Fellow Craft Masonry, or simply Fellow Craft, is the second degree of Freemasonry. It is a continuation of the journey into the mysteries of Freemasonry that began with the Entered Apprentice degree. Fellow Craft Masons learn more about the history and symbolism of Freemasonry, receive further instruction in the duties and obligations of a Freemason, and develop a deeper appreciation for the fraternity’s purpose and philosophy. This degree also gives its members greater access to more advanced Masonic knowledge and privileges within their Lodge.
A Fellow Craft Mason is a member of the second degree of Freemasonry. A Fellow Craft Mason has made a commitment to learning more about the craft and gaining a deeper understanding of the moral and spiritual values associated with Freemasonry. Fellow Craft Masons are expected to practice the principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth in their everyday lives.
Symbols Used in Fellow Craft Masonry
Masonic symbols are used to convey teachings of moral and ethical values to its members. Symbols used in Fellow Craft Masonry are an integral part of their culture and tradition. These symbols are important for a Fellow Craft Mason to understand the principles they stand for and live by.
The most important symbol in Fellow Craft Masonry is the square and compasses. This symbol represents the perfect union of body, mind, and soul with God. The square is meant to remind us of our duty to be honest and just in our dealings with others, while the compasses represent our duty to keep ourselves within due bounds.
Another important symbol is the 47th problem of Euclid, which symbolizes the search for knowledge and understanding. This symbol is also known as “the golden theorem” or “the golden rule” due to its importance in teaching Masonic philosophy. The number 47 is significant because it refers to geometry, which is a major part of Freemasonry.
The all-seeing eye is also an important symbol used in Fellow Craft Masonry. This symbolizes divine providence watching over us as we strive for perfection in all aspects of life. The all-seeing eye can also be seen as a reminder that we should be aware of our actions at all times so that we can make sure we are always doing what is right and just. It also serves as a reminder that we should always strive for knowledge and understanding so that we can better serve humanity and make progress towards a better world.
The sun rising above the horizon is another popular symbol used by Masons, which represents enlightenment through knowledge and understanding. The sun reminds us that no matter how dark things may seem, there will always be hope if we look to the light of knowledge and wisdom that lies within each one of us.
These symbols are essential components of Fellow Craft Masonry that convey teachings about morality, justice, knowledge, understanding, hope, enlightenment, and divine providence among others. They serve as reminders that life can be improved through dedication to these values held sacred by Masons throughout history.
What Are The Degrees Of Freemasonry?
Freemasonry is one of the oldest fraternal organizations in the world, and its members are known for their dedication to the craft. But what are the degrees of Freemasonry? The three basic degrees of Freemasonry are Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. Each degree is an opportunity for a Mason to gain more knowledge and understanding of the organization’s teachings and traditions.
The Entered Apprentice degree is the first step a new Mason takes in joining the fraternity. It serves as an introduction to Masonic principles and philosophies. During this degree, new members learn about the history and purpose of Freemasonry, as well as its symbols and rituals. This step is often called “entering” because it marks a Mason’s entrance into the fraternity.
The Fellowcraft degree follows after the Entered Apprentice degree has been completed. This step furthers a Mason’s understanding of Masonic philosophy and tradition by teaching him about its symbols and ceremonies. It also allows Masons to develop their skills in public speaking, leadership, and service to others.
The final Masonic degree—the Master Mason—is where Masons gain full membership into their lodge or Grand Lodge. During this degree, Masons learn about morality, philosophy, ethics, symbolism, and service within Freemasonry. After completing this final step, a Mason may take on various roles within his lodge or Grand Lodge such as Worshipful Master or Treasurer.
These three degrees form the basis for Freemasonry practices today and all Masons must complete each one before they can take on any leadership roles within their lodge or Grand Lodge. While some lodges may have additional degrees or rituals that follow these three basic steps, all Masons must first complete these three degrees before they can move forward in their journey with Freemasonry.
What Do Fellow Craft Masons Believe in?
Fellow Craft Masons are members of the Freemason brotherhood who have passed through the first two degrees of initiation. As such, they believe in the same core principles as all Freemasons, namely that all people are created equal, that there is a higher power greater than themselves and that they must work to improve themselves and their communities.
Fellow Craft Masons also believe in the importance of brotherly love, relief and truth. Brotherly love means treating other people with respect and kindness. Relief is about providing assistance to those in need, whether financially or through volunteering efforts. And truth is about being honest, upright and just in all aspects of life.
Fellow Craft Masons also believe in the importance of education. They aim to increase their knowledge and understanding by studying ancient texts from masonry such as The Holy Bible, The Book of Constitutions and other related texts. Through this process they learn more about morality, ethics, philosophy, symbolism and other Masonic lessons which help them become better individuals and members of society.
The teachings within Freemasonry are not limited to spiritual or esoteric matters though; Fellow Craft Masons also strive to better themselves intellectually as well as morally. They seek out opportunities to learn new skills, hone existing ones and apply this knowledge to their own lives as well as helping others do the same.
The core beliefs of Fellow Craft Masons are rooted in self-improvement and making the world a better place for everyone. They strive for harmony among all people regardless of race or creed while encouraging personal growth so that each individual can reach their full potential.
What Is The Purpose Of Fellow Craft Masonry?
Fellow Craft Masonry is a branch of Freemasonry that focuses on the development of moral character and spiritual growth. It is a tool to help its members strive for excellence in all facets of life. The core purpose of Fellow Craft Masonry is to provide its members with an opportunity to gain knowledge, hone their skills and become better people. By joining a Lodge, members can learn from each other and work together to achieve common goals.
The main purpose of Fellow Craft Masonry is to promote brotherly love, relief, and truth among its members. Fellowship among members is emphasized and encouraged, as well as trust in each other and in the organization as a whole. It also seeks to promote the advancement of science, philosophy, morality, and charity in society. Members are expected to live up to a high moral standard based on the principles of Freemasonry, such as integrity, honesty, compassion, fairness and justice.
Fellow Craft Masons believe that by working together they are able to foster strong bonds of friendship and fraternity among themselves. This brotherhood creates a sense of unity within the organization that helps its members stay connected with each other throughout their lives. Furthermore, fellow craft masons are encouraged to work together in order to serve their communities through charitable activities such as providing meals for those who are less fortunate or helping build homes for those in need.
The ritual ceremonies of Fellow Craft Masonry also serve an important purpose: they provide members with an opportunity for self-reflection and contemplation on important topics such as morality and ethics. Through these rituals members are able to learn more about themselves as well as others around them while reaffirming their commitment to living up to their moral obligations.
Overall, Fellow Craft Masonry provides its members with numerous benefits such as fellowship, knowledge acquisition, personal growth opportunities and service opportunities within their communities. By joining a Lodge or attending events hosted by one’s local Lodge, members can gain access to these benefits while strengthening relationships both within the organization itself and throughout society at large.
Becoming a Fellow Craft Mason
The journey to becoming a Fellow Craft Mason is one that requires dedication, commitment, and a willingness to learn. Becoming a Fellow Craft Mason is the second step in Freemasonry and serves as an important milestone for those who wish to progress further in their Masonic journey.
It is important to understand that Freemasonry is much more than just an organization; it is a way of life. Becoming a Fellow Craft Mason requires dedication to one’s own personal growth and development as well as commitment to the principles of Freemasonry.
Requirements for Becoming a Fellow Craft Mason
In order to become a Fellow Craft Mason, one must first complete the first degree of Freemasonry – the Entered Apprentice degree. This degree involves learning about the history and principles of Freemasonry as well as taking part in various rituals and ceremonies. After completing the Entered Apprentice degree, an individual must then apply for membership into their local Lodge, which will then decide whether or not they will accept them into the Fraternity.
Once accepted, they will be required to attend regular meetings at the Lodge where they will learn even more about Freemasonry and take part in various activities and projects with other members of the Fraternity. They will also be asked to commit themselves to upholding the values and principles of Freemasonry while making sure that their actions are always in line with these values.
Benefits of Becoming A Fellow Craft Mason
Upon becoming a Fellow Craft Mason, one can expect numerous benefits both inside and outside of Freemasonry. Inside of Freemasonry, one can expect to further their knowledge on various topics related to Masonic philosophy, gain access to exclusive events such as banquets and conferences, build meaningful friendships with other members, participate in charitable works that benefit their local community, and many more benefits depending on their particular Lodge or Grand Lodge’s offerings.
Outside of Freemasonry, becoming a Fellow Craft Mason can open up many new opportunities for networking with like-minded individuals who have similar interests or goals in life. It can also provide an avenue for learning new skills or gaining valuable experience that could help lead them towards success in their personal or professional lives. Lastly, being part of such an ancient fraternity can bring about feelings of pride and accomplishment knowing that they have achieved something so special that very few people are able to experience.
Fellow Craft Masons Greeting Each Other
Masons, or Freemasons, are a fraternal order that has been around for centuries. As part of the Freemason tradition, members have their own way of greeting each other. Fellow Craft Masons, the second degree of the three degrees in Freemasonry, have a unique way of greeting each other that involves words and physical gestures:
• Verbal Greeting:
• Handshake: After exchanging the verbal greeting, Fellow Craft Masons give each other a right-handed handshake. During this handshake they make a connection by pressing their left thumbs together and then bring them to their lips. This gesture symbolizes respect and brotherhood between two members of the fraternity.
• Salute: The last part of the greeting involves saluting each other with a raised right hand while saying “Behold the mysteries of Masonry!” This salute is done as a sign of respect to one another and to acknowledge membership in the Masonic order.
The unique way Fellow Craft Masons greet each other reflects their commitment to upholding Masonic traditions and values while also showing respect for one another as brothers in arms. By exchanging these words and gestures when they meet, they are reaffirming their mutual commitment to uphold these values and honor the long-standing Masonic tradition.
Rituals and Practices of Fellow Craft Masons
Fellow Craft Masons are members of the second degree in Freemasonry. As such, they have certain rituals and practices that must be observed during their meetings. The rituals and practices of the Fellow Craft Masons vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but there are some common elements that can be found in many lodges. These include the opening and closing of the lodge, the election and installation of officers, the conferral of degrees, and other ceremonies related to Freemasonry.
The opening and closing of a Fellow Craft lodge are performed with great solemnity. During these procedures, members enter into a solemn covenant with one another to uphold the principles of Masonry. The opening includes prayers, salutations, readings from sacred texts and readings from Masonic writings. The closing is often accompanied by a prayer for guidance and protection for all members present.
When a new member is elected into Fellowship Masonry, he is conducted through a series of initiations which culminate in his admission as a Fellow Craft Mason. During his initiation, he is taught about the obligations he has as a Mason and given instruction on proper Masonic behavior. After his initiation, he can take part in all meetings held by his lodge.
At each meeting of fellow craft masons an election will be held for officers within the lodge such as Worshipful Master (leader), Senior Warden (second-in-command) Junior Warden (third-in-command) , Treasurer (financial officer), Secretary (records keeper)and Senior Deacon (ceremonial assistant). These officers are responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the lodge’s operations run smoothly according to Masonic law.
The conferral of degrees is one of the most important aspects of fellowship masonry rituals and practices. During this ceremony, new members receive their second degree or “Fellowcraft” degree which signifies their increased understanding and commitment to Freemasonry. After receiving their degree, members are expected to live up to high moral standards as outlined by Masonic law and carry out their duties with honor and integrity at all times.
Other ceremonies related to Freemasonry include funerals for deceased brothers as well as special ceremonies for special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries within the Lodge. These ceremonies serve both to honor those who have gone before them as well as provide an opportunity for members to reaffirm their commitment to one another in brotherly love.
In addition to their rituals and practices in Lodge meetings, fellow craft masons also have certain obligations that extend beyond the walls of their lodge buildings into their everyday lives outside it’s walls . They must strive always towards moral excellence; maintain loyalty towards family; practice charity towards others; adhere strictly to truthfulness; seek knowledge through study; observe justice in all dealings; preserve orderliness in society; seek guidance from God; uphold patriotism towards country; support loyalty towards friends; encourage industry with work; promote charity among mankind; practice temperance in speech & action ; display fortitude against adversity; develop prudence when dealing with money ; cultivate humility when dealing with success ; practice justice when passing judgement ; demonstrate mercy toward those who fail ; perform fidelity towards those who trust them ; cultivate brotherly love among men , & demonstrate reverence towards God .
These obligations remind Fellow Craft Masons not only of their duty but also serve as reminders that they should strive always towards excellence in all aspects if life – both inside & outside Lodge walls .
In Reflection on What Is A Fellow Craft Mason
As the second of three degrees in Freemasonry, the Fellow Craft Mason is a key part of the Masonic fraternity. The symbolism and teachings of this degree serve to strengthen its members’ moral and spiritual development. At its core, the Fellow Craft Mason is concerned with learning, wisdom, and self-improvement.
Fellow Craft Masons can participate in various activities and events that help them grow as individuals and as members of their Lodge. From formal ceremonies to informal social gatherings, these activities provide an opportunity for fellowship and camaraderie among members.
The principles of the Fellow Craft Mason are also applicable to everyday life. Members take on the responsibility of being a contributing member of society and strive to be good citizens through service and charity. As a result, Fellow Craft Masons are often seen as upstanding citizens who strive for excellence in everything they do.
The Fellow Craft Mason is an integral part of Freemasonry, and its teachings provide important lessons that can help us all live better lives. Through dedication to its principles, we may strive for excellence, build strong relationships with others, and make our world a better place.