Why is Master Mason Degree so Sublime?

Why is Master Mason Degree so Sublime?

By Charles M. Harper Sr

Every regular Freemason was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason in a regularly constituted Lodge. We all should remember how we were raised. It leaves such an impression upon the mind of a new Master that it is remembered forever. Even after we either watch or partake in the degree, we are still in awe of its presentation. Have we ever considered why it is the sublime degree though? Why not the amazing degree? Why not the elite Degree, being that the Master Mason degree is the highest degree a man can obtain? Thanks to Brother John S. Nagy and his insightful ways of instruction, a fire was lit in my mind to search for why this degree is labeled as such. 

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word sublime as: “to cause to pass from the solid to the vapor state by heating and to condense back to solid form” (Merriam-Webster). This is a transitive verb. At first glance, it does not sound to Masonic, does it? Let us look at another definition of the word.  

“Up until the late seventeenth century, the word 'sublime' generally was used simply to denote either literal or metaphorical height: especially the heavenly, noble or heroic. It also had a certain alchemical connotation. To 'sublime' a material, in alchemical terminology, was to transform it from its (base, earthly) solid state to its (more spiritual, heavenly) gaseous state without passing through an intermediate liquid state. (White, n.d.)”

Now we are starting to get somewhere. Like Brother Nagy says, sometimes we have to go back and see why a word was used in the context, and time, it was written. The first definition is the common translation of the word. For the Brethren that are familiar with alchemy and its relation to Freemasonry, a gentleman by the name of Elias Ashmole, one of the first men actually been documented as initiated into speculative Freemasonry on October 6, 1646, was a patron of alchemy. Alchemy, the practice of transforming base metals into gold, was symbolic of the transformation of man from his base self into a better version of himself, hence the motto, “Making good men better.”

There is also the definition of: “Sublime describes something majestic, impressive or intellectually valuable (www.yourdictionary.com).” If we combine the two definitions from today’s dictionaries, we have a transformation of something from one form to another that is majestic, impressive or intellectually valuable. Add to this the definition in connection to alchemy, transform from base or earthly to more spiritual or heavenly, and the word sublime starts to sound Masonic.

In reference to when the word sublime was first used to describe the degree of a Master Mason was in 1754, according to Bernard E. Jones, author of the book Freemasons Guide and Compendium, “In a certificate drawn up by the Grand Lodge of Ireland, relating to a Lodge at Lurgan, No. 134, Irish Constitution, and that it was used by another Irish Lodge, that of the Royal Scots, No. 11, in 1762” (Smith, 1950, pg. 321). Smith goes on to state that the phrase was in use in England in 1767 by the Lodge of Friendship No. 6 as well.

I must note that at this time in England there existed not one, but three Grand Lodges: The premier Grand Lodge of 1717, a 1725 naming itself the “Grand Lodge of All England,” and the Grand Lodge of 1751 who referred to themselves as the “Ancients.” Only the first grand Lodge and the 1751 grand Lodge exist today as the United Grand Lodge of England.

This is relevant because of the 1751 claim as the Ancients in an attempt to claim they were of the original Grand Lodge at York. This, of course, was a myth, but it was a label that stuck with them. They can lay claim to being the first Grand Lodge in England to use the title sublime, as labeling the Master Mason degree. In 1760, Thomas Dunckerley, Master of a lodge held aboard the Vanguard, signed a certificate to the effect that a Fellowcraft, “having sustain’d with Strength, Firmness, and Courage, the most Painful Works, and Severest Tryalls, we gave unto him the most Sublime Degree of Master” (Smith).

We have now established when it was first used and how the definitions can be applied to Freemasonry. It was first used in 1754 in the labeling of the Master Mason degree. We have defined the word as meaning the best of something and also the transformation of the state of material. But, like all things in Freemasonry, we must go further to ascertain the “Why.” Why is the degree Sublime? What makes this degree sublime and not the Entered Apprentice or Fellowcraft degree? These two degrees contain an abundant amount of information on symbolism and the application of it to the betterment of a man’s character. For this, we must now speculate.

Let us consider some information from Brother John S. Nagy, Master Mason of Tampa Bay Lodge No. 252, from Florida, and author of the Masonic education book series, “The Uncommon Catechism for the Uncommon Masonic Education.” During a workshop he presented at Kankakee Lodge No. 389 in 2012, he applied a mental image of the purpose of the first two degrees in relation to the third. The first degree, he said, “focused on the heart.” The second relates to the mind. The third is a combination and mastery of both. As he explained why, the lessons of this degree became clearer to me. The working tools themselves are a clue.

The working tools focus on removing negative ways from our heart, which means managing how we feel. We are taught how to better manage our time to devote the appropriate amount of time toward learning more about our relationship with our Creator and spending more time with our family and Brethren. It teaches us to put into proper perspective our lives as we place more value on God, family and our fellow Brothers than those things which may distract us from our priorities.

The second degree focuses more on how to manage the way we think. We have the seven liberal arts and sciences, each with a specific focus on each important parts of our mental process. We are also introduced to and explained proper structure for the purpose of its symbolism both to the function of order in Lodge and order in thought. The orders of architecture are brought into focus as we move from the physical into the mental application of their symbolism.

The Master Mason degree is a combination of the mastery of the prior two degrees used together in harmony to focus on bettering a man’s spirit. It is the unity of the heart and mind. It is the culmination of the heart and mind that man finds purpose. As Brother Nagy so eloquently says, “Without the heart and the mind, a man is not complete because he combines both parts together and they make us whole.”

Let us also consider the differences between the Master Mason Degree and the first two degrees in how they are presented. The first two degrees are presented as informative degrees. They explain the foundation of the Fraternity and the how to apply knowledge through symbolism. We learn history and symbolism. But we experience something different in the Third Degree. Instead of a lecture, we are taken on a voyage back in time to see a true demonstration of integrity, trust and charity. We are given the trust that Freemasons have kept solemn since time immemorial. The first two degrees are symbolical, but the third is allegorical.

Right Worshipful Brother Malcolm R. Holley of the Grand Lodge of Virginia writes in his paper entitled, DEO Talk at District Ritual Meeting More Symbolism and Teachings of the Degree of Master Mason, that “In this Degree we continue the search for light we began in the first two Degrees, but now, we are urged to concentrate on our spiritual growth, always keeping clearly in mind the all important concerns of eternity. Thus, we speak about being raised to the “Sublime Degree” of Master Mason.”

He goes on to state that, “what makes the Degree “sublime” is the profound moral and spiritual lessons it teaches. We learn how we need to act toward our Brethren – as one Master Mason should act toward another, and we learn how we need to treat all mankind – with dignity and respect. Most of all, we learn that we must build our own spiritual temple, and act so as to be worthy of our creator” (Holley, n.d., pg. 2).

The Brother makes very good points in his analysis. The Degree, as most will agree, is about growth. But, is there more? Yes, by today’s definition, to grow spiritually is sublime. The moral and spiritual lessons received are sublime. Is that the purpose of choosing the word sublime though? There are other transitive verbs that could have been used in place of sublime. Considering that Freemasonry teaches its lessons through the use of allegories and symbolism encourages me to seek to discover a deeper purpose for the use of this word to describe the degree.

So, on the basis of logic, theory and the use of speculation, I propose my own theory for the how word sublime makes sense to me in Masonic ritual. Let us consider the combined purposes stated of this degree and expound in from a different perspective. We have the Master Mason degree as a combination and culmination of the prior two. We have the beauty, or sublime, purpose of the profound moral and spiritual lessons. These mean there is a lesson to be learned in this degree. Each man will have different epiphanies as they reflect on their lives against what lesson they extract from the watching and memorizing of this degree, as most or hopefully, all of us have experienced. But I believe there is more.

Let us consider now what the representation of the Master Mason Degree means beyond the allegories applied to the symbolism we have already learned through the memorization of our ritual. Let us also exclude any biblical references we might want to affix to the symbolism. We even must go beyond the Hiramic Legend. We must go straight to the speculative philosophical ideas that might be at the basis of the symbolism of the degree. We must go to the esoteric meanings behind the contextual words, that is quite possibly could be what William Preston found in his searches of history’s greatest philosophers and writings and hid in the speculative ritual like some sort of cipher, with the third degree, in its entirety, being the key.

When our spirit separates from the flesh, it is the truest form of us, but it cannot be seen with human eyes. It can be felt, but not seen. How do we relate to what I have just stated? It is rather easy. Think back to a time when you sensed someone behind you before you knew they were there or saw their physical form. Your feeling was confirmed by their physical form. How did you create the sense though? It is not something we constantly practice to become better at doing, it is inherent. I believe it is a heightened state of awareness.

Some people are more connected to sensory perceptions than others. This can be a result of many things. A man could have been raised with limited interaction to a busy world and therefore developed a mindset to be more in tune with their own self. This brings to mind an inscription at the House of the Temple, Headquarters of the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite. On a marble chair outside the main chamber room where the Supreme Council meets, there is an inscription that says, “Know Thyself.”

Nietzsche writes movingly of Socrates as ‘the genius of the heart from whose touch everyone walks away richer . . . in himself, newer to himself than before’ (Ahbel-Rappe, 2009, pg. 143). What could this statement mean, “A newer himself than before?” Isn’t that an interesting statement? Could this be alluding to a new state of being maybe? I believe that this is referencing that from the study of the philosophy of Socrates, one develops a higher state of awareness or insight.

I would like to point out something very interesting here. We all know that Socrates never wrote his words to his students, they were given from his mouth to their ear. His student was Plato, of whom which we have learned so much about the philosophy of Socrates. William Preston studied the philosophy of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.

William Preston, Past Master of the Lodge of Antiquity, London, England, “From 1765 to 1772, engaged in personal research and correspondence with Freemasons at home and abroad, endeavoring to learn all he could about Freemasonry and the arts it encouraged” (Preston, 1812, pg.8). “At the early age of six young Preston is said to have made such progress in his English education as enabled him to be entered at the Edinburgh High School, where he made considerable progress in the Latin tongue. Thence he proceeded to College and was taught the rudiments of Greek” (Prestonian Lectures, 1927, pg. 14). The study of Greek philosophers is said to strongly influence the speculative lectures we use today, which were Americanized by Thomas Webb, who only takes credit for the re-writing, not the original writing itself.

If we connect the dots, we have the word sublime that derived from the word subliminal. Sublime means to transform from a solid state to a vapor state. This word subliminal was originally used by Socrates of which William Preston studied. Isn’t that something? If the study of the philosophy of Socrates gave a change to an individual’s state of consciousness, could that be the allusion of the Master Masons Degree? Could it mean that the purpose of applying the word sublime to the degree was to allude to us that we are to transform from one state to another through the understanding of the ritual?

In your mind, go back to the first time you witnessed the Master Mason degree. For the sake of staying on point, let us exclude biblical references or literal common explanations of the symbolism of the journey of the character represented in this degree. We must go beyond the physical representation of what is repeated in so many books explaining the Hiramic Legend. For, the purpose of the degree, and all symbolism in Freemasonry for that matter, is that what is shown to you is not necessarily what you think it to be. To truly understand what the ritual symbolism is explaining to you, study must be done much further than the memorization of the written ritual speculative lectures or the several times of witnessing the degree.

When we consider the representation of the degree, let us think about it in the literal representation. We are going through different trials to prove our worth. One trial after another, we make decisions to proceed. What are we doing from one trial to the next? My answer, we are making a journey, a series of transformations from one state of consciousness to the next. Ultimately, our final test of integrity proves our worth and we leave behind the limitation of our former conscience and are pulled into the light, or our higher level of consciousness where we reach better clarity of thought and a better sense of “Knowing Thyself.”

What we ascertain on face value of this lesson is the sense of integrity a man has to have in order to be trusted. If I tell you something of a sensitive nature and ask you to keep it from all others, will you have the integrity to maintain such a request? Will you be able to refuse temptation to reveal the information you have vowed to another not to repeat. The purpose of this is to develop trust of one another. The more information I maintain in secrecy, of which I vow not to repeat, the more trust I gain from those who have invested their trust in me.

Integrity is a sublime lesson, truly it is. For, when one examines his own ability to be confided in, he does learn more about himself and the extent he is able to meet his commitments to those who ultimately depend on his actions in life. It is ultimately the consequence or result of his actions that determine how his charity will be defined once he has laid his head in his final resting place.

Sublime is the root word of subliminal. This word is defined as an adjective, existing or operating below the threshold of consciousness or being or employing stimuli insufficiently intense to produce a discrete sensation but often being or designed to be intense enough to influence the mental processes or the behavior of the individual. Could it be that there is a subliminal message to the literal representation of the Master Mason Degree?

Interestingly enough, as I searched for where the word subliminal was created, it led me into philosophy, specifically epistemology. “The term epistemology denotes a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature, kinds, conditions, scope, and mutual relations of belief (or opinion, or doxa), doubt, truth, and knowledge” (Epistemology, 2001, 1st paragraph). It is also referred to as the theory of knowledge. Johann Friedrich Herbart, creator of the word subliminal in the mid 1700’s, called this branch of Philosophy eidology. The focus of this branch of philosophy, as it relates to the sublime degree of Master Mason is a certain type of development of knowledge called “Posteriori Knowledge – briefly, knowledge based on sensory or perceptual experience” (Epistemology). This type of gaining of knowledge is based on an experience without prior knowledge of the subject.

What is the Master Mason degree telling us? We are blind from what we cannot see and the only way to see the degree is to go through the experience. It is what we experience when our eyes are shut from the world that allows our heart, in conjunction with our minds, to form an impression of what we are to conceive. Could it be that in fact we are receiving the knowledge of the degree subliminally? I mean, we had never seen the degree before and no one will explain to us the experience we are to undergo prior to going through it. We are to trust our Brethren as we are led from darkness into the light.

This means that we must go through a transformation in this degree. We must apply all we had learned in the prior two degrees, a combination of perfecting our heart and expanding our mind, and allow a dance of thoughts and feelings, combined with the use of our senses, to create a change within us. We must go through the degree a specific way to first gain a posteriori knowledge so we can start our journey with the right impression on our mind. Could this be what is so sublime about this degree? Could this be the beauty that what was on the minds of the forefathers in the Grand Lodge of Ireland and England as they applied labels to this degree? Is this what William Preston found as he studied the Ancient writings he gathered from all over the world to write the speculative lectures of the American Degree?

From my own personal experience, I have gone through quite a transformation in my state of consciousness. I have truly begun to understand who I am and have definitely entered the path of knowing myself. Through each stage, i.e. gate or dilemma of life, I have more consistently raised to the occasion, more often than ever before, to prove my sense of integrity to myself and others, allowing a deeper sense of trust to develop with my wife, my children, my friends and Masonic Brethren. I have used fortitude to gain perseverance in doing the things required of me as an upright man. I attempt to transform my thoughts from darkness to that a well informed and rounded, or enlightened, state.

Instead of arguing to prove my point, I listen to see where the miscommunications are occurring. Instead of reacting to situations, I find myself acting to prevent negative situations from arising. Instead of wondering what to do next, or who I should ask, I find myself digging for to understand the answer, and then asking for clarification if I do not understand with a humble heart.

All of this I owe self improvement I owe to the study of Freemasonry with a firm belief in the Almighty. I feel my faith. I see the fruit of my labor. I am witnessing my life becoming balanced through more conscientiousness consideration. And finally, my eyes are open to seeing what I was meant to see by what was shown through what I was shown.

Special thanks to my friend and Brother, Dr. John S. Nagy for inspiration and suggestions for this writing.

Good luck to you all in your search for your Light!

Brother Charles M. Harper Sr.  is a member of Illumination Lodge no. 5 and the current Junior Warden of Pleiades Lodge no. 478, both under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois, United States.  And a writer for living stones magazine, the magazine for Freemasons, www.livingstonesmagazine.com

Charles M. Harper
(708) 209-8054
charpersr@yahoo.com
www.ilmason.org
www.livingstonesmagazine.com

 References

Merriam-Webster, 2012, Britannica Encyclopedia Company, retrieved from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/sublime

White, L. Sublime Resources: A brief history of the notion of the sublime, retrieved from: http://lukewhite.me.uk/sub_history.htm#wordsublime

Smith, B., 1950, Freemasons Guide and Compendium, The Hiramic Legend of the Third Degree, George G. Harrap & Co.

Holley, M. n.d., More Symbolism and Teachings of the Degree of Master Mason, retrieved from: http://www.grandlodgeofvirginia.org/education/programs/monthly_talks/DEO/More_Symbolism_of_the_MasterMason_Degree.pdf

Epistemology, 2001, In Dictionary of World Philosophy. Retrieved from: http://www.credoreference.com/entry/routwp/epistemology

Ahbel-Rappe, S., 2009, Guides for the Perplexed: Socrates, Continuum International Publishing, 2009. p 143, retrieved from: http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/Doc?id=10427078&ppg=152

Preston, W. 1812, Illustration of Freemasonry, Twelfth Edition, London, retrieved from: http://www.ronigo.com/library/Preston,%20William%20-%20Illustrations%20of%20Masonry%20%5Bpdf%5D.pdf

Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076, 1965, The Collected Prestonian Lectures 1925-1960 (Volume One), Quatuor Coronati Lodge No 2076, retrieved from:

http://www.aasrschenectady.org/lib/Freemasonry/Freemasonry%20P-T/Prestonian%20Lectures%201925-1960%20Vol%201.pdf

Brother Charles M. Harper Sr.

Master Mason

Kankakee Lodge No. 389, A.F. & A.M.

Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois

Illinois Academic Bowl Committee

La Fayette Chapter No. 2 Royal Arch Masons, Grand Chapter of the State of Illinois

Chicago Council No. 4, Cryptic Masons of Illinois, Cryptic Council of the State of Illinois

St. Bernard Commandery No. 35, Knights Templar, Grand Commandery of Illinois

32° Scottish Rite Mason, Valley of Chicago, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States

Illuminati Council No. 495, Allied Masonic Degrees, State of Illinois

Medinah Shrine, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Shriners International

Kankakee Shrine Club of Kankakee, Illinois

Member of:

The Masonic Society

Scottish Rite Research Society

Illinois Lodge of Research

To contact:

charpersr@yahoo.com