Understanding Masonic Ritual

GRAND LECTURER’S MESSAGE

W.B. Dale B. Palileo, Grand Lecturer

As Masons, we know that our beloved Craft has deeply-rooted values, borne from rich traditions that have been cultivated by many dedicated Brothers throughout the centuries. These values and traditions gently suggest a way of life founded on many great and important principles that are best taught through symbolism and allegory.

Just like ancient mystery schools in Greece and Egypt, our ancient brethren understood the need for these principles and lessons to be taught through an experiential process. They also understood that having an “experience” would leave a more permanent and indelible mark on the initiate than mere words written on paper. This created the necessity to design meaningful rituals, delicately woven with inspiration, intent, and intelligence.

Aside from imparting lessons, these rituals also served another purpose: to bind us to an obligation which, when taken as a whole—from the Entered Apprentice Degree through the Master Mason Degree—is as equally important to the main lessons themselves. These obligations remind us that the lessons we learn should be manifested to our Brothers, our families, and to our communities. To use a quote from the closing charge, they remind us that “every human being has a claim upon your kind offices” and to “do good unto all.”

But Ritual is meaningless if the lessons are not fully understood by those who are supposed to understand it. How do we, as Master Masons and Masons going through the Degrees, make sure that we understand the lessons imparted by our beautiful rituals? This question becomes even more complicated when we realize that our rituals were created with different layers of meaning, with each one presenting a more serious philosophical thought than the next.

Thankfully, our Ritual imparts basic lessons that are “common denominators” that allow us to share in the joys of finding these nuggets of wisdom. These basic lessons also allow us to find common ground in our philosophical discussions, both inside and outside the Lodge.

And what are some of these basic lessons? How do we peel through the layers of our Ritual to find deeper meaning in the words that we recite and the steps we take in our Degrees? Here are just some of the ways we can provide an understanding of our rituals:

Entered Apprentice Degree

At face value, the lessons learned in the Entered Apprentice Degree can be summed up in two words: Prioritization (knowing what’s important in one’s life) and time management (balancing one’s daily activities). However, looking at the Entered Apprentice Degree ritual a little deeper, we can see that it also teaches us the value of secrecy, particularly from a Masonic perspective. To further the point of prioritization and time management, this Degree also imparts the important lesson of self-care and how we should treat ourselves.

Fellowcraft Degree

This Degree imparts lessons that are focused on action and looking towards the future. It also teaches us that we have a responsibility to our Brothers. Taken in its entirety, the ritual of this Degree further shows us even deeper meanings: Intellectual advancement is a lifelong pursuit, and applied information transforms into wisdom.

Master Mason Degree

Cooperation and teamwork are the lessons taught by this Degree. It also extends our responsibilities to include our Brothers’ families. More lessons become obvious through this Degree’s beautiful allegorical storytelling that centers around fidelity and hope. At a deeper level, this Degree reminds us that our lives should have meaning and purpose, especially for those we leave behind when we shed our mortal coil.

Separately, each Degree’s ritual imparts lessons that may seem simple, especially if taken outside of the Degree’s ritualistic context. However, when taken as a system, each degree is interconnected with each other and profoundly expresses an even deeper meaning that highlights the human condition: The Entered Apprentice Degree deals with the self, the Fellowcraft Degree explores how we treat others, and the Master Mason Degree underscores our relationship with the Divine.

As a whole, our Ritual encompasses the fundamental aspects of life shared by all people, including birth, growth, emotional experiences, relationships, suffering, mortality, and the search for meaning. Our Ritual deals with universal themes such as love, fear, hope, loss, and the quest for purpose. It reflects the dual nature of human experience—sorrow and joy, failure and triumph, isolation and connection—and examines how we as Masons navigate these complexities within the broader context of society and the natural world.