Entered Apprentice: Lodge Membership Requirements

how many constitute a lodge of entered apprenctice

The Entered Apprentice degree is the first degree of Freemasonry. Seven Freemasons, consisting of six Entered Apprentices and one Master Mason, are required to constitute a Lodge of Masons and initiate a candidate into the first degree of Masonry. The number three is significant in Freemasonry, with three Supports of the Lodge being Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty. Three Master Masons are required to constitute a Master's Lodge, referred to as the Sanctum Sanctorum, or, Holy of Holies of King Solomon's Temple.

Characteristics Values
Number of Freemasons 7
Number of Entered Apprentices 6
Number of Master Masons 1

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Seven Freemasons are required to constitute a Lodge of Masons

The Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons, also known as "the Middle Chamber of King Solomon's Temple", consists of five Masons: the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, and Senior and Junior Deacons. However, seven additional Masons usually assist and take their seats, as in the Entered Apprentice's Degree.

A minimum of three Master Masons is required by Masonic Law to constitute a Masters' Lodge, also referred to as "the Sanctum Sanctorum, or, Holy of Holies of King Solomon's Temple". While only three are required to open a Third Degree Lodge, there are typically seven additional Masons present, as seen in other degrees.

The number seven holds symbolic significance in Freemasonry, representing the coming together of individual Masons to form a harmonious and unified whole, with each member contributing their unique perspective and skills to the Lodge.

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Six Entered Apprentices are needed

The Entered Apprentice Mason degree is the first degree in Freemasonry. The initiate is taught the necessity of a belief in God, charity towards all mankind, secrecy, the meaning of brotherly love, the importance of truth, and the value of fortitude, among other principles.

The Entered Apprentice Mason of old was an operative stonemason who would turn up his apron flap to prevent his clothes from being soiled while working. The number 3 is also significant in Freemasonry, representing the three "Supports" of the Lodge: Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty.

A Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons, or "the Middle Chamber of King Solomon's Temple", consists of five members: the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, and Senior and Junior Dear Hens. However, seven others, including the Tyler, generally assist and take their seats as in the Entered Apprentice's Degree.

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One Master Mason is required

A Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons requires seven Freemasons, comprising six Entered Apprentices and one Master Mason. This is the minimum number required to initiate a candidate to the First Degree of Masonry.

Three Master Masons are required to constitute a Master's Lodge, which is referred to by Masons as "the Sanctum Sanctorum, or, Holy of Holies of King Solomon's Temple".

A Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons, on the other hand, consists of five members: the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, and Senior and Junior Dear Hens. However, seven others, including the Tyler, typically assist and take their seats as in the Entered Apprentice's Degree.

The Fellow Craft Lodge is known by Masons as "the Middle Chamber of King Solomon's Temple".

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Three Master Masons are the requisite number for a Masters' Lodge

Three Master Masons are the requisite number to constitute a Masters' Lodge, also called by Masons "the Sanctum Sanctorum, or, Holy of Holies of King Solomon's Temple". This is in contrast to a Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons, which consists of five: the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, and Senior and Junior Dear hens. While three Master Masons are required by "Masonic Law" to open a Third Degree Lodge, there are generally seven others besides the Tyler, as in the other degrees.

The Fellow Craft Lodge is styled by Masons as "the Middle Chamber of King Solomon's Temple". This is the second of the three basic degrees of Freemasonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. The Entered Apprentice Mason degree teaches the necessity of a belief in God, charity toward all mankind, secrecy, the meaning of brotherly love, the reasons for relief, the importance of truth, the advantages of temperance, the value of fortitude, the peace and safety provided by prudence, and the equality of strict justice.

The number three is significant in Freemasonry, as it represents the three "Supports" of the Lodge: Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty. The three basic degrees of Freemasonry are also reflected in Blue Lodges, which confer only these three degrees. Blue Lodges are so-called due to the traditional colour of regalia in lodges derived from English or Irish Freemasonry.

In summary, while seven Freemasons are required to constitute a Lodge of Masons and initiate a candidate to the First Degree of Masonry, only three Master Masons are needed to constitute a Masters' Lodge, according to Masonic Law.

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A Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons consists of five

Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that traces its origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. It is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-functioning organisations in history. Modern Freemasonry consists of three main traditions: Anglo-American Freemasonry, Continental or Liberal Freemasonry, and Women Freemasonry or Co-Freemasonry.

The Entered Apprentice Mason is the first degree of Freemasonry. Candidates for Freemasonry are progressively initiated into the fraternity, first as Entered Apprentices, then passed to the degree of Fellow Craft, and finally raised to the degree of Master Mason. Each of these ceremonies involves the candidate taking new obligations and being entrusted with secret knowledge, including passwords, signs, and grips (secret handshakes) confined to their new rank.

The number seven is significant in Freemasonry. Seven Freemasons, consisting of six Entered Apprentices and one Master Mason, are required to constitute a Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons and initiate a candidate to the First Degree of Masonry. This configuration is known as ""the Ground Floor of King Solomon's Temple".

A Lodge of Fellow Craft Masons, on the other hand, consists of five members: the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, and Senior and Junior Deacons. This lodge is styled by Masons as "the Middle Chamber of King Solomon's Temple". Additionally, seven others, including the Tyler, generally assist and take their seats as in the Entered Apprentice's Degree.

While the number seven holds symbolic value, the number three is the most commonly used in Freemasonry. Three Master Masons are required to constitute a Master's Lodge, also referred to as "the Sanctum Sanctorum, or, Holy of Holies of King Solomon's Temple".

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