the being and the become

The transition from present imperfection to spiritual completion forms a central theme in Masonic philosophy. In Wilmshurst's reading, temporal life represents a state of restriction in which humanity, having fallen from its divine source in the "East," exists in the "West"—a temporary world of shadows and "substituted secrets" 1. The philosophical movement from being to becoming is thus framed as a journey of return, wherein the individual uses self-discipline, purification, and moral instruction to rediscover the lost, genuine realities of his own inner nature 1.

This process of transformation is dramatized through the symbolism of building. Speculative Masonry adapts the working tools of operative Masons not for erecting perishable physical structures, but for shaping the human soul into a spiritual building fit for eternity 3. Operative tools such as the gauge, gavel, square, level, and plumb serve as emblems of moral truths, guiding the Mason to subdue his passions and refine his character 3.

The three Craft degrees mirror this progression of personal development 1. Wilmshurst compares the Craft ceremonies to the Ancient Mysteries, holding that they offer a practical method of living and self-building 1. The progress requires physical purification in the First Degree, mental and moral development in the Second Degree, and a symbolic death to material self-interest in the Third Degree 1. Through loyalty to the divine light within, patience, and perseverance, the Mason moves beyond elementary social conduct toward an inward growth that aligns his life with ultimate truth 12.