Major sanderson likewise holds most of the important degrees in freemasonry, and thus it is that he was well qualified to undertake a careful study of our rituals from the standpoint of anthropology. The master mason degree ritual secret societies exposed. Time between degrees should be used for intellectual study. Creating an atmosphere that may lead to a positive transformation of the individual is the goal of masonic ritual. United grand lodge first degree or ceremony of initiation. The ineffable degrees the official ritual of the lodge of perfection compiled by the united supreme council of the sovereign grand inspectorgenerals of the thirty third and last degree. Pdf a basic masonic education course for fellow crafts with questions. Secret high degree rituals masonic rite memphis by j yarker. Ron blaisdell, pm june 16, 2001 preface those of us that spend a great deal of time traveling for our employers have become accustomed to spending many hours in hotel rooms in disparate locations of the country. A candidate, upon receiving the third degree of masonry, is said to have been raised to the sublime degree of master mason. The original masonic degrees were apprentice and fellow.
Rituals of american freemasonry the masonic trowel. Ideally, candidates should demonstrate some degree of improvement in their understanding of freemasonry before being advanced to the next degree. Shavers masonic monitor, containing alii theexoteric ritualoftheworkand lectures of the three degrees of ancient craft masonry. The scottish rite ritual monitor and guide scottish rite store. The three degrees of freemasonry north raleigh masonic lodge. The masonic rituals provided here are as practiced under the jurisdiction of the grand lodge of nevada, circa 1986. Explain in general terms the history of masonic ritual. The tyler, having properly prepared the candidate, not forgetting the badge of second degree, gives second degree knocks on door. As a mason, you can earn degrees, join esoteric and social organizations, and become privy to the language and abbreviations specific to freemasonry. This electronic edition of carliles manual of freemasonry is based on a.
The degrees of the scottish rite are not higher tha. By giving the entered apprentice knocks with longer intervals the tyler indicates that the candidate is ready. The first degree is the entered apprentice where the initiate is entered. Shavers masonic monitor containing all the exoteric ritual. Our ancient, operative brethren performed manual and technical labor. The lodge being open in the third degree the deacons lay. So, the question many have is whether someone that has earned say, 9th degree in the scottish rite is actually higher in the hierarchy than someone that has only the 3rd degree of masonry. This electronic edition of carliles manual of freemasonry is based on a facsimile of an unspecified printing, issued by kessinger publishing in kila.
Overview of freemasonry prepared by wanda alger, september 20 to become a mason, the initiate goes through the lue lodge which is 3 separate degrees of advancement. Our masonic forefathers were told imaginative stories about the origin of the craft. Secret masonic handshakes master mason degree third degree in the blue lodge sign of a master mason the sign of the master mason alludes to the position of the hands when taking the oath of the master mason, both hands resting on the holy bible, square, and compasses. Masonic ritual is intended to be performed in a solemn manner to provide the most meaningful experience possible for the candidates and the membership alike. Atkinson, pm historical foundations of the masonic ritual masonic scholars have been trying for two hundred years to solve the crafts greatest mystery, the origin of the ritual. One of three progressive stages of advancement in the lodge, conferred using a ritual ceremony. Containing instructions in all the degrees, from the third to the thirtythird, and last degree of the rite by charles t. Masonic ritual varies slightly from state to state. Masonic education and lodge service, to develop a revised plan for the masonic education of candidates and new master masons including a manual for masonic instructors. The work which follows aims at showing whence many important parts of the ritual have developed, and undoubtedly major sanderson has produced evidence. Shavers masonic monitor containing all the exoteric. Master mason, or third degree sacred texts freemasonry index previous next. The combination is found in the same place within the ritual, after the discourse on the virtues and before the charge. The ritual is bizarre and elaborate, and symbolizes the initiatesaid to be in spiritual darknesscoming to the masonic lodge for light.
The master mason degree is the highest masonic degree one receives and the presence at a meeting of someone holding the 33rd degree of the scottish rite is likely no more of concern than someone wearing a pair of black pants. The written masonic law of oregon may generally be said to be composed of the code, the ritual and the manual. The blue lodge is the foundation of all freemasonry organizations. In order to keep unreveled the secrets of freemasonry, these rituals can only be read by the possessors of the degree. After the opening prayer from which the name of jesus christ was conspicuously excluded, i stood and opened the service. A candidate, upon receiving the third degree of masonry, is said to have been raised to. For starters, the scottish is not the only one that has more than 3 degrees. The master masons conducting the ritual convince the candidate of this with a series of 3 sharp stomps on the ground. As with any such collections of this nature on the internet, there is no telling how long these works or links will remain. Freemasonry is the subjugation of the human that is in man, by the divine. Masonic rites and degrees explained why the scottish has 33. Ritual and the masonic lodge ritual is the heart and soul of freemasonry. Manual, and the pedestal, which allude to the four cardinal.
Secret tradition in freemasonry vol ii by waite in 1911. Digital masonic library greetings, at the library tab suggested reading of the website of the valley of schenectady, aasr, nmj, usa, is the below listing of interesting books for masonic readers and researchers. Ceremony of conjugal recognition and presentation of the spouse to the. Collectanea is privately printed for the fellows of the grand college of rites of the united states of america. The pen and ink watercolored illustrations preceding each degree depicting signs of the scottish. The following exposures of masonic ritual are provided in a cooperative effort between exmasons for jesus and ephesians 5. The deeper meaning of the entered apprentice degree an esoteric interpretation of the first degree w. All dues current fellows will receive a copy of the current volume of collectanea during the first quarter of each year. Ritual is the glue that holds a lodge together and binds freemasons throughout the world.
Master mason initiation masonic rituals of freemasons. Fellow craft questions for the fellow craft mason answers to questions. Freemasonry page 2 initiation, rite, and tradition page 3 the masonic secret page 4 symbolism page 5 expectations page 6 becoming a mason page 7 the entered apprentice degree page 7 duties and rights of entered apprentices and fellow crafts page 14. The 3 brothers are discovered while they are expressing concern for their fate. The candidate promptly goes through the ritual for the entered apprentice degree, which is the first degree of the blue lodge. Masonic rituals for entered apprentice, fellowcraft and master.
Apr 06, 2012 the ineffable degrees the official ritual of the lodge of perfection compiled by the united supreme council of the sovereign grand inspectorgenerals of the thirty third and last degree of the. The royal arch degree seems not to have been known to what are called modern masons as late as about 1750. These masonic rituals are provided in the portable document format pdf. Tyler prepares candidate and when ready to proceed with ceremony gives three distinct knocks. Allied masonic degrees ritual no 3 grand tilers of solomon. The third degree is said to be the height of ancient freemasonry, and the most sublime of all the degrees in masonry royal arch not even excepted.
Complete with entered apprentice, fellowcraft, master mason and mark degree. Explanation of the symbolism of the ceremony of raising. A member of the order of demolay since i was 14, i petitioned for the degrees as soon as my twentyfirst birthday drew near. Secret tradition in freemasonry vol i by waite in 1911. Drummond was originally published by the grand lodge of maine in 1877 for the purpose of assisting the lodges in.
Exmasons for jesus is a fellowship organization of men and women who have left the masonic lodge and appendant bodies, such as the order of the eastern star, jobs daughters, the order of rainbow for girls and the order of. Mcclenachan, 33 revised and enlarged edition, macoy publishing and masonic. He has exposed the content of masonic ritual so that christians who wish to witness to masons will be educated and equipped to take issue with the teachings found within masonic ritual. To whichis added theancientceremoniesoftheorder,and the ritual of adodte of sorrow. This presentation of the ceremony starts when the inner guard, as if having enquired of the tyler about the. Without our beautiful ritual and the timehonored lessons it holds, our fraternity would be just another service club.
The ritual is the cypher of abbreviations which constitutes the key to the secret work and those portions of the degrees which. The term raised alludes to the candidates experience of being physically lifted during the impressive ceremonies of the second section of the degree, when he took part in the representation of a masonic tragedy. For those who are unaware, the 33rd degree is part of the scottish rite of freemasonry, which is an organizations that exists within freemasonry that master masons may join if they choose to. A governing organization with authority over the individual lodges in its jurisdiction. In these texts we find the symbolical background of that degree or order, but also the secret pass words, tokens and grips. The striking similarity of the rituals of various states can be demonstrated by examining masonic monitors. The tyler, having properly prepared the candidate, not forgetting the badge of second degree, gives second degree.
Third degree ritual the raising the lodge being open in the third degree the deacons lay down the s. The ritual is the cypher of abbreviations which constitutes the key to the. Primarily, it was designed for students, but not for them alone. The ritual file is protected by a password which is the word of the degree. Maine masonic text book for use of lodges originally drummonds monitor sixteenth edition copyrighted 1923 maine printing exchange, inc. Once you have been raised to the degree of master mason, other than your attending each of your lodge meetings and studying on your own, there are 3 other. Masonic orders fight severely to the publication of these texts. They are in word format some are in pdf, therefore readable by any system.
Secret sects of syria and the lebanon by b h springett. Yet, the variations do not change the character of masonic ritual as practiced in any particular lodge. Written in the 19th century, duncans ritual, as it is known, has been republished numerous times. Duncans masonic ritual and monitor chapter 1 part 8 the initiation part 3 the lecture part 1 duration. Lewis masonic ritual complete manual of freemasonry w. The lectures of the three degrees in craft masonry. His business is to teach the subordinate lodges the ritual of freemasonry, and he is paid generally by salary, or so much from each lodge before whom he may lecture. The lodge was held by peter, james, and john, or the per sonified months of january, april, or june, july, and august. The scottish rite ritual monitor and guide 78 tain prisoners. Unabridged edition shavers masonic monitor, containing alii theexoteric ritualoftheworkand lectures of the three degrees of ancient craft masonry. What do 33rd degree masons know that 3rd degree masons do. A brief history of freemasonry and the origins of the scottish rite 75.
Duncans ritual of freemasonry our lady is god, the lord is satan. The master mason degree was more or less settled in the 1720s and the royal arch arose in the 1730s, but all other degrees are more recent innovations and arose outside of the craft masonry setting. Time between degrees should be used for intellectual study, contemplation, and selfdevelopment. Duncan 1866 this book presents details of masonic initiation rituals, along with grips, passwords and regalia. That portion of the old freemasons who met at the famous appletree tavern, in 1717, and. Monitors often contain selected portions of ritual, in addition to explanations of. Fifteen points for masonic education iowa freemasonry. Ritual book 33rd degree scottish rite freemasonry youtube. The degrees of freemasonry are allegorical of the same mys tery. Ceremony of foundation of a masonic lodge ritual 5. There are over a hundred illustrations, all reproduced here, which show important details of the rituals, including gestures and symbolic pictures. Through all the masonic degrees, ancient or modern, the subject continues to be a dark development of the building of the temple. Suffice it to say, your masonic lodge down the street does not work in this way.
Ceremony is the most dramatic of the three through which you. Freemason ritual learning the ritual within the degrees. I remember that when i had just been initiated my state of mind could only be described as chaotic. However, those of us who are active in the masonic. The code contains the masonic constitution, the bylaws governing grand lodge, the bylaws governing constituent lodges, and the penal code. He must open it on the third degree, unless the business he the conferring of the first or second degree, as all other business must be. My masonic pedigree, while not particularly unusual, has resulted in many discussions with fellow masons concerning the origins of freemasonry and the reasons for variations in masonic ritual. The 3 masons end up finding the grave site where the 3 brothers are hiding by noticing the weak plant. It includes the three basic degrees of the ancient york rite, and four additional advanced. First, the entered apprentice degree, second, the fellow craft degree and finally, the master mason degree. Secret masonic handshakes words, and signs of blue lodge masonry entered apprentice degree first degree in the blue lodge sign of an entered apprentice. The secret ritual of the secret work of the ancient arabic. The tyler, having properly prepared the candidate, not forgetting the badge of second degree. These masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence.
Collectanea masonic rituals grand college of rites of the. Detailled instructions are provided with the ritual. Freemasons are part of an ancient tradition with rituals and symbols all their own. The very miracles of the new testament are allegorical sketches of the different degrees of the same mysteries. It includes the three basic degrees of the ancient york rite, and four additional advanced degrees.
Words, and signs of blue lodge masonry pictou masons. The grand lodges pollard booklets developed by most worshipful ralph j. While masonic lodges serve their communities, their most important. Louisiana masonic monitor, new yorks monitor, and the. There is a great deal of profit and pleasure to be derived from it for the rank and file of. Salutes every mason should be carefully taught the salutes in each degree, and all salutes should be given with precision.