What does the second degree signify?
The second degree, known as the Fellow Craft degree, signifies the candidate's journey from ignorance to knowledge. It represents the struggles of the mind in the pursuit of moral and intellectual truth. As stated in the Masonic Monitor, "If the object of the first degree is to symbolize the struggles of a candidate groping in darkness for intellectual light, that of the second degree represents the same candidate laboring amid all the difficulties that encumber the young beginner in the attainment of learning and science." This degree emphasizes the importance of geometry and the liberal arts, which are seen as essential for personal development and understanding the divine order of the universe.
Moreover, the Fellow Craft is encouraged to engage in the study of geometry, which is described as a divine and moral science, essential for understanding the properties of nature and the truths of morality. The degree also symbolizes the candidate's ascent through the 'winding stairs' towards greater enlightenment and understanding, culminating in the reception of 'hieroglyphic light' that is exclusive to craftsmen.