The Entered Apprentice
You are now an Entered Apprentice. The first step in your journey to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason has been taken. A degree in Masonry is not an isolated experience, but an ever-enduring privilege.
The Fellowcraft
The term Fellow Craft is now used as the name of the Second Degree. You can sit in either a Lodge of Apprentices or of Fellow Crafts, but not of Master Masons.
The Master Mason
You are now a Master Mason and, by reason thereof, a member of the oldest and largest fraternity in the world, an institution whose beginnings are lost in the dim reaches of the past.
Philosophy is the science of estimating values. The superiority of any state or substance over another is determined by philosophy. By assigning a position of primary importance to what remains when all that is secondary has been removed, philosophy thus becomes the true index of priority or emphasis in the realm of speculative thought. The mission of philosophy a priori is to establish the relation of manifested things to their invisible ultimate cause or nature. – Manly Palmer Hall 33°
Because Freemasonry welcomes all men of whatever religion and thus practices toleration, the distinction between masonry and religion needs to be made. Religion asserts authority, but masonry councels introspection and reflection on the great mysteries of the human condition.
Masonry asserts no authority as to creeds, submits no prophets for judgement, offers no writings from God and reveals no Devine truths beyond simple morality. It has no priesthood, demands no fixed tithe, dictates no sacraments and coerces no one with threats of eternal punishment beyond ones own conscience. It offers no redeemer, teaches no dogma, demands no obedience except simple morality and courtesy and contends with no just government.
Masonry is tolerant, even supportive of the most diverse religious beliefs. Religion has often devided men, but masonry reaffirms the brotherhood of man. If this is religion, it is only the most primitive kind and gives no reason for offense except by the power of it’s ow virtues. – Albert Pike 33°