Significance of Symbolism in Freemasonry WELCOME LODGE NO. 255 F.&A.M.

Significance of Symbolism 1. Masonry is veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. 2. Each Mason should form his own personal and moral philosophy regarding each symbol. 3. Significance of Symbolism according to Oliver Day Streets “Symbolism of the Third Degree”. 1. “It may be asserted in the broadest of terms that the Mason who knows nothing of our symbolism knows little of Masonry. He may be able to repeat every line of ritual without an error, and yet, if he does not understand the meaning of the ceremonies, the signs, the words, the emblems and the figures, he is an ignoramus Masonically. It is distressing to witness how much time and labor is spent in memorizing “the work” and how little in ascertaining what it all means. Far be it from me to underrate the importance of letter-perfection in rendering our ritual. In no other way can the symbolism of our emblems, traditions and allegories be accurately preserved, but I do maintain that, if we are never to understand their meanings, it is useless to preserve them. The two go hand in hand; without either the beauty and symmetry of the Masonic temple is destroyed.” 4. Take from Masonry it’s symbols and only the husk remains, the kernel is gone.

Masonic Culture  Definition: The advancement of high moral and intellectual forces in an environment of harmonious social interaction.  “Knowledge is Power”  Symbols of Moral Power were clothed in “Mysteries”.  Freemasonry's Mission: An instrument of friendship, benevolence and compassion toward others as a model for man’s plans, purposes, hopes and striving to be better, and as a platform to strengthen and express a belief and devotion to the Great Architect of the Universe. Such are the tenants of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.  Has the Masonic Culture refined your lives?  Do you read Masonic Periodicals?  How has the ritual affected you?  Do you continue to improve yourself in Masonry?

SYMBOLISM FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC:

Square and Compass  SQUARE: Adapted for plane or flat surfaces.  The ancients believe the shape of the earth to be flat.  The stonecutters square is a symbol of the earth.  Symbolically represents the material, sensual and base portion of humanity.  COMPASS: Has a relation to spheres and spherical trigonometry.  Related to the arc of the heavens, therefore, it’s a symbol of the Heavens.  Symbolically represents the spiritual, intellectual and moral portion of humanity.  Configurations of the Compass to the Square: Conjoined square and compass are universally recognized a the symbol of Freemasonry. The symbolism of a square and compass are seen in many ancient carvings and art works. A stonecutters square has been taken to represent the earth while a compass is related to the arc of heaven.  Their combined union is symbolic of the union of heaven and earth.

Masonic Rods  DEACONS:  Proper instrument of authority and the badge of the deacons office.  The rods are always blue to imitate the rod of Mercury carried by Hermes.  Senior Deacon Emblem of the Sun, Square and Compass: The sun represents that the Senior Deacon belongs in the east, close to the Master.  Junior Deacon Emblem of the Moon, Square and Compass: The moon symbolizes that the Junior Deacon is in the west, not the east (closer to the Master).  STEWARDS:  Proper instrument of authority and the badge of the stewards office.  Always white because they are taken from the Steward of the King’s household who is appointed by the delivery of a white staff.  Symbol: Horn of Plenty or the Cornucopia: Denotes Abundance. Fitting since the Stewards to assist the Junior Warden in meal preparations.

The Letter “G”  1 ST Symbolizes GOD:  Appears in most North American emblems. Prominently displayed in lodges of English speaking countries, usually over the Masters chair.  It’s the Initial of Grand Architect of the Universe or God to most Christian and Catholic regions.  “G” is a sectarian representation of a deity allowing all faiths having different names for the Great Architect of the Universe.  The “G” is always lit up in the east during a tiled lodge.  2 nd Symbolizes GEOMETRY:  Geometry is the basis of Freemasonry.  Through the use of Geometry, the earliest Masons could translate small drawings into extraordinary accomplishments.

Blue Lodge  Technically, this is not a symbol.  But a Blue Lodge represents a lodge that confers the Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason degrees.  All Masonic Lodges in your neighborhood are blue lodges, also known as symbolic lodges, craft lodges.  Origination of the term Blue Lodge.  Possibly references the “star covered canopy of heaven”.  Many Masonic Lodges have a blue painted sky for this reason.  Blue was also the sacred color of ancient Israel.  Among the Druids, Blue was the symbol of truth.  The Chinese consider blue the symbol of their Deity.  The Hindu God Vishnu is symbolic of skyblue.

Gloves  Operative Masons used them to shield their hands from stone and lime.  Widely used in olden times and once it was a practice of giving them as presents in the middle ages.  The bare hand was considered a symbol of hostility where the gloved hand was a symbol of peace and goodwill.

End of General Public  QUESTION AND ANSWERS

FIRST DEGREE SYMBOLISM:

Cowan  Some find the origin of this word from the Greek term meaning “dog”.  Same as the Old Scottish word of contempt.  Masons use the word to describe a “dry-diber, or one who was built without cement” or a Mason who doesn’t have the word.  Modern days, it’s a person attempting to gain access to a lodge who has not been regularly initiated, passed and raised in a recognized Masonic Lodge.

1 st Degree Preambulation:  Derived from the scripture of 133 rd Psalm.  Described as a picture of a Brothers love.  Aaron was a brother of Moses and the first high priest under the Mosaic Dispensation.  Ointment was liberally used in such quantities that it ran down upon Aarons beard and onto the skirts of his garments.  The ointment is symbolic of the earthly joy we should derive from dwelling together in unity and from our service to God and our brethren.

Lesser Lights  The Three Lights Represent:  The Three Principal Officers of the Lodge; Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens.  The Three Principal Supports: Wisdom, Strength and Beauty  The Three Stations of the Sun symbolizes the lodge mimicking the world.  It’s rising in the East: A representation of Authority just as the Master is in the East.  It’s meridian in the South with the Junior Warden.  It’s setting in the West with the Senior Warden.  As taught in the First Degree, it also represents the Sun, Moon and Master of the Lodge.

Gavels and Mauls  An Emblem of Authority in the governing of the Lodge.  Symbolizes the Masters executive power.  Symbolically used to induct the Master into the possession of the Masonic Lodge as Master of the Lodge.  An Emblem of Authority in the governing of the Lodge.  Symbolizes the executive power to call meetings to order, keep order, announce the results of votes and to punctuate the actions of the group.  In the middle ages mallets were thrown, and the ground of which they traversed were acknowledged to be possessed by the thrower.  This practice led to the symbolism of the mallet indicating the Masters possession of his Lodge.  Gavels are sometimes confused with Mauls. The Maul is a heavy wooden hammer with which the mason drives his chisel. It’s also the weapon with which the Master is said to have been slain, so it is an emblem of violent death.  The Gavel is sometimes called a “Hiram” because, like that architect it governs the Craft and keeps order in the Lodge. By 1739 both gavels and mauls were referred to by that same name.  The Gavel symbolizes the will power that governs our actions and frees us from debasing influences, requiring repeated exercises of will power to subdue our passions.

Twenty-four-inch Gauge  It’s a rule of 2 feet in length, divided into 24 equal parts, each mark on inch in length.  Operative Masons us it to take the necessary dimensions of the stone he is about to prepare.  In Speculative Masonry, it’s divisions represent hours so that the Mason may devote 8 hours to God and a distressed worthy brother, 8 hours to his usual vocation (job) and 8 hours to refreshment (your hobbies) and repose (sleep).

Cable Tow  Originally the Cable Tow was used as a physical means of controlling the candidate.  Today, it is still physically interpreted for the control of the candidate, “…you might by aid of the cable tow around your neck, have been led out of the lodge without ever beholding the form thereof”.  Today, it also symbolizes the covenant by which all Masons are tied to us, “…he being now bound to us by a _______ tie”.  Ancient Masonry requires every brother to attend his lodge if within the length of his cable tow.  Our ancient brethren defined the length of the cable tow to be 3 miles for an Entered Apprentice Mason. But with modern technology (the car) that distance is no longer binding and has since been defined as being “the reasonable scope of a mans ability”.

Hoodwink  Symbolizes the darkness in which the uninitiated stands regarding Masonry.  Removed at the moment of enlightenment, suggesting that we do not create the great things in life such as goodness, truth and beauty, but find them.

Apron  The Badge of a Speculative Mason.  Symbols of honor, piety or achievement.  The lamb in all ages has been considered a symbol of innocence.  It’s pure, spotless surface is intended as a constant reminder to the Freemason of;  Purity of Life, Conduct and Conscience  An ever present symbol of the endless goal for higher thoughts, nobler deeds and greater achievements.  The Masonic Apron can be decorated in many different ways but the basic, white lambskin is always there as a reminder of that purity of action and conscience.  Pull up on the bib of the apron and you see a triangle pointed upward and a square.  The Square symbolizes matter, physical matter, the earth and the appetites and passions which belong to the physical body.  The Triangle symbolizes the Great Architect of the Universe.

The Point Within the Circle  The Point: Symbolizes the Individual brother.  The Circle: Symbolizes the boundary line of his conduct, beyond which he should never suffer his passions, prejudices, or interest to betray him.  The circle is supported by two perpendicular lines representing St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. All present days lodges are dedicated to these two patron Saints.  On top, is the Holy Bible or Volume of Sacred Law which binds us all to the moral law contained within it.

End of 1 ST Degree  QUESTION AND ANSWERS

SECOND DEGREE SYMBOLISM:

Pillars  Symbolically represented in every Lodge of Fellow Craft Masonry.  Symbols of Strength and Establishment, also of Power and Control, keeping in mind;  That Power without Control is Anarchy.  That Control without Power is Futility.  Both are required for successful leadership.  Representative of the Entrance into King Solomon's Temple.  Symbolically Made of Bronze.  Named Jachin (to the left, denoting Strength) and Boaz (to the right, denoting Establishment).

Staircase  Life is not a Ladder, or a straight path to our ultimate goal.  It’s more like the staircase. A winding path, requiring one accomplishment before moving onto the next.  Like all Masonic symbols, it’s indicative of discipline and doctrine, and opens us to a wide field of moral and speculative inquiry.  The initial 3 Steps teach us about the great purpose of Masonry.  The #3 and the Triangle have long symbolized the Deity.  The Three Characteristics embodied of God are;  Omnipresence or that of being present everywhere.  Omniscience or having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things.  Omnipotence or the quality of having unlimited or very great power.  The 3 Steps also represent:  The Three Great Lights of Masonry, earlier explained in this presentation.  The Three Degrees of Masonry, 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd Degree.  And the Three Principal Officers of the Lodge, the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Warden who represent the 3 Great Supports, Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.

Staircase (Cont’d)  The next set of 5 steps teach us the physical aspects, or about architecture, the science of building and the art of durability.  The Five Orders of Columns: Although externally different, they are just vairants of the basic unit of support.  Speculative Masonry presents a vision of the spiritual building and encourages each individual to choose the column that fits him best.  The Final 7 Steps teach us to develop our minds.  Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic emphasize communication and reasoning.  Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and Astronomy deal with the arts and sciences needed for a well rounded life.

Plumb and Plumb Line  Operative masons used the plumb to gauge perpendiculars, or the true uprightness of the stone with which they were working.  Speculative masons use the plumb symbolically to gauge the uprightness of their conduct and it admonishes them to walk uprightly in their several stations before God and man.  Of all lines, a plumb line, real or supposed, comes nearest to perfection.  In all ages, the straight line has been the perfect symbol of perfect actions, the shortest distance between two points, and the best way to live a life.  The plum line therefore; always points to the center of the earth and of the heavens, is a symbol of justice, rectitude, uprightness, equity, and truth and must be kept in balance to remain true.

End of 2 ND Degree  QUESTION AND ANSWERS

THIRD DEGREE SYMBOLISM:

Acacia  Esteemed as a sacred wood among the Hebrews.  Moses was ordered to make the sacred furniture, including;  The Tabernacle.  The Ark of the Covenant.  The Table for the Showbread.  Masons naturally chose this tree as a symbol of the Immortality of the Soul.

Trowel  Operative Masonry:

Three Ruffians

Corn, Wine, and Oil

The Three Steps

The Pot of Incense

The Bee Hive

The Book of Constitutions, Guarded by the Tiler’s Sword

The Sword pointing to the Naked Heart, and the All Seeing Eye

The Anchor and the Ark

The Forty-Seventh Problem of Euclid

The Hour-glass and Scythe