Book 2 The Fellow Craft

AMOS Chapter 7 7 Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.

8 And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more.

The Fellow Craft Authorized by Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Kansas

Approved by the Council of Administration With assistance from the Ritualistic Committee, and Masonic Education Committee

Duties and Responsibilities of an Fellow Craft  To understand the internal qualifications of a person are most important.  To assist and support the rules and regulations of the Fraternity.  To earnestly study the Liberal Arts, especially Geometry, which is most important in our Fraternity.  To understand that you must constantly uphold the principles and virtues of the order, especially as a new member to the Craft.

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What is a Fellow Craft "Fellow Craft" is one of the large number of terms which have a technical meaning peculiar to Freemasonry and are seldom found else-where. In the period of Operative Masonry, a "craft" was an organization of skilled workers in some trade or calling. A "fellow" meant one who held membership in such a craft, obligated to the same duties and allowed the same privileges as all other members. One of our present-day definitions of "fellow" is: an equal.

In Freemasonry the term "Fellow Craft" possesses two separate meanings, one of which we may call the Operative meaning, the other, the Speculative.

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Operative Fellow Crafts In the Operative period of Freemasonry, the Craft was comprised of skilled workmen engaged as architects and builders. During this period skilled workmen were organized into a craft, the general form of which was called a "guild." This guild had officers, laws, rules, regulations and customs peculiar to it, and its regulations were binding on all members.

The guild divided its membership into two grades, the lower of which, is the Entered Apprentice. As learned in the preceding degree, the Entered Apprentice was at the beginning of his journey, learning the tools and skills of the trade. When an apprentice finished his long period of apprenticeship he stood an examination. If his record was good, and he could prove his proficiency under test, and the members voted in his favor, he was made a full member of the Craft. He then had the same responsibilities, rights and privileges as all the others. He was their equal, and he was then called a "Fellow of the Craft."

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Speculative Fellow Crafts Now that the Craft is no longer Operative, the term possesses a very different meaning, although it is still used in its original sense in certain parts of the Ritual.

Operative Freemasonry began to decline about the time of the Reformation in the sixteenth century, when lodges became fewer in number and small in membership.

A few of the Lodges in England began to admit into membership men who had no intention of practicing Operative Masonry, but who were attracted to it by the Craft's antiquity or for social reasons. These men were called Speculative Masons.

By the beginning of the eighteenth century these Speculative Masons had so increased in numbers that they were in the majority.

Thus, it was that during the first quarter of that century, the Craft was completely transformed into the Speculative Fraternity which we now have.

Although they adhered as closely as possible to the old customs which had prevailed in the Operative Craft, there were some radical changes made. One of the most important of these was to abandon the old rule of dividing P a g e 4

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the members into two grades or degrees and to adopt the new rule of dividing them into three. The second grade became known as the Fellow Craft Degree, and the third eventually became the Master Mason Degree.

You are now known to us as a Fellow Craft.

This term is also given as the name of the Second Degree and refers to the ritualistic ceremonies and other content of that degree, to a member of it, and to a Lodge when opened on it. Since you have passed through these ceremonies and assumed the obligations there-in contained and have been registered as a Fellow Craft upon the books of the Lodge, you have acquired certain rights and privileges.

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The Winding Stairs

The Middle Chamber, which is so conspicuous in the Second Degree, has many meanings. Among others, it is a symbol of wisdom. By the experience of the Five Senses, through the knowledge gained of the Liberal Arts and Sciences, the candidate is called to advance, as on Winding Stairs, to that balanced wisdom of life in which the senses, emotions, intellect, character, work, deeds, habits, and the soul of a man are knit together in unity, balance, and poise.

We are taught that we should use the five senses that God has given us to climb the seven steps of the stairway which we designate as the seven Liberal Arts and Sciences. When we rise by Grammar and Rhetoric, we must consider that they mean not only language, but all methods of communication. The step of Logic means a knowledge not only of all methods of reasoning, but of all reasoning which logicians have accomplished. When we ascend by Arithmetic and Geometry, we must visualize all science. The step P a g e 6

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denominated Music means not only sweet and harmonious sounds, but all beauty, poetry, art, nature and loveliness of whatever kind. As for the seventh step of Astronomy, surely it not only suggests the study of the solar system and the stars, but that they symbolize a supreme creative power and wisdom, without which the universe could not exist.

You recall the prominence which was given the Letter G. It may be considered as having a double interpretation: (1) as being the initial of Geometry, regarded as the basic science of Operative Masonry, now symbolizing to Speculative Masons the unchanging natural laws which govern the whole material universe; (2) as being the first letter of our name for the Deity in whose existence all Masons have professed belief, the continued expression of which is symbolized by the presence of the Volume of the Sacred Law upon the altar; Together they symbolize that attribute of God revealed to us through Geometry: God as the great Intelligence of the Universe. This is consistent as the entire degree makes its appeal to the intellect.

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Wages or Responsibilities One of the first privileges of the Operative Fellow Craft was to receive wages. As an apprentice he had been completely at the mercy and will of his Master. He did not work for a wage, nor did he need one. He worked to learn, and when he had finished his learning and graduated into an "equal" or a Fellow of the Craft, his whole outlook on life changed. He grew up. His labor entitled him to a wage, and since he was to receive wages and become self-reliant, he had to assume responsibilities.

Through the course of assuming this responsibility, the Operative Fellow Craft received as actual wages corn, wine and oil, symbolizing the wealth of life in mental and spiritual, not financial realms. In Freemasonry, corn represents plenty, referring to opportunity, work, friends; oil represents joy, happiness and gladness; wine represents health, spirituality and peace. Together, corn, wine and oil represent the rewards of a good life. They are also the elements of consecration used in Masonic cornerstone laying’s, and P a g e 8

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dedication and in the constitution and consecration of a new Lodge. The meaning of the word corn, as it is used in the Fellowcraft degree, should be clarified. In most parts of the world, the word “corn� is used in its collective sense and refers to all small grain. This is its meaning when used in any of our Masonic ceremonies, and grain collectively is usually represented by wheat although any small grain such as barley, oats, maize, etc., may properly be used.

As a Speculative Fellow Craft, you were told that Masonry is a progressive science, and that as you advanced or progressed, your duties and obligations would correspondingly increase. Isn't that true of life? As a child, you had no worries, few responsibilities and not too much was expected of you. Your mistakes were quickly excused because you didn't know better.

Then as you grew in years and wisdom, you gradually assumed increased responsibilities and a great deal more was expected of you.

Think back now upon your obligations as an Entered Apprentice and then as a Fellow Craft. Do you not see that a great deal more is expected of you? Again, how true this is of life! Man seems to grow in stature according P a g e 9

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to the responsibilities which he assumes, and as he becomes more mature in his habits and thinking he develops a philosophy by which he lives. If his pattern of living is what it should be, he will endear himself to his associates and his fellows. The wages of life are allegorical and sometimes difficult to define, but the esteem of one's Brother is sometimes more valuable than any earthly wage that might be received.

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Proving your proficiency to the Lodge In order that you may prove to your Brothers and Lodge that you completely understand the obligation of your Fellow Craft degree, it will be necessary that you commit to memory the Signs, Token, Word and Obligation of this degree. Your Mentor will be happy to assist and lead you in this endeavor. It will be preferred that you deliver this memorized work in open Lodge.

In addition, it continues to be necessary that you work through the proficiency exam questions at the end of this handbook with your Mentor or Lodge.

Following is the lecture you witnessed right after receiving your FC degree. This is referred to as the “long version� of the proficiency work. Should you decide to learn this long version, no doubt will remain as to your strength of knowledge of the FC degree, but also it will prove to all Masons the rectitude of your purpose.

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Are you a F C? I am; try me. ow H w-l you be t-d?

By the S-e.

Why by the S-e?

B-e it is one of the W-g T-s of my pr-n.

W-t is a S-e?

An an-e of ni-y d-s or the f-h p-t of a c-e.

Wh-e w-e you m-e a F C? In a j-t and la-y co-t-d L-e of F C-s.

How w-e you p-p-d?

By b-g di-d of all m-s, ne-r n-d nor c-d, ba-t nor s-d, ho-d, w-h a c-e-tow t-e ab-t my n-d r-t arm, in wh-h si-n I was co-d to the d-r of the L-e by a B-r.

Why had you a c-e-tow t-e ab-t y-r n-d r-t arm?

It was to s-w t-t as a F C I was u-r a do-e tie to the Fr-y. ow H g-d you ad-n?

By t-e di-t k-s.

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To w-t do the k-s al-e?

To the t-e J-s of a F C: the at-e ear, the in-e t-e and the fa-l br-t.

W-t was s-d to you f-m wi-n?

Who c-s h-e?

Y-r an-r?

A B-r who has b-n re-y in-i-d as an E A and now w-s for m-e l-t in M-y by b-g pa-d to the D-e of a F C. W-t w-e you t-n a-d?

If it was of my own f-e w-l and ac-d; if I was d-y and t-y p-p-d, w-y and w-l qu-d; if I had m-e su-e pr-y in the pr-g d-e; all of wh-h b-g an-d in the af-e, I was a-d by w-t fu-r r-t or be-t I ex-d to g-n ad-n.

Y-r an-r?

By the be-t of a P-s.

Did you gi-e the P-s?

I ga-e it not; my gu-e ga-e it for me.

W-t fo-d?

I was di-d to w-t w-h pa-e u-l the W M c-d be in-d of my re-st and his an-r re-d.

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W-t an-r did he re-n?

Let him en-r and be re-d in due f-m. ow H w-e you re-d?

On the an-e of a S-e ap-d to my n-d r-t br-t, wh-h was to s-w t-t the S-e of Vi-e s-d be a r-e and gu-e to my co-t in all my fu-e tr-s w-h ma-d. ow H w-e you t-n di-d of?

I was co-d t-e ab-t the A-r to the J W in the S-h, wh-e the s-e qu-s w-e a-d and an-s re-d as at the d-r.

How did the J W di-e of you?

He di-d me to the S W in the W-t, wh-e the s-e qu-s w-e a-d and an-s re-d as be-e. ow H did the S W di-e of you?

He di-d me to the W M in the E-t, wh-e the s-e qu-s w-e a-d and an-s re-d as be-e.

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How did the W M di-e of you?

He or-d me to be re-d to the S W in the W-t who t-t me how to ap-h the E-t, ad-g by two up-t re-r s-s, my f-t fo-g a r-t an-e of an ob-g s-e, my b-y er-t to-d the W M in the E-t.

W-t did the W M t-n do w-h you?

M-e me a F C. How? In due f-m.

W-t is t-t due f-m?

Kn-g on my n-d r-t k-e, my l-t fo-g a s-e, my b-y er-t, my n-d r-t h-d r-t-g on the H-y B-e, S-e and Co-es, my l-t e-w fo-g a r-t an-e su-d by the S-e; in wh-h due f-m I t-k the ob-n of a F C. R-t it.

I, ___ ___, of my own f-e w-l and ac-d,in the pr-e of Al-y God and t-s Wo-l L-e, er-d to Him and de-d to the H-y S-s J-n, do he-y and he-n m-t so-y and si-y pr-e and s-r as I h-e he-e d-e but w-h t-se ad-s: t-t I w-l not co-e the s-s of a F C to an E A, any m-e t-n t-o-e P a g e 15

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of an E A to the r-t of the w-d; ne-r t-se nor any of t-m to any pe-n or pe-s w-m-r, u-l by s-t t-l, due ex-n, or la-l in-n, I s-l h-e f-d him or t-m as la-y en-d to the s-e as I am my-f.

I fu-m-e pr-e and s-r t-t I w-l s-d to and a-e by all the l-s, r-s and re-s of a F C-'s L-e so far as t-y s-l c-e to my kn-e.

I fu-m-e pr-e and s-r t-t I w-l an-r and o-y all due s-s and su-s s-t me f-m a L-e of F C-s, or ha-d me by a B-r of t-s d-e, if wi-n the l-h of my c-e-tow.

I fu-m-e pr-e and s-r t-t I w-l h-p, aid and as-t all p-r de-te B-r F C-s, t-y m-g ap-n to me as s-h and I fi-g t-m w-y.

I fu-m-e pr-e and s-r t-t I w-l not c-t, w-g, or de-d a L-e of F C-s, or a B-r of t-s d-e, kn-y or wi-f-y.

All t-s I m-t so-y and si-y pr-e and s-r, w-h a f-m and st-t re-n to pe-m the s-e, wi-t the l-t eq-n, m-l re-n, or s-f-ev-n wh-r, bi-g my-f u-r no l-s sy-c pe-y t-n t-t of ha-g my l-t br-t t-n o-n, my h-t pl-k-d out and g-n to the w-d P a g e 16

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b-s of the f-d and the f-s of the air as a p-y, s-d I in the l-t, kn-y or wi-f-y, vi-e or tr-s t-s my F C-'s ob-n. So h-p me God and k-p me st-t.

A-r t-g y-r ob-n, w-t w-e you t-n a-d?

W-t I t-n de-d.

Y-r an-r?

M-e l-t.

Did you re-e it?

I did. ow H ?

By or-r of the W M and the as-e of the Br-n.

On b-g br-t to l-t, w-t did you f-t di-r m-e t-n you had he-e d-e?

One p-t of the Co-es b-e; the o-r b-g hi-n was to t-h me t-t I had as yet re-d l-t in M-y but pa-y.

W-t did you t-n di-r?

The W M ap-g me f-m the E-t u-r the Due-g-d and S-n of a F C, who in t-n of the co-e of his Br-y L-e and fr-p p-s-d me w-h his r-t h-d and w-h it the P-s, P a g e 17

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T-n of the P-s, G-p and W-d of a F C and b-e me r-e and sa-e the W-s as s-h.

-r A sa-g the W-s, w-t did you t-n di-r?

The W M, who or-d me to the S W in the W-t, who t-t me how to w-r my Ap-n as a F C. A-r b-g t-t to w-r y-r Ap-n, how w-e you t-n di-d of?

I was co-d to the r-t h-d of the W M in the E-t, who p-s-d me w-h the W-g T-s of a F C and t-t me t-r u-s.

W-t are the W-g T-s of a F C? The P-b, S-e and L-l.

W-t are t-r u-s?

The Plumb is an instrument made use of by Operative Masons, to raise perpendiculars; the Square, to square their work; and the Level, to lay horizontals; but we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to make use of them for more noble and glorious purposes: the Plumb admonishes us to walk uprightly in our several stations before God and P a g e 18

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man, squaring our actions by the Square of Virtue and remembering that we are traveling upon the Level of Time, to “that undiscovered country, from whose bourne no traveler returns.� ow H w-e you t-n di-d of?

I was re-d to the p-e f-m w-e I ca-e, t-e re-d of w-t I had b-n di-d and was in-d, t-t ag-y to an an-t cu-m ex-g in all re-r and w-l go-d L-s of F C-s, it w-d t-n be ne-y t-t I s-d m-e a re-r as-t up a f-t of Wi-g S-s, co-g of t-e, f-e and s-n s-s, i-o a p-e re-g the Mi-e Ch-r of K S-'s T-e, t-e to re-e fu-r in-s re-e to the w-s of a F C, wh-h are c-n, w-e and oil, em-c of p-e, h-h and pl-y.

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NOTE; The following is the minimum required by the Grand Lodge of Kansas.

Gi-e me a S-n.

--W-t is t-t c-d?

The Due-g-d of a F C. as H it an al-n?

It has: to the po-n my h-s w-e p-d in w-n I t-k my ob-n. i-e G me an-r S-n.

--W-t is t-t c-d?

The S-n of a F C. as H it an al-n?

It has: to the pe-y of my ob-n.

Repeat your Obligation I, ___ ___, of my own f-e w-l and ac-d,in the pr-e of Al-y God and t-s Wo-l L-e, er-d to Him and de-d to the H-y S-s J-n, do he-y and he-n m-t so-y and si-y pr-e and s-r as I h-e he-e d-e but w-h t-se ad-s: t-t I w-l not co-e the s-s of a F C to an E A, any m-e t-n t-o-e of an E A to the r-t of the w-d; ne-r P a g e 20

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t-se nor any of t-m to any pe-n or pe-s w-m-r, u-l by s-t t-l, due ex-n, or la-l in-n, I s-l h-e f-d him or t-m as la-y en-d to the s-e as I am my-f.

I fu-m-e pr-e and s-r t-t I w-l s-d to and a-e by all the l-s, r-s and re-s of a F C-'s L-e so far as t-y s-l c-e to my kn-e.

I fu-m-e pr-e and s-r t-t I w-l an-r and o-y all due s-s and su-s s-t me f-m a L-e of F C-s, or ha-d me by a B-r of t-s d-e, if wi-n the l-h of my c-e-tow.

I fu-m-e pr-e and s-r t-t I w-l h-p, aid and as-t all p-r de-te B-r F C-s, t-y m-g ap-n to me as s-h and I fi-g t-m w-y.

I fu-m-e pr-e and s-r t-t I w-l not c-t, w-g, or de-d a L-e of F C-s, or a B-r of t-s d-e, kn-y or wi-f-y.

All t-s I m-t so-y and si-y pr-e and s-r, w-h a f-m and st-t re-n to pe-m the s-e, wi-t the l-t eq-n, m-l re-n, or s-f-ev-n wh-r, bi-g my-f u-r no l-s sy-c pe-y t-n t-t of ha-g my l-t br-t t-n o-n, my h-t pl-k-d out and g-n to the w-d b-s of the f-d and the f-s of the air as a P a g e 21

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p-y, s-d I in the l-t, kn-y or wi-f-y, vi-e or tr-s t-s my F C-'s ob-n. So h-p me God and k-p me st-t.

W-t are T-s?

C-n fr-y or Br-y g-s wh-y one M-n may kn-w an-r in the d-k as w-l as the l-t.

W-l you be off or f-m?

F-m the G-p of an E A to the P-s G-p of a F C. P-s. - - - W-t is t-s?

The P-s G-p of a F C. as t H i a n-e?

It has. i-e t G i m e.

- - -.

W-l you be off or f-m?

F-m.

-m F w-t?

F-m the P-s G-p of a F C to the T-e G-p of the s-e.

-s P . - - - W-t is t-s?

A G-p.

A G-p of w-t?

Of a F C. as t H i a n-e?

It has.

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Gi-e it me.

I did not so re-e it; ne-r can I so im-t it. ow H w-l you di-e of it?

L-r it and halve it.

L-r it and be-n.

Be-n you. ay ou e-n N ,y b .

---, ---, ---, ---, ---, ---, ---, ---, ----.

The W-d is r-t.

Rehearse the modes of recognition, passwords, and grips for this degree with a competent Brother Mason.

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Proficiency Exam Questions  What are the four duties and responsibilities of a Fellow Craft?  What is an Operative Fellow Craft?  How many degrees did Operative Fellow Crafts experience?  What is a Speculative Fellow Craft?  How is a Fellow Craft asked to advance to that “balanced wisdom of life”?  What is the double interpretation of the Letter G?  What wage did the Operative Fellow Craft work for, and why?  What is meant by Freemasonry being a “progressive science”?  How does the working tools correspond to you, as a new Fellow Craft?  What is your most important experience, to this point, in the degree work?

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