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THE SYMBOLISM OF FREEMASONRY
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One of the most
popular definitions of Freemasonry states that it is "a System of Morality, veiled in
allegory and illustrated by symbols.Many a brother has asked " Why illustrated
by symbols? Why not illustrate with plain statements of truth, and completely define
this 'System of Morality'?"
A definition of a symbol limits
its scope and, Freemasonry, by using symbols which are not closely defined,
makes it possible for many men of many minds., each to read his own conception of the
truth into the symbols. Freemasonry thus becomes as great a "System
of Morality" as the mind of him who attempts to follow and understand it may admit.
Freemasonry permits each
individual to interpret and apply the lessons of the Craft as he sees best. It is
this unique spirit of tolerance and freedom which frequently confuses the opponents of our
great Fraternity. One Mason places his interpretation upon a
certain symbol or attribute of Freemasonry; another may take an entirely different view,
and will cite evidence with which a third may be in total variance yet, these three
men can gather and labour together in perfect unanimity.
Albert Pike, the noted Masonic
researcher and writer, expressed the same thought in different language, in
stating: "Masonry follows the ancient manner of teaching.
Her symbols are the instructions she gives; and the lectures are but
often partial and insufficiently one-sided endeavors to interpret those symbols.
He who would become an accomplished Mason must not be content merely to hear
or even to understand the lectures, but must, aided by them and then having as it
were the way marked out for him, interpret and develop these symbols for
himself."
Why does Freemasonry veil in
allegory and conceal in an object or picture, a meaning quite different from its
name? Why should Freemasonry express immortality with a sprig of acacia,
brotherly love with a trowel, the world by a Lodge, right
living by a Mason's tools? That Freemasonry conceals in symbols in order
to arouse curiosity to know their meaning, is often considered the only explanation.
But there are many more lofty ideas of why this great system of truth,
philosophy and ethics is hidden in symbols. Man has a triple nature; he
has a body, and senses which bring him into contact with, and translate the meanings of,
the physical world of earth, air, fire and water which is about him. He has a
brain and a mind to reason and understands about matters physical, with which
he is surrounded., and he has a "Something Beyond;" call it Soul, or
Heart, Spirit, or Imagination as you will; it is something which is allied to, rather than
a part of, reason, and connected with the physical side of life only through its sensory
contacts.
A symbol is a word in that
language. Translate that symbol into words which appeal only to the mind, and
the spirit of the true meaning is lost. Words appeal to the mind; meanings are
often expressed in words appealing to the spirit. All that there is in
Freemasonry, which can be set down in words on a page, omits completely the
spirit of the Order. If we depend on words or ideas alone the Fraternity would not
make a universal appeal to all men, since no man has it given to him to appeal to the
minds of all other men. Freemasonry expresses truths which are universal; it
expresses them in a universal language, universally understood by all men without words.
That language is the language of the symbol, and the symbol is universally
understood because it is the means of communication between spirits, souls, and hearts.
He who hears but the words of
Freemasonry, misses their true meaning entirely. Most symbols have many
interpretations. These do not contradict but amplify each other. Thus,
the square is a symbol of perfection, of rectitude of conduct, of honour
and honesty, of good work. These are all different, and yet allied. The
square is not a symbol of wrong, evil, meanness or disease. Five different men may
read different meanings into the square, and yet each fits with, and belongs to the
other meanings. Not all have the same power of imagination, or ability to
comprehend. So each gets from a symbol what he can. Using his
imagination.
He translates to his soul as much
of the truth as he is able to make a part of him, each being right as far as he goes.
The man who sees it merely as an instrument which squares and levels has a
part of its meaning. He who finds it a link with operative Masons has another
part. The man who sees it as a symbol of man's relationship to the Deity,
because with it, he (spiritually) does the Master's work, has another
meaning. All of these interpretations are right. When all
men know all the meanings the need for the Craft of Freemasonry will have passed away.
Freemasonry uses symbols because
only, by them, can the Craft speak the language of the spirit, each to
another, and because they form an elastic language, which each man reads for himself
according to his ability. Symbols form the only language which is thus elastic,
and the only one by which the spirit can be touched. Freemasonry
without these symbols would not be Freemasonry. It would be but a
dogmatic and not very erudite philosophy, of which the world is full as it is and,
none of which ever satisfies the heart.
Thus the reason for illustrating
our "System of Morality" by symbols, rather than by definitions,
may be summed up thus:
- The
symbol is as broad in meaning as the
mind and heart which understand.
- The defined truth is no broader than its words.
- Freemasonry, universal in meaning and in
content, can not be illustrated with anything
less and still remain Freemasonry.
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