2023 BBC. ed. They might labour there for months, even years. [16] Additionally, there is a French manuscript dating from 1790 to 1800 which contains the 25 degrees of the Order of the Royal Secret with additional detail, as well as three other Hauts Grades rituals; its literary structure suggests it is derived from a common source as the Francken Manuscripts. Before freemasons there were stone masons, skilled craftsmen employed to work on Scotland's landmark buildings. Masonic Supply Shop is a distributor of quality Masonic supplies and regalia at competitive prices proudly serving the Masonic Fraternity. all recipients of the 33rd Degree are honorary members of the Supreme Council, and all members are referred to as a "Sovereign Grand Inspectors General." The thirty-three degrees of the Scottish Rite are conferred by several controlling bodies. Ad vertisement from shop 357Designs. To join the Scottish Rite you must: Be a Master Mason in good standing in a COGMINA lodge; Complete a petition and include the appropriate fee; and Attend a "Reunion" where the Scottish Rite Degrees are conferred. [13]:16, Early writers long believed that a "Rite of Perfection" consisting of 25 degrees, (the highest being the "Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret", and being the predecessor of the Scottish Rite), had been formed in Paris by a high-degree council calling itself "The Council of Emperors of the East and West". Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. [68] It is conferred on members who have made major contributions to society or to Masonry in general. dates itself from May 15, 1867. And, with its records dating back to 1599, it's the oldest proven Masonic lodge still in. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia (rev. 1996). After the Civil War, the Grand Orient of France re-recognized the Supreme Council of Louisiana. He formed a partnership in 1801 with Dr. Isaac Auld, another of the original members. Red. ed. Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc. Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany, Order of Royal and Select Masters (Anglo-European), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scottish_Rite&oldid=1140234527, Articles with dead external links from March 2022, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Further up the wall, carved into the sandstone, is a six-pointed star detailed with what seem at least to non-initiates like strange symbols and numbers. The Two-headed Masonic eagle is also known as the ' Eagle of Lagash .'. [13]:16, Francken traveled to New York in 1767 where he granted a Patent, dated 26 December 1767, for the formation of a Lodge of Perfection at Albany, which was called "Ineffable Lodge of Perfection". Since no Black Man had been initiated in Georgia Freemasonry in 275 years, the charges were interpreted that "Ancient Lights" of the Grand Lodge of Georgia prohibited Black Men from becoming F & AM. 1996). Navy. 472475. Orient of Alabama. 14th Degree Scottish Rite Masonic Ring with Latin Motto, Vintage Gold Masonic Band, Mens Gift, Men's Jewelry, Masonic Jewelry KP94Q2WN . "There are quite possibly occasions where people have got together within freemasonry with the intent of doing that but that is not the purpose of the freemasons.". A chlamys was an ancient Greek type of rather short cloak, coming from Macedonia or Thessaly. If the apron is a badge of a Mason in Blue Lodge, the cap can be said to be the public badge of a Scottish Rite Mason. ", "Copiale cipher. Scottish Rite. It said that it is been handed down through the ages. In 1855, the Supreme Council appointed a committee to prepare and compile rituals for the 4th through the 32nd Degrees. [46] Most lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grande Loge de France use these degrees,[47] as do a few of the lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grande Loge Nationale Franaise. The Secrets of the Masons will be on BBC Two Scotland at 21:00 on Monday 19 March and on the BBC iplayer. In 1869, he was a top leader in the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. At 19 Hill Street, look up to see this six-pointed star, a Masonic symbol (Credit: Amanda Ruggeri). - Scottish Rite (Masonic order) - Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Prince Hall Affiliation. Take, for example, the earliest meeting records, usually considered to be the best evidence of a lodge having any real organisation. The curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, Robert Cooper, looks over the lodges museum (Credit: Amanda Ruggeri). The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in each country is governed by a Supreme Council. Particularly with the rush to build more and more massive, intricate churches throughout Britain in the Middle Ages, they would be called to specific often huge projects, often far from home. Conclusion A review of the traditional explanations for the choice of certain colours in masonic symbolism reveals their weaknesses. Thus the highest ranking Scottish Rite officer in Ohio, is titled, "Deputy for Ohio", and so forth for each state. The Scottish Rite is one of the appendant bodies of Freemasonry that a Master Mason may join for further exposure to the principles of Freemasonry. "One of the basic tenets we have for freemasonry is taking good men and making them better.". All of these organisations were based on trades, said Cooper. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The blue cap, decorated in front with a gold number 50 surrounded by a wreath is the cap of a Fifty-Year Scottish Rite Mason. 634637; and Article: "Robison, John", pp. Over the next decade, high-degree Freemasonry was carried by French men to other cities in the Western hemisphere. Rather, it was named "Clermont" in honor of the French Grand Master, the Comte de Clermont (Louis de Bourbon, Comte de Clermont) (17091771), and not because of any connection with the Jesuit College of Clermont.[11]. Others including Freemasons themselves trace their lineage back to none other than King Solomon, whose temple, its said, was built with a secret knowledge that was transferred from one generation of stonemason to the next. In 1815, five of the leaders of the Supreme Council founded the Suprme Conseil des Rites within the Grand Orient of France. Spread by the advance of the British Empire,. Tranquil and historic, Edinburghs Hill Street attracts few tourists (Credit: Amanda Ruggeri). The charges called for the Worshipful Master to be expelled and the Lodge to lose its Charter. It is used as a symbol of a completed alchemical process. his purity, and black marble, to denote his untimely death. Walk slowly, though, and you might notice something odd. He was succeeded in his claim by Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charles"), also known as "the Young Pretender", whose ultimate defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746 effectively put an end to any serious hopes of the Stuarts regaining the British crowns. And, with its records dating back to 1599, its the oldest proven Masonic lodge still in existence anywhere in the world. Mason Scottish Rite 33rd Degree Wings Up Split Masonic License Plate Truck Auto Car Tag Emblem ad vertisement by 357Designs. In the Northern Jurisdiction In 1717, four lodges in London formed the first Grand Lodge of England. And what is more, we now know it was a national network. In 1920 the freemasons was known as Scotland's conservative club for gentlemen and 54,000 joined its ranks that year. Coil, Henry W. (1961). 291 was founded in 1821 (Credit: Amanda Ruggeri), Cooper agrees. In 1598, he sent these statutes out to every Scottish lodge in existence. Home of the Oldest Masonic Heritage in the World The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland is the governing body of Scottish Freemasonry, founded in 1736, and headquartered in Edinburgh. These are considered to have become in 1801, The Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. Isaac Da Costa, another Sephardic Jew, was one of the deputies commissioned to establish Morin's Rite of the Royal Secret in other countries; he formed constituent bodies of the Rite in South Carolina in 1783. Fellowcraft, and Master Mason (1st, 2nd, and 3rd). The black chlamys and the sword correspond to the gear of a Knight Kadosh or a Knight of the white and the black eagle, the 30th degree in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Freemasonry and Scottish Rite Hat Baseball Cap Duck Tongue Cap Outdoor Cap Fashion Black $977 $15.76 delivery Mar 2 - 22 Or fastest delivery Feb 14 - 16 Mason Zone Masons Baseball Cap. Now he was in some sort of black chlamys with a steel sword on his hip. Coil, Henry W. (1961) Article: "Stuart Masonry", pp. Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Theres an old saying that wherever Scots went in numbers, the first thing they did was build a kirk [church], then they would build a bank, then they would build a pub. [Lodges] were a fixed feature of the country. The Grand Lodge of Scotland's curator, Bob Cooper, said people soon became curious about this new brotherhood and asked to join. If only black-and-white ("b&w") sources are listed and you desire a copy showing color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of the original in color by citing the Call Number listed above and . Henry Andrew Francken and his manuscripts. It is an institution that unapologetically derives it origin and inspiration from religious mysticism and pagan tradition. The Scottish Rite builds upon the ethical teachings . OFFICIAL YORK RITE BODIES. Louisiana was granted statehood in 1812, and the Grand Lodge of Louisiana was constituted at that time. Scottish Rite Grand Archivist and Grand Historian de Hoyos[25] created the following chart of Pike's ritual revisions: Pike also wrote lectures about all the degrees, which were published in 1871 under the title Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.[26]. The Scottish Rite is what many Master Masons call the "University of Freemasonry". At Kingston, Jamaica, in 1770, Morin created a "Grand Chapter" of his new Rite (the Grand Council of Jamaica). Explore this article Edwin Eugene"Buzz" Aldrin - First Mason on the Moon 5 out of 5 stars (109) $ 14.99. The fact that England can claim the first move towards national organisation through grand lodges, and that this was copied subsequently by Ireland (c 1725) and Scotland (1736), has led to many English Masonic historians simply taking it for granted that Freemasonry originated in England, which it then gave to the rest of the world, writes David Stevenson in his book The Origins of Freemasonry. ed. They consist of the Entered Apprentice, Fellow-Craft, and . That might come as a surprise to some people. Prof Gerry Carruthers, from the University of Glasgow, said Burns could have gone to the lodge and been treated as an equal in a country where he and many other men did not have the vote. Read about our approach to external linking. Hendrick Andriese Franken of Dutch origin, was most important in assisting Morin in spreading the degrees in the New World. As relations improved with the Southern Jurisdiction, Foulhouze resigned both as Grand Commander and member of this Supreme Council on July 30, 1853. It was during this period that the Supreme Council of Louisiana emerged, which claimed its authority via "Cerneauism"[77] a type of Scottish Rite Masonry[78] without ties to the either the Northern or Southern Jurisdictions. This was the date of the "Union of 1867", when it merged with the competing Cerneau "Supreme Council" in New York. Untitled "Preamble & Resolution," dated November 18, 1854, in the handwriting of Charles Laffon-Ladbat. 20 - Master Ad Vitam Benedict Arnold seeks pardon for his treason. Weekly quiz: Which house are Harry and Meghan vacating? But the buildings links to Masonry are tenuous. And the fourth thing was always a lodge, Cooper said, chuckling. In the Southern Jurisdiction, a member who has been a 32 Scottish Rite Mason for 46 months or more is eligible to be elected to receive the "rank and decoration" of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour (K.C.C.H.) Slim Line Apron Case made of Real Black Leather for aprons size 13 x 15 or 14 x 16. A notary be hired as each lodges clerk. In the Northern Jurisdiction, the Supreme Council consists of no more than 66 members. Attainment of the third Masonic degree, that of a Master Mason, represents the attainment of the highest rank in all of Masonry. The Scottish Rite is a masonic appendant body that Master Masons can join to learn more about the tenets of Freemasonry. If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called If You Only Read 6 Things This Week. This story is a part of BBC Britain a series focused on exploring this extraordinary island, one story at a time. Between 1948 and 1989 all of Romanian Freemasonry, including the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Romania, was banned by the Communist regime. Co. Inc. Those who fished or gardened, for example, would usually stay put, working in the same community day in, day out. The Lexington, Massachusetts-based Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, formed in 1813, oversees the bodies in fifteen states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Vermont. And a member of the Scottish Rite (Masonic Degrees 4 thru 32). 435. [48], According to Masonic historian Alain Bernheim, Belgian Masonic scholar Pierre Nol demonstrated in a 2002 paper that the AASR Craft degrees derived from the French translation of the Masonic expos Three Distinct Knocks, issued in London in 1760. Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. We delve deeper into the lessons and philosophy of the Scottish Rite and how Masons looking to co. Jun 2022. This manuscript was later revised and published by another German Freemason named Friedrich Mossdorf (17571830). After Da Costa's death in November 1783, Hays appointed Myers as Da Costa's successor. The Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction meets every odd year during the month of August at the House of the Temple, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Southern Jurisdiction Headquarters, in Washington, D.C. During this conference, closed meetings between the Grand Commander and the S.G.I.G.s are held, and many members of the fraternity from all over the world attend the open ceremony on the 5th of 6 council meeting days. Scotland's Depute Grand Master Ramsay McGhee says: "We get criticised at times because we are men only but I firmly believe there are times when men need to be with men and there are times when women need to be with women. "If you went to a place where you weren't known you had to have some kind of proof that you were able to work on a construction site.". Its just hidden in plain sight: in the Grand Lodge and museum that opens its doors to visitors; in the archivist eager for more people to look at the organisations historical records; and in the lodges themselves, tucked into corners and alleyways throughout Edinburgh and Scotlands other cities. Mr Rudland says: "We are using the teachings in freemasonry to make that individual a better person - going from a rough ashlar to a smooth ashlar. The Double-headed eagle. Because of the confusion and close dates of the charters of Etoile Polaire and Perfect Union, both lodges are listed as "1" in the roll. He was a strong Congregationalist. Omega Grand Lodge of the State of New York, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 03:16. Freemasonry in Scotland can trace its history back 400 years but its heyday of mass membership was a century ago. It created symbolic lodges (those composed of the first three degrees, which otherwise would be federated around a Grand Lodge or a Grand Orient). to be still in existence and continued its works.[87] Foulhouze would be expelled by the Grand Orient of France in 1859[88] and would leave the Supreme Council of Louisiana completely. On 27 December 1922, the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite of Romania, received the recognition of the Supreme Council of France in 1922, and recognition from the Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction of the United States in 1925. The Scottish Rite, however, considers itself as an extension of the third degree of Freemasonry. Members of these societies utilize a number of forms of coded recognition. By creating a code known by insiders only like a handshake. That year it was transferred to the Supreme Council, Northern Jurisdiction.). The York Rite is a collection of ten Masonic degrees and orders which are conferred in the United States under a trilateral system of governance consisting of Chapters, Councils, and . In 1781, Hays made eight Deputy Inspectors General, four of whom were later important in the establishment of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in South Carolina: Da Costa returned to Charleston, South Carolina, where he established the "Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection" in February 1783. The Scottish Rite is a masonic appendant body that Master Masons can join to learn more about the tenets of Freemasonry. The Freemasons believe in supporting the dignity of man and the liberty of the individual and, thus, were very attractive to free African-Americans during the revolutionary period. A man named William Schaw was the Master of Works for King James VI of Scotland (later also James I of England), which meant he oversaw the construction and maintenance of the monarchs castles, palaces and other properties. In the farming heartlands of Ayrshire, it caught the attention of a lowborn farmer, ambitious for greater things. Also a Sephardic Jew, he was by trade a merchant and auctioneer. ", Mr Cooper says: "Freemasonry wanted to do something a bit bolder, something more emphatic, something you would remember to the day you died. Color. Encyclopedia of Freemasonry (rev. Alchemy influenced strongly various degrees that eventually became part of the Scottish Rite. In addition to the 1771 manuscript, there is a second which can be dated to 1783; a third manuscript, of uncertain date, written in Francken's handwriting, with the rituals 425, which was found in the archives of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lancashire in Liverpool in approximately 1984; and a fourth, again of uncertain date, with rituals 424, which was known to have been given by H. J. Whymper to the District Grand Lodge of the Punjab and rediscovered about 2010. One way in which most people associate Freemasonry and Scotland, meanwhile, is Rosslyn Chapel, the medieval church resplendent with carvings and sculptures that, in the wake of Dan Browns Da Vinci Code, many guides have explained as Masonic. Prof Carruthers says there were 612 copies printed of the Kilmarnock edition of Burns' first poetry book in 1786 and two-thirds of the subscriptions were taken up by freemasons. and some historians claim it dates back to about A.D. 980. Co. Inc. [4], A German bookseller and Freemason, living in Paris, working under the assumed name of C. Lenning, embellished the story further in a manuscript titled "Encyclopedia of Freemasonry" probably written between 1822 and 1828 at Leipzig. It derives its name from the place where it was first manufactured in the holy city of Fez, Morocco. Scottish Rite of FM, So. Others believe it to be a global network thats had a secret hand in everything from the design of the US dollar bill to the French Revolution. Answer (1 of 22): I have been a Master Mason for a bit over 50 years now. Choose an option Black Navy Purple Red Royal. The seed or the myth of Stuart Jacobite influence on the higher degrees may have been a careless and unsubstantiated remark made by John Noorthouk in the 1784 Book of Constitutions of the Premier Grand Lodge of London. But its also fruitful, like when the Grand Lodge got wind of the Aitchisons Haven minutes, which were going for auction in London in the late 1970s. Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Masons, [10/20/25] Created / Published [1925 October 20] Headings . Even if lodges existed earlier, though, the effort to organise the Freemason movement dates back to the late 1500s. 1995) Richmond, Va: Macoy Publ. Since then, many popes have made pronouncements about the incompatibility of Catholic doctrines and Freemasonry. Core Values: Reverence for God & Integrity. Compared to the Scottish capitals looming castle or eerie closes, it doesnt seem like a street with a secret. The story was then repeated by the French writers Jean-Baptiste Ragon (17711862) and Emmanuel Rebold, in their Masonic histories. Purple. "Freemasonry was a great egalitarian platform," says the professor, who has never been a mason. Royal. our recent story about the Knights Templar. Additionally, each Deputy has one or more "Actives" to assist him in the administration of the state. Ramsay McGhee, who was Depute Grand Master at the time of filming, The Eye of Providence can be found on masonic temples around the world, Funny handshakes and rolled up trouser legs, 'Trump or bust' - grassroots Republicans are still loyal. It was full of flotsam and jetsam from around the world: a green pennant embroidered with the District Grand Lodge of Scottish Freemasonry in North China; some 30 Masonic jewels or, to non-Masons, medals from Czechoslovakia alone. In other words, he oversaw Britains stonemasons. When it looked as if hard times would force him to leave Scotland for Jamaica, it was the brotherhood that rallied round to save him. That internationalism was on full display in the Grand Lodge of Scotlands museum, which is open to the public. For that to remain untouched as a source a primary source of history is really rather odd.. 569570. "They both operate in that same 18th Century European culture where we are fed up of a past that is religiously torn and violent and we now want a more general type of Christianity that isn't so doctrinaire," he says. The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, an instrument of British Empire strategy, directed a continuous offensive of murder and racist terrorism against the U.S. A. and neighboring countries, during the middle decades of the last century. Model # 359437 33rd Degree Contoured Scottish Rite Band $ 149.00 . Archives of the Supreme Council, 33, S.J., Washington, D.C. See photograph of the original Concordat in Carter and Harris, On February 4, 1859 Foulhouzes name was "erased from its [i.e., the Grand Orients] book of gold," and his patent was declared void and of no effect. See Action Taken by the Grand Orient of France and the Supreme Council of France in the Matter of the Foulhouze Supreme Council, 18589," in, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Scottish Rite Cathedral in Indianapolis, Indiana, "How to Join Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, S.J., U.S.A.", "A BRIEF HISTORY OF LODGE MOTHER KILWINNING No. The 100th Anniversary of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Cornerstone Laying and the Scottish Rite On November 1, 1923, Freemasons from across the United States gathered in Virginia to participate in a special Masonic cornerstone ceremony. The 33rd Degree is conferred on the odd years at the Annual Meeting. [12]:5 The Copiale cipher, dating from the 1740s[53] says, "The rank of a Scottish master is an entirely new invention"[54]. In Edinburgh, the masons have launched a university lodge to attract younger members. After 46 months as a K.C.C.H. It did not return to New Orleans until the late 1790s, when French refugees from the revolution in Saint-Domingue settled in the city. Located at number 19 Hill Street, Mary's Chapel isn't a place of worship. [30] Further changes have occurred in 2006. Co. Inc. Mackey, Albert G. (1909) Article: "Stuart Masonry" pp. OUR OFFICIAL WEB SITE Since August 25, 1997. It is often said that the goal of Freemasonry is "to take good men and make them better.". The Supreme Council has not legislated concerning titles or modes of address in subordinate bodies of the Scottish Rite. Women are not allowed to take part or even witness the events of the Masonic lodge. With its cobblestone paving and Georgian faades, tranquil Hill Street is a haven in Edinburghs busy New Town. Elevation beyond that is by invitation only, and numbers are severely restricted.[66]. Double Headed Masonic Eagle Ring, Black Friday, Christmas Gifts ad vertisement by SilverGates Ad from shop SilverGates SilverGates From shop SilverGates. Simply stated, it is a society of men who symbolically apply the tools of "operative" masonry, to the "speculative" science of character building. ed. This Patent was signed by officials of the Grand Lodge at Paris and appears to have originally granted him power over the craft lodges only, and not over the high, or "cossais", degree lodges. This scene is enacted by masons during the initiation. [50][51][52] A lodge at Temple Bar in London is the earliest such lodge on record. This is, really, when things begin, said Robert Cooper, curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and author of the book Cracking the Freemasons Code. In 1884 his revision of the rituals was complete. The statement may have been made to flatter the fraternity by claiming membership for a previous monarch. Masonic Social Groups Shriners international: The Shrine has often been called the "playground of Freemasonry." Francken worked closely with Morin and, in 1771, produced a manuscript book giving the rituals for the 15th through the 25th degrees. In January 1998, SAA Fellow, past president, and long-time member F. Gerald Ham and his wife Elsie established the F. Gerald Ham and Elsie Ham Scholarship . Despite giving the BBC access to film in its lodges, its initiation ceremonies have never been filmed, leading to many theories about what happens. This revision, which Mackey dubbed the "Magnum Opus", was never adopted by the Supreme Council. The Templar system is about the same in USA and Canada. What are the actual differences? Located at number 19 Hill Street, Marys Chapel isnt a place of worship. Customizable for every freemason to reflect your values, memberships in subordinate bodies, branches of service, and other organizations. It became fully independent in 1904, when the Supreme Council of France ceased chartering new lodges. Today, numbers are dwindling with just 2,000 a year joining. "I've heard it said that people only become freemasons in order to get a leg up the greasy pole," says Bob Cooper. Answer (1 of 8): I am not a Prince Hall member, but many of the Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA) grand lodges are recognized by my own GL, so I can say a few things here with that disclaimer. 1641 in Edinburgh, says: "It was one of the most frightening experiences I have ever had and I have no idea why. In 1598 and 1599, William Schaw's statutes set down how masons should behave both on and off the construction site. [73] Other members of the Supreme Council are called "Sovereign Grand Inspectors General" (S.G.I.G. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia (rev. From the Middle Ages, associations of stonemasons existed in both England and Scotland. This cap is worn by a majority of the members of the Scottish Rite. These are based on the military nobility of feudal Knighthood. Thomas Bartholemew Bowen Was the first Grand Master of Ceremonies of the new Supreme Council. The new Scottish Rite Mason may at first be confused by the several different colored caps he will encounter at the first few meetings he attends. It was started as a Black lodge and . It oversees the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in 35 states, which are referred to as Orients, which are divided into regions called Valleys, each containing individual bodies.[70][71][72]. The following is a listing of the various versions of the Scottish Rite cap. Standard Scottish Rite Wings Down/Red Crown. black scottish rite masons. 32 Scottish Rite Freemasonry is a way for a Mason to build upon the ethical teachings and philosophy offered in the Symbolic Lodge, which offers the first three degrees of Freemasonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason.