Governing Body, Headquarters & Eligibility Requirements
| Order / Jurisdiction Title | Craft Freemasonry (Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft & Master Mason) |
|---|---|
| Governing Body in the UK | United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), Grand Lodge of Scotland (GLoS), Grand Lodge of Ireland (GLoI), OWF & HFAF |
| UK Headquarters | Freemasons' Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ |
| Candidate Prerequisite | Open to men aged 18+ (UGLE/GLoS/GLoI) or women aged 18+ (OWF/HFAF) who profess a belief in a Supreme Being and are of good character. |
Degrees Worked & Symbolic Working Tools
Each ceremony within Craft Freemasonry dramatises a specific episode of scriptural or chivalric allegory and entrusts the candidate with symbolic working tools:
| Degree / Ceremony | Moral & Historical Focus | Symbolic Working Tools |
|---|---|---|
| First Degree: Entered Apprentice | Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth; moral self-examination and charity. | 24-Inch Gauge, Common Gavel, and Chisel. |
| Second Degree: Fellowcraft | Intellectual cultivation, the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences, and nature's architecture. | Square, Level, and Plumb Rule. |
| Third Degree: Master Mason | Fidelity, honour, mortality, and the allegorical Hiramic legend of King Solomon's Temple. | Skirret, Pencil, and Compasses. |
Historical Development in Britain
Under the Articles of Union of 1813 between the 'Moderns' (Premier Grand Lodge of 1717) and the 'Antients' (Grand Lodge of 1751), pure Antient Masonry was declared to consist of three degrees and no more, namely those of the Entered Apprentice, the Fellow Craft, and the Master Mason, including the Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch.
Official Apron, Sash & Breast Jewel Regulations
Regalia & Dress Guidelines for Craft Freemasonry
Entered Apprentices wear a plain white lambskin apron; Fellowcrafts wear a white lambskin apron with two sky-blue rosettes; Master Masons wear a lambskin apron lined and edged with sky-blue ribbon, with three rosettes and silver tassels.
Need regulation aprons, breast jewels, or signet rings for Craft Freemasonry? Explore our UK Masonic Regalia, Jewels & Signet Rings Hub.
Related Masonic Symbols & Ritual Guides
Square and Compasses
The Square and Compasses is the universal emblem of speculative Freemasonry. Conjoined together, the stonemason's try-square represents morality, fairness, and earthly conduct ('squaring our actions'), whilst the compasses represent spiritual boundaries, moderation, and self-restraint.
Working Tools of Each Degree
Speculative Freemasonry teaches moral philosophy by taking the physical iron and wooden implements of medieval cathedral stonemasons ('Operative Masons') and assigning an ethical meaning to each tool across the three Craft Degrees.
Boaz & Jachin Pillars
Standing at the porchway or entrance of every Masonic temple are two symbolic columns adorned with lilies, network, pomegranates, and celestial and terrestrial globes: Boaz on the left and Jachin on the right, modelled on the two hollow bronze pillars cast by Hiram of Tyre for King Solomon's Temple.
Sprig of Acacia
The evergreen Sprig of Acacia (shittim wood of the Middle East) is the pre-eminent emblem of the Third Degree (Master Mason), symbolising the immortality of the soul, innocence, and the enduring memory of fidelity.
Masonic Tracing Boards
Unique in their richness to British and Commonwealth Freemasonry, Tracing Boards are painted architectural and symbolic canvases displayed in the Lodge room during each of the three Craft Degrees to illustrate the historical lectures.
Frequently Asked Questions About Craft Freemasonry
How long does it take to become a Master Mason in the UK?
In most English, Welsh, and Scottish Craft Lodges, a candidate progresses from Entered Apprentice (First Degree) to Fellowcraft (Second Degree) and then to Master Mason (Third Degree) over 9 to 18 months, depending on how frequently the Lodge meets.
What are the different Craft rituals worked in the UK?
Whilst the moral teachings and landmarks are identical, UK Lodges work several traditional rituals including Emulation, Taylor's, Logic, Stability, Universal, Oxford, West End, Bristol Working, and Scottish Standard Ritual.