This is the third in a special series of three booklets issued by the Grand Lodge for the use of candidates and new members, which together with booklets entitled "The Entered Apprentice Degree," and "The Fellow Craft Degree," comprise a general introduction to the Masonic life and an interpretation in outline of the Ritual of the Ancient Craft Degrees.

In contrast, the Master Mason Degree departs from the purely instructive aspects and treats of the most profound mystery ever revealed to man, his search for that which was lost and its discovery in the divinity of his own soul. Through the medium of a transcendent tragedy, it teaches the majesty of a man's soul, the value of faithfulness in character and the glorious hope of immortality. It brings man to the realization of the truth about himself, that his soul is the one unconquerable thing upon this earth and points the way for him to intellectual and spiritual freedom.

Much that was said about Ritual, symbolism, and history in the two preceding booklets is not repeated here; for this reason it is hoped that a reader of this booklet will read the others in conjunction with it.

Necessarily the principal purpose of such a booklet as this is to introduce a candidate to the subject in the expectation that afterwards he will wish to go farther in his reading, which, thanks to the abundant opportunities offered by Grand Lodge, is not difficult to do and will avail himself of those books and other publications which will be recommended to him for that purpose together with information as to where they may be obtained.

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