A sundial found on a tracing board in Feddersen (E/81) which he says is from the Lodge of Friendship, Yarmouth, late 18th century). It appears to be a “craft” tracing board.
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Category Archives: Craft
Two Ball Cane
Apparently a typical American wordplay on Tubal Cain. Simply a symbol to show that you are a Freemason to people who understand the joke.
Spade
Sword and Trumpet
Emblem of the Grand Pursuivant in Macoy’s Masonic Manual (1867).
Also see trumpet.
Masonic Manual (1867) by Robert Macoy
Sword and Scroll
The emblem of the Grand Marshall as displayed in Macoy’s Masonic Manual (1867).
Also see rolled up scroll and crossed swords and scroll.
Masonic Manual (1867) by Robert Macoy
Corn and Water
Corn near water refers to the password of the 2nd degree or the password between the 2nd and 3rd degree in many lodges.
Also see Sheaf.
The Dharma Workings of Craft Masonry (1904)
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.
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Flaming Sword
In the Kloss / von Löwen collection there is a tracing board for the degree of “Philosophe Sublime, ou Cheval. de Occident”. On it you can see a flaming or blazing sword. This is often a description for the sword of the Tyler, sometimes of the Worshipful Master, in both “craft” degrees and otherwise”.
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Shoe
First degree symbol according to Cross.
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Sheep
This looks more like a sheep than a lamb, right? It is among the first degree symbols in Cross’ Masonic Monitor.
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Heart
These two triple triangles are based on a 2nd degree tracing board in Millar. They suggest that the mouth, ear and heart are to be connected to the Square, Level and Plumb, which would make the heart an emblem of the Junior or Second Warden.
My own redesign after a 2002 tracing board in Millar (p. 104)
Mouth
These two triple triangles are based on a 2002 tracing board in Millar. I wonder if the upper has something to do with the lower. In that case the mouth, ear and heart are to be connected to Square (Worshipful Master), Plumb (Junior Warden) and Level (Senior Warden).
My own redesign after a 2002 tracing board in Millar (p. 104)
Pomegranate and Lillies
Millar has a 2nd degree tracing board which: “shows the symbols of the second degree” one is the “pomegranate and lillies”.
Detail from Millar P. 104, 2002
Child
There is a fascinating book called Mutus Liber Latomorum, subtitled Le Livre Muet des Franc-Maçons. I suppose the French ‘the silent book of the Free-Masons’ is supposed to be a translation of the Latin title. The book appears to have been originally published (without a title?) in 1765 and should not be confused with the famous alchemical book Mutus Liber from 1677. It was republished in 1993 by J.C. Bailly and some say that it was him who came up with the tile. The republication supposedly contains: “two symbolic and historical studies: one by Philippe Morbach and the other by Didier Kahn, as well as the illustrations presented here”. These studies are not available on the website or a PDF of the book that I found. The original is in possession of the Grand Orient de France.
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Moon
Whereas the moon and stars is a fairly standard element of tracing boards, the moon on its own can be the emblem of the Junior Deacon.
General design for officer jewel. Year and designer unknown.
Rope with Knots
Knotted ropes come in a large variety. Also the length of the rope and the number of knots differs.
Somewhat common in continental Europe is a rope with 12 knots. The theory behind is that with such a rope you can construct a right angle, so the rope has a geometrical function.
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Crown
This crown is from a German 1st/2nd degree tracing board of the “Andreasloge” of the Strikte Observanz. A reference to King Solomon? It also appears on a triangle, on an inverted triangle and for example in the emblem of the Order of the Amaranth, an aligned order for daughters of Freemasons.
Detail from Feddersen D/93, p. 427, I think from around 1770.
Cloud
Apparently the German Masonic reformer Schröder designed this minimalist tracing board around 1815. I don’t know the significance of the cloud. The image can be found in Feddersen (D/71).
Obviously it became part of the Schroeder ‘type of Freemasonry’, as clouds are still part of the Brazilian “Rito Schröder” emblem below left.
Interestingly, clouds can also be seen on this tracing board of the Gold- und Rosenkreuzer (one of three tracing boards used in the 1st degree).
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Coiled Rope
A coiled rope from a German “craft” tracing board (Eklekitischen Bund 1811). I don’t know the significance. Perhaps the rope around the candidate’s neck? Is is similar to the coiled snake? Here we have a suggestion that the snake and the rope are interchangeable.
Detail from Feddersen D/67, p. 401. Tracing board of the Eklektischen Bund 1811.
Cathedral / dom
Even though it is a persistent myth that Freemasonry stems from the cathedral buildings, an actual cathedral is seldom part of Masonic symbolism. Here we have a tracing board that (according to Feddersen was used by the Grand Lodge of York in Germany between 1947 and 1973. (Feddersen D/62.)
Feddersen (Die Arbeitstafel in der Freimaurerei Band I (1982) D/62, P. 396) Grossloge Royal York, so it is from between 1947 and 1973. Designer unknown.