Oath
Before any
candidate for the mysteries, symbols, tenets, and secrets of Freemasonry can
be admitted to a Lodge he is required to make a solemn oath by which he
pledges secrecy and assumes the obligation of faithfully conforming
his life to the teachings of the Order. There is nothing profane or
immoral in the obligations assumed, nor is there the slightest elements of
levity in the procedure. Hence this oath can not be regarded as the
slightest perversion of Holy Scripture or in any sense objectional or sinful.
Neither is the objection sometimes given that the oath is administered before
the secrets are made known reasonable or just. Certainly an obligation,
covenant, and promise, exacted previous to the divulging of the specialties of
an Order wholly characterized by benevolent intent is not only free of
reasonable objection, but fair and honorable.. The oath of a Mason is
administered with solemn rites symbolizing and emphasizing the profound and
meaningful character of the obligations being assumed. While these rites
are peculiar to Masonry, they are no different in their import and meaning
from ceremonies and rites common in administering oaths in other spheres of
human relations. The Masonic oath is attended with the imprecation of
certain penalties in the event of violation. There can be no oath
without the elements of both attestation and execration. All these
explanations apply to the oaths required of Masons in each succeeding step of
advancement in the Masonic Order. Ex. 22:11 -
Deut. 6:13 - Josh. 14:6-9 - Gen. 14:21-24
Oath,
Tiler's
Before any
strange and unknown visitor can gain admission into a Masonic Lodge, he is
required in the United States of America to take the following oath:
"I, A.B., do hereby and hereon solemnly and sincerely swear that I have
been regularly initiated, passed, and raised to the sublime Degree of a Master
Mason in a just and legally constituted Lodge of such; that I do not now stand
suspended or expelled; and know of no reason why I should not hold Masonic
communication with my Brethren." It is called the Tiler's Oath,
because it is usually taken in the Tiler's room, and was formerly administered
by that officer, whose duty it is to protect the Lodge from the approach of
unauthorized visitors. It is now administered by the Committee of
Examination, and not only he to whom it is administered, but he who
administers it, and all who are present, must take it at the same time.
It is a process of purgation, and each one present, the visitor as well as the
members of the Lodge, is entitled to know that all the others are legally
qualified to be present at the esoteric examination which is about to take
place.
Oblation
An annual fee
paid to an Order by its members.
Obligation
The solemn
promise made by a Freemason on his admission into any Degree is technically
called his obligation. In a legal sense, obligation is
synonymous with duty. Its derivation shows its true meaning, for
the Latin word obligatio literally signifies a tying or binding.
The obligation is that which binds a man to do some act, the doing of which
thus becomes his duty. By his obligation, a Freemason is bound or tied
to his Order.
Obsolete
A term,
usually applied to Orders, for a phaleristic item that is no longer conferred
or awarded but there are living recipients. As distinct from extinct,
which refers to a phaleristic item no longer conferred or awarded and there
are no living recipients.
Obverse
In numismatics
that side of a coin or medal which contains the principal figure, generally a
face in profile or a full or half-length figure, is called the obverse.
The side opposite from the reverse.
O'Clock
A method for
specifying a location on the circumference of a circular badge by correlating
the location to the face of a twelve-hour clock. Under the o'clock
method, the top of the badge is twelve o'clock, three o'clock is the 90 degree
position, the bottom of the badge is six o'clock, and nine o'clock is the 270
degree position on the circumference.
Olive
wood
A hard,
close-grained Mediterranean wood of yellowish-green color, with darker
markings. Often used in the Holy Land region for making Jerusalem
boxes. EXAMPLE
Omnific
Word
The
Tetragrammation is so called because of the omnific powers attributed by the
Kabbalists to its possession and true pronunciation. (See Tetragrammaton.)
The term is also applied to the most significant word in the Royal Arch
system.
On
- strength; light
This is a
significant word in Royal Arch Masonry, and refers to the city of On in Egypt,
and indirectly to the sun-god Ra, who represented to the Egyptians much
the same conception of Deity as represented by the name Jehovah among the
Hebrews. The city of On was the chief seat of the worship of the god Ra;
Joseph's wife, Asenath, was the daughter of Poti-pherah, the chief priest in
the Temple of Ra at On. Gen. 41:45
Opening
Of The Lodge
What are the
purposes effected at the opening of the Lodge? The Master is reminded of
the dignity of his character and position, and the brethren of the respect and
veneration due him in their sundry stations. These are not, however, the
only advantages resulting from a due observance of the ceremony; a reverential
awe for Deity is inculcated, and the eye is fixed on that object from whose
radiant beam alone light can be derived. Hence, in this ceremony, we are
taught to adore the Great Architect of the universe, and to supplicate the
labors then begun may be continued in peace and closed in harmony.
Psalm
33:18
Operative
Masonry
What is the
familiar characteristic of Operative Masonry? It is engaged in the
application of the rules and principles of architecture to the construction of
edifices for private and public use, houses for the dwelling place of man, and
temples for the worship of Deity. It abounds, like every other art, in
the use of technical terms, and employs, in practice an abundance of
implements and materials which are peculiar to itself. This operative
art has been the foundation on which has been built the speculative science of
Freemasonry. 1 Kings 6:1-38
Ophir
What was the
source of the supply of gold for the building of the temple? And
they came from Ophir (It was probably a seaport somewhere in India or Africa), and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty
talents, and brought it to king Solomon, and the navy also of Hiram, that
brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug
trees, and precious stones. 1 Kings 9:28 and 10:11
Order
An Order may be
defined to be a brotherhood, fellowship, or association of certain persons,
united by laws and statutes peculiar to the society, engaged in a common
object or design, and distinguished by particular habits, ensigns, badges or
symbols.
Order, Rules of
In every
Masonic Lodge there is a code of rules and order, well adapted to the work of
the Lodge from long usage and universal adoption; they conform to the laws of
parliamentary order and should be rigidly followed.
Ormolu
Literally,
"ground gold." Ground gold leaf used as a gilt pigment. Also, brass
made to look like gold.
Ornaments
of a Lodge
The lectures
describe the ornaments of a Lodge as consisting of the Mosiac Pavement,
the Indented Tessel, and the Blazing Star. They are called
ornaments because they are really the decorations with which a properly
furnished Lodge is adorned.
Ornan
Mt. Moriah, on which the Temple of
Solomon was built, is symbolically called the ground floor of the lodge, and
hence it is said that "the lodge rests on holy ground." This
sacred spot was once the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, and from him
David purchased it for fifty shekels of silver. 2 Sam. 24:18-25
Recorded as Araunah. 1 Chron. 21:18-27 Recorded as having paid Ornan 600 shekels of Gold.
Oxidizing
Accented beauty
of ornamentation by the application of an oxide which darkens metal wherever
applied. Shadows and highlights are created which give depth and character.
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