Masons & Freemasons
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Progressive Steps / Degrees I through III
Progressive Steps in Masonry
Degrees I through III
Table of Contents:
1.The Royal Arch Standard Mark Master The Royal Arch Standard Mark Master:
"Wherefore, brethren, lay aside all malice, and guile, and
hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings. If so be ye have tasted that
the Lord ls gracious; to whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed,
indeed, of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as living stones, be
ye built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices
acceptable to God.
"Wherefore, also, it is contained in the Scriptures, Behold, I lay
in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a
sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste to pass it over.
"Brethren, this is the will of God, that, with well doing, ye put
to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free, and not as using your liberty
for a cloak of maliciousness; but as the servants of God. Honor all men; love
the brotherhood; fear God.
"The foregoing selections from Scripture, slightly paraphrased,
are peculiarly appropriate by reason of their reference to the principal symbol
of the degree. See 2d chapter of the First Epistle of Peter, and the 28th
chapter of Isaiah."
The following passages of Scripture are appropriately introduced.
"And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need; and we will
bring it to thee in floats, by sea to Joppa, and thou shalt carry it up to
Jerusalem." 2 Chr. 2:16.
"Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward
sanctuary, which looketh toward the east, and it was shut. Then said the Lord
unto me, This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter
in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore
it shall be shut."
"And the Lord said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with
shine eyes, and hear with shine ears, all that I say unto thee concerning all
the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the laws thereof; and mark well
the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary." Ezek.
44:1-3, 5; Matt. 20:1-16.
"This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which
is become the head of corner." Acts 4:11.
"Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders
rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?" Matt. 21:42.
"And have ye not read this Scripture, The stone which the builders
rejected, is become the head of the corner?" Mark. 12:10.
"What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders
rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?" Luke 20:17.
Mark Master History:
This degree was founded to be conferred on all who should be found
worthy and well qualified, not only as an honorary reward for their zeal,
fidelity and attachment to Masonry, but to render it impossible that any
brother, who should be found unworthy of this degree, should advance to any
other honorary degree.
Working Tools:
The Chisel
The chisel is used by Operative Masons to cut, carve, mark and
indent their work. It morally demonstrates the advantages of discipline and
education. The mind, like the rough ashlar, when taken from the quarry, is rude
and unpolished; but as the effect of the chisel in the hands of the skilful
workman soon outlines and perfects the carved capital, the stately shaft, and
the beautiful statue, so educatton discovers the latent virtues of the mind, and
draws them forth to range the large field of matter and space, to display the
summit of human knowledge, our duty to God and to man.
The Mallet
The mallet is used by Operative Masons to knock off excrescences
and to smooth surfaces. It morally teaches to correct irregularities and reduce
man to a proper level so that by quiet deportment, he may, in the schoo! of
discipline, learn to be content. What the mallet is to the workman, enlightened
reason is to the passions. It curbs ambition; it depresses envy; it moderates
anger; and it encourages good dispositions, whence arises among good Masons that
comes order.
Which nothing earthly gives, or can destroy the soul's calm
sunshine, and the heart-felt joy.
Past Master:
This degree is more closely connected with Symbolic than Chapter
Masonry. It was, originally, and is to this day, an honorary degree and should
be conferred only on a newly-elected Master of a Lodge. But as it has become a
permanent component part of the Capitulation system, it is therefore useless to
contend with what is often termed the "inconsistency" of conferring an honor
where no equivalent services have been or are expected to be rendered.
As the rulers of Masonry are, and should only be, selected for
their superior skill and intelligence, they alone should be permitted to receive
the valuable light and information contained in the ceramonies of this degree.
Those who receive the degree in the Chapter are termed "virtual
Past Masters, in contradistinction to those who have been elected and installed
in a regularly constituted Symbolic Lodge, who are called "actual" Past Masters;
the former have no rights or privleges, as such, out of the Chapter.
The officers of a Past Master's Lodge are the same as those lodge
of Master Masons.
The officers ot a Chapter take rank in a Past Master's Lodge as
follows, viz.: The High Priest, as Master, the King, as Senior Warden; the
Scribe, as Junior Warden; the Treasurer and Secretry occupy the correspondiny
stations; the Captain of the Host, as Marshall; the Principal Sojourner, as
Senior Deacon; the Royal Arch Captain, as Junior Deacon and the Tiler at his
proper station.
The symbolic color ot the Past Master's degree is purple. The
apron is of white lambskin, square at the corners, edged with purple, and the
jewel of the degree inscribed upon it. The collar is purple, edged with gold or
yellow material. The aprons and jewels of the Chapter are used when this degree
is conferred.
The jewel of a Past Master is a pair of compasses, extended to
sixty degrees, the points resting on the segment of a circle. Between the
extended legs of the compass is a flaming sun. The whole mark be suspended
within a circle.
Lodges of Past Masters are "dedicated to the memory of the Holy
Saints John."
A candidate receiving the degree is said to have "Presided a
Master in the chair," or "regularly passed the chair."
Most Excellent Master:
Dedicated to the memory of King Solomon
This degree has special reference to that important period when
the temple erected by King Solomon for the worship of Jehovah completed was and
consecrated in all its glory and beauty.
The Masonic tradition upon which the degree is founded is
described in the ancient Book of Constitutions, in the following words: "The
temple was finished in the short space of seven years and six months to the
amazement of all the world, when the capestone was celebrated by the fraternity
with great joy. But their joy was soon interrupted by the sudden death of their
dear Master, Hiram Abif, whom they buried in the Lodge near the temple,
according to ancient usage.
"After Hiram Abif was mourned for, the tabernacle of Moses and its
holy relics being lodged in the temple, Solomon, in a generous assembly,
dedicated or consecrated it by solemn prayer and costly sacrifices past number,
with the finest music, vocal and instrumental praising Jehovah, upon fixing the
holy ark in its proper place, between the cherubim; when Jehovah filled his own
temple with a cloud of joy." None but those who, through diligence and industry,
have progressed far toward perfection; none but those who have been seated in
the Oriental Chair by the suffrages of their brethren, can be admitted to this
degree.
Tn its o:igina! establishment, when the Temple at Jerusalem was
finished, and the fraternity celebrated the capestone with great joy it is
demonstrable that none but those who had proved themselves to be complete
masters of their profession were admitted to this honor; and indeed, the duties
incumbent on every Mason, who is "received and acknowledged" as a Most Excellent
Master, are such as render it indispensable and that he should have a perfect
knowledge of all the preceding degrees.
It was therefore a part of the wisdom and justice of Solomon's
plans to bestow upon many of his most skilful workmen some distinguishing mark
of his approval. No higher appreciation of valuable services could have been
rendered to the worthy and meritorious than conferring upon them an Order of
Merit, with the honorable title of Most Excellent Master. And it is still
retained by us as a memorial of the method adopted by the King of Israel to
distinguish the most skilful portion of the craft, and to reward them for their
services in behalf of the fraternity.
At the completion of the Temple the stone which the builders had
rejected became the headstone of the corner. "The earth is the Lord's, and the
fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it
upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in
his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart, who hath not lifted
up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
"He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness
from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him,
that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be lift up, ye everlasting
doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
"Who is this King of glory? the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord
mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye
everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
"Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of
glory." Psalm, 24.
II Chronicles
"The third hour of the sixth day of the week."
"Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the Lord was
finished."
"Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of
the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem,
to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord, out of the city of David, which
is Zion." 2 Chr. 5:1, 2.
"Then said Solomon, The Lord hath said that he would dwell in the
thick darkness. But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place
for thy dwelling for ever.
"And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation
of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood. And he said, "Blessed be
the Lord God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake
with his mouth to my father David, saying, Since the day that I brought forth my
people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel
to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be
a ruler over my people Israel: But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might
be there; and have chocen David to be over my people Israel. Now it was in the
heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of
Israel; But the Lord said to David mv father. Forasmuch as it was in thine heart
to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in shine heart:
Notwithstanding, thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come
forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.
"The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken:
for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of
Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord
God of Israel. And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenantof the Lord,
that he made with the children of Israel.
"O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven,
nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy senants,
that walk before thee with all their hearts: Thou which hast kept with thy
senant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest withthy
mouth, and hast fufilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. Now therefore, O
Lord God of Israel keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast
promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to see upon
the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to the way to walk in
my law, as thou hast walked before me. Now O Lord God of Israel, let thy word be
verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David. But will God in very
deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven cannot contain
thee; how much less this house which I have built. Have respect therefore to the
prayer of thy servant, and to suplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the
cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee: That shine eyes may be
open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said, that
thou wouldst put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant
prayeth toward this place. Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy
servant, and of thy people Isreal which they shall make toward this place: hear
thou from thy dwelling-place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest? forgive."
Chr. 6.
"Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down
from heaven, and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices; and the glory
of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of
the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house. And when
all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord
updid the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the
pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying For he is good; for his
mercy endureth for ever." 2 Chr. 7.
"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of
the Lord.
"Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem
builded as a city that is compact together.
"Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the
testomony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
"For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house
of David.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that low
thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces:
"For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say, Peace
within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good."
Psalm 122.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me down to
lie in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my
soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousne fire His his name's sake. Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a
table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with
iol, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall folow me all the days
of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." Psalm 23.
Royal Arch:
"This degree is indescribably more august, sublime and important
than all which precede it; and is the summit and perfection ancient Masonry. It
impresses on our minds a belief of the bein existence of a Supreme Deity without
beginning of days or end years, and reminds us of the reverence due to his holy
name. It also brings to light many essentials of the Craft, which were, for the
spread of one hundred and seventy years, buried in darkness, and without
knowledge of which the Masonic character cannot be complete.
1."High-Priest, whose title is 'Excellent.' He represents Joshua
(or Jeshua), the first High-Priest of the Jews, after their return from the
Babylonish captivity. He is seated in the East, and is dressed a robe of blue,
purple, scarlet and white, and is decorated with ephod, breastplate and mitre --
the garments and decorations of ancient High-Priest of the Jews. On the front of
the mitre, upon the golden plate, is inscribed, in Hebrew characters, Holiness
to Lord. His jewel is a mitre.
2."The King represents Zerubbabel, a Prince of Judah, who the
leader of the first colony of Jews that returned from the Babalonish captivity
to rebuild the Temple. His station is in the East, at the right of the
High-Priest, clothed in a scarlet robe, with a crown on his head and a sceptre
in his hand. His jewel is a level, surounted by a crown.
3."The Scribe represents Haggai the prophet. His station is in the
East, at the left of the High-Priest clothed in a purple robe, and wearing a
turban of the same color. His jewel is a plumb, surmounted by a turban. These
three officers constitute the Grand Council.
4."The Captain of the Host represents the General of the troops
who returned from Babylon. His station is on the right of the Council. He wears
a white robe and turban and is armed with a sword. His jewel is a triangular
plate, on which an armed soldier is engraved.
5."The Principal Sojourner represents the leader of the party of
Jews, who sojourned in Babylon for a time, but came up to Jerusalem to assist in
rebuilding the Temple. He wears a black robe, with a rose-colored border, a
turban, and carries a pilgrim's staff. His station is on the left of the
Council. His jewel is a triangular plate, on which a pilgrim is engraved.
6."The Royal Arch Captain represents the Captain of the King's
Guards. He wears a white robe and turban, and is armed with a sword. His station
is within the fourth vail or S.'. His jewel is a triangular plate, on which is
engraved a sword.
7."The Master of the Third Vail wears a scarlet robe and turban.
His station is within the third vail, the color of which is scarlet. His jewel
is a sword.
8."The Master of the Second Vail wears a purple robe and turban.
His station is within the second vail, the color of which is purple. His jewel
is a sword.
9."The Master of the First Vail wears a blue robe and turban. His
station is within the first vail, the color of which is blue. His jewel is a
sword.
10."The treasurer, 11, Secretary, and 12, Sentinel occupy their
respective positions as in previous degrees, and wear their appropriatc jewels.
"The jewels of a Chapter are of gold or yellow metal, suspended
within a triangle.
"The symbolic color of this degree is scarlet.
"The collar and sash of a Royal Arch Mason are scarlet, edged with
gold or yellow material.
"The apron is of white lambskin, lined and bound with scarlet; on
the flap of which should be placed a triple tau within a triangle, and all
within a circle.
"The tau, or tau cross, was a sacred symbol among the ancients,
representing salvation and eternal life. It was the mark referred to in Ezekriel
9:4. The triple tau, placed in the center of the triangle and circle, both
emblems of Deity, is probably intended to typify the name of the Author of life,
the Creator, Governor, and Preserver of the Universe. Figuratively, the triple
tau represents the monogram of Hiram of Tyre, and also the initials of Templum
Hierosolymae the temple of Jerusalem, erected to God and dediciated to his Holy
Name.
"Chapters of Royal Arch Masons are "Dedicated to the memory of
Zerubbabel.
"Candidates receiving this degree are said to be 'Exalted to the
Most Sublime Degree of Royal Arch Mason.
"A Royal Arch Chapter represents the Tabernacle erected by our
ancient brethren near the ruins of King Solomon's Temple."
Symbolism Of The Vails:
"The vails are of the following colors: blue, purple, scarlet and
white, and may be symbolized as follows:
"BLUE -- The distinctive color of craft masonryÑdenotes
Friend-ship, which is the peculiar characteristic of a Master Mason "PURPLE --
The color of the preparatory degrees of the capitular system -- denotes unton,
and, it being composed of a due mixture of blue ans scarlet, is placed between
the first and third vails -Ñ which are of those colors -- to show the intimate
connection which should ever exist bwtween ancient craft masonry and this most
sublime degree." "SCARLET -Ñ The appropriate color of this degree is emblematic
that fervency and zeal which should ever actuate all Royal Arch Masons. "WHITE
-- Is a symbol of that purity of heart and rectitude conduct which are essential
to gain admission into the S.'. S. . or H .'. of H. . "Collectively, the Vails
are said to allude to the banners borne through the wilderness by the four
principal tribes of the children of Israel, viz.: Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and
Dan; emblematical!y representing the strength of the lion, the intelligence of
man, the patience of the ox and the swiftness of the eagle. "
The Vail Banners:
"The four vail banners should be located as follows: The White
banner, with a golden lion thereon representing the tribe of Judism at the
fourth Vail; the Scarlet banner, with the figure of a man representing the tribe
of Reuben, at the third Vail; the Purple banner with a black ox, representing
the tribe of Ephraim, at the second Vail; and the Blue banner, with a golden
eagle, representing the tribe of Dan, at the first Vail.
"This arrangement of the banners corresponds with the order
precedence of the principal tribes as recorded in the Second Tenth Chapters of
Numbers."
Order of The Red Cross:
"The Order of the Red Cross is founded upon Truth, recognizes the
GOD OF TRUTH as the only true and living Deity.
"Influenced in a measure by his Jewish Friend, Prince Zerubbah --
(Chosen of God) -- and believing in the One God as did Israel Darius registered
a vow with God that he would rebuild His Temple at Jerusalem. His Truthfulness
and reverence for Judah's Jehova are proven by the manner in which Darius kept
his vow.
"The Law of Judaism was active, educating and preparing us for
Christianity. As the most exalted TRUTH was implicitly present in Judaism and is
now explicitly present in Christianity, so the candidate finds the TRUTH OF
TRUTHS implicit in the Order of the Red Cross, but explicit in the Order of the
Temple.
"As Judaism prepared the world for Christianity, so is the
Illustrious Order of the Red Goss a preparation for the Christin Order of the
Temple."
The Sash, Banner and Cross:
"The Green Sash is a remir~der that Truth is a divine attribute
and the foundation of every virtue.
"The Banner of the Order bears the motto ' Magna est veritas and
Praevalebit': great is truth and it will prevail.
"The Cross of the Order contains the le~ters D. T. J. L.,
indicating Deity, Truth, Justice, and Liberty."
Rebuilding the Temple:
"Released from captivity by the decree of the great Cyrus, issued
B.C. 536, the Jews, led by Zerubbabel, reached the then desolate Jerusalem on
the 20th day of Tebeth, B.C. 535, and began building the Second Temple. This was
finished the 23rd day of B.C. Adar, 515."
Integrity:
"Integrity is deemed more precious than life to a true Mason.
Justice, Truth and Liberty are the grand characteristics of the Illustrious
Order of the Red Cross. No favors or emoluments are great enough to tempt a
companion of that Illustrious Order to barter Holy integrity to the interest of
Injustice, Falsehood or Oppression."
Liberatas et Natale Solum:
"May every companion of the Red Cross maintain Libererty and
Freedom, oppose injustice and superstition, ever showing mercy and compassion
and permitting none to oppress the widow and the fatherless, the stranger or the
poor."
G. Com. Supreme Counseil 33rd Degree Southern Jurisdiction of U.S.
