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O

Obligation

The solemn promise made by a Freemason on his admission into any Degree is technically called his obligation.  In a legal sense, obligation is synonymous with duty. 

Its derivation shows its true meaning, for the Latin word obligatio literally signifies a tying or binding.  The obligation is that which binds a man to do some act, the doing of which thus becomes his duty. 

By his obligation, a Freemason is bound or tied to his Order.

Operative Mason

An operative mason is an individual involved in working as a stonemason - actively involved in fashioning and building in stone.