200 likes | 310 Views
May 2, 2012. Invocation Pledge of Allegiance. Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible. Masonry's Mysterious Words. Due Guard Cowan Obligation Libertine So Mote It Be. ...mysterious words. Abif Compasses Hele
E N D
Invocation Pledge of Allegiance
Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.
Masonry's Mysterious Words
Due Guard Cowan Obligation Libertine So Mote It Be ...mysterious words... • Abif • Compasses • Hele • Profane • Token
Profane • The common meaning has changed • Anciently: uninitiated • Today: uses God's name in vain • Masonically it has not changed • Profane = not initiated
Libertine • The common meaning has changed • Anciently: not of church doctrine • Today: a man of promiscuous habits • Masonically it has not changed • Libertine = an agnostic or atheist
Token • The common meaning has changed • Anciently: a gesture or a sign • Today: an offering • Masonically it has not changed • A token is always an act
Compasses • Compass or Compasses? • Compass: a magnetic direction finder • Compasses: dividers - have legs like pants • Six US jurisdictions say “Compass” • In Texas it is always “Compasses” • Measure • Circumscribe
Hele • Pronounced like “Hail” • Anglo-Saxon (English): hele = conceal • Norman (French): conceal = hide • ...hele, ...conceal, and never reveal • Redundant and repetitious • ...free will and accord; ...duly and truly • Repetition avoids misunderstanding
Cowan • A term of contempt • A Masonic word • Scottish slang: • one who builds walls without morter • a self taught builder, not of the trade • Greek: “Kuon” meaning “dog” • Today - not of the Masonic fraternity
Due Guard • Two words used as one • Mackey: a contraction of “duly guard” • Others: from the French ”Dieu Garde” (meaning “God Guard”) • It is a sign (but not according to all rituals)
Abif (as in Hiram Abif) • “Abif” does not appear in the Bible • An honorific meaning “father” (respectfully, not parentally) • The honorific adds to Masonic lore • Found first in a writing from 1550 • Gained common usage in early 1600's
a duty a constraint a pledge acknowledgement not an “oath” Obligation • a tie • a bond • an agreement • an intention • a responsibility
So Mote It Be • Amen. So mote it be. • “So may it be” • Chaucer (~1380) used those exact words • It appears in the Regius Poem (~1390) • A Super Amen