The Temple of the Lodge
by William D. Rice, Former Master Mason
Now and Ex-Mason For Jesus, and O.F.F.
Freemasonry often answers challenges to its teachings by stating that
it is "only symbolical" in nature, attempting to divert
attention from further examination of the symbols.
That these are symbols I do not challenge, rather I challenge the
notion that they are "merely symbols for each man to interpret as
he sees fit". For, in the multiplication of individual
interpretations toward a symbol one can find opposite interpretations
that nullify one another. Opposite statements, views, and
interpretations cannot reasonably and logically be applied to the same
symbol without rendering that symbol meaningless. Additionally,
Freemasonry presents its symbols in a distinct and unmistakable fashion
to its members, but also alludes to hidden meanings, found only in
"seeking more light". Remarkably, though, progress in Masonry
more often piles on more symbols instead of giving further explanation
of these or previous symbols. If the Mason never endeavors to learn the
meanings of these symbols, he remains blissfully ignorant of their
origins, development, and meanings.
Let us examine some of these symbols, their Masonic presentations,
their apparent origins, and how they are viewed in light of Scripture.
From the Tennessee Craftsman or Masonic Textbook, Containing
instructions and ceremonies for the use of Lodges of Free and Accepted
Masons, as authorized by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of
Tennessee., Twenty-First Edition, May 1984, the Mason learns the
following:
Entered Apprentice, Third Section:
"The third section is not less important than the preceding; it
explains the nature and principles of our Institution, and teaches the
Entered Apprentice to discharge with propriety the duties that devolve
upon him as a man and a Mason, which
are in no way incompatible with those of a good citizen.
It also teaches him whatever relates to the supports, covering,
furniture, ornaments, lights, and jewels of a Lodge with its situation
and dedication." "A Lodge is an assemblage of Masons, duly congregated, having the
Holy Bible, Square and Compasses, and a Charter or Warrant authorizing
them to work." (p.18)
Upon being "Entered as an Apprentice", a Mason is taught
"Mountains and other high places were almost always considered
holy, and peculiarly appropriate for religious purposes. We have
abundant evidence in Scripture that the Jews were accustomed to worship
on the tops of the highest hills, as it was believed that sacrifices
offered from these elevated places were most acceptable to the Deity. It
is not improbable that our brethren, before they had more convenient
places of meeting, held their Lodges on hills, or in valley, or in
retired groves." (TC, p.20)
What
the significance of the valleys and groves may be is not presented in
the TC; that remains a question answered by other Rituals and Monitors.
They give as explanation the caves and grottoes of occultic religions.
However the "mountains and other high places" can be
addressed by Scripture. That many religions saw these high places as
more acceptable to their gods is not argued against, but the deceptive
presentation as to the practices of the Jews is argued against. God was
angered, and punished Israel several times when they engaged in worship
in these high places, and those times of reconciliation of Israel to God
were clearly marked with the "tearing down of high places".
Masonry truthfully states that Scripture reveals these practices among
the Jews, but also very deceptively omits that the Jews were
consistently punished for engaging in these idolatrous practices.
The "form of the Lodge", save minor variations, is agreed
upon by Masonry, as is demonstrated in the several Masonic Monitors and
Textbooks, as well as my experience within Masonry. From this aspect, we
will examine first the form of the Lodge, then progress as a candidate
through each degree, and examine the further symbols of Masonry.
The Entered Apprentice Degree of Freemasonry, as practiced in the
State of Nevada, circa 1986, tells the new Mason in the "Entered
Apprentice Lecture"
"You were caused to meet with several obstructions on your
passage around the Lodge, because this and every regular and well
governed Lodge is or ought to be a correct representation of the ground
floor of King Solomon's Temple, which had guards placed at the south,
west and east gates to prevent any from passing or re-passing except
such as were duly qualified and had permission from King Solomon; it was
therefore necessary that you meet with these several obstacles and at
each of those stations be duly examined."(p.14)
"The form of a Lodge is familiar to every Mason; and its
dimensions are said, symbolically, to be unlimited; they extend in
length, from East to West; in breadth from North to South; in height,
from earth to heaven; in depth, from the surface to the center; the are
symbolical of the Universe, which is limitless on every side, and is the
proper temple of the Deity whom we serve, whose canopy is the heaven,
and whose footstool is the earth. The unlimited dimensions of a Lodge
may also be said to denote the universality of the Order, which embraces
men of every country." (TC, p.20, 21 )
"The Mosaic Pavement is a representation of the ground floor of
King Solomon's Temple; the Indented Tessel, of that beautiful
tessellated border which surrounded it." (p.24)
"There is no Symbolic Light in the North, because King Solomon's
Temple, of which every Lodge is a representation, was situated so far
North of the ecliptic that neither the sun nor moon at high meridian
could dart one ray into the northern part thereof. The North, therefore,
Masonically speaking, is a place of darkness." (p.25)
"A Lodge is said, symbolically, to be situated due East and
West, because after Moses had led the children of Israel across the Red
Sea he erected by Divine command a Tabernacle, which he placed due East
and West to receive the first rays of the rising sun and to commemorate
that mighty East wind by which their miraculous deliverance was
effected." (p.28)
"Our ancient brethren dedicated their Lodges to King
Solomon;" (p.29)
"(This section contains a store of valuable knowledge founded on
reason and sacred record, both entertaining and instructive.)"
(p.42)
"I now call your attention to the representatives of the two
famous brazen pillars that ornamented the porch of King Solomon's
Temple. The one on the right was called __ which means establish; the
one on the left was called __ which means strength." (p.44)
Moreover, the Mason, at each degree, is taught how to wear the apron
as did a like worker, supposedly in the construction of King Solomon's
Temple, and the first three Grand Masters are said to have been King
Solomon, Hiram, King of Tyre, and Hiram Abiff. That Freemasonry
considers its Lodges as representations of The Temple prepared by David
and built by Solomon can therefore be confidently stated.
From Freemasonry's statements that the Lodge is a representation of
the ground floor of King Solomon's Temple, being situated due "east
and west" in commemoration of both The Tabernacle and The temple,
we can make examination by Scripture. From 1 Kings 6 and 7, and 2
Chronicles 3, and 4. we find that this orientation is true, however, the
Holy of Holies was placed in the west-most part, and the porch to the
east-most part of The Temple. This places the Lodge in opposite
orientation to The Temple, as the Master of the Lodge sits in the East.
The Masons presented with this question answered, basically,
"Anyone with any knowledge of Masonry can answer that with little
or no thought: it's all metaphor. It's all made up. What is told
regarding Solomon's temple is an allegory that in no way seeks to
supplant what is told in Scripture or in any other historical
writing." (from Jarrod, posting as Happy Zealot at The Lodge
Room.com on 12/12/03).
Rebutting this is Masonry's own words "because this and every
regular and well governed Lodge is or ought to be a correct
representation of the ground floor of King Solomon's Temple" and
"The Mosaic Pavement is a representation of the ground floor of
King Solomon's Temple; the Indented Tessel, of that beautiful
tessellated border which surrounded it."
As demonstrated, symbols do have meanings; some distinct, and some
more vague.
This will place the Lodge, by the placement of the Senior Warden and
the pillars representing Jachin and Boaz, outside of The Temple, the
Altar of Sacrifice where Freemasonry places its altar, and the
Worshipful Master east of the Altar of Sacrifice, farthest from The
Temple.
This also places the doors of the Lodge in position that one entering
the Lodge must be apparently departing from The Temple.
"The Masonic Institution is said, symbolically, to be supported
by the three great pillars of Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty, because it
is necessary that there should be Wisdom to contrive, Strength to
support, and Beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings. An
institution thus supported is impregnable from without, and its
foundations can be shaken only when discord reigns within." (TC,
p.22)
This lesson from the Entered Apprentice Degree is strictly symbolic,
but we must ask, "What is the source of the symbols?"
Progression to the Follow Craft teaches the mason of five orders of
architecture, Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite. He is
then instructed, "The ancient and original orders of architecture,
revered by Freemasons, are only three: The Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
They alone show originality of invention and particular character, and
essentially differ from each other." and "The Ionic...
Wisdom... Worshipful
Master, The Doric... Strength... Senior Warden, and The Corinthian ...
Beauty... Junior
Warden." (TC, p.45&46)
These are not Biblically based or supported, and Freemasonry accepts
men of all religions that profess a "Supreme Being", so
examination of other religions must be considered. From the
"Ancient Mystery Religions" among the lands of the Chaldees,
Babylon, and Egypt we find striking similarities of beliefs, but will
only address one at this point.
"Ancient Egyptian religion was a complex and beautiful balance
of monotheism and polytheism, along with a good dose of pure magic. For
the Egyptians there was no such thing as a separation between magic and
religion. One ancient writer, Clement of Alexandria, said that
"Egypt was the mother of magicians." The power that lay behind
all magic was known as heka. The Egyptians believed in one creator deity
who was eternal, omnipotent, self-existent, and incomprehensible to the
humans. This unknowable divinity was sometimes referred to by the name
neter, the suggested meaning of which includes ideas of "god,"
"divine," "strength," and "renewal." The
polytheism of Egypt manifested in the vast number of local and lesser
deities. These deities were considered as the various aspects or
attributes of the neter, manifesting in forms that could be visualized
and comprehended by the human mind. Thus the goddess Isis was the divine
femininity and creative force of the neter, while the god Thoth was the
neter's intellectual force, the god Horus was the neter's strength,
etc."(LlewellynEncyclodia.com [a site on esoterics, majick, and
witchcraft])
These same explanations are found in many old occultic works, but all
agree upon the representations of Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty from
pagan deities. In the one example presented, we find Thoth as Wisdom,
Horus as Strength, and Isis as Beauty. Where parallels are abundant in
pagan religions, there are none found in The Holy Bible. Plenty of this
evidence is found within the several works such as Agrippa's Three Books
of Occultic Philosophy, John Dee's Five Books of Mystery and many
cryptic allusions within several works of Sir Francis Bacon.
"The Mosaic Pavement is a representation of the ground floor of
King Solomon's Temple; the Indented Tessel, of that beautiful
tessellated border which surrounded it. The Mosaic Pavement is emblematical of human life, checkered with good
and evil, and reminds us of the precariousness of our state in earth;
today our feet tread in prosperity, tomorrow we totter on the uneven
paths of weakness, temptation, and adversity. The Tesselated Border is
emblematical of those blessings which we hope to attain by a faithful
reliance on Divine Providence, which is hieroglyphically represented by
the Blazing Star." (TC, p.24&25)
The Holy Bible gives us no such illustration of the floor of The
Temple, nor any examples of the lessons these present. So, where do
these come from? Again, pagan religions present the answers. The Mosaic
Pavement is from the beliefs in a god of dualism, both of good/bad,
light/darkness. Several pagan religions present these ideas of a god of
dual nature, and man's arriving at that Tesselated Border is dependent
upon a life of works satisfying to that deity.
What then, is the Tesselated Border? From the South Carolina Monitor,
Ahimon Rezon: "Latin tessela, means little square stone, and to
indent is to cut or notch a margin into inequalities resembling teeth. A
Tesselated Border is, therefore, a notched border of variegated
colors." Again, we find no such mentions of these things in
Scripture, and must resort to pagan religions for the answers. In
several eastern religions, occultic books, as well as Gnostic and
Mythriastic writings, we find these borders most often inscribed with
Geometrical and Zodiacal signs corresponding to the positions of the
celestial compass at the solstices and equinoxes.
As to the Blazing Star, such allusions to deity are found only within
pagan religions as they relate to the Mosaic Pavement and the Tesselated
Border as represented by the single or double pentacles illustrated.
"A Lodge has three Symbolic Lights; one of these is in the East,
one in the West, and one in the South. There is no Symbolic Light in the
North, because King Solomon's Temple, of which every Lodge is a
representation, was situated so far North of the ecliptic that neither
the sun nor the moon at high meridian could dart one ray into the
northern part thereof. The North, therefore, Masonically speaking, is a
place of darkness." (TC, p.25).
However, the Mason was previously told, "The three __ __ are the
sun, moon, and Worshipful Master, and as the sun rules the day, and the
moon rules the night, so should the Worshipful Master rule and govern
the lodge with equal regularity."(TC, p.10).
Here
the symbology seems, at first, to confuse upon itself. The points of
"East", "South", and "West", correspond
with both the apparent circuits of the sun and moon, as seen from Earth,
considering "South" to represent the meridian. But, the Mason
is told they represent the sun, moon, and Worshipful Master, yet he is
given no specific as to which station, "East",
"South", or "West", corresponds to which Symbolic
Light. No such representations are found within The Holy Bible, so,
again we must seek answers among the pagan religions.
The diagram of the form of the Lodge (TC, p.20) with the Three
Pillars (TC, p.21) and their stations sheds some light upon this, but
only darkly, as this representation shows a terrestrial globe centered
in a rectangle elongated east and west. This places the altar in the
Gulf of Mexico, and the pillars and lights at the east and west
horizons, and the southern polar region.
Other monitors, as well as Masonic authors, clarify this by
representing within the rectangle the Ancient World, predating the
acceptance of the world as a sphere.
Further evidences of these are found within the works of Agrippa, Dee,
Bacon, among others. In these representations, west is at the
Mediterranean Strait of Gibraltar, east toward Asia, south toward Africa
and Egypt, and north toward Europe. (This significance will be further
addressed toward the pillars supposedly representing Jachin and Boaz.)
From
this we find that the three Symbolic Lights do not correspond to the
directly to their stations or the Three Pillars, but to the
"governors" within pagan worship.
The sun was deemed the source of light, life, and wisdom; male and
generative, and ruled the day. The moon was deemed a reflective source
of the sun; female and receptive, and ruled the night. The Worshipful
Master is therefore deemed, as by the Ancients, the receptacle of both
of these powers of the heavens, and rules the Lodge accordingly.
"The
idea symbolized by the Lesser Lights is that he should combine these
divergent qualities in carrying out the orders of the Supreme Architect...
The Sun, from ancient times, has always been a symbol of the
masculine quality, .energy and force; the Moon, of the feminine quality,
adaptability and tact. To be energetic at the right time and to
compromise at the right time is to be a Master. The Master is symbolical
of the offspring of the great Active and Passive Principles. He is the
mediator, the child of the two great forces. He sets the Craft to work
upon their symbolic studies, which is no light responsibility to be
assumed by the uninformed. Only chaos and disaster can overtake him who
attempts the work he is not qualified to perform. Then, as before, the
candidate must follow the course of the sun. The seeker after Light
always emerges from the North in the East and passes by way of the South
to the West and again into darkness, with full faith and perfect
confidence that day will follow night." (INDIANA MONITOR and
FREEMASON'S GUIDE, p.135)
"OUR ANCIENT BRETHREN DEDICATED their Lodges to King Solomon,
because he was our first Most Excellent Grand Master; but modern Masons
dedicate theirs to St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist,
who were two eminent patrons of Masonry; and since their time, there is
represented, in every regular and well-governed Lodge, a certain point
within a circle, embordered by two perpendicular parallel lines,
representing St. John the Baptist and St.John the Evangelist; and upon
the top rests the Holy Scriptures. The point represents the individual
brother; the circle is the boundary line of duty, beyond which he is
never to suffer his prejudices or passions to betray him. In going
around this circle, he necessarily touches upon these two lines, as well
as the Holy Scriptures; and while a Mason keeps himself thus
circumscribed within these due bounds, it is impossible that he should
materially err." (Kentucky Monitor, p.48, 49).
TC is almost identical, save the opening paragraph: "Our ancient
brethren dedicated their Lodges to King Solomon; but since the
introduction of Christianity, they are dedicated to the memory of St.
John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist in all Christian
countries."(p. 29, 30).
Since
Freemasonry can hardly said to be exclusively Christian, such symbology
is mere window-dressing for palatability by unlearned Christians in
Masonry. Surprisingly, if the Mason will explore the several Monitors,
Grand Lodge statements, and recommended books upon Masonry, he will find
the same. From the South Carolina Monitor, Ahimon Rezon: we readily
learn:
"The point within a circle is an interesting and important
symbol in Free Masonry, but it has been so debased in the interpretation
of it given in the modern lectures that the sooner that interpretation
is forgotten by the Masonic student, the better will it be. The symbol is really a beautiful but somewhat abstruse allusion to
the old sun-worship.
[bold and italics mine].
The two parallel lines, which in the modern lectures are said to
represent St. John the Baptist and St, John the Evangelist, really
allude to particular periods in the sun's annual course. At two
particular points in this course the sun is found on the zodiacal signs
Cancer and Capricorn, which are distinguished as the summer and winter
solstice. When the sun is in these points, he has reached respectively
his greatest northern and southern limit. These points, if we suppose the circle to represent the sun's
annual course, will be indicated by the point where the parallel lines
touch the circle. But the days when the sun reaches these points are the
21st of June and the 22d of December, and this will account for their
subsequent application to the two Saints John, whose anniversaries the
*Church has placed near those days. [*Catholicism. Note by this author]
So the true interpretation of the point within the circle is the same
as that of the Master and Wardens of a Lodge. The reference to the
symbolism of the world and the Lodge is preserved in both. The Master
and Wardens are symbols of the sun - the Lodge, of the universe or the
world; the point also is the symbol of the same sun, and the surrounding
circle of the universe, while the two parallel lines really point, not
to two saints, but to the two northern and southern limits of the sun's
course."(p.99-102)
In the most ancient religions, this point within a circle has always
represented the sun, the sun god, and the attainment of perfection
toward which the idolatrous pagan sought in its worship. Again, these
are borne out in the research of the mentioned occultic works.
Therefore, "The East/Rising Sun/Generation/Summer
Solstice/Worshipful Master/Wisdom" are represented by the left
parallel line and first pillar. "The South/Meridian
Sun/Power/Autumnal Equinox/Junior Warden/Strength" are represented
by the Volume of Sacred Law, and the second pillar. "The
West/Setting Sun/Death/Winter Solstice/Senior Warden/Beauty" are
represented by the right parallel line and the third pillar.
On the face, this would place "The West" in such a place of
finality in death, hardly able to be represented by "Beauty".
The answer to this apparent dilemma lies within the Master Mason Degree,
and the regeneration through The East, by way of passage through Death
in The West, and by North, again to The East.
Again, these symbols are found nowhere in The Temple built by
Solomon, nor in Scripture, yet Freemasonry maintains that its Lodges are
a correct representation of the ground floor of King Solomon's
Temple".
Progression into the Fellowcraft Degree is here necessary to discover
the truth of Freemasonry's "Temple".
Freemasonry
ascribes these pillars to the ones at the porch of The Temple built by
King Solomon, Jachin and Boaz, and goes into some length as to the
explanations of the form of these pillars from Scripture. However,
Freemasonry alters these pillars by surmounting them with a terrestrial
and celestial globe, respectively, adding significance to them in
manners never found within Scripture.
Where several Monitors do not mention these symbols in great depth,
merely employing them to allude to Freemasonry's universality, other
Monitors are more forthcoming with the actual significance. However,
even these more revealing Works do not reveal all.
From The Louisiana Monitor (South Carolina's Ahiman Rezon, among
others agrees): "Our ancient brethren interpreted these oval-shaped
bodies as representing the Terrestrial and Celestial Spheres, indicating
life on earth and the life celestial; but this idea is now conveyed in
the representations of those ancient Pillars, by the superaddition of
two Globes with their accompanying markings.
On the convex surfaces of these Globes are represented the countries,
seas, and various parts of the earth; the face of the heavens, the planetary revolutions,
and other particulars.
Their principal use, besides serving as maps to distinguish the outward
parts of the earth and the situation of the fixed stars, is to
illustrate and explain the phenomena arising from the annual revolution
of the earth around the sun and the diurnal rotation of the earth on its
own axis.
They are the noblest instruments for improving the mind, and giving
it the most distinct idea of any problem or proposition, as well as
enabling it to solve the same. Contemplating these bodies, we are
inspired with due reverence for the Deity and His works, and are induced
to encourage the studies of Astronomy, Geography, and Navigation, and
the arts dependent upon them, by which society has been so much
benefited. They also denote the universality of Masonry, and teach us
that a Mason's charity should be equally as extensive."
Further explanation of these symbols are found within the occultic
philosophies in the delineation of the separate worlds. These worlds
are:
- The Exemplary or Original World (prior to Chaos),
- The Intellectual World (ruled by Angelic Orders assigned by
astrology),
- The Celestial World, (ruled by the Planets and Constellations),
- The Elemental World (ruled by elements that are under the
influence of the planets, stars, and angels),
- The Lesser World (wherein the profane Man dwells),
- The Infernal World (of false gods, evil spirits, tempters,
apostates, and infidels).
These are found within the progressive degrees of the Ancients,
Greeks, Romans, Gnostics, and Mithraism, in several different guises.
The tables whereby these are found and applied are from Babylonian,
Syrian, Egyptian, Oriental, Pythagorean, Greek, Roman, and Qabalahist
occultic philosophies.
The Terrestrial and Celestial Globes denote the progression from The
Lesser World of the uninitiated profane Man through knowledge of The
Elemental and Celestial Worlds toward The Intellectual World.
[On the frontispieces of Sir Francis Bacon's Novum Organum,(The New
Device) 1620, and De Augmentis, (Of Increase), [Gilbert Watt's 1640 ed.]
are depicted images that correspond to the form of The Lodge as per the
Ancient Map of some Monitors. These images all correspond to the Pillars
of Hercules, or the Pillars of Atlantis at the Strait of Gibraltar.
The Terrestrial Globe, with the inscription "MUNDUS VISBILIS"
(the Visible Universe/World) and Celestial Globe, with the inscription
"MUNDUS INTELLECTUALIS" (The Universe/World of
Knowledge/Understanding) surmount these pillars, also represented as
Egyptian Obelisks, each pillar/obelisk resting upon a foundation of
three spheres.)]
Freemasonry tells the Fellowcraft Candidate Mason "Passing
through this long porch or gallery, we arrive at the foot of a flight of
winding stairs consisting of three, five, and seven steps, which it is
necessary that you ascend, and which leads to the middle chamber."
From Kings and Chronicles we find no mention of a long porch or
gallery as such.
The Kentucky Monitor, however, does address the stairs;
The only allusion to it in Scripture is to be found in the sixth chapter
of the First Book of Kings, and is in these words: "The door for
the middle chamber was in the right side of the house; and they went up
with winding stairs into the middle chamber and out of the middle into
the third." The Scriptures further address the middle chamber
elsewhere, but we will examine that passage at a later point.
To fully understand the significance of the problems presented by
Freemasonry's representation of The Temple built by King Solomon, the
examination of the significance of 3, 5, and 7 must be properly
addressed.
THREE
"The number three is the symbol of mystery: hence the number
of degrees in the mystic Lodge is three; it is governed by three
stationed officers, the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens;
it is supported by the three great pillars of WISDOM, STRENGTH, and
BEAUTY. Also this number refers to the greatest of all mysteries, the
mystery of DEITY. Just as the three degrees of Masonry make but one
science, the threefold government and support one Lodge, so the number
three aptly points to the worship of
one GOD in the threefold aspect of THE TRINITY."
Also presented are "Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth".
FIVE
Five is presented as alluding to the Orders of Architecture;
Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite; "These steps
also allude to the five human senses, hearing, seeing, feeling,
smelling and tasting. Of these, those most revered by Masons are
hearing, seeing, and feeling..." (again upon the order of three);
"The active powers of the mind are five: perception, memory,
imagination, reasoning, and the moral faculty."
SEVEN
"The number seven is the symbol of completeness. It is so used
throughout the HOLY BIBLE, that GREATEST LIGHT of Masonry. [This
second statement is blatantly false, as Freemasonry employs several
"Volumes of Sacred Law" in its Rituals.]
These steps allude to what was anciently called the seven liberal
arts and sciences, which are GRAMMAR, RHETORIC, LOGIC, ARITHMATIC,
GEOMETRY, MUSIC, and ASTRONOMY. It would be vain here to speak further
of these wide reaching branches of learning, a knowledge of which is
necessary to complete a liberal education. I pass on to give a few
words upon GEOMETRY, the foundation of Masonic science."
Freemasonry itself admits that it "is a system of morality
veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols", and "a
progressive moral science". In order to remove this veil and reveal
the deeper secrets, an examination of The Master Mason Degree will shed
much light.
Aside from the portrayal of Hiram Abiff by the Master Mason
Candidate, we find the key point of this degree is again three steps,
Geometry, and a key lesson is The 47th Problem of Euclid, as presented
by Pythagorus.
"THE
FORTY-SEVENTH PROBLEM OF EUCLID was an invention of our ancient friend
and brother, the great Pythagoras, who, in his travels through Asia,
Africa, and Europe, was initiated into several orders of priesthood, and
raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason. This wise philosopher
enriched his mind abundantly in a general knowledge of things, and more
especially in Geometry, or Masonry. On this subject he drew out many
problems or theorems, and among the most distinguished he erected this,
when, in the joy of his heart, he exclaimed, EUREKA, in the Grecian
language, signifying, I HAVE FOUND IT; and upon the discovery of which
he is said to have sacrificed an hecatomb, or an hundred oxen. It
teaches Masons to be general lovers of the Arts and Sciences."
We can now examine the symbology closer, by examining the
significance of Pythagoras' works, and how they relate to other
arguments presented. To Pythagoras, and to the Ancients from which he
learned "The Mysteries", Numbers, Geometry, and their
applications did not just reveal the greatness of God, but were the
"keys to all things". They saw it as key to unlocking the
secrets of God, Man, Nature, and the Universe. It was their religion,
and found its roots in pagan sun-worship, and its descendants in Greek
and Roman Mythology, Gnosticism, Hermeticism, among others.
-
Significance of Numbers in Occultic Philosophy
One was origin; Unity, or Monad; the indivisible, First Cause,
Creative Force. It is a reference to The Un-embodied Intellect, The
Point Within a Circle.
Two was Dyad or Duad; the Monad Enlarged, Mother; The Second Cause,
and Separation of Light from Darkness. The first increase in which are
foundation of matter and all things perceptible, the generation of
motion, addition, multiplication, composition, and relation. It was
the Second Point: Line, from it, both Radius and Diameter.
Three was Triad; First Number, First Prime (2 was not considered a
number, nor a prime); the emanation of matter, and man. It was the
Third Point: from it, both the first superficies (surface) triangle,
and measure of a solid by length, breadth, and height. It was the
number of joining of Light, Spirit, and Logos in the soul, and
Father-Mother-Son Unity.
Four was Tetractys; Square or Foursquare; Number of The Elemental.
It was the Fourth Point: from it both the superficies Square, and the
First Solid --- The Tetrahedron of four equilateral triangles. It was
also THE Tetractys of 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10, 10 being Unity + Infinity.
The Four Elements; Earth, Fire, Aire, and Water.
Five was Pentad; Duad + Triad, Wedlock; Proportion and Relation.
Man within the circle, extremities evenly extended, center at his
navel, in balance of Earth, Fire, Aire, Water, and Spirit. It was the
center of all numbers to nine of equidistance, the balance. The number
of reason.
Six was Hexad; Duad x Triad, Monad + Duad + Triad. By six, all
directions from the center of a solid are found.
Seven was Perfection and Completion; Triad + Square, the first
perfect number, and the first square combined.
Eight was Octad; Justice; First Cube, Duad x Duad x Duad, Square +
Square.
Nine was Nenead, Horizon, as all numbers 1-8 are comprehended by
and revolve in it.
Ten was Decad; Unity + Many. The Tetractys Triangle of 1, 2, 3, 4
was seen as the foundation of all the Universe.
[Ref: http://www.llewellyn.com/, Agrippa's Three Books of Occult
Philosophy
(Llewellyn's, edited and annotated by Donald Tyson),
(viewable @ http://www.esotericarchives.com/, as Joseph H. Peterson
HTML edition, Copyright © 2000) http://www.math.tamu.edu/~don.allen/history/pythag/pythag.html,
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/47th_problem_of_euclid.htm,
http://www.io.com/~janebm/summa.html,
http://www.esotericarchives.com/oracle/oraclesj.htm,
http://www.wisdomworld.org/additional/ancientlandmarks/PythagScienceOfNumbers.html,
and others.
How this is important to our examination of Freemasonry lies within
the significance Pythagoras placed upon numbers as religion. The 47th
Problem of Euclid is proven and employed by a 3, 4, 5 triangle. Before
beginning, we will form a right triangle from Unity, by Pythagoras'
numbers.
We form the circle from Unity, the diameter from Duad, and add a point
upon the circumference, forming Triad. (Any point on the circumference
of a circle will make a right-triangle when this point is connected
with lines to the points of the diameter at the circumference.)
Ancients used this method in reverence to the Sun-god, squaring
their buildings from "The Point Within A Circle", using the
3, 4, 5 triangle because of its religious symbology.
-
Application of Numbers
First, a number chart to explain Pythagoras' reverence of other
numbers that appear in Freemasonry is required.
Number
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
Square
|
1 |
4 |
9 |
16 |
25 |
36 |
49 |
64 |
81 |
100 |
Difference of Squares
|
|
3 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
15 |
17 |
19 |
Pythagoras deemed all odd numbers thus sacred, as they advanced the
squares by adding them to the previous square. *Additionally, for any
Pythagorean triple, the product of the two nonhypotenuse legs (i.e., the
two smaller numbers) is always divisible by 12, and the product of all
three sides is divisible by 60.
(*http://mathworld.wolfram.com/PythagoreanTriple.html)
Applied to astronomy, this leads to Astrology. Horus (5) divides the 60
product of all three sides, resulting in the 12 signs of the Zodiac.
The first three Primitive Pythagorean Triples are begun with 3, 5,
and 7.
| 3 |
4 |
5 |
Three steps from Chaos (0) to Triad (3); from
Monad (1) to Square (4); from Duad (2) to Pentad [Man] (5) |
| 5 |
12 |
13 |
Five steps from Chaos (0) to Pentad [Man] (5);
from Chaos (0) to Horus' Square (25) {by the squares}. |
| 7 |
24 |
25 |
Seven steps from Chaos (0) to Perfection (7);
from Chaos (0) to Perfection Squared (49) {by the squares}.
Also, 49 = 4 + 9 = Duad2 + Triad2. |
Pythagoras derived his triangle from the Egyptians.
| The upright, therefore, may be likened to the
male, the base to the female, and the hypotenuse to the child of
both, and so Ausar [Osiris] may be regarded as the origin, Auset
[Isis] as the recipient, and Heru [Horus] as perfected result.
Three is the first perfect odd number: four is a square whose
side is the even number two; but five is in some ways like to
its father, and in some ways like to its mother, being made up
of three and two. And panta [all] is a derivative of pente
[five], and they speak of counting as "numbering by
fives". Five makes a square of itself. (Plutarch, Moralia,
Vol. V ) |
 |
| http://www.egypt-tehuti.org/articles/sacred-numerology.html |
-
Solving the 47th Problem of Euclid
In
resolving the 3, 4, 5 square by Pythagoras' Theorem we find the squares
are 9, 16, and 25. The previous illustration of the 47th Problem of
Euclid, as depicted in some Masonic Monitors/Handbooks, however, is not
the 3:4:5 proof, but the 1:1:√2 proof. Some Monitors display the correct
3:4:5 proof, as shown here.
When the squares of the nonhypotenuse sides are
added together (9 + 16 = 25), then joined to the squares of the
hypotenuse side for proof (25 = 25), we find an oblong square of 50, or
5x10, corresponding to "the form of the Lodge".
-
One More Type of Number
The
Ancients revered another type of numbers, that we now call Fibonacci
Numbers. The progression of 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13... These numbers,
when plotted with squares reveal an interesting and wonderful geometry
of nature. The spirals of pinecones and nautilus shells, the branch
division and foliage distribution of plants, and many more things in
nature demonstrate the Golden Spiral that results from a Fibonacci
progression.
This Golden Spiral was revered by the Pythagoreans as well, as
there were, in addition to the examples in nature, from Chaos (0), 3
steps to Duad (2), 5 steps to Pentad (5), and seven steps to Monad +
Triad (13) [1 + 3].
The Monad + Triad bears great significance as it combines the First
Cause with the First Number of Man in one step beyond 12 (The Zodiac).
This is the "return to the Light", beyond the stars, into
the original Unity with Monad.
The first argument presented here by most Masons will be this:
"There is no Zodiac represented in Masonic Symbols!" The
preceding evidences, and further application of these symbols in the
Hiramic Legend, however, easily prove this. As we now understand the
preponderance of symbology is from the Ancients, through Egyptian,
Pythagorean, Greek, Roman, and Gnostic philosophy (to name but a few),
to present that Hiram is but Osiris/Horus is quite easy. Hiram/Osiris-Horus/Ra/Tammuz
begins his circuit, and is
- Accosted by "three ruffians" and is killed by the third.
"The sun is slain by the three autumnal signs Libra, Scorpio and
Sagittarius which span September/October; October/November; and
November/December. When the sun reaches the autumnal equinox, the days
and nights are equal. Thereafter the days decrease in length while the
nights increase. The sun declines throughout Libra, [Jubela] but emerges
without serious injury. The attack of Scorpio [Jubelo] is far more
serious. And the attack of Sagittarius [Jubelum] proves fatal, for when
the sun leaves the third autumnal sign, on the 23rd of December, he lies
dead at the winter solstice - the time of year when days are shortest
and night are longest."
- Buried in rubbish/rubble
"After the sun is slain the body is said to be carried on a
westerly course because as the sun continues his course in the zodiac,
he appears to be carried west by the wintry signs. This seems to be done
at night because, the sun then being invisible, his change of position
is only discovered by the stars which precede his rise at daybreak. The
body of the sun is symbolically buried beneath the 'rubbish' of the dead
vegetation of summer-in the midst of which, however, yet blooms the
hardy evergreen, emblematic of the vernal equinox, the time when the
days will begin to be longer than the nights."
- Searched for by the twelve, found, and "raised"
"According to the Egyptian legend of the death of Osiris, the
goddess Isis ransacked the whole four quarters of the earth in search of
his body, which she finally discovered by the aid of a certain plant or
shrub and caused to be regularly buried with sacred rites and great
honor. According to the legend of Hiram Abiff, it was the twelve Fellow
Crafts - emblematically the three Eastern, three Western, three
Northern, and three Southern signs of the zodiac, who made the search
for the body. It was somewhere among the twelve constellations that the
lost sun was certainly to be found. On June 21, when the sun arrived at
the summer solstice - the longest day of the year, the constellation Leo
[the Lion] being but 30 degrees in advance of the sun-appears to lift
the sun with his powerful paw up to the summit of the zodiacal
arch."
(Mather Walker, COMPEERS BY NIGHT)
Osiris, thus killed, was raised after Isis bore (in virginity) his
son Horus (the widow's son), and Horus defeated Set. Osiris was thus
raised by Horus (Solomon) with Leo (the Lion's Paw). Horus then ascended
to Osiris' position of Sun, while Osiris became Judge of The Dead.
Hiram, then is both Osiris and Horus, the Master Mason becomes Horus... awaiting
the time of the "rejoining into Light". The correct name for
the Egyptian "book of the dead" is "The Book of the
Coming Forth by Light". (http://www.egypt-tehuti.org/religion.html)
Not considering, for the moment, the Hiramic Legend of the Master
Mason Degree (as that is addressed by other articles), we can construct
and examine the Temple of Freemasonry from Masonry's own Rituals,
Monitors, Handbooks and Grand Lodge Statements, and the preceding
examination of The Symbols.
LOCATION:
From
this representation of The Temple built by King Solomon of Israel, we
find that the Holy of Holies sits in the west-most part of The Temple.
Therefore, to "come to the Light" of The Living God, one must
"travel west". This "traveling" is done in a direct
line from Outer Court, through the Altar of Sacrifice, thence through
the Holy Place, ending in the Holy of Holies. This, to the Christian, is
done in prayer through Christ, Jesus as the final High Priest.
From this illustration from Ahimon Rezon, we find that The Temple of
the Lodge is oriented exactly opposite of The Temple built by King
Solomon. To many, this is a "So, what?" or a "No big
deal", but it is not a small matter, as this places Freemasonry's
Temple outside of The Temple built by Solomon, as shown in this
illustration:
Not only this; it places The Temple built by Solomon beyond the
"West" doors of Freemasonry's Temple; by Freemasonry's
symbology, The Temple lies among the profane!
The second problem of location is found within the illustrations of
"the form of the Lodge", which still is farther removed from
The Temple. This places The Pillars as The Pillars of Gibraltar or
Atlantis, the "long porch or gallery" along the southern
Mediterranean, with the "winding stairs" and "middle
chamber" in the lands of the Ancients (where this sun-god religion
began). "North" is the then "dark and ignorant
Europe", the Altar becomes Greece (where these religions
culminated) and "East" becomes very approximately Babylon.
FURNISHINGS:
The Temple built by Solomon bears no resemblance by its description
in Scripture to that Masonic Temple described by Freemasonry. This,
along with the problem of orienting Freemasonry's Temple outside of The
Temple should cause great alarm to the Christian. This placement and
furnishing causes the Candidate/Mason to kneel at the Altar of Sacrifice
when taking the oaths/obligations of Freemasonry. Sacrifices always
demanded blood, hence the "bloody oath" as a symbolic
sacrifice of oneself.
This Temple does, however bear resemblance to the temples of pagan
religions that pay homage to a deity represented by the Sun, Light, and
Gnosis.
PRACTICES:
Purging the Lodge comes from clearing out "undesirable
spirits". Tyling the Lodge keeps out the "profane". The
Rite of Divestiture prevents undesirable "elemental
influences" from upsetting the astrological balance after purging
(This is yet another article). The "deosil" Rite of
Circumambulation pays homage to sun-deities, and sets up an "astral
vortex" for occult ceremonies. The several practices will be
addressed fully in another article, but none of these bear resemblance
to practices of The Temple, or Christianity.
Given Masonry's argument to ascribing dual meanings to symbols; one
surface and one hidden, I will put forth the following:
If, per Freemasonry's Work, they are representing The Temple built by
Solomon, even allegorically, it presents a Temple located without, and
represents another Solomon as well. Scripture reveals this Temple
clearly, and sets all of the goings-on not within the House of God, but
without. I must now call to attention to the following Scripture.
Ezekiel 8
1 And it cometh to pass, in the sixth year, in the sixth
[month], in the fifth of the month,
[This time coincides with the lamenting of the "death of the
sun" in the solstice by the Zodiacal signs. This is why the women
are "weeping for Tammuz" in later verses.] I am sitting in my house, and elders
of Judah are sitting before me, and fall on me there doth a hand of the
Lord Jehovah,
2 and I look, and lo, a likeness as the appearance of fire, from the
appearance of His loins and downward -- fire, and from His loins and
upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of copper.
3 And He putteth forth a form of a hand, and taketh me by a lock of my
head, and lift me up doth a spirit between the earth and the heavens,
and it bringeth me in to Jerusalem in visions of God, unto the opening
of the inner gate that is facing the north, where [is] the seat of the
figure of jealousy that is making jealous,
4 and lo, there the honour of the God of Israel, as the appearance that
I saw in the valley.
5 And He saith unto me, `Son of man, lift up, I pray thee, thine eyes
the way of the north.' And I lift up mine eyes the way of the north, and
lo, on the north of the gate of the altar this figure of jealousy, at
the entrance.
6 And He saith unto me, `Son of man, art thou seeing what they are
doing? the great abominations that the house of Israel are doing here,
to keep far off from My sanctuary; and again thou dost turn, thou dost
see great abominations.' [The abomination of the north gate is
Freemasonry making it a "place of darkness".]
7 And He bringeth me in unto an opening of the court, and I look, and
lo, a hole in the wall;
8 and He saith unto me, `Son of man, dig, I pray thee, through the
wall;' and I dig through the wall, and lo, an opening.
9 And He saith to me, `Go in, and see the evil abominations that they
are doing here.'
10 And I go in, and look, and lo, every form of creeping thing, and
detestable beast -- and all the Idols of the house of Israel -- graved
on the wall, all round about,
11 and seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel -- and Jaazaniah
son of Shaphan standing in their midst -- are standing before them, and
each his censer in his hand, and the abundance of the cloud of perfume
is going up.
12 And He saith unto me, `Hast thou seen, son of man, that which elders
of the house of Israel are doing in darkness, each in the inner chambers
of his imagery, for they are saying, Jehovah is not seeing us, Jehovah
hath forsaken the land?' [Here they taught the initiates, and
worshipped in vain 'strange gods', arriving by way of the "winding
staircase" to the "middle chamber".]
13 And He saith unto me, `Again thou dost turn, thou dost see great
abominations that they are doing.'
14 And He bringeth me in unto the opening of the gate of the house of
Jehovah that [is] at the north, and lo, there the women are sitting
weeping for Tammuz [Tammuz is Osiris/Horus; they wept at the
north as sign of "darkness of winter."].
15 And He saith unto me, `Hast thou seen, son of man? again thou dost
turn, thou dost see greater abominations than these.'
16 And He bringeth me in unto the inner court of the house of Jehovah,
and lo, at the opening of the temple of Jehovah, between the porch and
the altar, about twenty-five [The Square of Horus] men, their backs toward the temple of
Jehovah, and their faces eastward, and they are bowing themselves
eastward to the sun ["Brethren, look to the East!"].
17 And He saith unto me, `Hast thou seen, son of man? hath it been a
light thing to the house of Judah to do the abomination that they have
done here, that they have filled the land with violence, and turn back
to provoke Me to anger? and lo, they are putting forth the branch unto
their nose! [Making gestures and "signs".]
18 And I also deal in fury, Mine eye doth not pity, nor do I spare, and
they have cried in Mine ears -- a loud voice -- and I do not hear them.'
(Bible
Gateway,
Young's Literal Translation)
However, if per other interpretation, the Temple is The World, then
again it is not The Temple, and it is not Solomon. This Temple is a
culmination of the vilest acts before God... that of worshiping another.
It is a Temple of Gnosis. In either case, the Solomon presented is not
King Solomon of Israel. He is Thoth, Ra, Osiris, Horus, Tammuz, Apollo,
"Light", "Fire", Gnosis, et.al. In names of yet
other deities represented by the Sun... Sol-Om-On.
One last point to address is this from Masonic Ritual:
"The form of a Lodge is familiar to every Mason; and its
dimensions are said, symbolically, to be unlimited; they extend in
length, from East to West; in breadth from North to South; in height,
from earth to heaven; in depth, from the surface to the center; the are
symbolical of the Universe, which is limitless on every side, and is the
proper temple of the Deity whom we serve, whose canopy is the heaven,
and whose footstool is the earth. The unlimited dimensions of a Lodge
may also be said to denote the universality of the Order, which embraces
men of every country." (TC, p.20, 21 )
[Bold added by this author]
Look at this phrase closely: "whose canopy is the heaven, and
whose footstool is the earth." Surely all will agree with
"whose footstool is the earth" as this is so mentioned in
Scripture. But God has no "canopy [of] the heaven" as He moves
beneath nothing. This symbology does, however fit well the several false
'gods' that are represented in solar images "whose canopy is the
heaven".
May God lead you to read and re-read these things presented, and lead
you to the True Light of Jesus Christ.
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