Another lost metaphor

Previously I have written about the lost metaphor of the ashlar as the building brick of society. Yet there is another metaphor that has become lost over the years: the meaning of an apprentice.

With the knowledge economy a larger number of brethren who join lodges have been educated to degree level. Up until the 1950s most of the members will have followed a recognised appretiship. However these have become less and less over the years and most of the newer members will not have had the 'lived the experience' of being an apprentice.

Likewise, it has to be pointed out that many of the brethren who served an apprentiship left school at 15, and do not have a university degree!