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'This page has been approved by the United Grand Lodge of England’
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By THE HON. SIR JOHN A. COCKBURN In this little volume W. Bro. Ward justly emphasises the importance of the 2 degree. In former times it was no mere passing stage of a Mason's career. In the Fellowship of the Craft lay the whole body of Masonry. An Apprentice was regarded as a brother but not as a member of the Lodge; while a Master Mason was merely, as we still state in the ritual, an experienced Craftsman selected to preside over the Lodge in the capacity of Master. The ceremony of Admission to the Fellowship of the Craft has been abbreviated and shorn of some of its characteristic features; for example a "Mark," which, placed on THC stones wrought by a Craftsman, entitled him to his wages, is now no longer allotted to him. Nevertheless it is in the 2 degree that the essential elements of the Craft are revealed. The degree is founded on that symbol which is the basis of Masonry, and is regarded as the test of rectangularity in the material, as well as of rectitude in the moral, world. The candidate is now enlightened as to the meaning of the "Hieroglyphic bright which none but craftsmen eversaw." He learns that it represents the ineffable names of the G.G. as written in the four letters of the Hebrew Alphabet, to which attention was specially directed in the M. Ch.. It is as a craftsman that he becomes cognisant of the second P...r placed at the porch way of the Temple and he is taught that stability can only be attained by the significance of both p....... rs being conjoined. Herein is contained the Mystery not only of Masonry but of all the religions; viz., the Union of Heaven and Earth and the Mediation between God and man. As an Apprentice he has been taught to walk uprightly in the sight of God: his mind has become imbued with moral Principles: he now has to address himself to the much more difficult task of applying these principles in his everyday relationship with his fellows. The lesson of the J.W.'s plumb has now to be blended with that of the S.W.'s level. Spirit and Matter, theory and practice, with their innumerable analogies, have to be reconciled in solving the problems which are constantly encountered in life. In the tables of the law one column contains the commandments relating to our duty to God, the other our duty to our fellow men. The Fatherhood of God involves as a corollary the Brotherhood of man. Therefore it is manifest that a stage in the progress of a Mason that lays stress on applied religion demands close attention. Although on the surface the ceremony of passing may appear less attractive than that which precedes and that which follows it, a close study will convince the reader that the 2 degree contains many lessons of priceless value which will well repay the labour of investigation. J.A.C.
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