Master mason initiation masonic rituals of freemasons. The candidate enters the room and receives a blessing from the worshipful master wm. The pen and ink watercolored illustrations preceding each degree depicting signs of the scottish. A brief history of freemasonry and the origins of the scottish rite 75. The trowel is an instrument made use of by operative mason to spread the cement which unites a building into one common mass. The master mason degree is the climax and goa l of initiation, the mountaintop, like the summit of mt. An extraordinary individual in ordinary circumstances.
Masonic ritual is the scripted words and actions that are spoken or performed during the degree work in a masonic lodge. A historical sketch of the institution and a critical analysis of the character of each degree, by president j. T royal master he royal master is the eighth degree of the amer ican rite, and the first of the degrees conferred in a council of royal and select masters. Royal and select masters compiled by osborne sheppard from old records. Freemason collection is ranked in the most visited websites top 10 in the major masonic online magazine pietrestone. Cryptic degrees 201 adoniram, or the royal master, we see symbolized the speculative mason, who, having labored to complete his spiritual temple, comes to the divine master that he may receive his reward, and that his labor may be consum mated by the acquisition of truth. Brother, who has been regularly initiated into freemasonry, passed to the degree of a fellow craft, and has made such further progress as he hopes will entitle him to be raised to the sublime degree of a master mason, for which ceremony he is properly prepared. Through that lens, this work seeks to find the hidden esoteric connections and their connections with the centuriesold ritual that crowns the process of becoming a freemason. The complete ritual of the first seven masonic degrees, by jacob o. Worksheet for master mason degree parts page 1 of 3 first section degree part primary alternate worshipful master. The masonic rituals provided here are as practiced under the jurisdiction of the grand lodge of nevada, circa 1986. Masons in the acquisition of knowledge is bounded by no space. The aasr does have its own distinctive versions of the craft rituals entered apprentice, fellow craft, and master mason, but most. The master mason degree the grand lodge of florida.
Once it is gained, he finds himself at last a master mas on, a brother in the full sense of the word, and eligible to share in. Ritual of raising in its entirety from entrance of fellowcrafts through the presentations of working tools. The master mason degree ritual secret societies exposed. Because of the reverence of the average mason for what he is taught, and his fierce resentment of any material change in that which he learns, rituals and degree forms, ceremonies and practices, usages and customs, continue to be what he believes them to. Even though masons freemasons are members of the largest and oldest fraternity in the world, and even though almost everyone has a father or grandfather or uncle who was a mason, many people arent quite certain just who masons are. It is indeed a sublime degree, which a man may study for years without exhausting. The drama is an essential portion of the master mason degree. The first mention of a brother being made a mark mason was at a lodge in newcastle in january 1756, although earlier references to a brother having received his mark are known. An interpretation of the ritual of the third degree. It is important for the newly raised master mason to remember that his public actions and deportment may very well be those upon which the whole of freemasonry is judged. I therefore recommend to every reading mason this little volume, and more especially to the young mason, who will find therein the explanation of just those points on which he often seeks help and enlightenment in vain. Ritual grand council of royal and select master of iowa. The retiring right worshipful master opens the lodge in the mark master degree. Apr 04, 2018 third, in the journey of the symbolic lodge, the master mason is a formal exploration of the symbolism and allegory at work in the third degree of freemasonry.
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. Freemason collection is one of the rare websites rated three stars maximum on. The ceremony of opening and conducting the business of a lodge of master masons is nearly the same as in the entered apprentice and fellow crafts degrees, already explained. All the business of a blue lodge a lodge of three degrees is done in the lodge while opened. Moriah, to which the candidates path has been making its winding ascent.
First, the entered apprentice degree, second, the fellow craft degree and. The scottish rite ritual monitor and guide scottish rite store. The whole scope of the ritual, and the ultimate of the symbols of the master mason degree place supreme emphasis upon the truth that when a mans life has spent itself on earth, has passed away as the fleeting shadows, his soul returns to god who gave it and his body which returns to dust will be raised, incorruptible and glorified and. Some time later, in a separate ceremony, they will be passed to the degree of fellowcraft, and finally they will be raised to the degree of master mason. A file purporting to contain the script of the master mason s degree as practiced in nevada usa circa 1986. Masonic rituals for entered apprentice, fellowcraft and master. If an open installation at a special meeting, it can be informally declared open for the purpose of an open installation after any preceding business, remarks, etc. Its officers are a thrice illustrious grand master, representing king. Masonic rituals for the entered apprentice, fellowcraft and master masons degrees.
The rite of destitution in the first degree provides an object lesson that should never be forgotten, and the obligation of the third degree contains a still broader definition of the requirements of masonic relief. Most excellent master and super excellent master rituals. You have been raised to the sublime degree of a master mason. 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. A masonic lodge, often termed a private lodge or constituent lodge, is the basic organisational. How does he hope to obtain the privileges of the third degree.
Ceremony of installation for the chair, or past master. Words, and signs of blue lodge masonry pictou masons. 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. Each individual competitor or team leader must complete and submit the ritual. Approved and authorized by the right worshipful grand master. It has been suggested that research lodge be merged into this article. Master mason, or third degree chapter 3 gnostic warrior. A member of multiple lodges may compete in only one individual competition andor one team competition. Every affiliated master mason has the right to a masonic funeral. The book of the ancient and accepted scottish rite of freemasonry. As to the ritual, we know from early exposures that a system of three craft degrees was well developed by 1730 and that the royal arch emerged in the 1740s. Some of these sites have some degree of information. Master mason initiation as in the fellow craft initiation, the master mason ceremony starts out with an introduction and a pass through word, sign and grip.
We hear the terms corn, wine and oil in our ritual, and see them used at cornerstone layings and building dedications. Your progress through the officers line, and your familiarity with each of the past masters of your lodge, should suggest to you which past masters can be most helpful with particular projects or programs, which past masters can be most informative with respect to ritual or degree work questions, which past masters have the time necessary to. None of them however focus specifically on the present tense idea of what freemasonry is, today, right now. In practice, his family has the right of requesting this honor. By the time the latter forces were in operation, the ritual was more or less fixed. Candidates for freemasonry are progressively initiated into freemasonry, first in the degree of entered apprentice. 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. A file purporting to contain the script of the master masons degree as practiced in nevada usa circa 1986. The grand council royal and select masters of iowa is proud to offer the iowa rituals for the royal master and select master in two different ways to help companions study and learn the work. The true importance of this degree is the portrayal of the removal of everything that keeps us from rising to that state where the soul communes with the heavenly light. The word sublime is defined as being exalted or elevated so as to inspire awe and wonder. To provide the new master mason s with the opportunity of discussing the pollard plan booklet, number four, with the aim of assisting him in gaining an overview of the master mason degree as viewed in relation to his past masonic experience and his future role within the fraternity. Masonic symbolism is that which is used to illustrate the principles which freemasonry espouses. The bulk of masonic ritual consists of degree ceremonies.
A brother, who has been regularly initiated as an entered apprentice, passed to the degree of a fellowcraft, raised to the sublime degree of a master mason, advanced to the degree of a mark master, inducted into the oriental chair, and now wishes to receive further light in masonry by being received and acknowledged a most excellent master. The ceremony of opening and conducting the business of a lodge of master masons is nearly the same as in the entered apprentice and fellow crafts degrees. These masonic rituals are provided in the portable document format pdf. Ceremonial degree at the installation of officers of the. In some jurisdictions this privilege is restricted to master masons that is. The members of freemasonry constantly preach openness, acceptance and love in order to build a stronger community, and therefore a stronger country by way of rippleeffect. The degree teaches that honesty and trustworthiness is the cornerstone of the foundation of masonic honor. The following exposures of masonic ritual are provided in a cooperative effort between exmasons for jesus and ephesians 5. Ceremony of installation for a lodge of mark masters. Masonic ritual instructors manual grand lodge of maine.