Tag Archives: Mutus Liber Latomorum

Tower

This image comes from the French book Liber Mutus Latomorum which seems to contain historical degrees. This tower has no ladder and neither appears to be the tower of Babel.

Les Plus Secret Mysteres (1820) speaks of: “The Tower where the murderers of Hiram are locked up”. Judging the three guys above, this might well be the explanation of the image above as well.

More about the book here.

Les Plus Secrets Mystères des Hautes Grades de la Maçonnerie (1766) has a:

Figure XXI. The tower in which the murderers of Hiram were incarcerated.

Because those are three, this is a likely explanation for the image above, meaning that the Mutus appears to refer to one of the “Elu” / “Elect” degrees here.

On the other hand, what if the letters actually do simply mean “Tour de Babel”, ‘Tower of Babel’?

Mutus Liber Latomorum (1765)

Wolf head Dagger

In the fascinating, French publication, supposedly originally from 1765, called Mutus Liber Latomorum we find about 30 beautiful colour plates with often uncommon Masonic symbols. There is a suggestion that they refer to historical (proto Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite?) degrees. The image above comes from a page with what seem to be (officers) jewels, see below.

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G on many Triangles

In the fascinating, French publication, supposedly originally from 1765, called Mutus Liber Latomorum we find about 30 beautiful colour plates with often uncommon Masonic symbols. There is a suggestion that they refer to historical (proto Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite?) degrees. The image above comes from a page with what seem to be (officers) jewels, see below.

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Mountain

In the fascinating, French publication, supposedly originally from 1765, called Mutus Liber Latomorum we find about 30 beautiful colour plates with often uncommon Masonic symbols. There is a suggestion that they refer to historical (proto Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite?) degrees.

Here we have one section of a plate (see below). Do the first two rows show emblems of officers? The third row general Masonic symbols (perhaps referring to the first three degrees)? And the bottom row? If the image on the bottom right is the Master’s drawing board does the mountain refer to the second degree and the mountain to the first? Do all images refer to different degrees?

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Unknown

In the fascinating, French publication, supposedly originally from 1765, called Mutus Liber Latomorum we find about 30 beautiful colour plates with often uncommon Masonic symbols. There is a suggestion that they refer to historical (proto Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite?) degrees.

Here we have one section of a plate (see below). Do the first two rows show emblems of officers? The third row general Masonic symbols (perhaps referring to the first three degrees)? And the bottom row? If the image on the bottom right is the Master’s drawing board does the thing in the middle refer to the second degree and the mountain to the first? Do all images refer to different degrees?

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Bleeding Dagger

In the fascinating, French publication, supposedly originally from 1765, called Mutus Liber Latomorum we find about 30 beautiful colour plates with often uncommon Masonic symbols. There is a suggestion that they refer to historical (proto Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite?) degrees. The image above is early in the book, so it refers to a low/early degree? Simply the 3rd “craft” degree?

More about the book here.

Mutus Liber Latomorum (1765)

A.I.I.

In the fascinating, French publication, supposedly originally from 1765, called Mutus Liber Latomorum we find about 30 beautiful colour plates with often uncommon Masonic symbols. There is a suggestion that they refer to historical (proto Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite?) degrees. The image above is early in the book, so it refers to a low/early degree?

More about the book here.

Mutus Liber Latomorum (1765)

Head with Sword

In the fascinating, French publication, supposedly originally from 1765, called Mutus Liber Latomorum we find about 30 beautiful colour plates with often uncommon Masonic symbols. There is a suggestion that they refer to historical (proto Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite?) degrees. The image above is early in the book, so it refers to a low/early degree?

More about the book here.

Mutus Liber Latomorum (1765)

Dog

Below you see “First and second boards of the Elu of the Nine degree, featuring the dog. Boards from the collection of Baron von Löwen.” (1) (In the manuscript itself it says: “Elu de 9. Chevalier de C.”) This 9th degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite appears to be a merge of the “Little Elu” (Petit Élu) and “Elu of Perignan” (Élu de Pérignan), also called “Elu of the Unknown” (Élu de l’Inconnu).” It is probably there where the dog came from.

The old ‘elect’ degrees have become the ‘vengeance’ degrees of the AASR. The dog alternally is the guard of the cave of the first found murderer of Hiram or the dog of the pilgrim (perignan) who led the masters to that very murderer. Sometimes the dog itself is referred to a Perignan (either or not with the letter “P”).

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Child

There is a fascinating book called Mutus Liber Latomorum, subtitled Le Livre Muet des Franc-Maçons. I suppose the French ‘the silent book of the Free-Masons’ is supposed to be a translation of the Latin title. The book appears to have been originally published (without a title?) in 1765 and should not be confused with the famous alchemical book Mutus Liber from 1677. It was republished in 1993 by J.C. Bailly and some say that it was him who came up with the tile. The republication supposedly contains: “two symbolic and historical studies: one by Philippe Morbach and the other by Didier Kahn, as well as the illustrations presented here”. These studies are not available on the website or a PDF of the book that I found. The original is in possession of the Grand Orient de France.

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Brazen Sea

A large vessel supported by twelve oxen is called “brazen sea”, “molten sea”, “cast metal sea”, or “copper sea”. It is mentioned in a few places in the Bible. It is a washing basin for priests (Levites in some Masonic rituals). The image can be found on Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite drawing for several degrees.

In the Mirecourt collection of degrees, the image is explained in the 13th degree called “Chevalier d’Orient” (‘Knight of the East’). First it is said that the Copper Sea was taken out of the rubble of the Temple by Nebuzaradan under order of Nebucadnezar. In the Baylot collection there is a text explaining so-called “Scottish emblems”. Here the 12 oxen represent the 12 apostles who carried the Holy Water around the world.

The degree “Maitre Anglais” (‘English Master’) in Cayers Maçonniques has the following:

Q. What does the Brazen Sea represent?
A. The purity of hearts without blemish or stain

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Menorah

Dąbrowski 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:

The seven-branded candlestick represents the seven Sacraments.

In the old ‘high degree’ Maitre en Israel (‘Master from Israel’) the seven candles refer to “the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit”. The same description can be found in the “Maitre Anglais” (‘English Master’) degree in the Bonseigneur collection. Later in the same degree: “The candlestick with seven branches” is said to represent: “the six years dedicated to the building of the Temple and the seventh for the dedication.” Cayers Maçonniques (also “Maitre Anglais”) adds to the former: “The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and the seven planets, which shine in heaven.”

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