The Wonderful Second Degree

A STUDY FOR THE ENQUIRING FREEMASON

Brethren, when we think of the Second Degree in freemasonry what do many freemasons
think of? Many think of it as the easy degree; the short degree. Twice around the dance floor,
a short obligation to repeat and then off to the Tracing Board. It is sometimes viewed as the
least dramatic of the three degrees; there is no blindfold or challenge for money as in the First
degree; and you certainly do not re-enact the events of the Third degree. Many see it as the
short ceremony between joining freemasonry and becoming a master mason, but brethren it is
so much more than that and hopefully this paper can convince you otherwise of this view.

Where to start? Well, let’s look at our tri-gradual system, our three degrees, and what they
represent. We are told that the first degree can be seen as a representation of man’s entry into
the world, blind and in a state of helpless indigence - his birth. He knows nothing of the
world he has entered and he needs guidance and teaching. The third degree is explained to us
as preparing us for our inevitable end, and how to face it. It completes our education by the
inclusion of the facts about this most final act.

So, if the First degree represents Birth and our need for knowledge, and the Third degree
completes this quest for knowledge and represents Death, what does that leave the Second
degree representing?

Brethren, it represents Life, the very essence of our existence, the bringer of happiness and
sadness. It is the learning degree, the degree that provides the signposts for us to follow to
learn and gain that knowledge to help us become that superstructure, which is perfect in its
parts and honourable to the builder. It should be the degree that helps teach us so much, but
which is sometimes seen a mere infill, something that makes us a fellowcraft, and enables us
to become a Master Mason.

The clues to what this wonderful degree can teach us are all there, but nowadays most
Masons are so eager to get the degree out of the way that very little attention is paid to the
words spoken during the Second degree.

In many cases the new Worshipful Master is so busy learning the words to deliver the perfect
ceremony that he pays little attention to what he is reading, to actually understand the
meaning of the words he is learning. The Wardens and the other Officers are often the same,
and when the ceremony takes place the rest of the brethren in the Lodge are watching to see
if the ceremony goes OK, to see if an Officers gets their words right, rather than sitting and
actually listening and learning from what is being said.

However, if we can only stop for a while and look at what the Second degree is telling us, we
will uncover such riches that it puts the First and Third degree into the shadows.

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How is man to progress unless he learns, how can man improve, become that proud Temple
his God hopes he will become unless he learns? The Second degree tells us that as a
Craftsman, we are expected to make the liberal Arts and Sciences our future study, that we
may the better be enabled to discharge our duties as a man and a Mason, and estimate the
wonderful works of the Almighty. Also, as a craftsman we are told that we “…are now
enabled to extend our researches into the hidden mysteries of Nature and Science.”

Now, when your author heard these words during his second degree he was excited, really
looking forward to learning something. Learn what exactly, he wasn’t sure, but he knew
some people who would. Sadly, however, after asking for clarification from both his
Proposer, and his Lodge Secretary as to what he should learn, he received answers both
similar in their import:- “Don’t be funny young man, just learn what’s in the book”. So for
many of what were his “Lost” years, your author, probably like many young masons before,
ignored the teachings of the Second degree. The seven liberal Arts and Sciences took a back
seat on his Masonic journey.

Interestingly, the study of the seven Liberal Arts and Sciences can be traced back to medieval
Universities. Several masonic and historical books infer that they were called Universities
because it is believed that back in the middle ages these institutions taught all about the
known universe at that time. The new student was first taught what was called the “Trivium
of Arts”, which were grammar, rhetoric, and logic. This took the student about three or four
years to complete, after which they became a Bachelor of Arts. Following on from this they
studied the “Quadrivium of Sciences”, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, and Astronomy.
When, after a number of years, they were suitably qualified in these subjects the student was
given the title of “Master of Arts and Science” A portion of which we were recommended to
study in the Charge after initiation in the 1st Degree interestingly enough.

As part of our Second degree life we are encouraged by the words in the blue book to
discover the wonders of the world, to learn what makes us better people, fit members of
regularly organised society, and THAT is what the Second degree is re-enforcing within all
masons, if only we took the time to listen and follow that guidance. It can provide that Light
masons are all in search of, if only we were to find the time and will to look for it.

It used to be different. Before the formation of Grand Lodge in 1717, or there about, there
were only two degrees in Freemasonry for both Operative and Accepted Masons. For the
Operative Mason he had to learn much of the teachings of the Second degree before he
became a qualified fellowcraft. The degree “ceremony” in those days consisted of a series of
questions and answers and as one would expect, if you didn’t know the answers how could
you expect to advance? As an aside, the giving and receiving of the five points of Fellowship
used to be part of the Second degree ritual.

Even the Speculative and Accepted Masons took it upon themselves to learn about the seven
Liberal Arts and Sciences. What was it about Freemasonry that lead such eminent men as
Elias Ashmole the politicians and astronomer, Robert Moray the diplomat and judge, and
Randal Holmes, an Alderman of Chester to become freemasons? It is believed that it was the
knowledge to be gained by the study of these seven Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the other
lessons that freemasonry delivered at that time that drew such men into the ranks of
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Freemasonry. Some may say how times have changed, but have they? Research has
revealed that there is overwhelming evidence that no great effort was made by the founding
brethren of Grand Lodge back in 1717 to make any greater study of the Seven liberal Arts
and Sciences than that of many todays’ brethren.

The Fellowcraft, the Mason of the Second degree was, and some will say still is, the most
important person in Freemasonry, it was he who was the master mason in the Second degree.
When we listen to the explanation of the Tracing Board we are told that “At the building of
King Solomon’s Temple an immense number of masons were employed, they consisted of
entered apprentices and Fellowcrafts” There is no mention of master masons, those of the
Second degree were the main players. It was Fellowcrafts, fifteen of them, who were the
Overseers spoken of in the Third degree, sent to find out if Hiram were yet dead or alive. Is it
not strange that in our ceremonies there is little mention of master masons, but the
Fellowcraft features quite often? Why might this be? One answer is that the master mason is
a 260 year old ‘modern’ introduction.

In other Orders the Fellowcraft plays a major part, in fact without giving too much away, in
one Order it is a Fellowcraft who supervises the Lodge of Operative Masons. So hopefully
brethren you are now beginning to see the importance of the Second degree and the role of
the Fellowcraft.

Returning to the Tracing Board of the Second degree, it also gives an insight into the design
of King Solomon’s Temple. Not only does it describe the magnificence of its decoration, it
also tells us that the Temple was a three-storey building. What, you didn’t notice that bit?
Fellowcrafts are told that their ancestors went into the middle chamber of the Temple to
receive their wages. This simple sentence tells us that the Temple was a three storey building,
the ground floor, the top floor, and Middle floor, or Chamber. The Middle Chamber wasn’t
some secret room deep in the heart of the Temple, it was simply the middle floor between the
ground and top floor. There is more to discover in the story of the Tracing Board, such as the
importance of the fellowcraft in the structure of the Lodge. While 3 might rule a Lodge it is
5 who hold a Lodge, and the two additions to enable a Lodge to be held are not Master
Masons they are fellowcrafts. Look deeper brethren, discover for yourself what else the
Tracing Board can tell you.

Further evidence of the importance of the Second degree can be found in the Ceremony of
installation of a New Master of the Lodge, not an old re-cycled one. Think back brethren, you
have probably seen the installation of a new Master on so many occasions that the answer to
the following question is now taken for granted.

The question is this, in what degree does the New Master elect give his unqualified assent to
the ancient Charges of the Order? The Second degree. In what degree does the Master Elect
take his obligation of Master? The Second degree. Nothing happens in the Third degree,
with the exception of requesting all below the rank of installed Master to retire. It is the
Second degree, where Masters are made, not the Third.

Finally, brethren, for the final proof that the 2nd Degree is both wonderful and the most
important degree ask yourself the following four Questions:
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 1. What is the symbol of the Office of a Junior Warden?
Answer: A Plumb Rule
2. What is the symbol of the Office of a Senior Warden?
Answer: The Level
3. What is the symbol of the Office of a Master of the Lodge?
Answer: The Square
4. What are the working tools of the Second degree?

The Square, The Level, and the Plumb rule.

Your Worshipful Master does not wear a skirret, your Senior Warden does not wear
compasses, and your Junior Warden does not wear a pencil. They wear the working tools of
the Second Degree. The working tools that allowed fellowcrafts to design and build what
were seen as the gravity defying buildings of the Greeks, the Romans, and every age until the
industrial revolution. It was the fellowcraft of the Second Degree who possessed the secret
arts and hidden mysteries of the Noble Art, geometry that they swore to keep inviolate.

What more proof if any is required to show that the Second degree is not only wonderful, but
was, and in the view of some masons, still is the most important degree in Freemasonry? 

Studies for the New Freemason.

This booklet was prepared and type-set by Bro. J.S. Donaldson, Secretary of Hawick Lodge
No. 111 for the education of the enquiring Freemason.

Article 10 – 2020
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