Category Archives: Strict Observance

Sparrowhawk

On what Feddersen (F/20) describes as a “plan of the lodge in the Scottish degree” (from France) we see a bird (a dove?) 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.

Nettelbladt (Geschichte der freimaurerischen Systeme in England, Frankreich und Deutschland (1879)) describes the image above in connection with the German Strikte Observanz and calls the bird a “Sperber”, sparrowhawk. Also the ritual of the SO speaks about “sparrowhawk” which is swift and without confusion.

A 1764 Strikte Observanz ritual refers to the sparrowhawk with skilfullness:

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.

Hiram

On some tracing boards, you see Hiram laying in his grave. The above is a Strikte Observanz tracing board from around 1770. It seems that SO derived systems, such as the Rectified Scottish Rite also use this tracing board.

Hiram as a character plays a big role in “craft” degrees, the “Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite” and other Masonic systems.

Note the animals in the corners. A lion, a monkey, a fox and a dove.

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.

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Lion

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.

The tracing board is displayed in Les Franc Maçons Écrasés (‘the crushed Freemasons’) of Abbé Larudan. It was published in 1747, 1774 and 1778. I have a 1778 edition which includes the image above. It accompanies the fourth and last degree in this book, called “Des Architectes ou Écossois”, ‘architects or Scots’ (“ou” usually means that there are two names for the degree, “or”).

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.

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Monkey

On what Feddersen (F/20) describes as a “plan of the lodge in the Scottish degree” (from France) we see a dove / 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 which has the same animals, except the lion.

A 1764 Strikte Observanz ritual refers to the monkey with “wit”:

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.

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Fox

On what Feddersen describes as a “plan of the lodge in the Scottish degree” (from France) we see a 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.

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Pelican

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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Broken Column

The image shows a broken column with the text “Adhuc Stat!” (“It stands still”) on a First Degree “Orient Board” of the French Rectified Scottish Rite. The same image was used in the Strict Observance.

In a 1764 Strikte Observanz catechism it says:

Q. What symbol do the apprentices have?
A. A pillar broken from above, but standing firm on its base, with the inscription: Adhuc stat.

Another text of the same year has a bit more information:

On this carpet we find the symbol of the apprentice: a pillar broken off from above with the inscription: Adhuc Stat, which is meant to indicate that even if the nobility and greatness of the order, just as the pillar, has been shattered and brought down by the destruction under Philippo Pulchro, the foundation has nevertheless remained, because it is still propagated in secret.

That exact text can still be found in the first degree of the French Rectified Scottish Rite.

The broken column/pillar sometimes refers to the destroyed Temple of King Solomon. In some lodges lectures are given from behind a broken column. The broken column has a general grave symbolism of an ended life. Sometimes a weeping lady (virgin) stands next to the pillar (often with a man behind her representing time). The latter image is sometimes a reference to the passing of Hiram.

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Cubic Stone

(Cubic) stones come in many shapes and forms within Freemasonry. This specific stone (an oblong stone with a square laying on it) can be seen on the Second Degree “Orient Board” of the French Rectified Scottish Rite. The text “dirigit obliqua” translates to: “directs obliquely”. The same image was used in the Strict Observance.

Ship

Third Degree “Orient board” of the French Rectified Scottish Rite saying: “in silentio spefortitudo mea”, “in the silence of my hope”. The same image was used in the Strict Observance.