Emblem used in the IV and V th degree of the Swedish Rite.
General jewel
Tag Archives: mortality
Tomb of King Sedecias
Above Mount Lebanon is the figure of an oblong square with a small triangle in the centre : this is the tomb of king Sedecias, the last king of the race of David
Thus says the “Chevalier d’Orient ou de l’Epée” degree (‘Knight of the East or the Sword’) in the Bonseigneur collection. The description of the image does not entirely fit the image that we see on this Chevalier d’Orient tracing board in 84 Tableaux, but the placement (here below Mount Lebanon) suggests what is meant is (something) similar.
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Jojakim’s Grave
Not every grave is the grave of Hiram. On the Chevalier d’Orient (‘Knight of the Sun’) tracing board, there is a “little rectangle with a triangle where in is Jojakim’s grave”. The text comes from the Baylot manuscript, the image from the Kloss collection.
The L stands for Linanon, the mountain where the wood came from in this degree.
Kloss Collection de 84 tableaux (1784) Kl.MS:XXV.1
Head above Crossed Swords
In the river Starbuzanai you see skulls with crossed swords. This combination also appears on the aprons for the degree Chevalier de l’Orient (‘Knight of the East). In the Baylot manuscript the image is simply referred to as: “the head of a recently deceased on two crossed swords”.
Kloss, Collection de 84 tableaux (1784) Kl.MS:XXV.1
King Zedekia’s Grave
The 13th degree in the Mirecourt collection is “Chevalier du Soleil” (‘Knight of the Sun’). There is a description of the tracing board that well describes a tracing board for a degree of the same name in the Kloss collection. In Mirecourt the grave is described as belonging to king Zedekia.
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Skull with Three Roses
Our records tell us about the death’s head, the butterfly and the grasshopper: The death’s head, from whose nostrils and eye sockets three roses sprout, signifying that the decomposition of one body promotes the generation and growth of the other. The butterfly and the grasshopper each have their own special meaning, but both testify to the diversity, splendour and richness of the creatures in terms of form, movement and strength.
Translated quote from Die St. Andreas-Grade by F. Possart (1877/8).
Feddersen (Die Arbeitstafel in der Freimaurerei Band I (1982) SO/18) from around 1860
Cross with Skull and Crossbones
Tracing board for the degree of Knight of St. John of Palestine.
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Spade
River of Sorrow
On this tracing board for the degree of “Chevalier de l’Orient” from the Kloss/von Löwen collection you see a river filled with bones and skulls.
The Masonic museum of Riga (Latvia) holds a French symbol chart which has some similarities to the one above. Here the river of sorrow is at the bottom. The left part says “star”, and the right part “bvsanaï”. More about that below. Because the gate at the bottom says “Babilone” like the example above, the river of sorrow and the arms with swords, there is a suggestion that these two French charts refer to the same or at least similar degrees.
Nowadays in the 15th degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (“Knight of the Orient and Sword”, the name varies), you see a river with a bridge. On a French tracing board, however, the river contains skulls and bones like in the old examples.
As you may have guessed, the story here is that of the flee after the captivity of the Jews in Babylon. Apparently they were allowed to cross the bridge, because the letters L.D.P. that can sometimes be seen, mean “liberté de passage”, ‘freedom of passage’. Sometimes there are different letters on the bridge, such as “Y.H.” which would stand for Yaveron-Ha-mayim with the same meaning. Then they refer to the password of the degree, the word with which the Jews were allowed to cross the bridge and leave Babylon. The river is sometimes called “Euphrate”, sometimes “Starburzanai” (in the Bonseigneur collection (“Chevalier d’Orient ou de l’Epée”) “Star Bussaulier”), and there we have the explanation of a detail in the image below.
“Starbuzanai” according to the “Chevalier de l’Orient ou l’Epée” degree in the Baylot manuscript was the leader of the opponents who wanted to prevent the rebuilding of the Temple. The said Bonseigneur degree says: “Said river is covered with the skull of the enemies who were killed during the combat.” Those who were no killed where fettered in the triangular chains.
The story of the return from Babylon appears in some variations in other (historical) degrees as well.
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Rope between Crossed Pillars and coffin
In the Kloss collection there is a set of rituals ascribed to Baron von Löwen. On the tracing board for the degree “Maitre Parfait” there is a rope connecting what appears to be both halves of the tracing board. It goes from the St. Andrew’s Cross (rather: crossed pillars) to the coffin.
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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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Grim Reaper
Dąbrowski has an image that can supposedly be found in the National Museum of Scotland. On that chart you see a Grim Reaper. I don’t know in what rite or degree the pilgrim is significant. Perhaps in some third degrees. Is this image perhaps also an explanation for the down-pointing arrow?
Christina Voss in The ‘Universal Language’ of Freemasonry (2003) describes a man with a scythe as “time”, which is an interesting interpretation.
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Scythe
Obviously a symbol of mortality. The symbol appears fairly frequently and appears in some American 3rd “craft” degree. Sometimes it is an element in the ‘preparation room’.
The Scythe
Is an emblem of Time, which cuts the brittle thread of life, and launches us into eternity. Behold ! what havoc the scythe of Time makes among the human race ! If by chance we should escape the numerous evils incident to childhood and youth, and with health and vigor arrive to the years of manhood ; yet, withal, we must soon be cut down by the all-devouring scythe
Ahiman Rezon. Rituals of Freemasonry by Daniel Sickels (1870)
cut-out from unknown Symbol Chart
Tears
No these drops aren’t rain, or blood, they are tears. Of course a reference to mortality. They appear in quite a few degrees with a ‘mortality theme’, such as the Master Mason “craft” degree and the early Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite degrees.
The Book Of The Ancient And Accepted Scottish Rite (1884) Charles McClenachan (detail)
Skull, Bones and Tears
Third degree “craft” symbols. Can sometimes be found on aprons or sashes.
General image, source unknown.
Coffin and Acacia
Hourglass
According to Voss the hourglass was introduced in the late 18th century. It can sometimes found on tracing boards, symbol charts or grave slabs, either or not with wings. Just as in non-Masonic context, the symbol refers to fleeting time. It is doesn’t often seem to have a ritual meaning, but it can be found on some Ark Mariner tracing boards.
Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan