How did the transition from two to three degrees occur in Freemasonry?
The transition from two to three degrees in Freemasonry occurred gradually between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Initially, Freemasonry was practiced with only two degrees: the Entered Apprentice and the Fellow Craft. Historical manuscripts, such as the Edinburgh Register House Manuscript of 1696 and the Sloane Manuscript of 1659, confirm this two-degree system. However, by the early 18th century, references to a third degree began to emerge, notably in the Trinity College Dublin Manuscript of 1711 and the Graham Manuscript of 1726, which acknowledged the existence of three degrees.
The introduction of the third degree, often associated with the Hiramic Legend, was not an immediate acceptance but rather a process that caused considerable turbulence within the fraternity. The earliest known reference to the third degree in lodge minutes in London dates back to 1727, and by 1730, the three-degree system had become firmly established, as evidenced by Prichard's publication “Masonry Dissected.” The transition was marked by a lack of uniformity in ceremonial workings prior to the formation of the First Grand Lodge in 1717, leading to various interpretations and practices among different lodges.
As noted by RWBro Bharat V. Epur, *“the Third degree was not made; it grew—like the great cathedrals, no one of which can be ascribed to a single artist, but to one Order of men working in unity of enterprise and aspiration.”* This evolution reflects the complex historical context and the gradual acceptance of the third degree within the Masonic tradition.