During the Cathedral Age the Masons formed themselves in workmen's Guilds; each Guild forming a Lodge with regular officers and with three degrees of Membership. The first group were apprentices or bearers of burdens, the second were craftsmen or skilled workmen on the Temples and the third were Masters or superintendents of the structures being built. The Freemasons of the 18th and 19th centuries gave the Masonic Dagger as an award of rank and merit. This dagger measures 21 inches overall with a 13 1/4 inch stainless steel blade.