The core of Masonry, as we all know, is it’s three degrees. Those degrees are such divided into two parts. The first is the ritual part which draws heavily on the language, customs and practices inherited from the guilds of operative stone masons. It is in this first part that we are taught our duties and obligations to each other and to the organization as a whole. The second part, the lectures, contain words and phrases which are drawn from the philosophy of the Enlightenment, a philosophy which is outward looking, which teaches the brotherhood and equality of all men; toleration and respect for all men of good will; the need to live in a world marked by harmony and cooperation; the importance of public service, and striving to improve.

In each degree there is a connecting link between the two parts. That transition is the working tools presentation where the candidate is told, quite specifically, that in operative masonry the working tools are for one thing, but in speculative Masonry they are used for something quite different…

…The fraternal organization derived from operative masonry was created to carry the philosophy of speculative Masonry into our lives and into our world. Both parts of the degrees contain words, phrases, and practices which are only the tip of the iceberg. They are the visible reminders of a larger idea or concept or principle, most of which is not at first apparent. Those words are like the table of contents of a book. They offer a clue as to what further study into Masonry will reveal. Older masons will  often admit that you can spend a lifetime drawing out the full meaning and import of what at first seems to be only an archaic word or phrase…The fundamental premise of Masonry is that in looking for and finding what is at first hidden, a man will come to more light and will become not just a more knowledgable Mason but also a better man.

* an excerpt from The Northern Light Vol. 43 No. 1 February 2012 –  Cornerstone of the Community by: Bro. Wayne T. Adams, 33°