The Journey through Masonic Degrees

W.B. Dale B. Palileo, Grand Lecturer

“A beautiful and profound system of morality, veiled in allegories and illustrated by symbols.”

This is usually what we tell men who ask what our beloved Craft is all about, and it is a poignant and succinct way of describing something many of us view as “hard to explain yet easy to understand.”

But how is Freemasonry a “system?” It is a system due to the structured nature of our Degrees. The hierarchical structure of our Degrees encourages progression where one starts his journey through the First Degree and ends with the Third Degree, and each one imparts an important set of principles that build on each other. When taken as a whole and when done properly, the entirety of our lessons provide an experience that teaches us many valuable lessons. These lessons eventually lead to a gentle reminder of self-evaluation so that we can be better versions of ourselves.

Why is there a need for allegory? Simply put, allegories allow for enhanced understanding, internalization and memorization of what we teach. They provide multiple layers of meaning, which encourage personal interpretation and a deeper engagement and connection to our timeless traditions. Allegories enhance the journey and provide personal context and association.

Speaking of traditions, symbolism is perhaps one of the most important parts of our identity and provides a visual aid throughout the Masonic journey. Symbols serve as powerful reminders of the lessons we learn through each Degree and serve as a visual foundation of our identity not only to ourselves but to the outside world as well.

In time, the degree system provides the proper context for our lessons, while allegories provide easier understanding and internalization, which we remind ourselves of by using symbols. The Masonic journey would be devoid of any importance or meaning without any of these three parts.

This eloquent meaning of Freemasonry is deeply rooted in the journey through each Degree, and despite the uniformity of our rituals, allegories and symbols, each of us finds a different meaning to the entire experience especially when we apply it to our own lives.

Still yet, after participating in numerous Degrees—be it just someone from the sideline or sitting in the Oriental Chair— those who seize the opportunity to further understand their beloved Craft find hidden gems of truth that enhance their understanding of the world and more importantly, themselves.

But the Masonic journey does not end when we go through all three Degrees. Perhaps more importantly, the next part of the journey begins once we can practice what we learn, when we are given an opportunity to collect pieces—be it through participating in Degrees, taking time to understand ourselves on a deeper level, or interacting with the world at large—that complete this elaborate mosaic that gives us a closer view of enlightenment. ■