LESSONS FROM THE SECOND DEGREE
The three degrees of Symbolic Masonry—Entered
Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason—takes us from a speculative new birth
through “childhood” to youth, then manhood and old age, and ends with
immortality. Too many of us do not see
the beauty, the antiquity, and the philosophy in the Fellowcraft degree.
Without the lessons taught in this degree there
could be no Freemasonry. The degree is
an important part of a whole. We cannot
jump from birth to old age and the end of life in one leap. There must be a middle stage, called
childhood and manhood.
The symbolism of the Fellowcraft Degree teaches a
man to think, work, study and earn his wages.
He is taught to develop his own mind, to have his own thoughts, and to
seek wisdom.
Our ritual lists the five senses of human
nature: hearing, seeing, feeling,
smelling and tasting. Only God knows
how these senses function. Researchers
have learned more about them in recent years, but we still do not have all the
answers. We do certain things but it is
only our brain that interprets the senses.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences discussed in our
ritual were all that were known in the days of our ancient brethren. A man who knew them was indeed
intelligent. Just to mention them even
today makes us realize how little we know and how much there is to learn. The Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences are the
symbols of education, learning and knowledge.
The pillars in the Lodge are symbols of the pillars
that stood before the Temple constructed by King Solomon. When a Fellowcraft passes between them, it
is to signify that he is not to observe one at the expense of the other. He has both control and power laid before,
symbolized by the pillars, both of which are necessary for the completion of a
successful life.
The globes on top of the pillars represent
universality. The terrestrial globe
represents the earth and all things therein contained, while the celestial
globe represents nature and the universe of which our world is but a tiny
part. The ritual’s description of the
globes teach us lessons of hope, of wisdom, of love, and of universality.
The working tools of a Fellowcraft—the plumb, square
and level—have a significance that goes much further than the ritual.
The great 20th century Masonic author
Carl Claudy wrote:
“In a lodge all brethren meet on a level of exact
equality, which is not concerned with brains, or education, or wealth or
position; men are equal in a lodge in manhood and in Masonic right and Masonic
character. ‘We meet on the level’ means
just what it says. Masons trust each
other, believe in each other, and help each because they are, Masonically,
level with each other.
“…Masons are to judge their fellow, if at all, by
their fellow’s plumb lines, not their own.
One brother must not condemn another by personal standards; only when a
brother is false to his own standards can he judge him.
“To ‘part upon the square’ signifies that while a
square points in different directions, and men “part” to go each his own way,
it is a known way, not a devious way, a wrong way, a bad way, but a ‘square’
way…It is the fundamental tool of the Speculative Mason; without square
thoughts and actions, no spiritual building can stand.”
The wages of corn, wine and oil was remuneration of
great worth at the time of building the Temple. For a man to receive all three he had to be an exceptional
workman. An apprentice would receive
his corn [food] but not his wine, and especially his oil, until he had proved
his worth. How significant it is that
as a Mason he does not receive “wages” when he is still an Entered
Apprentice. He will receive “wages”
only after he reaches the Middle Chamber to become a Brother Fellowcraft.
Remember that we reach the Middle Chamber by
climbing a flight of winding stairs.
Early in Masonry we are taught to have confidence in the fidelity of a
Brother Mason. In the Fellowcraft
Degree the winding stairs emphasize that confidence again because a straight
staircase could easily have served the purpose. It takes no courage or imagination to travel straight ahead as we
can see what lies before us. But a
winding route does not disclose that which we must face in our journey. It takes a man to face the unknown with
trust, faith, and confidence.
At the end of the Fellowcraft Degree we are
truthfully told that “light” has been only partially received. There is much more to follow. The light that follows in the Master Mason
degree would be greatly dimmed without the lessons taught in the Second
Degree.
In the Fellowcraft Degree we have the beginning of
manhood, the middle stage of our lives between childhood and old age. The
Fellowcraft is encouraged to read, discuss, and think about matters not
connected with his daily routine. He becomes
a more well-rounded individual and thus better able to act in the world.
During this
middle stage of life we are our most productive: earning our wages, raising and educating our families,
participating in our communities as active citizens, and learning more about
who we are as individuals through our life experiences.
In this Middle Chamber of life, we as Freemasons are
encouraged to make the world a better place than we found it. How do we accomplish this? By putting into practice the writing,
speaking and analytical skills we have learned in the study of the arts of
grammar, rhetoric and logic. Utilizing
these skills, we apply the tools of science to understand the universe, from
the atoms to the stars. What we learn
by scientific study we can then transform into inventions and technology for
improving the daily life of mankind.
Automobiles, airplanes, television and radio, heart pacemakers, hearing
aids, Teflon cooking utensils, modern miracles of medicine, vaccines, and the
Internet are all the products of the minds of men and women.
We have been entertained and our lives enriched by
Freemasons such as John Phillip Souza, George M. Cohan and Mozart—all of whom
studied the science of music. And Walt
Disney, a Senior DeMolay, combined the arts and sciences to create great films
and fabulous amusement parks.
Charles Albert Adams PGM once said that “…there is
no higher duty devolving upon us as Masons than the duty we owe the State as
citizens.” One of highest duties of
American citizens and Freemasons is that we are required to concern ourselves
with and take part in politics. By
“politics” Brother Adams meant that we should be concerned and involved in
making sure that good candidates are elected to office, and just laws and
regulations govern California and the United States.
The study of grammar, rhetoric and logic teaches men
to communicate better with each other, and to think clearly about the great
issues facing us as individuals and citizens.
There can be no better tools in politics than the attentive ear, the
instructive tongue, and the faithful breast.
Talk with your friends, become involved in your communities, and bring
the influence of the plumb, square and level to play in your towns and
communities.