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Symbolism 101 Bro. D. Littlewood – Aurora Lodge No. 165 GRBC&Y Jan. 2009

Symbolism 101 Bro. D. Littlewood – Aurora Lodge No. 165 GRBC&Y Jan. 2009. The Eye in the Pyramid. What is Freemasonry ?. A Peculiar system of Morality, Veiled in Allegory and Illustrated with Symbols Mackey rephrases this as: A System of Morality developed and inculcated by the

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Symbolism 101 Bro. D. Littlewood – Aurora Lodge No. 165 GRBC&Y Jan. 2009

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  1. Symbolism101Bro. D. Littlewood – Aurora Lodge No. 165 GRBC&YJan. 2009 The Eye in the Pyramid

  2. What is Freemasonry ? A Peculiar system of Morality, Veiled in Allegory and Illustrated with Symbols Mackey rephrases this as: A System of Morality developed and inculcated by the Science of Symbolism Encyclopedia of Freemasonry Part 2 – Albert Mackey

  3. What is Symbolism ? • Symbolism is Integral to Freemasonry, but what exactly is a Symbol ? • FromDictionary.com: • something used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign.

  4. Also from Dictionary.com a word, phrase, image, or the like having acomplex of associated meaningsand perceived ashaving inherent valueseparable from that which is symbolized, as being part of that which is symbolized, and as performing its normal function of standing for or representing that which is symbolized:usually conceived as deriving its meaning chiefly from the structurein which it appears, and generally distinguished from a sign.

  5. Veiled in Allegory Veil • From Dictionary.com: • to cover or conceal with, or as with a veil • to hide the real nature of; mask; disguise

  6. Veiled in Allegory Allegory • From Dictionary.com: • a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another. • a symbolical narrative • emblem

  7. So Freemasonry is… Some keywords: Covered or concealed Hidden, Masked, Disguised Spiritual Meaning We have to work at uncovering the real meanings… Work is also a key metaphor

  8. A Quote “What is most worth knowing in Masonry is never very openly taught. The symbols are displayed, but they are mute. It is by hints only, and those the least noticeable and apparently insignificant, that the Initiate is put upon the path of the hidden secret.” - Albert Pike, The Legenda and Readings of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry

  9. Where do we Begin ? We have in front of us a Mystery… But were we left any Clues ? Yes, we were ! But first…..

  10. Origin of Symbols • How many Pages in the VSOL ? • How many Words ? • KJV - 788,280 words

  11. We Express Ourselves in Words • The Invention of the Printing Press in 1440 was a revolution - but only ½ the equation ! • The other ½ is paper !- Paper has not always been cheap … • (Wikipedia):Paper remained expensive, at least in book-sized quantities, through the centuries, until the advent of steam-driven paper making machines in the 19th century

  12. Before Books & Paper • We had: • Animal Hide • Papyrus • Paint • Carved Rock • Delineating our thoughts has become quicker & easier over time…

  13. How long did it take to “Write” this ? Ramses II with Egyptian gods- Wall Carving at Abu Simbel

  14. Data Compression • Conveying the Maximum Meaning • With the Minimum of Work, Time and Space • The biggest bang for their pre-historic buck!

  15. A Clue… • Pythagoras – E.A. Tracing board Lecture • The only Great Greek mentioned in our Rituals All is Number

  16. Using our Pythagorean Clue • Let us consider the Symbol as a book, or at least a story… • “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth“ – Genesis 1 • The G.A. existed before the beginning – he is Immortal and Infinite

  17. Infinity… • If the G.A. is Infinite, then there can be nothing outside of the G.A. • Anything he Creates must be WITHIN himself.

  18. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth“ - Genesis 1 • He created Creation, within himself • According to the Hebrew Rabbis, the G.A. withdrew himself from within an area of himself. They depict this as a Circle

  19. “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light“ – Genesis 3 • The G.A. created the first creation • Light • From 0 to 1

  20. “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness“ – Genesis 4 • From 0 to 1 to 2…

  21. “And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.“ – Genesis 6 • From 0 to 1 to 2 to 3…

  22. “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so“ – Genesis 9 • From 0 to 1 to 2 to 3 to 4… • 1, 2 and 3 represent the Divine • 4 represents the physical realm

  23. 0..1..2..3..4

  24. The Creation Story condensed into one single Symbol ! • Confirming our Clue…. • This tells the same “story” as the Tetractys, the foundation of Pythagoras’ system of teaching.

  25. What does this have to do with Freemasonry ?

  26. The same story… • But there is more in common…

  27. The Capstone • The Capstone is not yet united with the pyramid • As is the case for the Great Pyramid in Egypt • The Divine Trinity not yet united with the physical…

  28. Building the Temple • Man builds the Temple for the Divine to inhabit… • King Solomon’s Temple • The Rough and Perfect Ashlars • Ourselves….

  29. The Flap or Bib • A quote from our GL website: ". . . the master undid the flap of my apron, which was fastened to one of my waistcoat-buttons ; and told me that in quality of master, I was at liberty to let it fall down . . ." Solomon in All His Glory, [unknown] 1766

  30. The Flap or Bib • And from Duncan’s Masonic Ritual and Monitor (1866)The Senior Warden approaches the candidate and ties the apron upon him, with the flap and corners turned down, and says: “Master Masons wear their aprons with the flap and corners down, to designate them as Master Masons, or as overseers of the work, and so you will wear yours. “

  31. The Flap or Bib • The Flap folded into the Apron represents the qualities of the Divine being brought into ourselves. • A piece of Symbolism we have lost in some of our modern forms of the Ritual

  32. Conclusions • The Founding Fathers of the US – Aspiring to build a nation worthy of the Divine to dwell within or endow. • Freemasons – Making ourselves worthy for the Divine to dwell within

  33. Conclusions • How many of our symbols contain deeper meanings, or contain entire stories or layers of meaning ? • How many of our symbols in the Lodge share meanings with other non-Masonic symbols that we encounter in the everyday world ?

  34. - End -

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