Detail on a Royal Arch apron in Millar.
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Tag Archives: celestial
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.
Winged Globe
Emblem of the Grand Masters Royal Ark Council.
Also see globe, snake and globe, globe and compasses.
general officer jewel
Star of David
Just as with the pentagram the star of David (or Solomon’s seal) appears in Masonic symbolism in a variety of contexts and the meaning is dependent on that context. This particular example is a blazing star it appears on a German tracing board between the sun and the moon.
detail from Feddersen (Die Arbeitstafel in der Freimaurerei Band I (1982) D/45, P. 379) ca 1900
Pentagram
The pentagram is a very common symbol in Freemasonry and appears in different degrees and rites. It is mostly common in the 2nd “craft” degree where is has the rough meaning of “man” with his five faculties. It can also be a blazing star, but in this example, it obviously is the sun. Sometime stars are drawn as five pointed stars. You also see them inverted. The meaning depends on the context.
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Globe and Compasses
Dąbrowski has an unidentified “Symbols of Blue and Higher Degrees” (see below) which has a globe and compasses. I have no idea in what rite or degree this symbol is significant.
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Blazing star
Can be found in the lodge (often in the second and third degree), on tracing boards (often between the sun and the moon), but comes in a variety of forms and contexts / meanings. It does not have to be five pointed. The general meaning is ‘something higher’, whatever that is for the Freemason.
Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan
Scottish Master of St. Andrew
Rectified Scottish Rite.
general officer jewel
Square and Compasses with Moon
Emblem of the Junior Deacon in some lodges.
Square and Compasses with Sun
Emblem of the Senior Deacon in some lodges. In other lodges this is the jewel for the Past Master.
Comet
Most frequent on old Masonic material. It appears to be a precursor of the blazing star.
Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan
Moon and stars
Very general symbol. It appears on many tracing boards (“craft” or otherwise), on aprons, in lodge rooms. Usually there is a sun on the opposite side. The moon is usually (but not always) accompanied by seven stars.
Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan
Sun
Very general symbol. It appears on many tracing boards (“craft” or otherwise), on aprons, in lodge rooms. Usually on the opposite side there is a moon.
In A. & A. R. The intermediate Degrees 19º – 29º A.C.F. Jackson (1982), when talking about a 28th degree Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite tracing board, the sun is described as: “The Sun represents the unity of the Supreme Being”.
Also, it can be the emblem of the Senior Deacon.
Top: Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan
Bottom: general officer jewel