Ancient Free & Accepted Masons
(Ed Note: I have slightly reorganized a few sentences to clear up possible confusion; and I have embellished a few ideas with language from other sources.)
There are three main degrees, or levels of Freemasonry to which a member can ascend. The first degree is Entered Apprentice, the second is Fellowcraft, and the third is Master Mason. In general, an individual who is referred to as a Mason has typically achieved all three degrees.
The degrees of Freemasonry are akin to a staircase—with each step an individual ascends to a higher level of growth and spiritual enlightenment. Some view the three levels as representing stages of personal development, a progress toward perfecting human nature.
Once accepted, the individual will have an initiation ceremony and begin his fraternal journey as an Entered Apprentice. Each degree is designed to enlighten an initiate using allegory, ritual, and symbols, most of which have evolved from the Operative Masons and the tools of their trade.
No Freemason is told that there is only one meaning to the allegories; as a Freemason works through the degrees and understands their lessons, he interprets them for himself. A common symbolic structure and universal archetypes provide a means for each Freemason to come to his own answers to life's important philosophical questions.
It is said that the three degrees are a rite of passage celebrating youth, manhood, and age. During the first degree a member is born into the Brotherhood and begins the learning process. During the second degree he becomes more enlightened as to the ways of the Craft, and by the third degree he increases his moral value and virtue.
Another common description of the degrees is mind, body and soul. The first degree revolves around the body as it relates to an action-filled world and man's ability to hone his relationship with that world. The second degree deals with perfecting the mind through the use of liberal arts and science. The third degree involves perfection of the soul as a result of understanding the mysteries of the Craft.
{It is said that potential member of the fraternity is prepared in his heart, and then enters into the Brotherhood in order to discover “light” or knowledge.}
Entered Apprentice
The Entered Apprentice, being the first degree, in many ways symbolizes an individual's spiritual birth into the fraternity, and begins his quest for “light,” or knowledge. It is a preliminary degree which serves to prepare the individual for the second and third degrees that will, in succession, elevate his level of fraternal growth, understanding, and enlightenment.
In order to obtain each degree, a member must participate in a symbolic ritual before he can continue on to the next degree. This begins with the Entered Apprentice degree and the first of an initiate's catechisms, or questions and answers. Typically, a new member will work with an existing member to aid in learning the questions and answers that relate to that degree When a catechism is completed, an initiate can move on to the next degree.
Each degree has a certain symbolism associated with it's level. These symbols, or working tools, are meant to represent the morals and forces necessary in building and rebuilding the nature of humankind. Philosophically, the tools, by their very nature, are meant to show that well-meaning and gratifying work, with proper guidance, can be accomplished.
As an Apprentice, an individual is introduced to the lodge and the internal structure of the fraternity. The lessons he learns begin with his initiation rite where he must be prepared to embark on a personal journey of growth and spiritual fulfillment. Once an individual is duly ready to accept this journey, he can proceed to the second degree, or Fellowcraft.
Fellowcraft
Individuals who earn the second degree of Freemasonry, Fellowcraft (thought to be short for Fellow of the Craft – Ed.) are symbolically entering into the adult phase of the Craft. It is about advancement, assuming new responsibilities. At this stage, members seek to acquire the knowledge and spiritual tools necessary to build character and improve society. The symbolism associated with the second degree differs from the first in that individuals are urged to seek greater appreciation of key arts and sciences. Additional allegories and symbols serve to further enhance the initiate's intellectual prowess and reasoning capabilities.
The Fellowcraft degree symbolizes life and the emergence into spiritual adulthood. In keeping with his progressive fraternal learning, the initiate is taught more history of the Craft and the legacy of Operative Masonry from biblical to Medieval times. (in allegorical terms - Ed.) During this symbolic period of manhood, Fellowcraft initiates use the lessons they learned as an Entered Apprentice to broaden and strengthen their horizons. One of the primary symbols associated with a Fellowcraft Mason is a winding staircase, which is used to ascend to new spiritual heights.
Master Mason
Throughout the fraternity it is a commonly held belief that there is no higher degree conferred on a individual than Master Mason. The Master Mason is symbolically linked to the soul and his own inner nature belief system. His spiritual and physical growth is enhanced when achieving this degree, as he climbs the winding stairs of adulthood in an effort to learn more of the Divine Truth.
It is said that by this stage of Brotherly evolution, an individual has learned to balance his inner nature, developed stability, purified his physicality, and broadened his mental faculties.
The degree is richly laden with allegory and symbolism that dates back to the building of the Temple of Solomon, and the rites associated with the degree are taken very seriously in regard to a brother's spiritual and educational teachings of the Craft.
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(from "101 Things ..." Karg and Young)
For
those unfamiliar with Freemasonry, the religious aspects of the Craft
can certainly be confusing. Writings about the Brotherhood often
mention a bible, Masons
meet in temples, many of their symbols have historically religious
connotations, and some of their titles contain worshipful and priest.
It's easy to see why misunderstandings occur. But in this case, a
Worshipful Master, for example, has nothing to do with actual worship
as a religious reference. It is, in fact, a title of honor, much
like one would address the mayor of a city.
There
are several basic elements to consider when analyzing Freemasonry in
regard to religion. For starters, the organization has no dogma or
central theology, and members are free to practice any religion to
which they subscribe. Unlike most organized religions, the Masons
have no sacramental offerings or ritual worship, and the Brotherhood
does not offer salvation in the the traditional religious sense of
the word. All Masonic titles are purely symbolic and honorable.
When speculative Freemasonry originated in the eighteenth century most of its members were Christian. As such, the Holy Bible, particularly the King James version, was the Volume of Sacred Law used in most lodges. Freemasons, however, are tolerant of all religions. In lodges with memberships comprising a variety of faiths, several different sacred texts, such as the Koran or Torah, may be used.
A curious criticism, among others, in regard to the Masonic use of the Bible as Volume of the Sacred Law, is their reference to it as “furniture.” This classification, which sounds odd of non-Masons (especially when taken out of context) is not meant to be disrespectful. The use of the word furniture is inclusive to Masons as it stands for “essential equipment” used during lodge meetings. The sacred text is given a place of honor in a lodge, and it lies open on an altar, table, or pedestal.
One of the basic qualifications an individual must posses when applying to become a Freemason is the belief in a Supreme Being and the immortality of the soul. (the latter varies among jurisdictions - Ed.) The Brotherhood doesn't interfere with any member's religion, their only concern being that all members hold their own faith in a Supreme Being in high regard.
The letter “G” which is commonly used in Masonic symbolism with a square and compass, alternately stands for geometry, God, or the Masonic preference, Grand Architect of the Universe. The latter addresses Deity in a nonsectarian manner, which gives brothers the ability to focus on their own Supreme Being. Differences in religion between the brethren don't really play a part in the fraternity, because religion and politics are not allowed to be discussed in a lodge.
Given that one of the qualifications in becoming a Mason is a belief in a Supreme Being, the question of atheism inevitably arises. As a rule Freemasonry does not accept atheists. Much like any other membership-based organization, it has certain qualifications for their applicants. The only instances where atheists are accepted are in irregular jurisdictions, or those that are not officially warranted or recognized by a Grand Lodge.
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