Alchemy

Clearly alchemical symbols are not common in Freemasonry. An exception is the ‘room of contemplation’, also ‘room of preparation’ or ‘dark room’. This is a fairly common practice for European initiations. After French usage the room is often adorned with alchemical symbolism and symbols of mortality. Bread, salt, the symbol of sulphur, the anagram VITRIOL, etc.

The image above Feddersen (F/48)calls a “board for the dark room” and supposedly comes from Jules Bouches’ La Symbolique Maconnique (year of publication not mentioned).

In the “Alchemistengrad” of the German Strikte Observanz (late 18th century) there is a complete laboratory though.

And here you can see the four elements on an apron of the 20th degree of Memphis-Misraim.

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