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When working a degree, the Holy Book is opened to the appropriate Masonic degree verse or passage for the specific degree. Let's take a closer look at each verse for the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason degrees. Possibly these interpretations may give you some insight as how each verse is appropriate to each degree.
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| Entered Apprentice - Psalm 133 |
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When working a degree, the Holy Book is opened to the appropriate Masonic degree verse or passage for the specific degree. For the Entered Apprentice degree that would be Psalms 133. Let’s take a closer look at that verse and see if some questions can be answered.
Verse 1: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Verse 2: It is like the precious oil upon the head that ran down upon the beard even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.
Verse 3: As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life forever more."
What is the precious oil?
The precious oil is an example of “brethren dwelling together in unity”. The oil was a Holy anointing oil used to anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them as Levite Priests. The oil is made up of 4 different spices and olive oil signifying the dwelling together in unity. (See Exodus chapter 30: 22-33)
Who was Aaron?
Aaron was the son of Jochebed and Amram of the tribe of Levi, brother of Moses and Miriam, forebear and founder of the Israelite priesthood. Because Moses stuttered, Aaron served as a spokesman before both the Pharaoh and the Israelites. Aaron was empowered by God to cast his staff to the ground where it turned into a serpent before Pharaoh's eyes.
Who or what was Hermon?
Hermon is a mountain or technically a range of high mountains on the northern boundary of Israel. Mt. Hermon's snowcapped peaks were a source of ice, aka (also known as) "Ice mountain". The Six-Day War not only gave Israel control of Jerusalem, but also of the Mount Hermon area (Golan Heights). What about the Dew and what does it represent?The dew I believe represents the refreshing aspects of dwelling together in unity. In this dry and arid region dew from the mountains would be quite refreshing.
In conclusion: The Masonic degree verse of the Entered Apprentice Degree represents a time of Youth, when the body is strong. Those who walk in the ways of the LORD and in the unity of their brethren are rewarded the blessing of eternal life.
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| Fellowcraft - Amos Chapter 7 Verses 7 & 8 |
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When working a degree, the Holy Book is opened to the appropriate Masonic degree verse or passage for the specific degree. For the Fellowcraft degree that would be Amos chapter 7 verses 7 and 8.. Let’s take a closer look at that verse and see if some questions can be answered.
Verse 1: "Thus he showed me. Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumbline with a plumbline in his hand.”
Verse 2: “And the Lord said to me, Amos, what do you see? And I said, a plumbline. Then the Lord said, Behold, I am setting a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel, I will not pass by them anymore.”
What is the significance of the plumbline?
The wall made with a plumbline is indicative of God’s law, the straight and narrow of his law. God holds a plumbline by which to measure ones faith and ones uprightness to God’s law. God sets the plumbline in the midst of his people in essence to say enough is enough and this is the only standard you will be judged by which is the straight standard of God’s law.
Who was Amos?
Amos was a herdsman who lived in the village of Tekoa, before becoming a prophet during the reign of King Uzziah. Amos was not the first Bible prophet, but he was the first prophet to have his prophecies recorded in a separate book of the Bible, that being the book of Amos. Amos prophesied about 760 BC during the reigns of King Uzziah of Judah, and Jeroboam II of Israel. He left Judah and went to Israel. He had a short ministry. Amos predicted the overthrow of Israel by the Assyrians. He and also predicted the doom of Judah, and the doom of the surrounding nations. In his prophecies against Israel, Amos spoke of the social sins of the day, such as greed, corruption, false worship, and injustice. His book ends with a scant hope that the people of Israel would listen and heed the warnings.
In conclusion:The Masonic degree verse of the Fellowcraft Degree represents a time of mid-age, a time when one works hard upon his knowledge of youth and should have learned from the mistakes of youth. A time when one knows God’s law and sets as a plumbline to follow that law; to be on the straight and narrow. This verse displays that God will judge you not by what you believe to be so, but by what he has declared to be so (the wall made with a plumbline).
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| Master - Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 Verses 1-7 |
When working a degree, the Holy Book is opened to the appropriate Masonic degree verse or passage for the specific degree. For the Master Mason degree that would be Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 Verses 1-7 Let’s take a closer look at these verses and see if some questions can be answered.
Verse 1: "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
Verse 2: “While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:”
Verse 3: “In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened.”
Verse 4: “And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;”
Verse 5: “Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:”
Verse 6: “Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.”
Verse 7: “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."
The Master Mason Masonic degree verses of Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 describes the infirmities of age.
Verse 1: Youth - The Entered Apprentice
"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth": This alludes to the fact that when we grow older, each of us remembers the glorious days of our youth when all things were possible.
“while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh”: The evil days are old age and there is still time before they are upon us. The hindsight benefit of age is experience, and from the experience advice is given to the youth to "gather the harvest while they are young".
“when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them”: Once we age we change and with that change we may not able to harvest that in which we need or even be able to enjoy those things that we do harvest with the same lightness of heart as we did in our youth.
Verse 2: Manhood - Fellow Craft
"While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened,": This is a metaphor to recalling a time when life looked bright with promise before the "twilight years" and "sunset years" of our lives. It is also pointing out that as we grow older, our eyes may begin to fail us.
"nor the clouds return after the rain:": As we grow older rest and recuperation take longer.
Verse 3: Old Age - Master Mason
"In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble": Metaphoric description of the shakiness that occurs in old age. Possibly referring to a time when you can no longer take care of yourself.
"and the strong men shall bow themselves": A literal description of the degeneration process associated with old age and the inability to physically walk without stooping.
"and the grinders cease because they are few,": The loss of teeth due to age.
"and those that look out of the windows be darkened": The failing of eyesight associated with age.
Verse 4:
"And the doors shall be shut in the streets": Metaphorical description of the loss of hearing due to age.
"and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird,": Portrayal of the elderly lack of need of long sleep and arising early.
"and all the daughters of music shall be brought low": Alluding to the vocal changes of the elderly which brings about a course less melodic quality to the voice.
Verse 5:
"When they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way.": As we age the elderly become unfamiliar with the rate of speed in which the world changes, and as we age, our reflexes decrease and things that we once undertook with a lack of inhibition we are now more cautious to attempt.
"And the almond tree shall flourish.": This is a comparison of the white hair we attain with age to the almond trees snow-white blossoms when they flourish.
"And the grasshopper shall be a burden.": With youth hope and zeal seem eternal. When the grasshoppers plagued your field you replanted. A young man may be able to withstand a total loss and still look forward to the hope of the following seasons. With age and decreased abilities, an elderly farmer would be devastated by the loss of an entire year’s harvest. Together with the work of replanting the elderly farmer would not look upon this plague as lightly or with hope for the future as when he was in his youth.
"And desire shall fail.": The dreams and desires of youth which take a lifetime to come to fruition are no longer desirous in the elderly. They know that they do not have the time to correct past mistakes and or set a new path to attain the desires of their youth. This also can allude to the diminishing physical and or sexual which occurs in men and women alike as we enter old age.
Verse 6:
"Or ever the silver chord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken.": The loosed silver cord can be denoting the spinal column and therefore the physical infirmities or stooped back of age. The golden bowl is believed to be a metaphor for the brain and the inevitable decline of mental capacity, which in dotage is described as senility.
"Or the pitcher be broken at the fountain.": Metaphorically relates to two things, one having a desire to urinate, but being unable to do so or the inability of one to control his own urinary process, incontinence.
"Or the wheel broken at the cistern.": Referring to the pumping action of the heart, the body (cistern) is full (blood) but the heart ceases to pump (wheel).
Verse 7:
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.": This is in reference to Genesis 3-19 which reads “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The 1662 version of the “Book of Common Prayers” contains this in the "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" prayer which is still voiced over the dead during internment.
Now while this Master Mason 3rd degree verse may be depressing by describing the breakdown or deterioration of the body in detail it does accurately describe our voyage throughout life and subversively causes us to contemplate the decisions and choices we have made.
One thing to keep in mind is that our end is as our beginning. The Great Architect placed us here as frail creatures, gave us His commandments and laws to live by, and it is as frail creatures that we return to him. This return can not be taken away regardless of our fortunes or misfortunes in life. This is His promise.
By having lived a good life old age no longer has to represent the evil days but becomes a metaphor for life’s harvest because of the family, friendships, loves, memories and life’s experiences that you have sowed and now reap. It is having lead a good life that provides the comfort in old age and reassures us while we wait for His call to return.
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