The Masonic Tutor's Handbooks: Voume 1 - The Duties of an Apprentice Master

The relationship between an Apprentice and their Master is the way in which the traditional wisdom of The Craft is passed on. In the fifteenth century when Freemasonry began there was no formal education craftsmen. The training took place in working groups (lodges) where the apprentice received continuous supervision and guidance. The Apprentice-Master would demonstrate and explain the task and the afterwards the Apprentice would imitate the master's skills whilst being guided and helped to their own understanding. The relationship took the form of legal contract between Master and Apprentice. The Apprentice would first become a Journey, who would receive Craftsmen's wages for their work whilst still working in the employment of their Master, and once having proved their understanding of the work would eventually become Masters in their own right, empowered to pass on their own knowledge of The Craft to the next generation.That is the model which Freemasonry once used to pass on its knowledge and understanding but in recent times this has fallen into disuse. There have been many attempts to improve "Masonic Education" but most of these seem to rely on the provision of material without the personal interaction between the Apprentice-Master and their charge. The office of Mentor pays lip service to this tradition but is often just an administrative office, not the intense tutor relationship of the Apprentice and their Master.This Series of Books aims to address that deficit. Freemasonry is based on Three Grand Principles. Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. The Lodge with its meetings and social events demonstrates Brotherly Love. The Charity Stewards with their Covenant forms and regular promotions show how to carry out the duty of Relief, but it is down the Masonic Tutor to demonstrate how to approach and understand Truth.