In one sense the Fellowcraft Degree symbolizes the stage of adulthood and responsibility during a man's life on earth. In this stage, his task is to acquire knowledge and apply it to the
building of his character and improving the society in which he lives. As
the father of our Masonic lectures, William Preston saw Masonry as a means to
educate men in the liberal arts and sciences. A Fellowcraft Mason is urged
to advance his education in these fields during the ritual of this Degree.
Some view the three grade system of Blue Lodge Masonry as representing a progressive teaching directed toward perfecting human nature. It is a simple and straightforward view of human nature divided into three parts: body, mind and soul. Each Degree
addresses and instructs one part. The First Degree encompasses the body
and our faculties of action in the world. The four cardinal virtues are
extolled as the proper guides to our action in the world that we may perfect our
relation to it. The Second Degree addresses the mind and its faculties.
We are instructed in the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences which were
formulated hundreds of years ago in order to develop and perfect the mental
nature. The intention was to prepare the mind for spiritual truths.
The Third Degree confers the central Mystery of Freemasonry; that is, how the
soul may be brought to its perfection.
If we accept the view of Masonry purpose
given above, then it is obvious that the Fellowcraft Degree encompasses much
more than just gaining a normal and broad-based education. The teachings
of this Degree are extremely profound and surprisingly exact.
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SYMBOLISM OF THE DEGREE
The symbolism of the Entered Apprentice
Degree emphasized beginnings, spiritual birth, the first steps and youth,
orientation to the Light, which are all consistent with a rite of induction into
the Fraternity. The Second Degree of Fellowcraft symbolizes the methods
of developing and progressing in the Craft; and, in a sense, the emergence into
spiritual manhood. Therefore we find symbols of advancement, passage,
instruction and elevation throughout this Degree. We find symbolism of
taking the next step and a new way of approaching the East. What was
considered in the last Degree to be our weaker nature has now been squared and
elevated. While keeping our fidelity to the Three Great Lights, we deepen
our connection with the Fraternity and take on new commitments.
Our Working Tools are now testing
instruments. With them we try, square and prove. With them we learn
to develop the faculty of judgment: what is valuable, what is true, what is
real.
The central motif of this Degree being one
of advancement we are presented with the symbol of the Winding Staircase
consisting of so many steps and leading to the Middle Chamber of the
Temple. Staircases, ladders, extended vertical ropes, and mountains are
all symbols of ascending to new heights.
Gaining entrance to a new place symbolizes
a distinct advancement in our work as Freemasons. Attaining this level
gives us access to certain benefits that we were not entitled to before.
These benefits are symbolized by Corn, Wine, and Oil. There are other
things granted here as well. We become invested with the ability to hear
the teachings of our Fraternity and keep them close to our heart. Finally,
we are reminded of our central focus in the symbolism of the letter and the
humility it should inspire.
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DULY AND TRULY PREPARED
At the outset of this Degree, it should be
clear to the candidate that although much of it seems familiar, it is also very
different, and some aspects even seem to be in opposition to the previous
Degree. There are certain avenues of further exploration that should be
brought out here. We are usually given an explanation for most parts of
the ritual in the various lectures. Some seem to allude to deeper
interpretations. As we prepare to enter the Mysteries of Freemasonry
certain things should be kept in mind. For example, the number three keeps
emerging in the rituals in one way or another. Geometrically, three is the
triangle. And in fact, there are three kinds of triangle the equilateral
triangle (all three sides equal), the isosceles triangle (two sides equal), and
the scalene triangle (no sides equal).
Many of the mythological gods or heroes
that were smiths or artificers for the gods were lame. For example the
Roman god Vulcan and the Greek god Hephaestus. Vulcan was crippled as a
result of being thrown down to earth. He is usually depicted with tools as
he is patron of craftsmen. Scalene in one sense means unequal and used in
another means limping. The most celebrated scalene triangle is of course
the 3-4-5 right triangle which is of special concern to Freemasons. We
will cover this more fully in our discussion of the Master Mason Degree.
There is an interesting story by the Roman poet Virgil in his epic The Aeneid
that is highly suggestive. In Book IV he writes about Queen Dido who,
because of her despair and anguish, commits to sacrificing herself. She
performs various rites in preparation of that supreme moment and finally: Dido
herself with consecrated grain in her pure hands, as she went near the altars,
freed one foot from sandal straps, let fall her dress ungirdled, and, now sworn
to death, called on the gods and stars that knew her fate. It is also
noteworthy that she was supposed to be of Tyrian origin.bsp;
There is a Byzantine painting known as “Our
Lady of Perpetual Help" which pictures the divine child in his
mothers’ arms. Angels are shown at either side with implements of the
Crucifixion. The child is turning towards an angel, and one of his shoes
is falling off.
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RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
OF A FELLOWCRAFT
In addition to the rights you acquired as
an Entered Apprentice Mason, you have the right to sit in a Lodge when opened in
the Fellowcraft Degree, when accompanied by a Master Mason who has sat in Lodge
with you. You may visit another Lodge opened in the Fellowcraft
Degree. You have the right to be instructed and examined. If found
proficient, you may request advancement to the next degree.
The responsibilities are found in part in
the Obligation, and you should review these along with the Obligation of the
Entered Apprentice. Finally, you are reminded that you are to acquire the
special knowledge introduced in this Degree and seek to apply that knowledge to
your duties in life so you can occupy your place in society with satisfaction
and honor.
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THE WORKING
TOOLS
THE SQUARE
The Square is
the symbol of morality, truthfulness and honesty. The direction of the two
sides of the Square form an angle of 90°, or a right angle, so-called because
this is the angle which stones must have if they are to be used to build a
stable and upright wall. It symbolizes accuracy, not even varying by a
single degree. When we part upon the Square, we go in different
directions, but in full knowledge that our courses in life will be going
according to the angle of the Square (which means in the right direction), until
we meet again.
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THE LEVEL
The Level is a
symbol of equality. We do not mean equality in wealth, social distinction,
civic office, or service to mankind; but, rather, we refer to the internal, and
not the external, qualifications. Each person is endowed with a worth and
dignity which is spiritual, and should not be subject to man-made
distinctions. Masonry recognizes that one man may have greater potential
in life, service, or reward, than another; but, we also believe that any man can
aspire to any height, no matter how great. Thus, the Level dignifies labor
and the man who performs it. It also acknowledges that all men are equal
without regard to station. The Level also symbolizes the passage of
time.
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THE PLUMB
The Plumb is a
symbol of uprightness of conduct. In Freemasonry, it is associated with
the plumb line which the Lord promised Amos he would set in the midst of His
people, Israel, symbolizing God's standard of divine righteousness. The
plumb line in the midst of a people should mean that they will be judged by
their own sense of right and wrong, and not by the standards of others. By
understanding the Plumb, a Mason is to judge his Brothers by their own standards
and not those of someone else. When the plumb line is thought of in
this way, it becomes a symbol of an upright life and of the conscience by which
each person must live. This idea is closely tied to the concept of
Justice. For, in truth, Justice is giving another man his
due.
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OTHER IMPORTANT
SYMBOLS
THE PILLARS ON THE PORCH
Two pillars were
placed at the entrance to King Solomon's Temple, which are symbolically
represented within every Masonic Lodge. These pillars are symbols of
strength and establishment - and by implication, power and control. One
must remember that power and control are placed before you, so you might realize
that power without control is anarchy, or that control without power is
futility. Man must have both if his life is to be
successful.
The construction
of dual pillars, obelisks, sphinxes and so on was not uncommon in the ancient
Near East. It is not known what their exact symbolism was.
Speculation ranges from their signifying duality (that duality or polarity are
twin forces throughout Creation), guardianship of the temple, symbolic gateways,
to the idea of being a connection between heaven and earth.
Some researchers
have thought that the two pillars before Solomon’s Temple represented the Pillar
of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire which led the Israelites through the desert to
the Promised Land. It was their guide in the light as well as in the
dark.
The globes on the columns are said
to be the celestial and terrestrial spheres representing heaven and
earth.
The two pillars
also correspond to the Three Great Supports of Masonry. The columns of
Wisdom and Strength are emblematically represented by the pillars in the South
and North, respectively. The candidate, as he is brought into the Lodge,
comes to represent the third column of Beauty or Balance.
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THE WINDING STAIRCASE
As we mentioned before, the Winding Staircase is a symbol of ascension. It
is described as consisting of three, five, and seven steps. The number of
steps has changed over the years. Sometimes there were only five and at
others seven. Preston listed thirty-six, dividing them into one, three,
five, seven, nine and eleven. The Hemming lectures listed the number at
twenty-five. American Masonry has kept to fifteen. Note the
connection between this number and the number of Fellowcrafts in the Third
Degree.
Much of the
symbolism of the Winding Staircase is explained in the ritual itself.
There are some points to bring out that may lead one to further research and
insight.
The significance
of the number three has already been mentioned. We have the three Degrees,
the Three Great Lights, the three Columns, the three Officers, the Three Grand
Masters and the three Principle Tenets of Freemasonry. What we want to
emphasize here is the Three Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity.
These virtues were considered a ladder to heaven, another symbol of
ascent. The Four Cardinal Virtues presented in the First Degree compliment
these in the sense that the Four are symbolically horizontal (basically dealing
with our actions here on earth) while the Three are symbolically vertical
(referring to our method of ascent to further light). Our Aprons are
composite examples of the Three and the Four making Seven.
The Five Steps are
also explained in some detail. A few points for further consideration
concern the symbolism of the number five. The geometrical symbol of five
is, of course, the pentagram. The emblem of Pythagoras’ fraternity was the
five-pointed star. At each point of the star was a Greek letter which all
together spelled a Greek word meaning “health” (
ugitha). The
pentagram is a symbol of the Microcosm, that is, Man.
Another avenue to
explore is the ratio of the column height to diameter. They are
approximately: Tuscan 1/7; Doric 1/8; Ionic 1/9; Corinthian and Composite
1/10. It is also worth studying which order of architecture was used to
build a particular type of temple. The Parthenon on the Acropolis,
dedicated to Athena, is Doric, as is her temple at Delphi. The Ephesian
temple of Diana, a moon goddess, is Ionic. The importance of the compass
to the Ionic Order is also worthy of study.
The Seven Steps
symbolize the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences. These were formulated as
early as 330 CE. The Christian scholars adopted them soon afterwards and
we find their full flowering at the Neo-platonic Cathedral School of Chartres in
12
th Century France. The interesting work that came together
here was the union of the philosophies of Neo-platonism and Christianity.
The study of the Seven Liberal Arts was considered a means to the knowledge of
God. This principle was actually expressed in the construction of the
Gothic Cathedral of Chartres. We even find for the first time sculpted
representations of the Seven Liberal Arts on the West Door of the
Cathedral.
The Masters of
Chartres taught that the proper study of the Seven Liberal Arts guided the
intellect to approach the hidden light behind the world. The invisible
underlying structure of Reality, the Truth, could be apprehended in this
way. As another matter of interest, it was in the mid-thirteenth century
that the humble mason who had mastered the Seven Liberal Arts was entitled to
the designation of architect.
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ADMISSION TO THE MIDDLE CHAMBER
The passage from
the Outer Porch to the Middle Chamber represents a definite step in the journey
to enlightenment. The wages received in the Middle Chamber come as a
result of achieving this distinction. Remember that the candidate had to
first ascend the Winding Staircase in order to gain admission. The
Fellowcraft must become proficient in the Seven Liberal Arts. A regular
study of the subjects is demanded to gain admission to the outer doors leading
to this Middle Chamber. It is when the initiate begins to perceive the
synthetic vision of this Masonic education and a special intuition begins to
dawn within his mind and conscience that he knows the inner doors are opening to
that Chamber within. Outside, the candidate was shown a symbol of plenty,
but here it has been established in fact.
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THE WAGES OF A FELLOWCRAFT
Corn, Wine, and
Oil are symbolic wages earned by the Fellowcraft Mason who arrives at the Middle
Chamber. These symbolize wealth in mental and spiritual worlds. Corn
represents nourishment and the sustenance of life. It is also a symbol of
plenty, and refers to the opportunity for doing good, to work for the community,
and to the performance of service to mankind. The Corn referred to in this
Degree is actually what we call wheat.
Wine is symbolic
of refreshment, health, spirituality, and peace. Oil represents joy,
gladness and happiness. Taken together, Corn, Wine, and Oil represent the
temporal rewards of living a good life.
The actual
"wages" are the intangible but no less real compensation for a faithful and
intelligent use of the Working Tools, fidelity to your obligations, and
unflagging interest in and study of the structure, purpose and possibilities of
the Fraternity. Such wages may be defined in terms of a deeper
understanding of brotherhood, a clearer conception of ethical living, a broader
toleration, and a more resolute will to think justly, independently, and
honestly.
Corn or grain has also represented the concept of resurrection. Wine has
symbolized mystical attainments, divine intoxication and ecstasy. Oil is
one of the elements of consecration. Perfumed oil was used to
anoint.
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THE MASONIC LETTER "G"
Why the letter
“G” is so prominently displayed in Masonic lodges is an enigma to Masonic
historians. Like the sphinx before the pyramids, it stands before us in
silence and mystery. It is not consistently displayed throughout the
Masonic world and there are Masonic scholars who feel it should be
removed. The reason that it is so displayed is plainly given to the
candidate in this Degree. We are told that it is the initial of Geometry
as well as the initial of the name of the Supreme Being. From the time of
the “Old Charges” and manuscripts up to the present, the synonymous nature of
Geometry and Masonry is clearly stated. It is also obvious that “G” is the
initial of God. This alone may be sufficient reason for its presence.
There are other
considerations that the Masonic student might want to take into account.
The immediate question for some may be why is Geometry given such exalted
status? One might also observe that the word “God” is not a name per se,
but is a category of being – like “human being”. The name of the Supreme
Being depends on what tradition a person follows, and it would not be incorrect
to say that the True Name of the Supreme Being cannot be known. Obviously,
then, the letter "G" does not refer to the common usage of that
term.
These two issues
have given rise to much speculation regarding the focus given to this one letter
of the alphabet. We will offer a few of these speculations for your
benefit.
The ancient
languages of Phoenician, Hebrew and Greek all placed the “G” in the third
place. In Hebrew, the order is
aleph, beth, gimel. In Greek,
the order is
alpha, beta, gamma and so on. The Phoenician/Hebrew
letter
gimel means camel. There is an interesting passage in the
Gospel of St. Matthew regarding our patron John the Baptist: “And the
same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his
loins.” (Matt 3:4) In both Hebrew and Greek, each letter is assigned a
numerical value as well as a phonetic one, so that “G” is equivalent to the
number “3” in both languages. The Greek letter
gamma looks like an
upside down “L”. It is two perpendicular lines forming the angle of a
square.
Gamma is also associated with Dionysus and
resurrection.
The importance
of Geometry to a full understanding of Freemasonry becomes apparent to the
candidate as he progresses through the degrees. He is unequivocally
informed that Geometry is the basis or foundation of Masonry. A full
explanation for this importance is not forthcoming, just that it is very
important to undertake the study. We would suggest that the Masonic
student might follow some of the following lines of research, that he may come
to his own conclusions.
It is thought
that the Egyptians became skilled at surveying because the annual flooding of
the Nile obliterated boundary markers in their fields. They had to set out
and calculate new boundaries each year. The Greeks named this skill
Geometry, or “earth measurement.” Empirical generalizations were derived,
presumably, from their experience in field measurement. The Greeks, it is
thought, made the advancement of using deductive logic to expand the knowledge
into a theoretical science, and Pythagoras is credited with this
achievement. This actually set the groundwork for the development of the
sciences. So we may consider Geometry the first
science.
Pythagoras and
his Society, and later, Plato and his Academy, raised Geometry to a sacred
science of discovering the nature of reality and through it the Deity. We
have such statements from Plato as: “Geometry rightly treated is the knowledge
of the eternal.” And also: “Geometry must ever tend to draw the soul
towards the truth.” Later, Euclid systemically presented all the knowledge
of Geometry in his work
Elements of Geometry, beginning with five
unproved principles about lines, angles, and figures, which he called
postulates. Euclid uses only the compass and straight edge for all the
drawings, proofs, and solutions.
There are some
Masonic researchers who think that the letter “G” represents a little known
method of Biblical interpretation known as
gematria. One of the
earliest known references to this method is found about 200 CE in the
Bariatha of R. Eliezer ben R. Jose, the Galiean, which is a collection of
32 rabbinical rules.
Gematria is listed within this treatise as a
rabbinical method of biblical exegesis. As already mentioned, the Hebrew
and Greek alphabets were also used as numbers. Therefore, every Hebrew
word and every Greek word is the sum of the value of the individual
letters. Exploring this technique of letter-number substitution, one looks
for words, names, and phrases that add up to like values. Like values are
thought to have meaningful relationships. For example, the Hebrew word for
“heaven” (ha-shamayim) has the same
gematria value as the word for
“soul” (neshamah); that is, 395, derived by adding up each letter to arrive at a
total. The Qabalist would say this means that the soul is identical with
heaven.
Another example
of
gematria can be found by comparing the Hebrew words for “love”
(ahebah) and “unity” (echad), both of which add to 13. Combining the values of
these two words gives us 26, the number of the Hebrew word rendered in English
as Jehovah, the principal Name of God. This is a clear intimation that the
nature of God can be understood as Love and Unity.
This exegetical
technique can be used with both the Hebrew scriptures and the Greek Christian
scriptures. There are other texts that have been found to contain hidden
gematria in Latin and Arabic, as well. From the practice of
gematria have arisen extremely interesting techniques, which reveal a
type of spiritual Geometry hidden within the Scriptures.
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NUMBER, ORDER, SYMMETRY AND
PROPORTION
The great teachings of this Degree revolve around the importance of the Masonic
study of number, order, symmetry and proportion. The Masonic use of the
term Geometry includes all of these. Nature is the true temple of the
Deity. If this is so, then cosmic and natural laws are like the
Trestleboard. These laws are discovered in the practice of the Seven Arts
(they were called liberal arts because their practice liberated the mind).
The ancient philosophers considered Geometry to have the power to lead the mind
from the world of appearances to the contemplation of the divine order.
Further study would most certainly include a detailed study of Pythagorean
number philosophy, the Golden Mean, Plato’s work, the Neoplatonists, and
Qabalistic
gematria.
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