Bible with Seals

In the Kloss / von Löwen collection there is a tracing board for the degree of “Philosophe Sublime, ou Cheval. de Occident”. You can see a Bible with seven seals. A Bible with seals of varying number appear in a number of degrees, “craft” or otherwise. The Bible with 7 seals appears to come from Revelation 5:1.

In Les Plus Secret Mysteres (1820) you can see a book with seven seals displayed on the Ark of the Covenant. It says:

The seven seals which belong to this book, signify the seven Degrees of Masonry; & the lamb laying down on it, which is the Shekhinah, shows us that, He alone is worthy to break the seals, it is only the true Rose Croix who enjoys the privilege of reading in the book that contains the complete doctrine of Masons, & of penetrating the most secret mysteries.

The 14th degree (‘Knight of the West’) of the Mirecourt collection explains every separate seal. Each has a symbol with a meaning.

A closed book with seven seals, can sometimes be seen below a lamb. There is also such a closed book on the title page of the 47th degree (Chevalier d’Orient) in the Fonds Gaborria:

Ravignat, calling is the 61st degree, translates in the ritual: “The Very Puissant is dressed in the same way but has a table covered in red cloth in front of him on which there is a large book from which hang seven seals.” So here is the chairman sits behind this very book, perhaps in a similar manner as in very early Freemasonry, the Bible laid on the pedestal of the Worshipful Master.

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