Glossary
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Alphabetically Arranged with
Cyclopedic Meanings and Bible References
Sabbath
In the lecture
of the Second or Fellow Craft's Degree, it is said, In six days God created
the heavens and the earth, and rested upon the seventh day; the seventh,
therefore, our ancient Brethren consecrated as a day of rest from their
labors, thereby enjoying frequent opportunities to contemplate the glorious
works of creation, and to adore their great Creator.
Gen. 1:31 - Gen. 2:1-3 - Isa. 58:13,14
Sackcloth
Whenever
sackcloth is used in Masonry it is a symbol of grief and humiliation.
Sacred Law
The Sacred
Law is a term applied to the Ten Commandments given by God to Israel and later
written on two Tables of Stone for Moses. According to a tradition of
the Jewish Mishna, these commandments were explained to Aaron, then to Aaron
and his two sons, then to Aaron, his sons, and the seventy elders, and then to
all these and to the people. Later Moses incorporated these Commandments
in the sacred writings which he left as a permanent heritage to Israel and to
the world. The Sacred Law as given by God and as explained and handed
down to Israel is accepted as binding upon all Freemasons. It is
repeated in the Fourteenth Degree A.A., Scottish Rite. The Sacred Law as
given to Moses... Ex. 20:1-17 - Deut. 5:1-21
Saint
John the Baptist
One of the
Patron Saints of Freemasonry, and at one time, indeed, the only one, the name
of Saint John the Evangelist having been introduced subsequent to the
sixteenth century. His festival occurs on the 24th of June, and is very
generally celebrated by the Masonic Fraternity. Dalcho (Ahiman Rezon,
page 150) says that "the stern integrity of Saint John the Baptist, which
induced him to to forego every minor consideration in discharging the
obligations he owed to God; the unshaken firmness with which he met martyrdom
rather than betray his duty to his Master; his steady reproval of vice, and
continued preaching of repentance and virtue, make him a fit patron of the
Masonic Institution."
Saint
John the Evangelist
One of the
Patron Saints of Freemasonry, whose Festival is celebrated on the 27th of
December. His constant admonition, in his Epistles, to the cultivation
of brotherly love, and the mystical nature of his Apocalyptic visions, have
been, perhaps, the principal reasons for the veneration paid to him by the
Craft.
Salt
In the Helvetian or Swiss
instructions, salt is added to corn, wine, and oil as one of the elements of
consecration, because it is a symbol of the wisdom and learning which should
characterize a Freemason's Lodge. When the foundation-stone of a Lodge
is laid, the Helvetian ceremonial directs that it shall be sprinkled with
salt, and this formula be used: "May this undertaking, contrived by
wisdom, be executed in strength and adorned with beauty, so that it may be a
house where peace, harmony, and brotherly love shall perpetually reign."
This is but carrying out the ancient instructions
of Leviticus (ii, 13), "And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt
thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of
thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou
shalt offer salt." Significant as are the references in the Bible
to salt, as the rubbing of salt on the new-born child (Ezekiel xvi, 4); the
allusions in Mark (ix,49,50), "For every one shall be salted with fire
and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good: but if salt
has lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in
yourselves, and have peace one with another." Jesus in Matthew
(v,13) "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? It is henceforth good for nothing, but to
be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." Salt to the
ancient world was pronounced a substance dear to the gods (Plato, Timaeus)
and to break bread and eat salt at a meal with others were symbols of plighted
faith and loyalty.
Sanctum
Sanctorum
Latin for Holy of Holies.
Every student of Jewish antiquities knows, and every Freemason who has taken
the Third Degree ought to know, what was the peculiar construction, character,
and use of the Sanctum Santorum of Holy of Holies in King Solomon's
Temple. Situated in the western end of the Temple, separated from the
rest of the building by a heavy curtain, and enclosed on three sides by dead
walls without any aperture or window, it contained the Sacred Ark of the
Covenant, and was secluded and set apart from all intrusion save of the High
Priest, who only entered it on on certain solemn occasions. As it was
the most sacred of the three parts of the Temple, so has it been made symbolic
of a Master's Lodge, in which are performed the most sacred rites of
initiation in Ancient Craft Freemasonry.
Sanhedrim
The highest judicial tribunal
among the Jews. It consisted of seventy-two persons besides the High
Priest. It is supposed to have originated with Moses, who instituted a
Council of Seventy on occasion of a rebellion of the Israelites in the
wilderness. The room in which the Sanhedrim met was a rotunda, half of
which was built without the Temple and half within, the latter part being that
in which the judges sat. The Nasi, or Prince, who was generally the High
Priest, sat on a throne at the end of the hall; his Deputy, called Ab-beth-din,
at his right hand; and the Sub-deputy, or Chacan, at his left; the other
senators being ranged in order on each side. Most of the members of this
Council were Priests or Levites, though men in private stations of life were
not excluded.
Saracens
Although originally only an Arab
tribe, the word Saracens was afterwards applied to all the Arabs who
embraced the tenets of Mohammed. The Crusaders especially designated as
Saracens those Mohammedans who invaded Europe, and whose possession of the
Holy Land gave rise not only to the Crusades, but to the organization of the
military and religious orders of Templars and Hospitalers, whose continual
wars with the Saracens constitute the most important chapters of the history
of those times.
Sash
A broad width of the ribbon of
an order that is worn across the left or right shoulder and gathered at the
opposite hip. When a sash is used, the badge is often connected at the
gathering to a box or rosette made of the ribbon. The ends of the sash
can be fringed or cut in a straight, diagonal, or serrated line.
EXAMPLE
Satin
finish
Satin finish
produced by a revolving wheel of wire which makes many tiny scratches, giving
the article a dull appearance. Also called a Butler's
Finish.
Scarab
From
the Latin Scarabaeus, a beetle, the ancient Egyptian symbol of
longevity usually
combining representations of the sacred insect with a pellet suggesting the
sun, the whole sacred to the sun-god. Sometimes the venerated beetle as
a living soul is shown with outstretched wings or with the horned head of a
ram. Scarabs often are inscribed with mottos or other similar lettering.
EXAMPLE
Scepter
An ensign of
sovereign authority, and hence carried in several of the high degrees by
officers who represent kings. EXAMPLE
Scorper
Small chisel for
engraving, with blades of various shapes.
Screwback
A lapel pin
or badge that has one or two threaded projections on the reverse and is
secured to the lapel or tunic with a flat nut or nuts.
Scripture
Readings
Why should the
Bible be opened in the different degrees? Because the work done in the
various degrees, refer to different passages, of the Scripture, viz.:
1st degree 133rd Psalm, 2nd degree 7th Amos, and Eccles. 12 for the 3rd
degree. Psalm 133 - Amos 7-8 - Eccles. 12
Scythe
Is an emblem of
time, which cuts the brittle thread of life, and launches us into eternity.
Behold! what havoc the scythe of time makes among the human race! If by
chance we should escape the numerous evils incident to childhood and youth,
and with health and vigor arrive to the years of manhood; yet, withal, we must
soon be cut down by the all-devouring scythe of time, and be gathered into the
land where our fathers have gone before us. In modern iconography Time
is allegorized under the figure of an old man, with white hair and beard, two
large wings on his back, an hourglass in one hand and a scythe in the other.
It is in this emblematic significance that the scythe appears in the Third
Degree of Masonry. Life is transitory and is certain to be cut down
under divine decree... Job 14:2 - Psalms 90:5,6
EXAMPLE
Seal
A stamp on which
letters and a device are carved for the purpose of making an impression, and
also the wax or paper on which the impression is made. Many old Masonic
Diplomas and Charters are still in existence, where the seal consists of a
circular tin box filled with wax, on which the seal is impressed, the box
being attached by a ribbon to the parchment. But now the seal is placed
generally on a piece of circular foil or paper with an adhesive backing.
The Seal of the Lodge is almost always kept by the Secretary. EXAMPLE
Seal
of Solomon
Seal of
Solomon or the Shield of David, for under both names the same
thing was denoted. A hexagonal figure consisting of two interlaced
triangles, thus forming the outlines of a six-pointed star. Upon it was
inscribed one of the sacred names of God, from which inscription it was
supposed principally to derive its talismanic powers. These powers were
very extensive, for it was believed that it would extinguish fire, prevent
wounds in a conflict, and perform many other wonders. The Jews called it
the Shield of David in reference to the protection it gave to its
possessors. But to the other Orientalists it was more familiarly known
as the Seal of Solomon. Among these imaginative people,
there was a very prevalent belief in the magical character of the King of
Israel. He was esteemed rather as a great magician than as a great
monarch, and by the signet which he wore, on which this talismanic seal was
engraved, he is supposed to have accomplished the most extraordinary actions,
and by it to have enlisted in his service the labors of the genii for the
construction of his celebrated Temple. In time, with the progress of the
new religion, it ceased to be invested with a magical reputation, although the
Hermetic philosophers of the Middle Ages did employ it as one of their
mystical symbols; but true to the theory that superstitions may be repudiated,
but will never be forgotten, it was adopted by the Christians as one of the
emblems of their faith, but with varying interpretations. The two
triangles were sometimes said to be symbols of fire and water, sometimes of
prayer and remission, sometimes of creation and redemption, or of life and
death, or of resurrection and judgment. But at length the
ecclesiologists seem to have settled on the idea that the figure should be
considered as representing the two natures of our Lord--His Divine and His
human nature. EXAMPLE
Seals, Book of Seven
The seal
denotes that which is secret; seven denotes that which is perfect. Hence
the Book sealed with seven seals denoted knowledge perfectly secreted from the
profane, and secure from all unhallowed search. It is with this
symbolism that the Book of the Seven Seals is adopted in one of the high
degrees of the Knight of the East and West. The book sealed with seven
seals... Rev. 5:1
Secrecy and Silence
These virtues
constitute the very essence of all Masonic character; they are the safeguards
of the Institution, giving to it all its security and perpetuity. They
are enforced by various symbols, special ceremonies in the ritual, and by
frequent admonitions in all the degrees, from the lowest to the highest.
In requiring secrecy and silence in the mysteries of the Order, Masonry
follows the principles in existence in all ancient mysteries and systems of
worship. Moreover, since the mysteries, symbols, legends, tenets, and
ritual of Freemasonry to which the membership of the Order is pledged to
maintain secrecy and silence are all of the highest moral and ethical
character, and in many instances profoundly religious and spiritual, there can
certainly be no wrong in this requirement. Nothing contrary to the laws
of God and of the state, nothing immoral, sinful, or criminal is involved in
this law of secrecy and silence. The fact that multiplied thousands of
men of the highest intelligence, of the most enlightened ranks, of the most
profound piety and holiness -- leaders in church and in state and from whose
lives there has radiated brilliance and luster and virtue for the uplifting of
humanity, have without compunction of conscience obeyed this rule of secrecy
and silence removes all questions of its pure and holy character.
Secrecy and silence recommended as commendable virtues, contributing to both
security and perpetuity... Prov. 25:9 - Prov.
17:28 - Eccl. 3:17
Secretary
An important
office in the Lodge, for it is necessary that it should be filled by a man who
can not only make out the common transactions of the Lodge, but is also
capable of comprehending the spirit of a lecture, and introducing it into the
transactions, briefly and at the same time correctly. The Secretary must
be a Master Mason, and, when necessary, the brethren must assist him as
copyists. It is customary in many Lodges, on account of the numerous and
often severe duties of the Secretary, to exempt him from the payment of annual
dues, and sometimes even to give him a stated salary. The Secretary,
like the Treasurer, is only a business officer of the Lodge, having nothing to
do in the ritualistic labors. The Secretary acts, in his relation to the
Lodge, in a threefold capacity. He is its recording, corresponding, and
collecting agent. The emblem of his office is crossed quill pens.
Secret Societies
In its
correct sense, a secret society is an association of men, or both men and
women, in which certain methods of initiation, ideologies, doctrines,
practices, means of recognition for one another, and purposes are made
available only to those who pass through certain forms of initiation and make
solemn pledges not to reveal anything whatever of the society to outsiders.
In a society of this kind complete secrecy of the object of the association,
of the names of its membership, of the places and times of its meetings is
maintained. Such societies are usually treasonable, felonious, and
criminal in character and objectives. Freemasonry is not a secret
society in this sense; it does not seek to conceal its existence and
its objects. The names of its members may be known to all who are
interested; in fact, most Masons wear jewels of identification and are proud
to be known as Masons. Freemasonry may be regarded as a secret society
only in respect to its ritual, some of its legends and symbols, its methods of
inculcating its mythical philosophy and high moral, ethical, religious and
spiritual truths, and certain signs of recognition. Its design, its
object, its tenets and the great truths which it teaches are as open as if its
meetings were held on the highways instead of within the well-guarded portals
of a Lodge.
Sectarianism
Faith in God
and obedience to the moral and ethical law, whether this law is recognized
from the Holy Scriptures or as written in the consciences of mankind, are
basic requirements of the Masonic Fraternity. In recognizing the
fundamentals of Christianity, no sectarian tests are required, and bigotry of
every kind is discouraged. See
The Builder Magazine April 1916
for an article related to this subject by Bro. Geo. W. Warvelle, Illinois.
Seeing
One of the
five
human senses, whose importance is treated of in the Fellow Craft's
Degree. By sight, things at a distance are, as it were, brought near,
and obstacles of faith overcome. So in Freemasonry, by a judicious use
of this sense, in modes which none but Freemasons comprehend, men distant from
each other in language, in religion, and in politics, are brought near, and
the impediments of birth and prejudice are overthrown. But, in the
natural world, sight cannot be exercised without the necessary assistance of
light, for in darkness we are unable to see. So in Freemasonry, the
peculiar advantages of Masonic sight require, for their enjoyment, the
blessings of Masonic light. Illuminated by its divine rays, the
Freemason sees where others are blind; and that which to the profane is but
the darkness of ignorance, is to the initiated filled with the light of
knowledge and understanding.
Seek
He who is
desirous of finding wisdom, must diligently seek for it; and if he would know
the real design of Masonry, he must study, and observe, and meditate, on what
he hears in the Lodge, otherwise the bondage of ignorance will never be
removed.
Selamu
Aleikum, E.S.
The Arabic
salutation of Peace be with you; which meets with the response Aleikum
es Selaam. These expressions are prominently in use by ancient
Arabic Associations.
Senior
Deacon
The Senior
Deacon is the especial attendant of the Worshipful Master. Seated at his
right hand, he is ready at all times to carry messages and to convey orders
from him to the Senior Warden, and elsewhere about the Lodge as he may
direct. He conducts candidates during the degrees and brethren west of
the altar under the direction of the Worshipful Master.
Senior
Warden
As the sun is in
the west at the close of day, so is the Senior Warden in the west, to assist
the Worshipful Master in opening and governing the Lodge, to pay the Craft
their wages, if any be due, letting none go away dissatisfied. The
duties of the Senior Warden are, in the absence of the Master, to preside, and
govern the Lodge; in his presence, to assist him in the government of
it. In assisting the Master in the government of the Lodge; it is the
duty of both officers to see that due silence is observed around their
respective stations, and that the orders issued from the east are strictly
obeyed. But most of their duties in their peculiar positions are of a
ritualistic nature, and are unnecessarily or improper to be discussed in this
glossary. In the absence of the Master, the Senior Warden governs the
Lodge. This is his inherent right. He may, and often does, as a
matter of courtesy, resign the chair to some Past Master present, but such
Past Master always acts under the authority of the Warden, who has first to
congregate the Lodge, that is, to call the brethren to labor, before he
resigns the gavel of his authority into the hands of the Past Master.
Senses
Man is brought
into communication with the external world by means of
five senses, or organs
of perception. Seeing, hearing, and feeling are often referred to in
Masonic instruction. They are explained in the degree of Fellow Craft.
Seraphim
- burning fiery
The Seraph,
Seraphim in the plural, are celestial beings in attendance upon
Jehovah. Similar to the Cherubim, they are represented as having the
human form, face, voice, two feet, and two hands, but with six wings.
With two wings they cover their face and with two, their feet, -- a sign of
reverence, and with two they fly, significant of their speed in carrying out
the will of God. Seen by Isaiah in visionary form...
Isa. 6:2,3
Series
The
successive versions of a particular collectible item. A most popular
series of glasses is the famous
Syria Shrine Temple
Collection.
Serpent and Cross
This is a
symbol used in the degrees of Knight Templar and Knight of the Brazen Serpent,
with the serpent twined around the cross. This symbol points to the
incident in which Moses placed the Brazen Serpent on a pole as a remedy for
the bite of the poisonous serpents that infested the camp for all who would
look in faith, and to the fact that Jesus Christ fulfilled this type in his
death on the cross. The Brazen serpent of the healing of the Israelites
and a type of Christ's death for the sins of man...
Num. 21:9 - John 3:14,15
Setting
Maul
The
"Setting Maul", in operative Masonry is used for setting stones,
that is, tapping them to a firm seat in the mortar by urging them sideways
into place. It is in Speculative Freemasonry a symbol, in the Third
Degree, reminding us of the death of the builder of the Temple, which is said
to be effected by this instrument. It is considered by some to be a symbol of untimely death.
In some Lodges it is improperly used by the Master as his gavel, from which it
totally differs in form and symbolic signification. The gavel is a
symbol of order and decorum; the setting-maul, of death by
violence. EXAMPLE
Setting
Sun
It is the duty
of the Senior Warden to pay and dismiss the Craft at the close of day, when
the sun sinks in the west; so now the Senior Warden is said in the Lodge to
represent the setting sun.
Seven
In every
religious system of antiquity, particularly in the mysteries of the ancients,
the number seven holds a place of veneration. This was true in a special
way in the Jewish ritual, and held true in a large measure in Christianity.
In its etymological derivation the Hebrew term for "seven" presents the idea
of sufficiency or fullness; the word therefore signifies
perfection. Seven is also a sacred number in Masonic symbolism, and
occurs frequently in ritual and in other phases throughout all the degrees.
Seven
Six-Pointed Stars
The constellation of "Seven
Six-pointed Stars" in Masonry represents the
Seven Liberal Arts and
Sciences: They are Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music
and Astronomy. The Six-pointed Star symbolizes Divine Providence and is
the Star of David or Shield of David. This starry-decked heaven is where
all good Masons hope at last to arrive by aid of that "Theological
Ladder" which Jacob in his vision saw extending from Earth to Heaven, the
principal rounds of which are denominated Faith, Hope and Charity, which
admonish us to have Faith in God, Hope in Immortality, and Charity toward all
Mankind.
Seven
Stars
In the
Tracing-Board of the Seventeenth Degree, or Knight of the East and West, there
is the representation of a man clothed in a white robe, with a golden girdle
about his waist, and around his extended right hand are seven stars.
This is an apocalyptic degree, and seven stars representing the perfect number
symbolize the true messengers of the Christ. "And he had in his right
hand seven stars"... Rev. 1:16
Seventy
Years of Captivity
Royal Arch
Masonry relates to the Babylonian Captivity of the Jews and to their return to
Palestine and the rebuilding of the Temple. This period is computed from
the defeat of the Egyptians at Carchemish, when Nebuchadnezzar reduced the
neighboring nations of Syria and Palestine to his subjection, to the overthrow
of the Neo-Babylonian Empire by the Medo-Persians and the accession of Cyrus
to the throne, when the edict permitting the Jews to return to Palestine was
issued. Seventy years of captivity foretold...
Jer. 25:11
S.G.D.G.
A French
acronym, meaning "Without government guarantee" (of quality or
performance), usually preceded by Brevete.
Shagreen
Untanned leather
with a roughened granular surface originally from the skin of a horse or wild
ass, but now more commonly from sharks or rays.
Shealtiel
Q. Who was
Shealtiel?
A. Father of Zerubbabel. Then rose up Zerubbabel the son
of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of
God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping
them... Ezra 5:2
Sheffield
plate
Devised by
Thomas Boulsover ca.1743. Produced by fusing, with intense heat, a thin sheet
of silver to one or both sides of a thick sheet of copper, the sheet then
rolled down to the desired thickness for fabrication. By the 1860s it had been
supplanted by electroplate.
Shekel
The shekel of
silver was used in the days of Solomon and in the time following, but it was
not in the form of a stamped coin, its value being determined by weight,
usually at about fifty cents in our currency. In about 144 B.C. Simon
Maccabeus began the coinage of the silver shekel. On one side was a Pot
of Manna, with the inscription, "Shekel Israel"; on the reverse side was an
emblem of the Rod of Aaron with three buds, and the inscription, Jerusalem the
Holy." Anciently used in offerings... Ex. 30:13
EXAMPLE
Shekinah
Heb. derived
from SHAKAN, to dwell. A term applied by the Jews, especially in the
Targums, to the Divine glory which dwelt in the Tabernacle and the Temple, and
which was manifested by a visible cloud resting over the mercy-seat in the
Holy of Holies.
It first
appeared over the Ark of the Covenant when Moses consecrated the tabernacle;
and was afterward, upon the consecration of the Temple by Solomon, translated
thither, where it remained until the destruction of that building. The
Shekinah was the symbol of Divine glory; but the true glory of divinity is Truth,
and Divine Truth is therefore the Shekinah of Masonry.
Shem, Ham, Japheth
They were the
three sons of Noah who assisted in the construction of the Ark of Deliverance
or Safety; hence their names are significant terms in Royal Arch Masonry...
Gen. 7:7 - Gen.
9:18,19
Shethar-Boznai
What was the
order to Shethar-boznai and his companions, from Darius? Now therefore,
Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shethar-boznai and your companions the
Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, "Be ye far from
thence." Let the work of this house of God alone.
Ezra 6:6-15
Shewbread
The twelve
loaves which were placed upon a table in the sanctuary of the Temple, and
which were called the shewbread or bread of the presence, are represented
among the paraphernalia of a Lodge of Perfection in the Ancient and Accepted
Rite. Bähr (Symbolik) says that the shewbread was a symbol of
the bread of life--of the eternal life by which we are brought into the
presence of God and know him; an interpretation that is equally applicable to
Masonic symbolism. EXAMPLE
Shibboleth
This word
signifies a stream of water, or a full ear of corn, based on the
idea of plenty in harvest because of abundance of water. The Gileadites
under Jepthah, who had just won a great victory over revolutionary Ephraimites,
adopted this word as a test of
soldiers fleeing across the Jordan because of
the inability of the Ephraimites to pronounce the word. In their native
voice they were incapable of the aspiration sh, and so it is said they
"could not frame to pronounce it right." The use of Shibboleth as a test
word... Judges 12:1-6
Shimshai
Q. Why did Shimshai
the scribe try to stop the rebuilding of the temple?
A. Then they came to Zerubbabel and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, let us build
with you, but Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers
of Israel, said unto them ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto
our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel, as
King Cyrus king of Persia has commanded us. Then wrote Rehum the
chancellor, and Shinshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, a
letter unto King Artaxerxes, asking him to stop the rebuilding of the
temple. Ezra 4:1-24
Shishak
Q. Who was Shishak?
A. Egyptian king, plunderer of the temple 956 B.C. And it came to pass in the
fifth year of King Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against
Jerusalem, and he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord.
1
Kings 14:25-28
Shittim - Acacia
The shittim
or acacia, in the mythic system of Freemasonry, is pre-eminently the symbol of
the IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL--that important doctrine which it is the great
design of the Institution to teach. As the evanescent nature of the flower,
which "cometh forth and is cut down," reminds us of the transitory nature of
human life, so the perpetual renewal of the evergreen plant, which
uninterruptedly presents the appearance of youth and vigor, is aptly compared
to that spiritual life in which the soul, freed from the corruptible
companionship of the body, shall enjoy an eternal spring and an immortal
youth. Hence, in the impressive funeral service of our Order, it is said that
"this evergreen is an emblem of our faith in the immortality of the soul. By
this we are reminded that we have an immortal part within us, which shall
survive the grave, and which shall never, never, never die." And again, in the
closing sentences of the monitorial lecture of the Third Degree, the same
sentiment is repeated, and we are told that by "the evergreen and ever-living
emblem of immortality, the acacia" the Freemason is strengthened "with
confidence and composure to look forward to a blessed immortality." Such an
interpretation of the symbol is an easy and a natural one ; it suggests itself
at once to the least reflective mind; and consequently, in some one form or
another, is to be found existing in all ages and nations. See
The Builder Magazine - May 1918
for an article related to this subject by
By Bro. H. A. Kingsbury, Connecticut.
Shoe
Among the
ancient Israelites, the shoe was made use of in several significant
ways. To put off the shoes, imported reverence, and was done in the
presence of God, or on entering the dwelling of a superior. To
unloose one's shoe and give it to another was a way of confirming a
contract. Thus we read in the book of Ruth, that Boaz having proposed to
the nearest kinsman of Ruth to exercise his legal right by redeeming the land
of Naomi, which was offered for sale, and marrying her daughter-in-law, the
kinsman, being able to do so, resigned his right of purchase to Boaz; and the
narrative goes on to say (Ruth iv, 7 and 8), "Now this was the manner in
former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to
confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor;
and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto
Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe." The
reference to the shoe in the First Degree is therefore really as a symbol of a
Covenant to be entered into. In the Third Degree the symbolism is
altogether different. This this degree the ceremony of taking off the
shoes, as a token of respect, whenever we are on or about to approach holy
ground. It is referred to in Exodus (iii, 5), where the angel of the
Lord, at the burning bush, exclaims to Moses: "Draw not nigh
hither; put off they shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou
standest is holy ground." The Rite, in fact, always was, and still
is, used among the Jews and other Islamic and Oriental nations when entering
their Temples, Mosques and other sacred edifices. It does not seem to
have been derived from the command given to Moses; but rather to have existed
as a religious custom from time immemorial, and to have been borrowed by the
Gentiles, through tradition, from the patriarchs. The direction of
Pythagoras to his disciples was, "Offer sacrifice and worship with thy
shoes off." EXAMPLE
Ex. 3:5 - Ruth 4:7-9
Shovel
An instrument
used to remove rubbish. It is one of the working-tools of a Royal Arch
Mason, and symbolically teaches him to remove the rubbish of passions and
prejudices, that he may be fitted, when he thus escapes from the captivity of
sin, for the search and the reception of Eternal Truth and Wisdom.
Shrine of North America
See an
article on the History of the Shrine of
North America
Side Degrees
These are
certain Masonic Degrees, not in the regular routine of acknowledged Degrees,
and not a part of Ancient Masonry, which are conferred on certain classes of
Masons of the higher Rites. They are commendable for wholesome
diversions and instructive recreations.
Signet
A signet is a
ring on which there is a device or impression, common among the ancients as a
symbol of authority and used oftentimes for making impressions on important
documents. Such an impression from the signet of a ruler or king was the
equivalent of a royal decree; the transfer of the signet-ring to another made
him the representative of the king, and gave him the power of using the royal
name. Signets were extensively used by the Hebrews. They were worn on
the finger, generally the index finger of the right hand. In Masonry we
have the "Signet of Zerubbabel," also called the "Signet of Truth," in the
Royal Arch Degree. Zerubbabel, governor of Judea and builder of the
Second Temple, was the symbol of the searcher after Truth, and such is the
meaning of the signet in Freemasonry. It signifies that the person to
whom it is given has attained certain degrees of truth, and assures him of
advancement in his search. Haggai 2:23 -
Gen. 38:18 - Jer. 22:24
Sign
of Distress
This is probably
one of the original modes of recognition adopted at the revival period, if not
before. It is to be found in the earliest ceremonies extant of the
eighteenth century, and its connection with the Third Degree makes it evident
that it probably belongs to that Degree. To Freemasons of the Nineteenth
Century, it is called the Grand Hailing Sign, to indicate its use in
hailing or calling a Brother whose assistance may be needed.
Silver
Cord
In the beautiful and effecting
description of the body of man suffering under the infirmities of old age we
find this expression, and it is defined as the spinal marrow, its loosening
causes a stopping of all the nervous system and brings on the approach of old
age and death. This is a part of the Scripture reading of the third
degree and forms an appropriate introduction to those sublime ceremonies,
whose object is to teach symbolically the resurrection and life eternal.
Eccles. 12:6
Silver,
other than sterling
Lower grade
silver than the 925 sterling grade. It was used in various countries in
Continental Europe and Asia, but was often unmarked. In Germany they
used 800 grade or greater, which is usually marked; in Austria they used 750
or 800; in Belgium, 800 or 900; Denmark, a minimum of 826; Finland not less
than 813; France, 800 to 925; Japan, 800 to 950; Norway, 830 to 925;
Netherlands, 800 to 925; Russia, 875 to 916; Sweden, minimum 830; Switzerland.
800 to 935. The marks on items from these countries are often difficult
to read or understand, if they are marked at all.
Silverplate
A base metal,
usually either nickel silver or copper, coated with a layer of pure silver by
electroplating. EXAMPLE
Simeon
- a hearkening
The second point of the ancient
English lectures, when the lecture of the twelve tribes of Israel formed a
part of the basis of the system of speculative Masonry, and alluded to the
preparation of the candidate, because it was said that Simeon prepared the
instrument for the slaughter of the Shechemites a defenseless people.
Gen. 49:5-7
Sinai
- pertaining to moon god
This is the
mountain in Arabia between the wings of the Red Sea where Moses received from
God the Law, and where he directed the construction of the Tabernacle.
Among Masons Sinai is a symbol of Truth; and in this symbolic sense it is
referred to in some of the high degrees. Scene of giving of the Law...
Ex. 20:1-20
Sit
Lux Et Lux Fuit
A motto used
frequently in Freemasonry, although sometimes written, Lux fiat et Lux fit,
signifying Let there be light, and there was light
(Genesis 1:3); the
strict translation from the Hebrew continues, "And the Lord took care
of the light, that it was useful, and He divided the light from the
darkness."
Skull
and Cross-Bones
They are a
symbol of mortality and death, and are so used by heralds in funeral
achievements. As the means of inciting the mind to the contemplation of
the most solemn subjects, the Skull and Cross-Bones are used in the Chamber of
Reflection in the French and Scottish Rites, and in all those Degrees where
the Chamber constitutes a part of the preliminary ceremonies of initiation.
EXAMPLE
Slander
- malicious talk
It is
declared by the tenets of Freemasonry that "To defame our brother, or suffer
him to be defamed without interesting ourselves for the preservation of his
name and character, there is not the shadow of excuse to be formed.
Defamation is always wicked. Slander and evil speaking are the pests of
civil society, are a disgrace of every degree of religious profession, and are
the poisonous bane of all brotherly love."
Smelling
Is that sense by
which we distinguish odors, the various kinds of which convey different
impressions to the mind. Animal and vegetable bodies, and indeed most
other bodies, while exposed to the air, continually send forth effluvia of
vast subtility, as well in a state of life and growth, as in the state of
fermentation and putrefaction. These effluvia, being drawn into the
nostrils along with the air, are the means by which all bodies are
distinguished. Hence it is evident, that there is a manifest appearance
of design in the great Creator's having planted the organ of smell in the
inside of that canal, through which the air continually passes in respiration.
Social
Character of Freemasonry
Freemasonry
attracts our attention as a great social institution. Laying aside for
the time those artificial distinctions of rank and wealth, which, however, are
necessary in the world to the regular progression of society, its members meet
in their Lodges on one common level of brotherhood and equality. There
virtue and talent alone claim and receive pre-eminence, and the great object
of all is to see who can best work and best agree. There friendship and
fraternal affection are strenuously inculcated and assiduously cultivated, and
that great mystic tie is established which peculiarly distinguishes the
society. Hence is it that Washington has declared that the benevolent
purpose of the Masonic Institution is to enlarge the sphere of social
happiness, and its grand object to promote the happiness of the human race.
Soldering
Uniting two
metal surfaces or edges with a fusible metallic alloy. Different metals
require different solders, fluxes (usually borax) and techniques of
application. Hard silver solder is usually made of 790 parts of silver and 210
parts of brass; soft silver solder is 710 parts of silver and 290 parts of
brass. Solder for brass is made from tin and lead. For soldering silver,
heat is provided by a fine, accurately directed flame from a gas torch onto
the joint, after the flux has been applied and before the solder is applied.
For brass, a soldering iron with a copper tip is heated in a flame, which is
sufficient to melt the solder. The work requires highly skilled
craftsmen; there was no machine existing that could do the work automatically.
Solomon
- peaceable
Freemasonry
recognizes the high position held by
Solomon in authentic history, and in
tradition has preserved many significant Solomonic traditions and legends,
often mythical, but always highly valuable in Masonic symbolism. It is
upon the well-known historical data concerning the notable career and
superlative wisdom of Solomon, and particularly upon his outstanding work in
the construction of the Temple, that Masonry recognizes him as a master-mind
and a hero worthy of the highest commemorations. Many of the well-known
deeds of Solomon are celebrated in the most beautiful and significant rituals
and ceremonies; but even more meaningful are ritualistic and symbolic rites
founded upon Masonic traditions and legends known only to those who enjoy the
privileges of membership in the Order. Particular recognition of his
decline in morals and spirituality, of his apostasy into idolatry, and of his
grievous errors is given in some of the degrees, but not without full
recognition of his repentance and restoration to the favor of God as set forth
in the Book of Ecclesiastes.
Solomon,
Temple of
See
Biblical History of
King Solomon's Temple
Sons
of Light
The science of
Freemasonry often has received the title of Lux, or Light, to
indicate that mental and moral illumination is the object of the
Institution. Hence Freemasons are often called Sons of Light.
South
When the sun is
at its meridian height, his invigorating rays are darted from the south.
When the sun rises in the East, we are called to Labor; when he sets in the
West, our daily toil is over; but when he reaches the South, the hour is high
twelve, and we are summoned to refreshment. In Freemasonry, the South is
represented by the Junior Warden and by the Corinthian column, because it is
said to be the place of beauty.
Spelter
An alloy of
copper and zinc used for brazing metalwork, and as a cheap substitute for
bronze. Silvery-grey in color, the surface may be treated to resemble bronze.
It is light, brittle and easily scratched.
Spes
mea in Deo est
(My hope is in
God.) The Latin motto of the Thirty-second Degree of the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite.
Spinning
Process used for
forming hollow items of sheet brass or silver. The sheet metal is cut to size,
placed against a wooden mold or chuck in a lathe, where pressure is applied
against it with a smooth tool while it revolves, to produce the desired form.
Spiritual
Temple
The French
Masons say: "We erect temples for virtue and dungeons for
vice"; thus referring to the great Masonic doctrine of a spiritual
temple. There is no symbolism of the Order more sublime than that in
which the Speculative Mason is supposed to be engaged in the construction of a
spiritual temple, in allusion to that material one which was erected by his
operative predecessors at Jerusalem. The idea of making the temple a
symbol of the body is not, it is true, exclusively Masonic. It had occurred
to the first teachers of Christianity. Christ himself alluded to it when
he said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it
up"; and St. Paul extends the idea, in the first of his Epistles to the
Corinthians, in the following language: "Know ye not that ye are the
temple of God, and the spirit of God dwelleth in you?"
1 Kings 6:7 - 1 Cor. 6:19 - 2 Cor. 6:16 -
Heb. 11:8-10
Square
The Square is one of
the most important and significant symbols in Freemasonry. As such, it
is proper that its true form should be preserved. French Freemasons have
almost universally given it with one leg longer than the other (like the
one pictured above) thus making it a carpenter's square.
American Freemasons, following the incorrect delineations of Brother Jeremy L.
Cross, have, while generally preserving the equality of length in the legs,
unnecessarily marked its surface with inches; thus making it an instrument for
measuring length and breadth, which it is not. It is simply the trying
square of a stone-mason, and has a plain surface; the sides or legs
embracing an angle of ninety degrees, and is intended only to test the
accuracy of the sides of a stone, and to see that its edges subtend the same
angle. In Freemasonry, the square is a symbol of morality.
This is its general signification, and applied in various ways: 1.
It presents itself to the neophyte as one of the Three Great Lights. 2.
To the Fellow Craft as one of his Working-tools. 3. To the Master
Mason as the official emblem of the Master of the Lodge. Everywhere,
however, it inculcates the same lesson of morality, of truthfulness, of
honesty. So universally accepted is this symbolism, that it has gone
outside of the Order, and has been found in colloquial language communicating
the same idea. The Square, says Halliwell, Dictionary of
Archaic and Provincial Words, means honest, equitable, as in "square
dealing." To play upon the square is proverbial for to
play honestly. In this sense the word is found in the old writers.
As a Masonic symbol, it is of very ancient date, and was familiar to the
Operative Masons. In the year 1830, the architect, in rebuilding a
very ancient bridge called Baal Bridge, near Limerick, in Ireland, found under
the foundation-stone an old brass square, much eaten away, containing on its
two side surfaces the following inscription, the U being read as V: I.
WILL STRIUE. TO. LIUE.--WITH. LOUE. & CARE.--UPON. THE LEUL.--BY. THE.
SQUARE., and the date 1517. The modern Speculative Freemason will
recognize the idea of living on the level and by the square.
This discovery proves, if proof were necessary, that the familiar idea was
borrowed from our Operative Brethren of former days. The square, as a
symbol in Speculative Freemasonry, has therefore presented itself from the
very beginning of the revival period. In the very earliest catechism of
the eighteenth century, of the date of 1725, we find the answer to the
question, "How many make a Lodge?" is "God and the Square, with
five or seven right or perfect Masons." God and the Square,
religion and morality, must be present in every Lodge as governing principles.
Signs at the early period were to be made by squares, and the
Furniture of the Lodge was declared to be the Bible, Compasses, and Square.
In all rites and in all languages where Freemasonry has penetrated, the square
has preserved its primitive signification as a symbol of morality. EXAMPLE
Square and Compasses
With or without the Letter "G"
the Square and Compasses is the Universal Symbol of Freemasonry. This
has been recognized and accepted as the Masonic emblem from the
beginning of the 18th Century at least. The United States Patent Office
took note of this in 1873. It told a flour manufacturer, and the world:
This device, so commonly worn and employed by Masons, has an established
mystic significance, universally recognized as existing, whether comprehended
by all or not, is not material to this issue. In view of the magnitude
of the Masonic organization, it is impossible to divest its symbols, or at
least this particular symbol -- perhaps the best known of all -- of its
ordinary significance, wherever displayed." The manufacturer was denied
the use of the Square and Compasses as a trade-mark.
Stamping
Impressing of
designs or lettering from dies on to sheet metal by means of hammers or a
machine. May be followed by hand chasing to sharpen up design details.
Stand
To And Abide By
The covenant of Masonry requires every Mason
"to stand to and abide by" the laws and regulations of the Order,
whether expressed in the edicts of the Grand Lodge, the by-laws of his Lodge,
or the Landmarks of the Institution. Psalm 119:1-8
Star
Setting
A popular
setting in the 1890's in which the stone is placed in an engraved star and
secured by a small grain of metal at the base of each point.
Stations
The positions
occupied by the subordinate officers of a Lodge are called Places, as
"the Junior Deacon's place in the Lodge." But the
positions occupied by the Master and Wardens are called Stations, as
"the Senior Warden's station in the Lodge." This is
because these three officers, representing the sun in his three prominent
points of rising, culminating, and setting, are supposed to be stationary, and
therefore remain in the spot appropriated to them by the instructions, while
the Deacons and other officers are required to move about from place to place
in the Lodge.
Steel
Iron and carbon,
with other metals such as nickel and chromium added to obtain the properties
required in the manufactured item.
Sterling
The mark used in
the United States as an assurance of the quality of silver articles. May also
be found on some silver made in Ireland.
Sterling
silver
A standard of
925/1000 fine, with 75/1000 of added metal, usually copper, to give it
strength and stiffness. This standard is common to Great Britain and the
United States which passed the Stamping Act of 1906, and any article stamped
"sterling" is of assured quality. It appears on Baltimore
silver, 1800-1814, and after 1860 elsewhere.
Stewards
The Stewards are
two in number, and are appointed by the Junior Warden. They sit on the
right and left of that officer, each one having a rod, as the insignia of his
office, and wearing the cornucopia as a jewel. Preston says that their
duties are "to introduce visitors, and see that they are properly accommodated;
to collect subscriptions and other fees, and to keep an exact account of the
Lodge expenses." Webb adds to these the further duties of seeing
"that the tables are properly furnished at refreshment, and that every
brother is suitably provided for," and he makes them the assistants
generally of the Deacons and other officers in performing their respective
duties. There can be no doubt, from the nature of the office in other
institutions, that the duty of the Stewards was originally to arrange and
direct the refreshments of the Lodge, and to provide accommodations for the
brethren on such occasions. When the office was first established,
refreshments constituted an important and necessary part of the proceedings of
the Lodge. Although not yet abolished, the Lodge banquets are now fewer,
and occur at greater intervals, and the services of the Stewards are therefore
now less necessary, so far as respects their original duties as servitors at
the table. Hence new duties are beginning to be imposed upon them, and
they are, in many jurisdictions, considered as the proper officers to examine
visitors and to prepare candidates for reception into the various
degrees.
Stickpin
A pin with an
insigne, such as the Masonic Square and Compasses, at the top end. The
stickpin is usually worn on the lapel and distinguishes the bearer as a
recipient of the order, decoration, or medal that is represented by the
insigne.
Stone
The Masonic
symbolism of the stone is very much the same as it was in Hebrew literature
and mysteries -- the symbolism of faith and truth. More broadly,
the rough or unhewn stone is emblematic of man's evil and
corrupt nature, while the hewn stone, or perfect stone, is emblematic of man
in his improved and perfected nature. "A rock" figurative of basic
truth... Matt. 16:16-18
Stone of Foundation
The Stone of
Foundation constitutes one of the most important and abstruse of all the
symbols of Freemasonry. It is referred to in numerous legends and
traditions of Freemasonry; also it holds an important place in Jewish Talmudic
writings. In Masonry it is a symbol of the higher degrees, making its
first appearance in Royal Arch Masonry. It is, however, intimately
connected with the construction of the Solomonic Temple, in its legendry
history, and hence of importance in the first three Degrees. Care must
be taken to distinguish the Stone of Foundation from other stones which play
important parts in the Masonic Ritual, such as the Corner-stone, the
keystone, and the cape-stone. These are treated under their
proper headings. It must be kept in mind also that this Stone of
Foundation in Masonry is to be taken strictly in a mythical and allegorical
sense, and not as historical record. According to Masonic legend,
the Stone of Foundation was placed at one time within the foundation of the
Temple of Solomon, and afterward, during the building of the Second Temple,
transported to the Holy of Holies. It was in form a perfect cube, and
had inscribed upon its upper face, within a triangle, the Ineffable Name of
God. Masonic tradition further has it that this "Stone of Foundation,"
on which the sacred name was mystically engraved, was placed by Solomon, with
solemn rites, in the sacred depository of Dan and Asher on Mt. Moriah, at the
center of the Most Holy Place, where the Ark was overshadowed by the shekinah
of God. Talmudic writers say that this stone was called the Stone of
Foundation because it had been laid by Jehovah as the foundation of the world.
It is upon the allegorical sentiments and symbolic meanings of these legends
that Masonry uses the Stone of Foundation. There are various legends as
to the origin of the Stone of Foundation, one claiming that it was possessed
by Adam, handed down to Seth, and on through the Sethite line to Noah, and
that Noah left it on Mt. Ararat where it was later discovered by Abraham.
After Abraham, it was in possession of Jacob and with a break, it is next in
the hands of Moses when he led Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land, and
ultimately in the possession of Solomon. It was used by Adam as an
altar; formed a pillar upon which Jacob rested at Bethel; and held sacred by
all others through whose hands it passed. The legend which claims that
Enoch made a triangular plate of gold, triangular in form and with the
Ineffable Name engraved, which was placed upon a stone in cubic form and
placed in an underground temple on Mt. Moriah is popular. According to
this legend, this Stone of Foundation was discovered by Solomon in the
excavations on Mt. Moriah for the building of the Temple. This Stone of
Foundation, after having been placed in the Temple, as already explained, was
later removed by Solomon and placed in a secret and safer place, from which it
was recovered and placed in the Second Temple. For the Mason who has
advanced through the Royal Arch Degree, and on into higher degrees, these
legends and the symbolic deductions are of great moment. The Foundation
Stone of the earth, called "corner-stone," laid by God...
Job 38:4-7
Stone
That The Builder Rejected
It was neither oblong or square,
and has reference to the "keystone" or copestone. According to Masonic
legends, the builders of the Temple of Solomon became bewildered when they
received this particular stone, and as it was neither oblong or square as they
were used to receiving subsequently threw it aside. They later found
that this stone was very necessary and important, and that it was to become
the head of the corner. The Bible make this "rejected stone" a type of
the Christ, who is indeed the "chief stone" in the building of Christian
character and of the Kingdom of God... Psalms 118:22 -
Matt. 21:42 - Mark 12:10 - John 1:4 - 1 Pet. 2:4,6
Strength
This is said to
be one of the three principal
supports of a Lodge, as a representative of the
whole Institution, because it is necessary that there should be Strength to
support and maintain every great and important undertaking, not less than
there should be Wisdom to contrive it, and Beauty to adorn it. Hence,
strength is symbolized in Masonry by the
Doric column, because, of all the
orders of architecture, it is the most massive, by the Senior Warden, because
it is his duty to strengthen and support the authority of the Master; and by
Hiram of Tyre, because of the material assistance that he gave in men and
materials for the construction of the Temple.
Sublime
The word is from
the Latin Sublimis, meaning lofty, an allusion properly
expressive of the teaching in the final symbolic ceremony of our ancient
Craft. The Third Degree is called the Sublime Degree of a Master
Mason, in reference to the exhalted lessons that it teaches of God and of
a future life.
Sun
The "Sun" as the source of
material light reminds the Mason of that intellectual light of which he is in
constant search. The Worshipful Master who rules and governs his Lodge
is said to be the symbol of the rising sun in the east. The sun,
therefore is the symbol of sovereignty, the hieroglyphic of royalty; and
signifies absolute authority. As the sun rules the day, so does the moon
govern the night; as the sun regulates our years, so does the moon mark the
passing months. These symbols in Masonry are known as the "Lesser
Lights".
Superficies
The 'regular
progression of science from a point to a line, from a line to a superficies
(plane), from a superficies to a solid' is the way in which Freemasonry
explains the process by which the Deity brings the four levels of existence
into being. It is a neo-platonic device which can be traced through
literature of the Renaissance, via medieval Spain, to Alexandria. From
this geometrical perspective the process starts with a point; the point moves,
and in doing so generates a line; the line moves, in a direction not parallel
to itself, and generates a plane (superficies); the plane, moving in a similar
way, generates a solid.
Swastika
The swastika
is an ancient symbol recognized as a religious sign and in some cultures as a
good luck symbol. It is a sacred symbol derived from Sanskrit, the
language of the Hindu civilization dating back several thousand years.
It can also be found on Buddhist inscriptions, Greek coins, and Byzantine
buildings. It was a widely used symbol among the Native Americans.
The swastika appears in the form of a cross in which the arms are bent at
right angles in a given direction. In 1920, the swastika became the
symbol of the National Socialist Party of Germany and was added to the German
flag from 1935-45. Over the ensuing years, it became a symbol of hate
and oppression in most countries around the world. Today, it still
evokes horrific memories, and in some countries German memorabilia with the
swastika is banned from sale.
Sword
The sword is in chivalry the ensign or
symbol of knighthood, especially in defense of the cause of the Christ. The
sword is said to be endowed with the qualities of justice, fortitude, and
mercy. Hence the Knight is charged that he should never draw his sword
unless convinced of the justice of the cause in which he is engaged, not to
sheathe it until his enemies are subdued. In Freemasonry, the use of
the sword as a part of the Masonic clothing is confined to the advanced
degrees and the Degrees of Chivalry, when, of course it is worn as a part of
the insignia of knighthood. In the Symbolic Degrees its appearance in
the Lodge, except as a symbol is strictly prohibited. The Masonic prints
engraved in the eighteenth century, when the sword, at least as late as 1780,
constituted a part of the dress of every gentleman, show that it was discarded
by the members when they entered the Lodge. The official swords of
the Tiler and the Pursuivant or Sword-Bearer are the only exceptions. EXAMPLE
Sword Pointing
to a Naked Heart
The
"Sword Pointing to a
Naked Heart" demonstrates that Justice will sooner or later overtake us,
and that although our thoughts, words and actions may be hidden from the eyes
of man, they are not hidden to the All-Seeing Eye.
Symbol
What is the
derivation, and use of a symbol? Latin, Symbolum. A word derived
from the Greek sumbolon from sumballein, to suspect, divine, compare; a word
of various meaning, even with the ancients, who used it to denote a sign, a
mark, watchword, signal, token, a sealring, etc., its meaning is still more
various in modern times. Freemasonry is a complete system of symbolic
teaching, and can be known, understood and appreciated only by those who study
its symbolism, and make themselves acquainted with its occult meaning.
To such, Freemasonry has a grand and sublime significance. Its symbols
are moral, philosophical and religious, and all these are pregnant with great
thoughts, and reveal to the intelligent Mason the awesome mystery of life, and
the awful mystery of death. Rom. 16:25
Symbolic
Degrees
The first three
degrees of Freemasonry, namely, those of the
Entered Apprentice,
Fellow-Craft,
and Master Mason, are known, by way of distinction, as the "symbolic
degrees." This term is never applied to the degrees of Mark, Past,
and Most Excellent Master, and the Royal Arch, which, as being conferred in a
body called a Chapter, are generally designated as "capitular
degrees"; nor to those of Royal and Select Master, which conferred in a
Council, are, by an excellent modern usage, styled, "cryptic
degrees," from the crypt or vault which plays so important a part in
their ritual.
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