The Obligation

The Edinburgh Register House Manuscript (ERH MS) of 1696 is curious for number of ways. Not only its age and the proof of of ‘a great many ceremonies to frighten him,’ it gives an obligation that would surprise many today. Here it is in full (slightly modernised):

By god himself and you shall answer to god when you shall stand naked before him, at the great day, you shall not reveal any part of what you shall hear or see at this time whither by word nor write nor put it in write at any time nor draw it with the point of a sword, or any other instrument upon the snow or sand, nor shall you speak of it but with an entered mason, so help you god. So in a short period of 34 years, we begin to see a more lengthy obligation with penalties of a physical nature rather than just swearing on a Bible before God. From this point on, obligations became longer and no doubt brethren in those days found them the least interesting part of a degree.

Some points to think about:

 Do we need lengthy obligations? Many include phrases such as ‘engrave, enamel, . .’ which adds antiquity, but in all likelihood is a more modern inclusion.  We talk about maintaining tradition so perhaps returning to an obligation similar to the one in the ERH MS would be in line with operative masonry?  Does every degree need an obligation? I can hear the gasps of horror, but do we?

Surely if a candidate promises not to reveal the secret as of an EA that could be generalised as Craft secrets? Or at least, they could be drastically reduced. This could be extended to Orders with more than degree or grade.

It is short, but was deemed sufficient to ensure the mason’s fidelity. Today, our obligations can be very lengthy and clearly do not follow tradition. Somewhere they changed. Here is another from 1730—Pritchard’s Masonry Dissected:

I Hereby solemnly Vow and Swear in the Presense of Almighty God and this Right Worshipful assembly, that I will Hail and Conceal, and never Reveal the Secrets or Secrecy of Masons or Masonry, that shall be Revealed unto me; unless to a True and Lawful Brother, after due Examination, or in a Just and Worshipful Lodge of Brothers and Fellows well met.

I furthermore Promise and Vow, that I will not Write them, Print them, Mark them, Carve them or Engrave them, or cause them to be Written, Printed, Marked, Carved or Engraved on Wood or Stone, so as the Visible Character or Impression of a Letter may appear, whereby it may be unlawfully obtained.

All this under no less penalty than to have my throat cut, my tongue taken from the roof of my mouth, my Heart plucked from under my left Breast, them to be buried in the sands of the sea, the length of a cable-rope from shore, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in 24 Hours, my Body to be burnt to ashes, my Ashes to be scatter'd upon the Face of the Earth, so that there shall be no more Remembrance of me among Masons.

Obviously this is a matter for lodges, but in a 21st century, it’s worthy of discussion. There are plenty of ‘traditional’ sections within the ritual that shorter obligation will not detract from the overall ceremony.