DiotimosReading Desk

Rites degrees and ceremonial actions

Apprentice and Fellow Craft

Entered Apprentice; Apprentice; Fellow Craft; Fellow-crafts

Apprentice and Fellow Craft name preliminary Craft ranks.

From the book

Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry

R. Swinburne Clymer · Diotimos Editions · 2026

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Orientation

At a Glance

  • The wordApprentice and Fellow Craft name preliminary Craft ranks.
  • In Ancient Mystic Oriental MasonryThe triangle and square are arranged differently as the candidate advances, and the manner of wearing the apron becomes an emblem of spirit and matter.
  • In this editionThe source varies capitalization and hyphenation.
  • A place to readM.44: “44. "The Entered Apprentice starts on his career with the triangle surmounting the square (spirit has” …

Meaning

Apprentice and Fellow Craft name preliminary Craft ranks. In the book they also provide images of a student progressing toward mastery.

Use in the book

The triangle and square are arranged differently as the candidate advances, and the manner of wearing the apron becomes an emblem of spirit and matter. The search for the Lost Word includes named Fellow-crafts whose significance is said to extend beneath the story. A later passage places Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master within a claimed Templar transmission. The ranks consequently carry both instructional and genealogical weight.

Places to read

  1. Mystic Masonry · Block 44“44. "The Entered Apprentice starts on his career with the triangle surmounting the square (spirit has not yet descended into matter). As he progresses the descent takes place, and we have” …
  2. Mystic Masonry · Block 48… “obtain it, and the names of the three Fellow-crafts, have a very deep significance. After many trials, he receives a substitute, which he is to conceal with great fidelity "till future” …
  3. Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 18“1. Apprentice.”
  4. Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 19“2. Fellow Craft.”
  5. Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 139… “to attain, and these are present in the Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master degrees, known under the name of the Little Master-Builder, the Great Master-Builder and the Scotch Master.”

In this edition

The source varies capitalization and hyphenation. Separate attested forms are supplied rather than silently standardizing every occurrence.

Reading the argument

The symbolic reading can be followed without accepting the entire descent story. A description of what a rank represents and an assertion about who transmitted it answer different questions. Keep the novice’s learning distinct from the author’s historical reconstruction.

Entered Apprentice

“Entered Apprentice” — 4 occurrences in 3 text blocks: D.6; M.44; S.16.

Apprentice

“Apprentice” — 12 occurrences in 10 text blocks: D.6; M.44; F.6, 14, 18, 21, 139; S.16, 43; N.65.

Fellow Craft

“Fellow Craft” — 4 occurrences in 4 text blocks: D.6; F.19, 139; S.43.

Fellow-crafts

“Fellow-crafts” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: M.48.