When you achieve that, the Middle Chamber is no longer a place in the lodge—it is a state of being. No degree, lecture, or title will make you a better Companion. Only sincere, repeated work on the lessons of the Quinta Instrução will do that. Revisit the winding staircase. Master the senses. Honor geometry. And seek the invisible wages of light.
: For one week, spend 10 minutes daily in sensory awareness. Close your eyes and identify five sounds. Then open them and note five details you missed before. This retrains the brain for Masonic observation. 2. The Seven Liberal Arts – Geometry as the Fifth and Crown The Quinta Instrução places special weight on Geometry (the fifth art). Why? Because Geometry is the science of space, measure, and proportion—the same principles that govern a just society, a balanced soul, and a well-built lodge. The number five (Fifth Instruction, fifth science) is no coincidence: it represents order, life, and the human microcosm (five fingers, five senses, five points of fellowship). companheiro macom quinta instrucao better
Study one liberal art each day (Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, Astronomy). Write one paragraph on how each applies to your daily work. When you achieve that, the Middle Chamber is
Memorize the questions and answers of the Fifth Instruction related to the five senses. Then practice sensory deprivation/exercise. Revisit the winding staircase
Introduction: The Journey of the Companheiro In Freemasonry, the passing from Aprendiz (Entered Apprentice) to Companheiro (Fellow Craft) is far more than a ceremonial promotion. It is an intellectual and spiritual awakening. The Fellow Craft degree is traditionally concerned with the liberal arts and sciences, reason, and self-improvement. Yet within the Portuguese-speaking Masonic tradition—particularly under the auspices of the GOB (Grande Oriente do Brasil) or similar regular lodges—the Quinta Instrução (Fifth Instruction) stands as a pivotal, often misunderstood, threshold.
Now go—and build. If you found this article useful, share it with a Fellow Craft brother. And if you are a Portuguese-speaking Mason struggling with the Fifth Instruction, contact your lodge’s instructor. The light is there, but you must climb.