This article is taken from the August 2024 issue of Fraternal Review titled, “Rites of Passage and Mature Masculinity”

The initiatory process within Freemasonry is a journey of self-discovery marked by distinct stages that challenge and enlighten the candidate. The revelation stage, following the solemn obligation, stands as a pivotal moment when the essential teachings of the Craft are unveiled. It is a time of profound insight, as the candidate is entrusted with the wisdom that has shaped generations of Freemasons. Each degree dispenses a new teaching or revelation that—with time, patience, and application—will create a worthy Brother who will positively impact his family, lodge, and community.

The Entered Apprentice: Laying the Foundation of Character

For the Entered Apprentice, the revelation phase focuses on the fundamental principles of right action and character building. The candidate is reminded of the importance of integrity, honesty, and charity. The newly obligated Brother is taught the Four Cardinal Virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice to assist in this end. These virtues are not simply abstract ideals but guiding principles for daily life. Central to this is the understanding that our system of virtue, inspired by Platonic moral philosophy, emphasizes the objective nature of morality. According to this philosophical view, there is little room for subjective relativism. Rather, a clear distinction between the archetypal Good and its polarity of selfishness and ignorance.

The Entered Apprentice is taught that the pursuit of virtue is not a matter of personal opinion but a universal truth. The virtues of integrity, honesty, and charity are not simply arbitrary values but fundamental aspects of the Great Architect. They are the guiding lights that lead us away from the darkness of selfishness and ignorance towards the luminous glory of wisdom and enlightenment.

The Fellowcraft: Adorning the Mind with Knowledge

In the Fellowcraft degree, the revelation expands the candidate’s understanding of the world and their place within it. The focus shifts from virtue to the cultivation of intellect and the pursuit of knowledge. The Fellowcraft is introduced to the seven liberal arts and sciences, particularly emphasizing the Trivium (grammar, logic, and rhetoric) and the Quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy). These disciplines are not merely academic pursuits but tools for understanding the universe and one’s place within it.

The Fellowcraft degree also highlights the importance of aligning one’s will with the divine Will. This is not blind submission to a higher power but an active exploration of the inner self to find understanding and purpose. Fellowcrafts are encouraged to cultivate and nurture their own spiritual garden while respecting the diverse beliefs of others. The lessons of the Fellowcraft degree inspire a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and spiritual growth.

The Master Mason: Leaving a Lasting Legacy

The Master Mason degree conveys the highest illumination of Craft Masonry. This degree’s revelation focuses on our mortality and the importance of leaving a lasting legacy. The Master Mason is reminded that his time on Earth is finite within this incarnation and that he must strive to make the most significant positive impact on the world around him. The Master Mason is encouraged to mentor and support younger generations, passing on the wisdom and values of the Craft.

The highest revelation of the Third Degree, and possibly of Masonry overall, reveals the profound promise of the soul’s immortality. This revelation transcends the fear of death and imbues life with more profound meaning and purpose. It reminds the Master Mason that his actions have eternal significance and that he must strive to live a life that exemplifies this divine spark within himself. This promise of immortality inspires the Mason to seek spiritual growth, to live in accordance with virtue, and to leave a legacy that will endure long after he is gone.

The Importance of Oral Tradition and Active Learning

If these are the revelations of the degrees, and if they have been revealed to the reader, what is the point of joining a lodge of Freemasonry? To understand the purpose of the ritual and degree system, one must understand how these revelations are dispensed.

Masonic teachings are passed down through an oral tradition. This emphasizes the importance of active learning, the kind of learning that only comes through experience, rather than passive learning, information passed on solely through reading and memorization. The candidate is not simply told what to believe; he is encouraged to explore and discover the meaning of the teachings for himself. This active engagement with the material fosters a deeper understanding and a more substantial commitment to the principles of Freemasonry.

A helpful metaphor for understanding this concept is the experience of eating an orange. One can read the best description of eating an orange ever written, but it will never be truly understood until they peel and eat the orange. By aid of the human senses, and our inner spiritual faculties, we experience the gnosis of “eating an orange.” Likewise, reading about Masonry would be a futile attempt at understanding it. One must experience the degrees to understand them truly.

The candidate is not merely a passive recipient of information but an active participant in their own transformation. They are the audience as well as the protagonist of their own play. Through symbolic rituals and allegorical teachings, the candidate is challenged to confront his personal shortcomings and strive for moral excellence. The three degrees of Masonry instill in the candidate a profound respect for the objective nature of morality and a lifelong commitment to the pursuit of virtue.

Revelation and the Next Generation

The revelation stage is a critical moment in the Masonic journey, where the initiate is entrusted with the wisdom of the ages. It is a time of profound insight and transformation as the candidate is charged and challenged to live a life of integrity, purpose, and service toward his fellow man. The lessons of the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason degrees are not merely theoretical concepts but practical tools for living a meaningful and fulfilling life. This “light” is not meant to be kept within the bosom of the initiated Mason but passed down by succession to the younger generations of men who will follow in the past master’s footsteps. We must live out these tenets, yes; but we must also pass them on.

If our fraternity is to survive and thrive throughout the coming ages, making the most significant impact in this world possible, we must encourage other young people to participate actively in the lodge. This current generation may need support in ways that previous generations did not, and we must be willing to adapt to accommodate them in specific ways. Charity is not merely giving money to those in need; it is also offering that alchemical gold that lies within the heart of each Worthy Brother Mason. All Brethren were candidates and prospects at one point. In imitation of our mentors, let us labor to reveal all the light that can be emanated toward those who seek to propound our sacred Mysteries. Let us ever feed the eternal and holy flame.

Written by Michael Samu.

Samu was born and raised in Joshua Tree, California, and has been a Master Mason since 2018. He is also a seeker and ceremonial magician. He provides Tarot readings, writes articles on the occult and esoteric, and is currently the Organist and Lecturer-In-Residence for “Three Great Lights” Masonic Lodge No. 323 in Whittier, California. He also collaborates with Keepers of the Word’s 2024 Mystic Lantern series, which curates talks and podcast episodes on the philosophical aspects of Masonry, the occult, and the esoteric.