals in use there are no definitive printed versions. Rituals printed on behalf of a Masonic constitution apply within that constitution, some Grand Lodges dictating the ritual to be used by private Lodges with others leaving the choice to the Lodge itself. Some Lodges have a privately printed versions.

Reliability of exemplar obligations

One well known printed ritual is Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor, originally published in 1866, which includes rituals titled for the three degrees of Craft Freemasonry and additional degrees. The publication does not itself does not identify any constitution that adopted it, and the one Masonic jurisdiction it does mention by name never existed.

In his obligation for the Royal Arch degree, Duncan has the candidate swearing to uphold the constitutions of the "General Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the United States of America". The General Grand Chapter of the time was the "General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the United States", becoming the "General Grand Chaper of Royal Arch Masons International" in 1866 Thus, the reliability and authenticity of Duncan's text is seriously doubted. While a lecture on Masonic Myths, written by an English Mason, states that the author believes some Prince Hall constitutions use Duncan's ritual, although it qualifies the statement by adding that some use the more traditional (and authentic) Webb ritual instead.

Despite the differences from the official published text, and the wide range of different rituals in use, some non-masonic authors claim that the text taken from Duncan's is accurate and equivalent to contemporary obligations.

Text from Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor

The following text is presented from the 1866 version of Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor,.

First Degree: Entered Apprentice

"I, Peter Gabe, of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God, and this Worshipful Lodge, erected to Him, and dedicated to the holy Sts. John, 1 do hereby and hereon (Master presses his gavel on candidate's knuckles) most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will always hail, ever conceal, and never reveal, any of the arts, parts, or points of the hidden mysteries of Ancient Free Masonry, which may have been, or hereafter shall be, at this time, or any future period, communicated to me, as such, to any person or persons whomsoever, except it be to a true and lawful brother Mason, or in a regularly constituted Lodge of Masons; nor unto him or them until, by strict trial, due examination, or lawful information, I shall have found him, or them, as lawfully entitled to the same as I am myself. I furthermore promise and swear that I will not print, paint, stamp, stain, cut, carve, mark, or engrave them, or cause the same to be done, on any thing movable or immovable, capable of

receiving the least impression of a word, syllable, letter, or character, whereby the same may become legible or intelligible to any person under the canopy of heaven, and the secrets of Masonry thereby unlawfully obtained through my unworthiness."

"All this I most solemnly, sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steadfast resolution to perform the same, without any mental reservation or secret evasion of mind whatever, binding myself under no less penalty than that of having my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its roots, and my body buried in the rough sands of the sea, at low-water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours, should I ever knowingly violate this my Entered Apprentice obligation. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same."

Second Degree: Fellow Craft

"I, Peter Gabe, of my own free-will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God, and this worshipful Lodge, erected to Him, and dedicated to the holy STS. JOHN, do hereby and hereon (Master presses candidate's hand with the gavel), most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear that I will always hail, and ever conceal, and never reveal any of the secret arts, parts, or points of the Fellow Craft Degree to any person whomsoever, except it be to a true and lawful brother of this degree, or in a regularly constituted Lodge of Fellow Crafts; nor unto him or them until, by strict trial, due examination, or lawful information, I shall find him, or them, as lawfully entitled to the same as I am myself.

"I furthermore promise and swear that I will stand to, and abide by, all the laws, rules, and regulations of the Fellow Craft Degree, as far as the same shall come to my knowledge.

"Further. I will acknowledge and obey all due signs and summons sent to me from a Lodge of Fellow Crafts, or given me by a brother of that degree, if within the length of my cable-tow.

"Further, that I will aid and assist all poor, distressed, worthy Fellow Crafts, knowing them to be such, as far as their necessities may require, and my ability permit, without any injury to myself.

"Further, that I will not cheat, wrong, nor defraud a brother of this degree, knowingly, nor supplant him in any of his laudable undertakings.

"All this I most solemnly promise and swear with a firm and steadfast resolution to perform the same, without any hesitation, mental reservation, or self-evasion of mind whatever, binding myself under no less penalty than of having my breast torn open, my heart plucked out, and placed on the highest pinnacle of the temple (some say, My heart and vitals taken from thence, and thrown over my left shoulder, and carried into the valley of Jehoshaphat, &c., &c.), there to be devoured by the vultures of the air, should I ever knowingly violate the Fellow Craft obligation. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same."

Third Degree: Master Mason

"I, Peter Gabe (Master gives three raps with his gavel, when all present assemble round the altar), of my own free-will and accord, in the presence of Almighty God, and this worshipful Lodge, erected to him and dedicated to the holy Sts. John, do hereby and hereon most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, that I will always hail, ever conceal, and never reveal any of the secrets, arts, parts, point or points, of the Master Masons' Degree, to any person or persons whomsoever, except it be to a true and lawful brother of this Degree, or in a regularly constituted Lodge of Master Masons, nor unto him, or them, until by strict trial, due examination, or lawful information, I shall have found him, or them, as lawfully entitled to the same as I am myself.

"I furthermore promise and swear, that I will stand to and abide by all laws, rules, and regulations of the Master Masons' Degree, and of the Lodge of which I may hereafter become a member, as far as the same shall come to my knowledge; and that I will ever maintain and support the constitution, laws, and edicts of the Grand Lodge under which the same shall be holden.

"Further, that I will acknowledge and obey all due signs and summonses sent to me from a Master Masons' Lodge, or given me by a brother of that Degree, if within the length of my cable-tow.

"Further, that I will always aid and assist all poor, distressed, worthy Master Masons, their widows and orphans, knowing them to be such, as far as their necessities may require, and my ability permit, without material injury to myself and family.

"Further, that I will keep a worthy brother Master Mason's secrets inviolable, when communicated to and received by me as such, murder and treason excepted.

"Further, that I will not aid, nor be present at, the initiation, passing, or raising of a woman, an old man in his dotage, a young man in his nonage, an atheist, a madman, or fool, knowing them to be such.

"Further, that I will not sit in a Lodge of clandestine-made Masons, nor converse on the subject of Masonry with a clandestine-made Mason, nor one who has been expelled or suspended from a Lodge, while under that sentence, knowing him or them to be such.

"Further, I will not cheat, wrong, nor defraud a Master Mason's Lodge, nor a brother of this Degree, knowingly, nor supplant him in any of his laudable undertakings, but will give him due and timely notice, that he may ward off all danger.

"Further, that I will not knowingly strike a brother Master Mason, or otherwise do him personal violence in anger, except in the necessary defence of my family or property.

"Further, that I will not have illegal carnal intercourse with a Master Mason's wife, his mother, sister, or daughter, nor suffer the same to be done by others, if in my power to prevent.

"Further, that I will not give the Grand Masonic word, in any other manner or form than that in which I shall receive it, and then in a low breath.

"Further, that I will not give the Grand Hailing Sign of Distress, except in case of the most imminent danger, in a just and lawful Lodge, or for the benefit of instruction; and if ever I should see it given, or hear the words accompanying it, by a worthy brother in distress, I will fly to his relief, if there is a greater probability of saving his life than losing my own.

"All this I most solemnly, sincerely promise and swear, with a firm and steady resolution to perform the same, without any hesitation, mental reservation, or secret evasion of mind what-ever, binding myself, under no less penalty than that of having my body severed in two, my bowels taken from thence and burned to ashes, the ashes scattered before the four winds of heaven, that no more remembrance might be had of so vile and wicked a wretch as I would be, should I ever, knowingly, violate this my Master Mason's obligation. So help me God, and keep me steadfast in the due performance of the same."

See also

• Oath

References

1. ^ Emulation Ritual ISBN 0-85318-187-X pub 1991, London Cite error: The named reference "Ritual" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
2. Metareligion. Masonry
3. ^ Emulation - Preface to the Eighth Edition.
4. Difficult Questions About Freemasonry
5. Duncan, Malcolm C. (1866). Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor. New York: Dick & Fitzgerald.
6. Turnbull, Everett R. & Denslow, Ray V., A History of Royal Arch Masonry, Volume I, p. 413, published in 1956
7. Masonic Myth and Outright Falsehoods
8. Zager, Paul R. (1982). So What Does the Bible Say About the Lodge?, Part III
9. Duncan, Malcom C. (1866). Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor

• Freemasonry