Ben Wallace & The Middle Chamber Masonic Education Program Of North Carolina

Sophia Lodge

WB Ben Wallace always knew that there were deeper meanings embedded in Masonry, it just took him awhile to find them. And when he did, there was no stopping him from organizing and promoting esoteric, philosophical Masonry across the entire state of North Carolina.

First, he had to found North Carolina’s first Traditional Observance Lodge, Sophia Lodge.

Next through his TO experience, becoming Master at Wilkerson College Lodge No 760, North Carolina’s Research Lodge, and then Chairman of the North Carolina Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education he developed a 3-hour presentation of the Allegory and Symbolism of the Three Degrees. With permission from the Grand Master, he toured North Carolina giving this presentation for three years.

But Ben Wallace was not done with promoting esoteric and philosophical Masonry. He had a burning desire to take it to the next step. And the next step was to morph his Allegory and Symbolism lecture into a full-blown program sanctioned and offered by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. Thus, was born North Carolina’s Middle Chamber Masonic Education Program.

This program is given quarterly for a full year.

Part One is an Introduction to Masonic Allegories and Symbols, the original Wallace lecture. It became known as “The Hook” because it was given to interested Brethren free of charge to give them an overview of what was coming. After that, any Brother wishing to take the next step had to sign up with the Grand Secretary and pay the sum of $150. That payment included the “Big Five,” 5 books chosen for the course. They are:

Ben Wallace

  • The Meaning of Masonry by Wilmshurst
  • Freemasonry Its Hidden Meaning by Steinmetz
  • The Way of the Craftsman by MacNulty
  • Contemplative Masonry by Dunning
  • The Rough and Rugged Road by Hornsby

So, the first quarter is The Hook.

The second quarter is the 1st Degree, The Physical Nature of Man, our interactions with the physical world

The third quarter the 2nd Degree, The Psychical Nature of Man – Psychology and “mind stuff.”

The fourth quarter is the 3rd Degree, The Spiritual Nature of Man, the spiritual aspect of the student.

It takes a whole year to graduate but Wallace says even this is too fast.

We don’t want to give away any more of this great program because the rest of the story is in the video. Don’t miss it!!

Ben Wallace

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Fred is a Past Master of Plymouth Lodge, Plymouth Massachusetts, and Past Master of Paul Revere Lodge, Brockton, Massachusetts. Presently, he is a member of Pride of Mt. Pisgah No. 135, Prince Hall Texas, where is he is also a Prince Hall Knight Templar . Fred is a Fellow of the Phylaxis Society and Executive Director of the Phoenix Masonry website and museum.