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Fellow Craft Degree (con’t)

Text Box: So it is with the Fellow Craft, the man in the prime of life who daily makes more progress toward the Middle Chamber of wisdom but never sees clearly before him his ultimate destination, and never knows whether or not he will be permitted to attain it. Instead, “sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust” he faces the problem and tasks of each day and copes with them to the best of his ability—with that skill which he has acquired through the experience and formal training which adds up to wisdom. When you pass the two pillars which greeted you as you began the second section of the degree it was an act of much significance. For we are told that the two pillars, apart from the way in which their globes illustrate something of greatness of God and the magnificence of His works, also represent God’s promise that He would establish His house forever. When you passed between these pillars, symbolically you acknowledge your faith in this promise and accepted your part in this covenant between God and man. You were informed that as a Fellow Craft you were entitled to a Fellow Craft’s wages. Corn, wine and oil are mentioned many time in the Holy Bible—as offerings, as a means of payment of a debt, or as a measure of prosperity. Hence this phrase is used Masonically to symbolize the fact that the laborer is worthy of his hire—that as a Fellow Craft bearing the responsibilities and doing the work of a man you are entitled to a just reward, both physically and spiritually. You were told that you were now considered a worthy of the jewels of a Fellow Craft—an attentive ear, instructive tongue, and faithful breast. Here, too, the symbolism refers chiefly to knowledge for by the ear you receive the sound and instruction, and by the tongue you pass along your hard-earned wisdom to the attentive ear of a Brother. The faithful breast alludes not only to the safekeeping of Masonic secrets but symbolizes once again the fact that the Fellow Craft is fully capable of bearing the duties of life and can be trusted to do so. Your attention was drawn most forcefully to the letter “G”, first as the initial of Geometry, which symbolizes to Masons all the great laws of the universe; secondly, as the initial of the Deity by whose omnipotent intelligent and will the universe functions. Once again the emphasis is on wisdom—this time that great and Infinite Wisdom before which all Masons bow with humble reverence.

Text Box: We all know that his famous ride—warning of the coming of the British troops—was a journey that led, ultimately, to the creation of the United States. Paul Revere was a member of the Lodge of Saint Andrew in Boston. He was also involved in another “ride”. This time he led Freemasons into a journey on Masonic Education. Paul Revere was the subject of the first Short Talk Bulletin published in January 1923. This journey has resulted in the publication of almost 1,000 short talks covering every aspect of Masonic interest that Masonic Service Association can think of. The Masonic Service Association came into existence as a result of a decision by the Federal Government not to deal with 49 Grand Lodges in accepting troop support by Masons during WW I. Also, because it was recognized that there were cases where a national organization, working on behalf of all Freemasons could serve a useful purpose. It happened in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1918. Initially, the primary function of the MSA was to support our military personnel. From the modest beginning the long road to where MSA is today was totally undertaken. Today, MSA functions in Education/Publications, Disaster Relief, VA Hospital Visitation, and Public/Media Relations.

Masonic Service Association and Paul Revere