THE MASTER MASON
The Masonic Monthly 1864
AT the summit
of Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry stands the third, or Master
Mason's Degree. There is no higher degree, legitimately so
called. - Whatever other degrees, styled Masonic, the ingenuity
of man may have invented, they can lay no claim to superiority
over the third or Master Mason's Degree conferred in the Blue
Lodge. None of them can compare with it for antiquity or
universality. The numerous additions which have been made to the
body of Freemasonry on this continent and in some
European countries, are comparatively modern institutions, and
are only Masonic by virtue of their association with
and foundation on the Master Mason's Lodge. They are merely so
many wheels within a wheel; are simply the keys which give
admission from one association of Master Masons into other and
interior. associations of Master Masons. Whatever of ancient
Masonry may be met with in the Chapter, there is abundant
evidence that it has been sep- arated, perhaps unwisely, from
symbolic Masonry. The Encampments of the Knightly Degrees, the
societies working under the Scottish Rite, the Rite of Mizraim,
of Memphis, or by whatever other name these degree systems may
be known, add nothing to Freemasonry pure and simple.
They give it no direct support. They grow up along side of
the Masonic Institution, deriving nourishment from it,
are essentially parasitical, and too frequently, the
undue importance they have assumed, and the dissensions
they have created and fostered have well nigh sapped the
life from large branches of the parent stem. They may
contain much to please the fancy, or supply the reasonable want
of many minds, much which maybe adapted to certain
localities or to the cherished notions or opinions of certain
classes of men embraced within the folds of the Masonic
Fraternity, but not one of these systems is calculated to attain
to that universality to which Freemasonry proper aspires. They
are in no particular adapted to the whole, but only to portions
of the great human family, and are incapable themselves
of fulfilling the entire mission of Masonry on earth. In fact
they make no pretense of possessing that distinctive attribute
of Freemasonry - universality. Such Masons as wish to see
the religious element more distinctly displayed than in the
symbolic lodges find their desire gratified in the Royal Arch
system. Those who are pleased with the semi-military
constitution, and chivalric features of the Encampment will find
all they seek in the Orders of Masonic Knighthood. Such again as
desire to investigate the Apocrypha of Ancient Accepted
Masonry, and the distinctions of high degrees may realize their
aspir- ations in the Lodge of Perfection and the Consistory.
While those who have Coptic predilections, may find
mystery sufficient in the mystic chambers where the Memphisian
rites are practised. - Still the only conclusion to which
the thoughtful Freemason can arrive is, that in the foremost
rank of true Freemasonry stands the third, or Master
Mason's Degree, and that all which is essential in the system may
be found within the Blue Lodge. Formerly lodges consisted
entirely of Masons of the second, or Fellow Craft's degree. In
process of time the Apprentice's degree was introduced as
probationary for applicants for fellowship in the Order, and
preparatory therefor. The pillars of Wisdom and Strength being
thus already represented; the degree of Master Mason,
representing the pillar of Beauty, and combining in itself the
marks of Wisdom and Strength, was introduced to complete the
structure. As the Entered Apprentice represents youth, and
the Fellow Craft manhood, so the Master Mason is representative
of age, with its ripened experience and mellowness. The
third degree also symbolizes Hiram Abiff, "the widow's son,"
the Architect and beautifyer of the Temple, who fills so
important a space in the legend of Masonry; and also the third
or principal round of the theological ladder, Faith, Hope
and Charity - "but the greatest of these is Charity, for Faith
may be lost in sight, Hope ends in fruition, but Charity
extends beyond the grave, to the boundless realms of
eternity." The Master Mason's degree is the cap-stone of our
system, and the completion of the Royal Arch. Hence the
implement of our Craft more particularly adopted as a jewel of
the third degree, is the Trowel, which is used by "operative
Masons to spread the cement which unites the building into
one common mass; but we, as Free and Accepted Masons,
are taught to use it for the more noble and glorious purpose
of spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection -
that cement which unites us into one sacred band, or society
of friends and brothers, among whom no contention should ever
exist, save that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who
best can work and best agree." In the Entered Apprentice's
degree the foundation of a Masonic life is laid in morality; in
the degree of Fellow Craft the system is made conformable to the
teachings and influences of speculative science; while in the
blaster Mason's degree, the lessons of morality and science
are combined in a perfected system, which is nearly akin to,
if not religion itself. There is Freedom among the
Apprentices, Equality among the Craft, and Fraternity among
Master Masons, - Fraternity which will yet prove the great healer
of the many ills to which Humanity is heir. As Master Masons let
us therefore stand erect, fully conscious of the high dignity of
our calling, and impressed with the lofty and generous mission
of Freemasonry, let us take up the various implements of
our Craft and faithfully ply our vocation. back to top
|
