FreemasonryGPT

What are the different degrees in Freemasonry?

Freemasonry is structured around a progressive system of degrees, designed to impart moral and philosophical lessons. The foundational degrees are found within the Craft Lodge, which comprises three distinct stages:

1. Entered Apprentice: This is the first degree, introducing the candidate to the basic principles and symbolism of Freemasonry.
2. Fellow Craft: The second degree builds upon the lessons of the Entered Apprentice, emphasizing the importance of labor and intellectual development.
3. Master Mason: This is the highest degree in the Craft Lodge, representing the culmination of the symbolic journey and the attainment of full membership.

Beyond these, various appendant bodies offer further degrees, such as those in the Scottish Rite or York Rite, which explore Masonic teachings in greater depth and from different perspectives. As Albert Pike notes in Morals and Dogma, "The degrees of Masonry are but the steps of a ladder, by which we may ascend from the darkness of ignorance to the light of truth."