Masonic Degrees
The experience of becoming a member of a Masonic lodge is divided into three ceremonial stages known as “degrees.” These three degrees are loosely based upon the journeyman system, which was used to educate Medieval craftsmen. At each educational stage, a craftsman was required to achieve proficiency before moving to the next stage. Symbolically, the degrees represent the three stages of human development: youth, manhood, and age.
Entered Apprentice
As a candidate’s first experience with the ceremonies of the fraternity, this degree is intended to be an introduction to Masonry. It is, like all Masonic ceremonies, a solemn and meaningful event. The Entered Apprentice is entrusted with secrets of the Masonic Order, which are all moral and ethical in nature, and is expected to honor them in accordance with Masonic law. Once a candidate completes the Entered Apprentice degree, he takes his first step as a Freemason and enjoys the title of “Brother.”
Fellowcraft
Fellowcraft is a term used by the ancient Guilds of Operative Masons that refers to skilled members of the craft – a literal ‘fellow of the craft.’ Within Freemasonry, the Fellowcraft references a more advanced search for Masonic wisdom, symbolism, and philosophy. For skilled craftsmen, this degree would have marked a person’s progress from an apprentice to a journeyman, which brings with it increased responsibility, learning, and work. Once completed, the candidate may advance to the third and final degree.
Master Mason
The third degree symbolizes man’s maturity in life or age and his increase in knowledge and wisdom. The last of the lodge ceremonies, the Master Mason degree completes the initiation ceremonies into the fraternity, and the new Master Mason may enjoy both the rights and responsibilities of membership. A Master Mason has the right to visit lodges throughout the world, sharing in fraternal fellowship with like-minded men who now share a common bond.
Core Beliefs & Values
At its core, Freemasons are a group of likeminded men fully helping each other to the extent of their individual gifts. We are bound and guided by our core values of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
BROTHERLY LOVE: CARING FOR EACH OTHER AND OUR COMMUNITIES
Masons regard all humans as one family. As members of that family, Masons take an oath to act with respect and understanding toward others and to aid and support those who are in need. As Masons, we understand that everyone has their own path and their own obstacles. We aid and whisper wise counsel where we can, and offer support and protection when necessary. Freemasons take responsibility for their communities and care for the people in them. Communities are not limited by geography, and a Mason is a member of many communities through his career, faith and interests.
RELIEF: HUMBLY ASSIST THOSE IN DISTRESS
As Freemasons, we should help others to negotiate the obstacles in their path, if not remove them altogether. Relief can be as simple as a well-needed kindness at the right time, or an entire lodge banding together to assist a Brother’s family. Most Masonic Relief is anonymous and rarely, if ever, talked about. It can manifest in very direct and personal ways. As Masons, we do not seek applause for our Relief work, because we believe that offering Relief is not a rare circumstance to be celebrated. It is the way we are supposed to behave and conduct ourselves.
TRUTH: USING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING TO IMPROVE OURSELVES, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES
As Freemasons, one of the first lessons we are taught is to be men of honor and integrity. We believe that justice is owed to each man, woman, and child because they are part of the human family under the fatherhood of God. We believe that in human endeavors, there is right and wrong, good and bad, just and unjust. For the Mason, truth ultimately is a divine attribute and the very foundation of virtue and civility and faith. We expect each Mason will act according to his understanding of Masonic teachings. In our modern, fast-moving and often isolating society, it is more important than ever that Masons seek and share these basic truths and put them into action through a life that informs, influences and inspires others.
Ritual & Symbolism
Masonic ritual is the scripted words and actions that are spoken or performed during the degree work in a Masonic lodge. Masonic symbolism is used to illustrate the principles which Freemasonry embraces.
Freemasonry is described in its own ritual as a “Beautiful and profound system of morality, veiled in allegories and illustrated by symbols“. The symbolism of Freemasonry is found throughout Masonic lodges and contains many of the working tools of a medieval stonemason. The whole system is communicated through the mediums of lectures and allegorical plays.
Some lodges make use of tracing boards: painted or printed illustrations depicting the various symbolic emblems of Freemasonry. They can be used as teaching aids during the lectures that follow each of the three degrees, when an experienced member explains the various concepts of Freemasonry to new members.
Historically, Freemasons used various signs (hand gestures), grips or “tokens” (handshakes), and passwords to identify legitimate Masonic visitors from non-Masons who might wish to gain admission to meetings. These signs, grips, and passwords have been exposed multiple times; today Freemasons use dues cards and other forms of written identification.
Charity & Philanthropy
Masons are encouraged to be actively involved in their communities. Some of the community outreach programs that Masons from Humber Lodge are actively involved with are listed below.
We are actively involved in the Masonic Child Identification program which is sponsored by The Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. We have held several for the Weston community over the last few years, most recently during our annual Open House which takes place during the Weston Santa Claus parade each November, where we also collect toys for our Masonic District’s annual Holiday Toy Drive, which helps bring some Christmas joy to the needy children in our community.
And we’re not above bleeding for a cause—every year, Humber Lodge members join with Masons from around the province in support of the Canadian Blood Services donor program with approximately 35,000 donations.
We also support many local community groups and organizations. Over the last few years, Humber Lodge and the Toronto Humber Valley Masonic District have been supporting Frontlines as one of our district charities. The Frontlines group addresses the pressing needs of Weston’s children and youth. They foster and restore wellness and respect among our diverse neighbours by building relationships and providing programs that address the whole child.
We also proudly volunteer our time and resources to the Weston Area Emergency Services (WAES) community outreach group in their annual holiday Food Hamper Drive each December. WAES provides food support and security to the most vulnerable in the Weston Community, and they serve nearly 800 people per month, a total of 10,000 visits a year, with over 36% of those being children and over 6% seniors.
The Masonic Foundation of Ontario, a public charity registered with the Canada Revenue Agency, supports hearing research, a bursary program for university and college students, autism services, prostate cancer research and alcohol and drug awareness programs in elementary and high schools.