The third degree was developed during the Eighteenth century. Originally Masters were experienced craftsmen in charge of a worksite. The Master employed the fellowcraft, who were paid a daily wage and instructed the apprentices, who paid for their board and training. As the educational and charitable aspects of guilds developed they began admitting to their fraternities people not employed in their craft. The title of Master became honorary as well as operative.

The creation of the third degree may have been influenced by these changes in society, or it may have resulted from a need to regulate lodges meeting on a regular basis. The new third degree provided an opportunity to introduce ideas about the organisation and management lodges. Continuity with the other two degress was achieved by transferring some material from the fellowcraft ceremony. Clearly Masters had no need of signs or passwords as they were personally known both to each other and their patrons. The wisdom of a Master was acquired over years of experience and reflection. The eminence of a Master was demonstrated by the quality of the work under his supervision.

The occasional lodges of the free and accepted masons had evolved into organised Grand Lodges able to undertake charitable and educational activities to rival the Livery Companies of London. The ninteenth century was the great age of fraternal societies. Around the world Grand Lodges imitated the English of Blue Lodge system of three degrees.

The master mason degree is often misinterpreted as relating to death or old age, but it is correctly summarised in the words:

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, . . . Ecclesiastes 12

As we begin the work of employing our mind and instructing our emotions we do well to remember that our actions have consequences for ourselves and others. Happiness is the result of a life lived according to the principles of justice. To live an upright life and deal honestly and fairly with all people is to be happy and communicate happiness to others.

Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9

The allegory of Hiram Abif, the chief craftsmen at the building of King Solomon's Temple, is the central theme of the master mason degree.

What is that which was lost?
The genuine secrets of a Master Mason.
How came they lost?
By the untimely death of our Master, Hiram Abif

For Freemasons the search for the Lost Word is an allegory for of our pursuit of Truth. The Hebrew word for truth is AMTh (Emeth), consisting of the first Aleph (A), middle Mem (M), and last Tav (Th) letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Truth is eternal, infinite, all-encompassing. The first letter Aleph (A), the "One" stands for the Almighty. Remove the initial letter in AMTh and all that remains is ThM (Meth: Death). Without God there can be no truth. In its place only death and destruction.

In the third degree, the candidate as Hiram Abif knows the genuine secrets of a master mason. The three fellowcraft are unable to achieve mastery of their craft because they have discarded the square and therefore misuse of the plumbrule and level. Their treachery shows the daunting capacity for self destruction of all those who live in flagrant violation of God's commands. For them the word is lost because they have rejected it.

The exploitation of the poor and helpless in their midst would eventually result in the destruction of King Solomon's Temple. In this sense, the rebuilding of the Temple after the nation returns to living in accordance with God's commands is the recovery of the lost word.

"A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow." Proverbs 25:18