Dąbrowski has an unidentified “Masonic Symbols”, see below. The image itself says: “Templar Chart” so I suppose these are symbols from Templar degrees.
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Find your Symbol of Freemasonry
Dąbrowski has an unidentified “Masonic Symbols”, see below. The image itself says: “Templar Chart” so I suppose these are symbols from Templar degrees.
Continue readingDąbrowski has an unidentified “Masonic Symbols”, see below. The image itself says: “Templar Chart” so I suppose these are symbols from Templar degrees.
An anchor, a cross and yet something. Perhaps a combined image for Faith, Hope and Charity?
Continue readingDąbrowski has an unidentified “Masonic Symbols”, see below. The best I can make of this symbol is “angel”. I would be surprised if it was a butterfly. Something else altogether maybe? I don’t know in which degree this image is featured and if there are other systems or degrees with this symbol.
Continue readingDąbrowski has an unidentified “Symbols of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite”, see below. Judging the text in the triangle, it is from France. The Menorah is an attribute in a few degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.
Les Plus Secret Mysteres (1820) says:
Continue readingThe seven-branded candlestick represents the seven Sacraments.
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
The X-shaped cross is Saint Andrew’s Cross. It appears in the 29th degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (“Knight of Saint Andrew”).
Saint Andrew was the patron saint of the “Scottish Master” lodges, see crossed pillars.
Continue readingBeneficent Knight Of The Holy City Red Pectoral Cross – Rectified Scottish Rite Inner Order
general officer jewel
The cornucopia is the emblem for the Steward in some lodges.
It also features in (some) Knight Templar rites (on the mitre) and in the “Past Masters Degree”.
Continue readingA ladder is a fairly common Masonic symbol. It appears on many Entered Apprentice tracing boards. Often it refers to the ladder that Jacob saw in a dream and which was used by angels to travel up and down. This image is from a second degree Adoption tracing board, but there is also a third degree Adoption tracing board with this image.
The ladder is an important symbol in Adoption Freemasonry. A candidate is even received: “Between the Tower of Babel and Jacob’s Ladder, and at the foot of Noah’s Ark.”
There are common, but also more elaborate explanations for the ladder in Adoption rituals.
Continue readingIn a way the basis of Masonic symbolism. This image comes from a “Harodim” tracing board.
Usually, but not always, the two pillars refer to the two pillars standing in front of King Solomon’s Temple as mentioned in the Bible.
cut-out from unknown symbol chart
Tower of Babel as can be seen on the second degree “adoption” tracing board.
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.
I also have a contemporary French 21st degree AASR tracing board with the tower on it.
Continue readingAdam and Eve (and a “triangular bowl“) on a first degree French tracing board of a French. Later Adam and Eve found their way to second degree “Adoption” tracing boards. “Adoption” lodges were early lodges for women with a different ritual than the men.
Continue readingAn old Masonic symbol that nowadays is mostly part of systems of additional degrees such as the York Rite (“Royal Arch” degree) and the Royal Arch.
The Ark of the covenant is -of course- a symbol of the covenant of the Jews with their God.
Les Plus Secret Mysteres (1820) says of it:
The Ark of the Covenant, which contained the Tablets of the Law, the Rod of Aaron, &c.
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.
The other ‘ark-like’ image is the table with showbread.
Continue readingThe symbol used to be fairly current in “craft” degrees, but later started to mostly appear only in adoption rituals or in additional degrees such as Ark Mariners (it is also the emblem of the Provincial there). Especially when combined with a rainbow, the change is big that you are looking at (Royal) Ark Mariner symbolism. The Ark also seems to still be part of York Rite symbolism.
The Anchor And Ark
Are emblems of a well-grounded hope and a well-spent life. They are emblematical of that divine Ark which safely wafts us over this tempestuous sea of troubles, and that Anchor which shall safely moor us in a peaceful harbor, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary shall find rest.
Ahiman Rezon. Rituals of Freemasonry by Daniel Sickels (1870)
The meaning is often a reference to the story of Noah‘s ark, but in some Memphis-Misraim texts it explicitly says that the ark is the soul tossed about on the waters of vice.
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. Also it is displayed on a 22nd degree AASR tracing board from France that I have.
Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan
Well known Masonic symbol, but by no means exclusive to Freemasonry. It can appear in a triangle, a star, a cloud, on its own. It usually refers to the notion of ‘something higher’ whatever that is for a specific lodge or Freemason.
All-Seeing Eye,
whom the Sun. Moon, and Stars obey, and under whose watchful care even Comets perform their stupendous revolutions, pervades the inmost recesses of the human heart, and will reward us according to our merits.
Ahiman Rezon. Rituals of Freemasonry by Daniel Sickels (1870)
Continue readingAppears in the third degree of the American York Rite (but not in most others). It also appears in some additional degrees. Also outside Freemasonry, this symbol usually refers to industriousness.
THE BEE-HIVE
Is an emblem of industry, and recommends the practice of that virtue to all created beings, from the highest seraph in heaven to the lowest reptile of the dust. It teaches us that, as we came into the world rational and intelligent beings, so we should ever be industrious ones; never sitting down contented while our fellow-creatures around us are in want, especially when it is in our power to relieve them without inconvenience to ourselves.
Ahiman Rezon. Rituals of Freemasonry by Daniel Sickels (1870)
The German Grand Lodge called “Drie Weltkugeln” (‘three globes’) has it as an emblem of the “Schaffner” (‘conductor’).
Continue readingAppears in the third “craft” / “symbolic” / “blue” degree of the American York Rite (3rd degree) (“emblem of a pure heart”), but also appears in some additional degrees. There also seems to be a Mark connection.
Les Plus Secret Mysteres (1820) says:
The Altar of Incense represents the vows of a perfect Mason, always pure, & rising to the heavens.
Top: Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan
Bottom: found at an online auction
Many (but not all!) lodges make use of a Bible (either or not replaced or next to another sacred book), also known as the Book of Sacred Law or the Book of Sacred Lore. It is often opened on different places in different degrees and the way the Square and Compasses lay on it, differs per degree as well. These details can differ between lodges. In some lodges the book is replaced by another book, such as the constitution of the Grand Lodge, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a symbol book or nothing at all.
Without the Square and Compasses, the Book can be the emblem of the Orator or the Chaplain.
Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan