A simple explanation of the period of learning and fundamentals. This book answers the elementary inquiries of the new brother to whom all the craft is strange. This set of books will also make many a Mason sit up in astonishment that what he thought obvious and uninteresting is so vividly alive.
Carl H. Claudy's seminal classic Introduction to Freemasonry has long been available in three small volumes, the idea being that a new Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, or Master Mason would receive the title appropriate to the degree that he had just attained, and have a bit of information to digest about what just happened to him. The publisher of this version decided to publish all three volumes together to find efficiencies in the printing process and thereby save you money on the binding and other aspects of printing. We hope you will find the book useful, and that you will encourage your candidates to not read ahead, tempting as it may be. Claudy's writing is rife with wisdom and information for the new and experienced Mason alike to dwell upon, and the book is broken into bite-size pieces so that the reader need not get bogged down in one singular part or subject. It is easy to take information like this one part at a time, and even create a Masonic discussion group based on the several parts.
Explored from the perspective of the Scottish Rite degrees of Freemasonry, The Apprentice combines elaborate descriptions, interpretative exploration and links to parallel symbolic constructs to form a working understanding of the meaning behind this first step of becoming a Freemason.
Freemasonry is found throughout the world, and men of all religions are Freemasons. The entered apprentice degree, below, is the induction ritual of the masons. Much like all Masonic activities the ritual is supposed to remain a secret from the public. These lessons gives a basic introduction to freemasonry and the first degree.
Prominent masonic scholars discuss the meaning and symbolism behind the three Blue Lodge degrees of Freemasonry, which every mason will encounter, during his initiatic journey. Presented here are the essays: Studies in Blue Lodge Symbolism by H. L. Haywood, Symbolism of the First Degree by Asahel W. Gage, The Wages of an Entered Apprentice by William Harvey, Discourse on the Fellowcraft Degree by Arthur Edward Waite, The Legend of the Winding Stairs by Albert G. Mackey, The Third Degree: Its Ornaments and Emblems by William Harvey and Soliloquy For a Master Mason.