On what Feddersen (F20) describes as a “plan of the lodge in the Scottish degree” (from France) we see a dove or sparrowhawk in the East, a pelican in the North, a lion in the middle, an ape in the South and a fox in the west. He also says that the fox should be accompanied by a drum, the monkey with a yoke, the lion with crossed swords and the pelican with scales. That does not quite explain if the lion/crossed swords refers to a function or an element in the ritual.
Also see this Scots Master tracing board where the lion is replaced by Hiram, but the other animals are the same.
It seems that the image was already used in the Strikte Observanz as the degree of “Scots Master” describes these very animals. The lion is a reference to “fearlessness” and “calm steadfastness”, but also “dominance” is mentioned.
A 1764 Strikte Observanz ritual refers to the lion with “heart”:
Q. How many allegories are presented to a Scottish Master?
A. Four. A lion, a fox, a monkey, a sparrowhawk.
Q. Do you explain?
A. A Scotchman must add to the qualities of a master, the heart of a lion, the cunning of a fox, the wit of a monkey, and the skilfulness of a sparrowhawk in execution.
The lion is also part of Cyrus’ dream and it is shown on the 4th degree tracing board of the Strict Observance and the later Rectified Scottish Rite where it is shown as laying in front of a cave, playing with workman’s tools.
Voss refers to “the Royal Arch chapter” where the lion refers to one of the four Jewish tribes (in which meaning the lion can also be seen on the seal of the Grand Lodge of Ireland}. Of course, the lion also refers to the Evangelist Mark in the “tetramorph”.
Top: Feddersen (Die Arbeitstafel in der Freimaurerei Band I (1982) F/20, P. 290). He gives as source Les Franc Maçons Ecrase’s 1717. That is actually Les francs-maçons écrasés ; suite du livre intitulé L’ordre des francs-maçons trahi from 1747.
Bottom: Feddersen (Die Arbeitstafel in der Freimaurerei Band I (1982) D/8, P. 342). Around 1742.