Fellowcraft

Fellow Craft is the second degree in many forms of Freemasonry, following the Entered Apprentice and preceding the Master Mason degree. It is part of the Blue Lodge or Craft Lodge and represents the Mason’s advancement from learner to more skilled member, with an emphasis on study, knowledge, and the application of learning to moral and civic life.

Ritual and symbolism in the Fellow Craft degree center on geometry and architecture, reflecting the operative origins of the craft. The candidate is instructed in the liberal arts and sciences as a foundation for wisdom and responsible living. Common symbolic tools associated with the degree include the square, level, and plumb rule, used to illustrate virtue, equality, and uprightness; these tools symbolize moral and social order rather than mere construction.

Practice and variations: the exact ritual content and emblems can vary by jurisdiction and by rite. Some Lodges present a lecture on the science and art of building, often weaving in biblical or historical lore. The degree forms part of the path toward Master Mason, and its lessons are intended to foster knowledge, discernment, and virtuous conduct.

History and context: the Fellow Craft degree has roots in the medieval stonemasons’ guilds and became codified in modern speculative Freemasonry during the 18th century. The term is sometimes written Fellow-Craft or abbreviated FC, and while the core ideas remain similar, individual Grand Lodges may adapt wording and presentation.