Have You Missed the Key to the First Degree?

Have you ever felt like you’ve missed something in the First Degree?

Perhaps you go to Lodge and participate in the ceremonies but no matter how many charges you learn, or how perfectly you’ve memorised the ritual it still seems like you haven’t learned anything or as much as you could have as an Entered Apprentice Freemason?

Over the last 17 years, I have been studying, practising and teaching Freemasonry. I was Installed into the Chair in 2012, served as District Inspector in 2014, hold the rank of Right Worshipful; and have written over 230 articles on the symbolism, allegories and philosophy of our Masonic ceremonies.

So in this edition of Daily Masonic Progress, I will reveal the key that will unlock the door to understanding the First Degree in Freemasonry so that you can not only learn the lessons but apply the teachings of Freemasonry in your own life. I'll also share three important lessons that every Freemason must know about the Ceremony of Initiation, that even experienced Masons often overlook.

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But first, we need to understand how the overarching story or allegory of Freemasonry, which is about the building of King Solomon’s Temple, gives us the instruction as to how we need to approach each degree, our lives and our masonic journey.

Many Masons go through their three degrees, progressive office to become Master of their Lodge, or join the other orders like the York Rite and Scottish Rite only to be left scratching their heads and, wondering if they will ever learn the secrets and discover the mysteries of Freemasonry.

What many fail to realise is that, while we are not physically building King Solomon’s Temple, it represents a metaphor or a guide for how we are to approach not only every aspect of life but also how we are to build our understanding of the principles and lessons taught in Freemasonry.

This leads Masons to misunderstand the whole degree system and the progressive science of Freemasonry, where they see reaching a new degree as an achievement, and then immediately shift their focus to attaining the next level.

So when you take a new degree, don’t make the mistake of setting your sights on reaching the next level and getting there as fast as possible because that’s just like building a house out of straw or sticks — and when there is any difficulty, like a gust of wind, then it will come crashing down.

This is why we as Free and Accepted or Speculative Masons, originate from Operative Stonemasonry— because building out of brick or stone is stronger and lasts for centuries, like how the pyramids of Egypt are built out of stone and are over 3,000 years old

However, what this means is that we need to focus on working to shape the stone or lay the next brick. Each level in a house is made of thousands of bricks, and that means you need to focus on laying each brick individually. Then only when you’ve laid the thousand bricks that make up a level, can you look back and see the accomplishment.

Freemasonry is all about building the temple, not about completing it.

Sure, understanding that it’s not the journey but the destination that matters, is important and is the first of the three lessons every Freemason must know about the Ceremony of Initiation, but to find the key to understanding the First Degree, we need to realise that before we can lay our first brick in our metaphorical house, we need to lay a foundation.

Do you remember what the first charge that was delivered to you on your initiation, and do the words “upon the foundation laid this evening…” ring any bells?

But while that charge is about Charity, it also contains some key lessons and instructions for what we need to know not only about the First Degree but about each Degree thereafter.

When you build a house, the first thing you do is lay the foundations. But, also, once you complete one level before you can start building the level, you still have to lay the foundations for it. Take our example of building a house. Even though the first level is completed, to build the second level all the structural components to support the walls but also the floor of the second story need to be built.

You can’t just put a second story on top of the first one, likewise, you can’t put your first level on the ground without laying a foundation.

So the second important lesson that the Ceremony of Initiation is teaching us, is that the First Degree is the foundation of all Freemasonry and without a strong foundation, you won’t be able to build anything that will last.

But it’s also revealing to us the third important lesson, which is that each degree ceremony is also the foundation of the next degree, but it’s it not just critical to the structural integrity of the building, it also secures the previous degree, then allows you to build your next level on something that is structurally sound.

Now we know three important lessons of the first degree which allow us to build the walls and put a roof over our heads, the door to enter our new building is still locked and to understand the first degree we need to find the key?

Well in our example, we have built our house on a strong foundation and have carved each stone or laid each brick individually. So we now have a metaphoric temple that is just and upright, it has structural integrity.

But in order of something to be just and upright giving it structural integrity, what did we exactly build our foundation on?

When we built our house, we learned there was a right way and a wrong way to build it. Straw and Sticks were the wrong way, meanwhile building with bricks was the right way.

We had to build it with bricks, and lay each one by one, instead of skipping them or cutting corners. So our house was built by conforming to the right practices.

All of this is what gives our house strength and when there is wind that would strain, stretch blow down a house made with sticks or straw. We’ve built our house with a substance of quality. Our house is built upon excellence.

This leads us to discover that the key to understanding all the lessons of the Ceremony of Initiation is teaching are those of Moral Truths and Virtues, and then we unlock the Secrets and Mysteries of the Degree.

Now that we've discovered the key to unlocking the secrets of the First Degree, let's dive into what Moral Truths and Virtues mean in Freemasonry and why they're so crucial to understanding the Ceremony of Initiation.

Think of Moral Truths as the blueprint for your Masonic journey. They're the unchanging ethical guidelines that tell you how to build your temple correctly. Just like you wouldn't build a house without a plan, you can't build your Masonic knowledge without these fundamental truths.

They're all about being honest, having integrity, and making sure your words, thoughts, and actions all line up (Common Gavel). But those Moral Truths are defined and given to us in the Volume of the Sacred Law.

Virtues, on the other hand, are like the tools you use to follow that blueprint. They're the good habits and behaviours you need to develop to build your temple. Temperance, fortitude, prudence, justice - these are some of the key virtues that Freemasonry teaches us to use in our daily lives.

Now, you might be wondering, "How does this relate to the Ceremony of Initiation?" Well, let me tell you, these Moral Truths and Virtues are woven throughout the entire ceremony, often in ways you might not have noticed at first.

Remember the obligation you took? That's you committing to uphold these Moral Truths and practice these Virtues. The working tools you were presented with? Each one is teaching you about a specific virtue. Even the ornaments of the Lodge, like the mosaic pavement, are there to remind you of important moral lessons.

But here's the thing - and this is crucial - understanding these Moral Truths and Virtues isn't just about knowing what they are. The real key to unlocking the wisdom of the First Degree is applying these principles in your everyday life. It's about taking that 24-inch gauge and using it to divide your time wisely, or looking at that mosaic pavement and remembering to keep balance in your life.

So, next time you're in Lodge, participating in a ceremony, or even just going about your day, remember to look for these Moral Truths and Virtues. They're the foundation of everything we do in Freemasonry. They're the bricks we use to build our symbolic temple, and each one you lay - each truth you understand, each virtue you practice - brings you one step closer to truly grasping the profound wisdom of our Craft.

And remember, just like building King Solomon's Temple, understanding Freemasonry isn't about reaching a final destination. It's about the journey, about laying each brick with care and purpose. So take your time, and focus on each lesson, each moral truth, and each virtue. That's how you'll build a Masonic understanding that will stand the test of time, just like those ancient Egyptian pyramids.

By focusing on these Moral Truths and Virtues, you're not just unlocking the secrets of the First Degree - you're unlocking the very essence of Freemasonry itself. And that, my Brother, is the true key to Masonic wisdom.