Barclay-Harvey GMM

Many brethren do not progress any further than the three degrees (and Mark) in the lodge and this is absolutely fine. However, many brethren was to expand their knowledge of masonry and their enjoyment of the Craft as a whole. So what then after the MM degree?

The obvious answer is the Royal Arch conferred in a chapter rather than a lodge. This set of degrees continues the masonic story to the rebuilding of KST—although different it is a very typical ‘masonic’ degree with colour and more symbolism. Any serious freemason should take these degrees and think where they fit into the three degrees of the Craft.

After this many brethren continue with degrees under the Royal Arch control—Cryptic and Ark. The former continues the temple legendary history while the latter refers to Noah. However, it is the Royal Arch which opens doors for many when they are now eligible to join the Preceptory and become a Knight Templar. This is not really masonic, but describes a history of the actual KT. The other chivalric order is that of the Red Cross of Constantine which is much smaller (on purpose) than the KT. This is related to Constantine’s vision, but the second degree of that Order attempts to link the Craft and Royal Arch degrees in a very impressive lecture.

There is no set route after the Royal Arch and it often depends on friends. Active freemasons after a period of time might be invited to join the Scottish Rite (ie. the 18th degree or Rose Croix as often called). Another invitational order is the Royal Order of Scotland which consists of two degrees with very masonic symbolism along with ‘other stuff.’ This often concludes the journey, but there are many more orders to explore of time allows.

A common one for esoteric masons or brethren with an interest in Heretic ideas is the Rosicrucian Society (not an order as it’s to a certain extent independent from the Craft). This is also smaller as only brethren with an esoteric slant are suitable.

The remainder are often describes as ‘fun’ orders such as the Order of the Secret Monitor, the Allied Masonic Degrees, Knight Templar Priests, The Operatives, Athelstan, Knight Masons, etc. Although orders on their own, they are not essential to the legendary Craft story, but can provide a great deal of enjoyment for the members.

Confused? I’m sure you are and the route you decide is entirely your choice whether planned or through friends. Before you do join, do some research (not all online!), but ask brethren who are members—they will be delighted you have expressed an interest.

The best advice is to seek your daily advance in masonic knowledge and this can be done through other orders.

Following on from December 2020, here is Part 3 considering some explanations for the statutes.

In England, after the Norman Conquest, “building of the eleventh century bears witness to rough tools and want of training. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries the number and skill of the masons must have increased considerably, more particularly as a result of the monastic demand for high-class masonry. It was presumably in the workshops or lodges attached to abbeys and cathedrals that the experience and training were gained which turned rough stoneworkers into finished masons capable of achieving the most splendid examples of medieval craftsmanship. Even in the hey-day of the stone-building era in the twelfth, thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries, the number of highly skilled masons must have been small compared with the total number of masons.”

The first regulations or Masonic manifesto are the Regius MS and the Cooke MS both from the 15th Century are English and have been written less as rules and more as a boost to masons to give them a history they could be proud of as well as a mode of conduct. Andrew Prescott proposed the major periods in the history of freemasonry as 1425 to 1483 (Regius MS to GL No.1 MS and the appointment of Schaw) then from 1583 to the formation of the English Grand Lodge in 1717 – a long period with considerable changes engineered by various personalities, but Schaw is recognised as one of the main influences in the evolution of the Craft.

Few, if any, lodges were created in Scotland just after the statutes, possibly as a result of the death of Schaw –lodges were in existence and had to alter their practice in terms of conforming to the new set of rules. New lodges did not really appear until about 70 years after the statutes when there was a bit more interest from non-operatives or from internal disputes causing masons to open alternative lodges to their mother lodge.

Rules or regulations for masons (and other trades) were commonplace by the 16th century and Schaw would probably have been aware of others in order to write his version for the Scottish masons. For example, in Germany lodges from Strasbourg, Cologne, Vienna and Bern governed most of the country although the Strasbourg lodge was given the honour of making final decisions, perhaps due to the construction of Strasbourg Cathedral. The unification of the lodges took place in 1459 while their rules were confirmed by Maximilian I in 1498. These rules were similar to what Schaw would write with one exception - they contained a secret. No mason was to teach another not entitled to receive it, “how to take the elevation from the ground plan.” Whether this constitutes a real secret or it was taught orally with no written evidence is debatable.

However, in 1486, Matthaus Roriczer the master mason of Regensburg Cathedral (below), published a booklet with the Bishop’s consent claiming to reveal the secret which was related to rotating squares and diagonals. These secrets or mysteries were also well known problems in mathematics at the time and it was not (and even now) uncommon to hear practitioners being initiated into the mysteries (of mathemat-

ics). It is unlikely if a non-mason would have been able to understand his text being a special case of the generalised method. Did he break his oath? It was probably only other master masons who would be able to read the booklet (excluding the clergy who would not be interested) so perhaps it was written as an aide memoire for masons as this geometry was slightly different from ‘mainstream’ geometry in the liberal arts. It was used for “the construction and physical manipulation of simple geometrical forms” found in buildings.

Further evidence about a secret is from the ordinances of the Halberstadt Guild of Masons (which contained

the German Steinmetzen) laid before their prince in 1695. It states that a master shall enjoin a workman in his service whom he has examined according to the custom of the Craft that he “shall keep enclosed in his heart on peril of his soul’s salvation that which has been entrusted to him of words and by no means make the same known to anyone but an honest mason by loss of his Craft.”

The German regulations were a set of rules in every sense of the word and included fines for masons when they were broken. They were unlike the English Old Charges which were written for different reasons and partially fanciful story. As Acaster said, “The English texts breathe spirit; the German, law.” Despite these differences, there are many similarities also echoed with Schaw. Religious duty, loyalty to superiors, honesty, obedience and brotherly love are all common virtues which even today no mason would feel uncomfortable about. Acaster also points out another similarity common to both the 15th and 18th century – ritualised greetings for visiting lodges. He cites ten Old Charges from Scotland, England and Germany where the phrase from the Honourable Company of Masons that I came from greet you well greet you well, greet you well. This triple greeting is unique and common to many Masonic manuscripts. These early writers, in every sense of the word, laid lasting foundations for the Craft for which we owe a huge debt of gratitude.

Another example is the regulations at York in 1408. In these it was clear that masons unwilling to obey regulations had no to seek alternative employment. The governance of the masons was overseen by the principal with master masons being next in command. They were required to take oath to cause the regulations to be observed, that work started promptly and “to report to the master of the works and the keeper of the counter-roll (who were the clergy in charge of the finances and of the administration of the fabric) any faults and defects of the workmen. Fines for defective work were imposed according to his report, and the hiring of workmen was done with his advice. The master mason of the fabric, in short, stood between the Chapter and the masons, in more or less the same way as a bailiff between a lord and his tenants.”

The Schaw Statutes appeared shortly after the Reformation which was a period of considerable change and unrest between countries in particular Scotland, England and France as well as religious unrest. The regulations would bring stability to many of the workforce such as the apprentices who could not be bought and sold like animals. It can be considered a modern day health and safety policy which was binding by law. Whether it was looked at favourably or not is difficult to say, but it was an important document that carried weight.

16th Century Scotland was not as developed as her larger neighbour, but many educated (and wealthy) Scots still travelled to Europe to gain a full education. Many Scots brought back to Scotland new ideas which would influence science, building, etc and many links were made on the continent. For example, Scots traders had settlement in Kazimierz Dolny, south of Warsaw, in Poland. Schaw was also in this category having travelled to Denmark with the King to assist with the arrival of Queen Anne. However, during the period before 1583 when he was appointed Master of Works to the King, there is little information of Schaw and it is likely he travelled with is friend Alexander Seton (later 1st Earl of Dunfermline) to the continent. Both being Roman Catholics, this would have made travelling in France easier and may have been to strengthen ties with the Auld Alliance. All speculation, but thing is sure, he was well educated had was able to survive in a Protestant kingdom.

As a result of all this travelling, many Scottish buildings are unique in architecture around this period and many were being constructed by landowners or the gentry who will have seen such styles on their travels. Hence there was more need for masons. This must have been welcome news to masons as there had been a reduction in the number of buildings and churches leading up to the Reformation and the Calvinist faith had little interest in changing this situation. Could the new Renaissance styling be incorporated with old traditions of the masons? If it could then new regulations must be made to ensure these traditions are not lost completely. Strangely enough, what is known as the Protestant work ethic fits in well to the concept of masonry – hard work and diligence will produce the desired results.

Part 4 in May.