What Happens in the Master Mason Degree?

The Master Mason degree is the third and last Blue Lodge degree. In Duncan’s 1866 text the candidate swears an obligation “under no less penalty than that of having my body severed in two,” then plays Hiram Abiff in a drama: three ruffians demand the Master’s word, the third fells him, he is laid in a grave, and the Master raises him “by the strong grip, or lion’s paw, of the tribe of Judah” and whispers a substitute word on the five points of fellowship.

Key Points

• The penalty is “having my body severed in two, my bowels taken from thence and burned to ashes, the ashes scattered before the four winds of heaven” (Duncan, p. 96) (1).
• The lecture asks, “What did you then represent?” The answer is “Our Grand Master, Hiram Abiff, who was slain just before the completion of King Solomon’s Temple” (p. 137) (1).
• A canvas is held behind the candidate “for the purpose of catching him when he is tripped up by the assumed ruffian, Jubelum” (p. 105) (1).
• The Master raises him by “the strong grip, or lion’s paw,” and gives the word on the five points: “foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and cheek to cheek, or mouth to ear” (pp. 120–121) (1).
• Duncan’s monitorial note says the Master Mason “represents a man under the doctrine of love, saved from the grave of iniquity, and raised to the faith of salvation” (p. 126) (1).

The Obligation

Duncan prints the obligation, which ends: “binding myself, under no less penalty than that of having my body severed in two, my bowels taken from thence and burned to ashes, the ashes scattered before the four winds of heaven, that no more remembrance might be had of so vile and wicked a wretch as I would be, should I ever, knowingly, violate this my Master Mason’s obligation. So help me God.” (p. 96) (1) The United Grand Lodge of England removed physical penalties from the obligations in 1986 (2). Other grand lodges set their own wording.

The Drama of Hiram Abiff

Duncan calls this “the traditional account of the death, several burials, and resurrections of one of the craft, Hiram Abiff, the widow’s son.” (p. 86) (1) The candidate, still hoodwinked, is led around the lodge. The Junior Warden, as “First Ruffian, Jubela,” seizes him: “Grand Master Hiram, I am glad to meet you thus alone.” (p. 103) (1) The second ruffian strikes him across the breast. The Master, as the third ruffian, Jubelum, “is generally provided with a buckskin bag stuffed with hair, to represent a setting-maul,” and a canvas is held behind the candidate to catch him when he is tripped (p. 105) (1).

He is lowered, and a ruffian says, “Let us plant an acacia at the head of the grave.” (p. 107) (1) Searchers find the grave. A brother tries to raise the body by the Entered Apprentice grip and reports that “the skin slips, and the body cannot be raised.” (p. 118) (1) The Senior Warden tries the Fellow Craft grip: “the flesh cleaves from the bone, and the body cannot be so raised.” King Solomon cries, “Is there no hope for the widow’s son?” (pp. 118–119) (1) Then King Solomon, played by the Master, says, “I shall endeavor (with your assistance) to raise the body by the strong grip, or lion’s paw, of the tribe of Judah.” (p. 120) (1)

Raised on the Five Points of Fellowship

The Master takes the candidate by “the real grip of a Master Mason,” sets foot to foot, and “raises him up perpendicularly in a standing position.” He whispers the word, which Duncan says is a substitute, “for, according to Masonic tradition, the right one was lost at the death of Hiram Abiff.” (p. 120) (1) The five points are “foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to back, and cheek to cheek, or mouth to ear.” (p. 121) (1)

Why Christians Object to the Raising

Duncan’s note says the degree “testifies our faith in the resurrection of the body” and that the Master Mason is “raised to the faith of salvation.” (pp. 126–127) (1) Many Christians read a staged death and raising, which the ritual ties to salvation, as a counterfeit of being born again. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3John 3:3 · King James VersionJesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.John 3:3 · King James VersionOpen source) (3). Masons answer that the drama is an allegory of fidelity and of hope in immortality, not a sacrament. The legend and both readings are on The Hiram Abiff Legend and the Raising.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Hiram Abiff Murder in the Bible?

No. Hiram the bronze-worker is in 1 Kings 7:13–141 Kings 7:13–14 · King James Version^7:13 And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. ^7:14 He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.1 Kings 7:13–14 · King James VersionOpen source. The murder, the three ruffians, and the lost word are Masonic legend.

Is a Master Mason the Highest Degree?

In the Blue Lodge, yes. The York Rite and the Scottish Rite confer further degrees; see What Are the York Rite and Scottish Rite Degrees?.