"THE CRAFT LECTURES"

Contributed by W.Bro. J. T, Philp, P.M, P.Z.

Before the Ceremonies of Passing and Raising, the Candidate is asked by the Master of
the Lodge, firstly to give proofs of his proficiency in the former or previous degree. The
W.M. then proceeds to put the necessary questions. The Candidate goes through this
catechism, and the W.M. says, "These are the usual questions, J will put others if any
brother wishes me to do so." For many decades this 'last proposition has been purely a
formality, but from 1772, just two centuries ago, when the Lectures were first written
by William Preston, this was not so. William Preston (1742-1818) was an operative
printer and at the same time a Speculative Mason, who later became Deputy Grand
Secretary. He has been called the father of masonic history, and his memory is
preserved in the annual Prestonian Lecture. He is. buried in St. Paul's Cathedral. Those
questions were only a small part of "the Lectures of the Three Degrees in Craft
Masonry". They are very much worthwhile reading and even rehearsing in the form of
the catechism in which they are written, as they fill in some of the gaps and give further
explanation of the teachings of the Craft Ritual. The introductory address to the first
lecture having pointed out that the lessons of Freemasonry are for the most part "veiled
in allegory and illustrated by symbols", then goes on to say "to draw aside this veil
therefore, or more properly speaking, to penetrate through its mysteries is the object of
our Masonic Lectures. The Lecture of the First Degree is divided into seven sections,
the Second Degree five, and the Third Degree three, each having an introductory
section. and each section rounded off with a Charge. At the end of each Lecture, the
masonic fire familiar to us at the festive board is given after the Charge. These lectures
were rehearsed and practised in the upper rooms of taverns. The Lodges in those days
used simple tracing boards or even drew designs and plans on board or cloth or on a
sanded floor. Certain sections of these lectures are merely a "question and answer" form
of the Ritual itself. Other sections, however, offer in acceptable. if somewhat archaic
prose, explanations of, for instance, the building of K.S. Temple on Holy Ground, a
Masonic symbolic definition of Jacob's ladder shown on the First Degree Tracing Board
and interesting expositions of the moral virtues: "Faith- the foundation of justice, the
bond of amity and the chief support of civil society ... " "Hope-is an anchor of the soul,
both sure and steadfast . . ." "Charily, lovely in itself, is the brightest ornament which can
adorn our Masonic profession . . . If The Ornaments, Furniture and Jewels. movable and
immovable, of a Lodge form the basis of one section of the first Lecture. Brotherly Love,
Relief and Truth are well defined as are also Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and
Justice. What was written about Justice just two hundred years ago would not come
amiss perhaps today. "Justice-is that station or boundary of right, by which we are
taught to render to every man his just due and that without distinction, this virtue is not
only consistent with the Divine and human law, but is the standard and cement of civil
society. Without the exercise of this virtue, universal confusion would ensue, lawless
force would overcome the principles of equity, and social intercourse no longer exist."
The Second Lecture (second degree), traces the goodness of the Creator by minutely
analysing His works; the second section offers an explanation of the need for and
beginnings of Geometry, owing to the annual overflowing of the banks of the Nile, and
the need to re-allocate land fairly, when the floods had subsided. This section also deals
with an allegorical explanation of the six periods of the Creation. It ends with . . . "The
Almighty as his last, best gift to man then created woman; under His forming hands a
creature grew, manlike, but different sex, so Iovely fair, that what seemed fair in all the

world, seemed now mean, or in her summed up, in her contained. On she came .. grace
was in her steps, Heaven in her eye. in every gesture, dignity and love." The Five Orders
of Architecture are defined and symbolised in the Lecture in the fouth section, and
should be of special interest to members of this Lodge, from which our name arises. In
the fifth section, we learn how immense were the number of masons employed in the
building of K.S. Temple-three hundred Rulers, three thousand three hundred Overseers
and eighty thousand Craftsmen. There were also another seventy thousand men of
ourden and hewers of stone, so that the total .number of men employed in the building
was one hundred and fifty-three thousand six hundred. The Third Degree Lecture itself
is largely repetitive of the ritual but here the Introductory Address is well worth
studying. ". . . To a perfect knowledge of this Degree few attain, but it is an infallible
truth, that he who gains by merit those marks of pre-eminence and distinction which
the Degree affords receives a reward which amply compensates for all his attention and
assiduity." This lecture does however give long explanations of same of those things
which are only briefly explained in the Ceremony itself. Finally, the little book of the
Craft Lectures, similar in most respects to a book of Ritual is an essential item for study,
offering lucid and attractive description that assists towards a better understanding of
much that would otherwise remain obscure. I trust that my brief review will stimulate a
desire in our members to add the Craft Lectures to their Masonic reading.
J.T.P.