Tag Archives: utensil

Triangle with Candles

Dąbrowski has an unidentified “American Masonic Symbols”, see below. The triangle with 12 candles seems to refer to the twelve apostles and is (possibly among others) part of the Knight Templar degrees.

It can also be seen on a painting that (according to the same author) can be found in the National Museum of Scotland. There the candles are clearer and the skull and crossbones in the middle may point towards certain degrees.

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Three Pots and a Snake

Dąbrowski has an unidentified “American Masonic Symbols”, see below. There are quite a few symbols on it that are unfamiliar to me, such as this one. I don’t know in what rite or degree this combination is of significance.

In the early ‘high degree’ “Maître en Israel” (‘Master from Israel’) there are: “three vases serving for purifications”, but there is no snake there. The same description can be found in the “Maitre Anglais” (‘English Master’) degree in the Bonseigneur collection.

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Mirror and Branch

Dąbrowski has an unidentified “Masonic Symbols”, see below. The image itself says: “Templar Chart” so I suppose these are symbols from Templar degrees.

In the left part of the bottom you see what appears to be a branch of something and a mirror. The mirror has second “craft” degree significance in some rites, but I suppose this combination has some Templar significance.

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Staf with Eye

Dąbrowski has an unidentified “Masonic Symbols”, see below. Even though he doesn’t give his source, this is the “Chevalier du Soleil” (‘Knight of the Sun’) tracing board as depicted in the work Collection complète des tous les grades connus dans l’Art Royal de la Francmaçonerie (1773). It is similar to, but not entirely the same, as other tracing boards of this degree. The example below has many more symbols usually not included, the staff with an eye is one of them. The meaning of this staff I have not yet run into.

For similar tracing boards see here.

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Bell

Dąbrowski has an unidentified “Symbols of American Freemasonry”, see below. I don’t know in which degree this image is featured and if there are other systems or degrees with this symbol.

It is perhaps interesting to note that here we see a combination of an ear, a heart and the bell. There is a suggestion that ear, heart, mouth refer to the three principle officers. Could we have a variation to that here?

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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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Crossed Feathers

Often the emblem of the Secretary. Sometimes one feather is the emblem of the Secretary.

The feathers are sometimes surrounded by crowns. I don’t know the significance there, but they are already on the Kirkwall Scroll.


Top: Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan
Bottom: Detail of Dąbrowski p. 178 “Masonic Symbols”, early 19th century symbol chart

Crossed Keys

Emblem of the treasurer in many “craft” lodges and also in other degrees. The general meaning of secrecy is fitting for these functions.

Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866) by Malcolm C. Duncan