Masonic Monitor of the Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason: together with the Ceremony of Installation, Laying Corner Stones, Dedications, Masonic Burial, Etc

In Short

This book serves as an official guide for members of the Masonic fraternity in Arkansas, detailing the procedural, ceremonial, and symbolic requirements for the three primary degrees: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. Beyond these initiatory steps, it provides instructions for the installation of officers, the dedication of halls, the laying of cornerstones, and the conduct of funeral rites. It remains a vital record of how the organization maintained uniformity in its work and reinforced its moral teachings across local lodges during the early twentieth century.

The Story

The narrative arc of the book follows the progression of a candidate from an outsider to a fully integrated member of the fraternity, and ultimately to his final departure from life. It begins with the initial petition and the "Entered Apprentice" degree, where the candidate is stripped of external social standing to focus entirely on moral and spiritual worth. This phase emphasizes the necessity of invoking the aid of the Divine before any significant undertaking, establishing the lodge as a sanctuary for unity. The candidate is introduced to the "Great Lights" of the fraternity—the Bible, the Square, and the Compasses—which provide the foundational rules for faith and conduct.

The journey continues with the "Fellow Craft" degree, which represents a shift from darkness toward intellectual and moral light. Here, the focus turns to the development of the mind and the study of nature and symmetry. The candidate is reminded that while physical labor was the duty of ancient builders, the speculative Mason must labor to build a "spiritual building" aligned with divine designs. The book illustrates this ascent through the metaphor of "winding stairs" and the transition from ignorance to knowledge, teaching that true advancement comes not from external rank, but from internal qualification.

The final major arc concerns the maintenance and solemnization of the fraternity itself. This includes the technical business of electing and installing officers—such as the Master, Treasurer, and Secretary—and the ceremonial duties of the lodge, including the laying of cornerstones and the dedication of halls. The book treats these administrative tasks as sacred responsibilities. The conclusion of the work turns toward mortality, providing extensive rituals for funerals and the "Lodge of Sorrow." These rites guide the survivors in honoring the departed brother, reconciling the finality of death with the hope of an immortal, spiritual reunion. Throughout the text, the recurring argument is that Freemasonry is a lifelong school of virtue, where the lodge acts as a community of mutual protection and moral support, extending even beyond the grave. The final pages leave the reader with the imagery of the "house not made with hands," framing the entirety of Masonic life as a preparation for a higher, eternal order.

How It Unfolds

The preparation of the candidate The process begins with a formal inquiry into the candidate’s motivations, ensuring he seeks admission voluntarily and for the right reasons. Once accepted, he is divested of worldly status to emphasize that only his moral character matters upon entering the temple.

The lessons of the lights The initiate is instructed in the symbolism of the three Great and Lesser Lights. These elements define the geometry of the lodge and the ethical boundaries that keep a member’s passions in check.

The labor of the fellow craft The second phase introduces the candidate to the working tools of geometry and architecture, which are reinterpreted as tools for self-improvement. The focus shifts to the pursuit of knowledge and the importance of active service to fellow creatures.

The governance of the lodge The text details the strict annual cycle of elections and the specific duties assigned to each officer. It provides a clear blueprint for maintaining order and ensuring that every member understands his role within the hierarchy of the lodge.

The public duties of the craft The book outlines the formal procedures for public ceremonies like laying cornerstones. These rituals bridge the gap between the internal work of the lodge and the broader community, framing the fraternity as a pillar of civic stability.

The final rites of passage The work concludes with comprehensive instructions for funeral services and the Lodge of Sorrow. These rituals offer a structured, dignified way to mourn, emphasizing the belief in a continued existence beyond the mortal world.

The People

The central figures are the officers of the lodge, each tasked with maintaining the "ancient usages" that hold the institution together. The Worshipful Master is the primary authority, responsible for wielding the gavel with discretion and ensuring that the lodge operates according to the established "Great Lights." Supporting him are the Senior and Junior Wardens, who assist in the instruction of candidates and the general oversight of the brothers. The Deacons act as the messengers and guides for candidates, facilitating their transition through the degrees, while the Secretary and Treasurer are the custodians of the lodge’s records and resources, tasked with ensuring the stability of the organization.

Behind these roles is the archetype of the "candidate," who evolves from an "Entered Apprentice"—a figure of humility and darkness seeking light—into a "Fellow Craft," who is actively engaged in the pursuit of knowledge and social duty. Through the guidance of the officers, this candidate is transformed from a solitary seeker into a "brother," bound to others by duty and the promise of mutual aid. The "Grand Master" serves as the final authority, providing the necessary dispensations and oversight to ensure that the work remains pure and unimpaired. Each figure, from the humble tiler guarding the door to the Grand Master, is defined by his commitment to the "grand design" of communicating happiness and maintaining the moral integrity of the fraternity.

In Its Own Voice

The preparation to which the candidate must submit before entering the Lodge serves allegorically to teach him, as well as to remind the brethren who are present, that it is the man alone, divested of all the outward recommendations of rank, state, or riches, that Masonry accepts.

The author explains the symbolic significance of the candidate’s initial appearance at the lodge door.

As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

This passage from the 133rd Psalm is quoted to reinforce the virtue of unity among the brethren.

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.

The author distinguishes the spiritual purpose of the first degree from the intellectual purpose of the second.

What It's Really About

At its core, this manual argues that human life is a structured labor of self-refinement. The text posits that just as an operative mason shapes a rough stone into a perfect ashlar, the individual must use the tools of morality, equality, and rectitude to shape their own character. The lodge is presented as a "speculative" environment where these virtues are practiced in a social context, creating a bond of brotherhood that relies on mutual dependence and service. The book asks how a man can best be "serviceable to his fellow-creatures" and concludes that this is achieved through strict adherence to moral law, respect for the divine, and the preservation of ancient traditions that connect the living to the dead.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of American ritual or the cultural development of fraternal organizations will find this book a treasure of precise, period-specific terminology. It captures the formal, rhythmic language of a time when the lodge was a central pillar of social and civic life. Reading it feels like stepping into a private, highly disciplined world where every gesture—from the crossing of a rod to the placement of an apron—carries immense symbolic weight.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the book’s singular focus on administrative and ritualistic detail; it is not a narrative designed for casual entertainment, but a technical manual meant for practitioners. Its tone is earnest and unwavering, reflecting the deep seriousness with which the members viewed their craft. The text also bears the marks of its time, particularly in its rigid gendered language and its assumption of a society that centers its morality on specific religious and philosophical foundations. While some may find the repetitiveness of the prayers and charges demanding, there is a profound resonance in the book’s focus on how a community should handle grief and death. For anyone curious about the inner architecture of a nineteenth-century lodge, this text provides a window that remains clear, orderly, and impeccably preserved.