Find your Symbol of Freemasonry
The three letters, which are on the Bridge, signify that all obstacles are destroyed, & liberty of passage (“liberté de passer”)
This scene is described in the degree “Chevalier d’Orient” (‘Knight of the East’), the 13th degree in the system of Mirecourt.
Sometimes there are different letters on the bridge, such as “Y.H.” which would stand for Yaveron-Ha-mayim with the same meaning.
On the bridge are the twelve apostles. The bridge goes over the River of Sorrow (Starbuzanai).
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Continue readingThe urn filled with manna, represents Divine Grace.
The shuttle which contains the incense represents a pure heart, which must only be filled with a swift zeal & ardent love, worthy of being offered to the Lord.
Les Plus Secret Mysteres (1820)
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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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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.
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A French tracing board from the early 1700’s has a temple on its side and also the Master’s chair is flipped over. Feddersen (F/19a and F/24) describes it as a third degree tracing board. The pillars at the entrance are also broken, so this is not your typical third degree as these elements may refer to a destroyed temple.
It took some effort, but Feddersen is right. The image comes from the book Les Francs Maçons Écrasé (‘the crushed Freemasons’) of Abbé Larudan. It was first published in 1747, but there are also editions of 1774 and 1778. I found the text describing the third degree tracing board:
The Lodge of Masters represents the entire Temple of Solomon with its three walls, as in the image of the Apprentice Lodge but it is painted as falling into ruin, as demolished, as entirely turned upside down. Its doors have been forced open, the walls have been breached to its walls, its staircases ruptured its columns knocked down, its pavilions torn. Its Sun, Moon & Star, suffer an eclipse; its windows are cracked; the Tabernacle & Altar overturned, extreme confusion, and in a deplorable state. However, we must exclude Mount Sinai, on which a branch still preserves its greenery, which remains greenery, which remains firm despite the upheaval of the whole Temple.
So indeed, King Solomon’s Temple has been destroyed in the third degree. There is one more degree in this book: “Des Architectes ou Écossois”, ‘Architects or Scots’, see “Lion“.
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This arrow appears on an unidentified “American Masonic Symbols” chart of Dabrowski. An arrow pointing downwards is the emblem of Noachite of the 21st degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. I wonder if perhaps this image points in a certain direction?
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A pointed ashlar (“pierre cubique à pointe”) can often be found in France or French-influenced Freemasonry, usually connected to the second “craft” degree. Sometimes on tracing boards, an axe sticks into it.
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The Templar Cross can be found in Freemasonry in a variety of forms in a variety of systems. 30th Degree Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (and up), 30th degree of Memphis-Misraim, the French Rectified Scottish Rite (‘novice degree’), 8-11th degree of the Swedish Rite, in the Order of the Red Cross (“the insignia of the officers of a Grand Commandery”), to name a few.
Wikimedia Commons
Symbols of the “1st Order” of French Rite higher degrees.
A similar image can sometimes be found in the 11th degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and the 11th degree of (some versions of) Memphis Misraim (Sublime Prince Elect).
General French Rite apron.
A Pelican feeding its children with its own blood in front of a Rose Cross. This is a typical image of the 18th degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (“Knight Rose Croix”). It can also be found in the “4th Order” of the French Rite higher degrees and the 18th degree of Memphis-Misraim (“Knight Rose Croix”).
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Common throughout the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, but also an element on Third Degree aprons in the French “Modern Restored Rite”.
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In the French Rite this is the emblem of the Architect. In some other lodges the Scroll is the emblem of the Orator.
General officer jewel.
Emblem of the Expert in the Traditional French Rite and the French Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite “Blue” degrees. Also in Germany this is the emblem of the “Vorbereiter” (preparer).
General officer jewel
A “Past Master” is a Freemason who has been Worshipful Master of a lodge. Some “craft” lodges have the emblem above for the Past Master. Later “Past Master” became part of systems of additional degrees, such as the York Rite and the French Rite higher degrees (2nd order). The sun in the middle is not always part of the Past Master symbol. The fifth degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (“Perfect Master”) also has this symbol without the sun. In the rite of Memphis-Misraim the Compasses and Protractor with sun are the emblem of the 14th degree (“Grand Elect”).
Interestingly, the image can also be found on an image (of a tracing board) of the oldest known ‘high degree’ ritual from 1747. See here.
Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan