The Lodge of Past Masters

The Lodge of Past Masters

By W. B. Wojtas PHP

The Past Master Degree is an Honorary degree and it’s earliest reference is noted in Anderson’s Book of constitutions, written in 1723.  Originally, Royal Arch Masonry was under the governance of the Symbolic Lodge where the Royal Arch Degree was conferred.  At that time, the regulations mandated that the Royal Arch Degree was only conferred upon a Brother who has sat in the Oriental Seat of his Symbolic Lodge.  This was done because it was accepted that the Royal Arch Degree was too important of a degree to be conferred on a Master Mason who has yet sat in the East. 

Of course, over time, this restriction became a hindrance to progress and exceptions were made on occasions, and later, more often.  Eventually, the degree became a part of the Chapter, its own entity, but the tradition remained to signify the importance of this undertaking. 

Mackey writes in The Book of the Chapter,

While as masons we admit the general equality of men in their relation to their common Creator and acknowledge with proper humility that we are all traveling on the level of time to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns we do not deny the advantage and propriety of distinctions in society based on a difference of talent and position and we know that while some must rule govern others must of necessity be called upon to obey is to this view of the gradations of society that the fifth degree alludes in its ceremonies and instructions

The charges of this degree impress upon the mind of the Master Mason the importance of the qualities which a man needs to possess to lead his life in the light of Royal Arch Masonry.  Even if he has yet to seat in the East, he must consider and reflect on how he interacts with the men around him. 

We are reminded of the need to possess the qualities of judgment, discretion, wisdom, firmness and determination, which are symbolic of good leadership.  We must also be comfortable as one who can navigate under constituted authority employing obedience to those in charge and to promote good order and discipline. 

During the degree the Master Mason is asked to signify his assent to several charges, which are similar in nature to the charges given during the installation of an Actual Worshipful Master of a Lodge.  Most of which pertain to the qualities previously mentioned, inculcating within the man, those necessary qualities of Masonic leadership. 

Some ritual uses the Parable of the workers in the vineyard, Matthew 20:1-17 to impress on us the ideals of this degree.  It ties in to what is taught in the Mark Master degree. 

The allegory assumes that the Land owner represents Christ.  It is a very simple story, without any heavy theology that teaches an important lesson.  Since the landowner represents Christ, the vineyard represents his kingdom.  The concept here is that the story represents people working in the Lord’s kingdom, doing good works.  The wages being God’s gifts or rewards granted as a result, perhaps salvation.  However the length of service or amount of work does not determine the wage.   

In the story, the overseer paid those that came last and paid them a day’s wage for laboring just an hour or two.  The workers that had been there all day assumed that they would get more, because they labored all day.  However, their assumption was wrong and it upset them.  They in turn, complained to the Landowner, who reminded them of the agreement. 

He reminded them that he paid them exactly what he promised, so there was no need to complain.  Additionally, since he was the land owner, he was free to pay workers whatever he saw fit.  He told them to accept their wage and go.  There was no changing his mind and there was no law that would cause him to pay proportionately. 

The final point made it that the last will be first and the first will be last, a concept seen elsewhere in the Gospel. 

Knowing that the Landowner represents Christ, the allegory alludes to the fact that the Lord cannot be held to restrictions or customs on how He rewards people as we would be held to.  Additionally it states that His agreement with each group is fair and generous since without it that same agreement, they would have nothing.  In other words, it is by grace that He rewards the workers, just as it was by grace He offered them the place.  (www.bible.org)

How does this tie in to the allegory of the Mark Master Degree?  In a Symbolic Lodge, The Worshipful Master is sovereign and is has the ability to deal with the brethren in his Lodge in whatever way he deems necessary.   He is free to give some people more than others in relationship to their service or contribution to the Lodge.  He alone can make the decision of what wage give brethren for service, how to use them (all day or not), and how to reward their dedication to the Craft.  He can pay the same wages to those that labor long in the Craft as he would to those that work a shorter time, but more efficiently to achieve the same goal.  The Worshipful Master is charged and obligated to treat everyone fairly and with jurisprudence. 

The story starts out with a conventional plot, hiring day workers. But it turns at the end to what is totally unconventional, so that the people who worked the least got equal pay. How is it possible that the last shall be first? Not by agreement and not by contract--but by grace and grace alone. As 19:30 reminded us, with God all things are possible, and especially this work of grace that the last is first. If God extends grace to people at the eleventh hour, and they respond, trusting in His goodness, they will also receive what He promised others. If God calls people into service in His vineyard, and they serve Him faithfully, both the calling and the reward is by grace, especially if their work was not a full day. (https://bible.org/seriespage/workers-vineyard-matthew-201-16)

“This is good law” we all respond after the passage is read by the Worshipful Master.  When you receive the calling to the Craft, whether it was 50 years ago or last month, the reward is the same.  What is the labor of a Mason and what is his wage?

Our ritual admonishes us to be more mindful of our obligations.  We are all quick to kneel at the altar and take an obligation to perform and act in a certain way, but often forget what we swore or fail to understand what the obligation meant.  We overlook that an obligation is a pact with our Creator to do or perform what was contained therein.  We often behave as if that obligation was never made and this degree contains the warning.  Adherence to our obligation is the labor we have agreed with the Worshipful Master to perform as a part of his Lodge in the eyes of our Creator.  Our wage is the Light we receive in Masonry, the knowledge, the gift of greater morality as a just and upright Mason.  If we labor long and hard or quick and more efficient, our wage remains the same and it is good. 

It is the Worshipful Masters’ charge to guide his brethren to believe in and perform according to the solemn obligation by setting the example through his own conduct. 

This is, in my opinion the lesson taught in the 5^th degree.  We as Actual or Virtual Past Masters are admonished to live our lives and set the example to our brethren.  We live our lives in the Light of the Craft and all work toward a common goal, receiving the same wages as a Master Mason.  We must perform as Past Masters with a firm and steadfast resolution to our obligations, without fail, to give credibility to our position as a 5^th Degree Mason, as a just, amiable, discreet and virtuous man.