Masonic Word Riddle (Emulation Ritual)

I am a humble word.

I appear twice in the first degree.
Twice in the second.
Thrice in the third.
Can you find me?

Scroll down for the answer!

  

The word "Whence"

whence   [hwens, wens]

adverb

1.      from what place?: Whence comest thou?

2.      from what source, origin, or cause?: Whence has he wisdom?

conjunction

3.      from what place, source, cause, etc.: He told whence he came.

Origin: 
1250-1300; 
It is derived from Middle English which is the English that was common roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century.
whennes, from earlier whenne (from Old English hwanon, of Germanic origin) + -s3 (later respelled -ce to denote the unvoiced sound)

Usage note 

This word is used in very formal settings and sometimes criticized as redundant on the grounds that “from” is implied by the word whence, but overall, it is considered well established, and standard. 

Here are some examples of how its has been used by some famous authors: 

• The King James Bible: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help."
• Shakespeare: "Whence cometh this alarum and the noise?"
• Dryden: "Whence but from heaven, could men unskilled in arts In different nations born, in different parts, Weave such agreeing truths ? Or how, or why, Should all conspire to cheat us with a lie ?"
• Dickens: "whence, on further tracing it, it seemed to shine."

References

1. Freemasonry, 1997, Craft Ritual (Indian). Seventeenth Edition New Delhi: Grand Lodge of India. 200.
2. Oxford Dictionaries, 2010. "whence". [online] Available at: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/whence [Accessed 06 August 2012 ].
3. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2012. Whence. [online] Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whence [Accessed August 2012].
4. The Free Dictionary, 2012. whence. [online] Available at: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/whence [Accessed August 2012].
5. King James Bible Online, 2012. psalms 121:1. [online] Available at: http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/psalms-121-1
6. Shakespeare's Words, 2012. Whence. [online] Available at: http://www.shakespeareswords.com/hence-thence-and-whence [Accessed August 2012].
7. Dryden, John, 1893, The Poetical Works of John Dryden. Macmillan and Company. 316.
8. Charles Dickens, 1843, A Christmas Carol. Cricket House Books LLC. 80.