MASONIC
DICTIONARY
A
ABIF:
Meaning is “his father”.
ADONAI:
The lord.
ADVANCE:
Going from one degree to the next after showing proficiency
in the preceding degree.
ADVERSE
BALLOT: In case
the ballot on a petition for the degrees or for affiliation
is adverse, the Master may, if he so desires, spread the ballot
again to make certain no error occurred. In so doing, he should
state his reason for the second spreading. The ballot shall
not be spread a third time.
A.E.O.N.M.S.:
Ancient Egyptian Order Nobles Mystic Shrine (Prince Hall Shrine).
AGREEABLY:
In conformity with.
ALLEGORICAL:
An allegory is a story told through symbols, or an idea so expressed.
ALLEGORY:
Analogy or comparison; a story told to illustrate a principle.
It comes from the Greek meaning "to say something different."
ALL
SEEING-EYE: An emblem reminding us that we are constantly in
God's presence.
ALPHA
and OMEGA: First and last Greek letters of the alphabet. The
beginning and the end of all things; the first and the last,
often mentioned in the Scriptures and in several of the Masonic
degrees.
AMEN:
From the Hebrew meaning "verily, truly, certainly."
One person confirms the words of another. Masonically, answered
by "So mote it be."
ANCIENT:
Old, time honored.
ANNO
BENEFACIO: (A.B.) Latin for "In the Year of the Blessing."
Used by the Order of High Priesthood for dating their documents.
(1930 added to the current date.)
ANNO
DEPOSITIONIS: (A.Dep.) Latin for "In the Year of the Deposit.
"The Cryptic Masonic date designation. (Add 1000 to the
current date.)
ANNO
DOMINI: (A.D.) Latin for "Year of our Lord."
ANNO
INVENTIONIS: (A.I.) Latin meaning "In the Year of Discovery."
The Royal Arch date designation. (Add 530 to the current date.)
ANNO
LUCIS: (A.L.) Latin meaning "In the Year of Light, "the
date used by Ancient Craft Masonry. (Add 4000 to the current
date.)
ANNO
MUNDI: (A.M.) Latin meaning "In the Year of the World."
The date used by the Scottish Rite. (Add 3760 to the current
year until September; if after September, add 3761.
ANNO
ORDINIS: (A.0.) L thin meaning "In the Year of e Order."
The date used by the Knights Templar. (Sul)tract 1118 from the
current date.)
ANOINT:
To apply oil to, or pour oil on, particularly holy oil as a
sign of elevation to kingship or consecration to priesthood.
Hence, "anointed," one accepted by the Lord, as "The
Lord's anointed." . Comes from the custom of the Egyptians
and Jews.
APPRENTICE: Comes from the Latin word apprehendre
meaning "to grasp, to master a thing." Hence, a learner.
APRON:
The badge of a Mason. Originally among priesthoods as
a badge of office and a means of ornamentation. The Masonic
apron should be white lambskin, fourteen inches wide and twelve
inches deep. It should be presented to the candidate at his
initiation and not at some subsequent time. No substitute should
be used. From the French word napron meaning "an apron
of cloth." From earliest times in Persia, Egypt, India,
the Jewish Essenes, the white apron was a badge of honor and
candidates were invested with it, or a sash, or a robe. Its
reference is to purity of heart, to innocence of conduct.
ARCHITECT:
One who designs buildings.
ARCHITECTURE:
The art or science of building.
ARCHIVES:
a place for the safe keeping of records ; the records themselves.
ARTIFICER:
a craftsman or skilled laborer.
ARTS:
branches of learning, as in the lecture of the F.C. degree.
In E.A. degree: skills.
ASHLAR:
a block of stone from which a column, capital, or other finished
product is carved or hewn.
ASHLAR:
A stone as taken from the quarry; an unpolished stone.
ATHEIST:
One who does not believe in God.
B
BEEHIVE:
Symbolic of systematized industry. What one may not be able
to accomplish alone may be easily performed when all work together
at one task.
BLAZING
STAR: Symbol of light; of Divine direction in the journey through
life; symbolizes a true Freemason who, by perfecting himself
in the way of truth (knowledge), becomes like a blazing star.
In English lodges, symbolizes sun which enlightens the earth,
dispensing its blessings to all mankind and giving light and
life to all things.
BLUE
LODGE. A term which has grown into use over the years meaning
the three degrees of the lodge, or Symbolic Masonry. In the
early years, Master Masons wore blue lined aprons. Blue is symbolic
of perfection, benevolence, truth, universal friendship, fidelity.
BOAZ:
Comes from the Hebrew meaning "in strength." The left
hand pillar that stood at the porch of King Solomon's Temple.
BOOK
OF CONSTITUTIONS: An emblem of law signifying that our moral
and spiritual character is grounded in law and order and that
no man can live a satisfying life who lives lawlessly.
BOOK
OF CONSTITUTIONS GUARDED BY THE TYLER’S SWORD: An admonishment
to the Mason that he should be guarded in his words and actions;
obedience to the law.
BOOK
OF THE LAW: The sacred book which reveals the will of God. To
Christians, the Bible; to the Brahman, the Vedas, etc.
BRETHREN:
The term is used in speaking of Masons, and in this connection
is preferable to "brothers."
BROKEN
COLUMN: Columns or pillars were used among the early Hebrews
to signify nobles or princes; it is from such that we get the
expression "pillar of the church." Masonically, the
broken column refers to the fall of one of the chief supporters
of the Craft; an untimely death.
C
CLANDESTINE:
not regular.
CABLE
TOW: The tie by which the candidate is bound to his brethren;
the length of a Mason's cable tow is the scope of his ability
to go to the relief of a brother in need. In early years the
distance was three miles; in present time it is usually considered
about forty miles.
CALENDAR,
MASONIC: Masons date their official documents in a manner peculiar
to themselves. The various dates for the different bodies are
based on important points in history.
CANOPY:
a tent-like covering. "Canopy of heaven", the sky.
CARDINAL
POINTS: East: Wisdom; West: Strength; South: Beauty; North:
Darkness.
CARDINAL
VIRTUES: Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and justice are virtues
of morality as laid down by Plato. Cardinal comes from the Latin
cardo meaning "chief or fundamental."
CATECHISM:
Instructions of Freemasonry.
CEDARS:
Members of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, a non-Masonic organization
composed of Freemasons.
CELESTIAL
CANOPY: Symbolic covering of the lodge; heavenly.
CEMENT:
Brotherly love binds Freemasons of all countries, races and
creeds in one common brotherhood.
CHECKERED
FLOOR: The Mosaic Pavement.
CHRISTIAN
VIRTUES: Faith, Hope, and Charity.
CHALK,
CHARCOAL, AND CLAY: Freedom, fervency, and zeal.
CHAPITERS:
the ornamental tops or capitals of pillars.
CHARTER:
a document setting forth a set of granted rights and privileges
given by the Grand Lodge to the constituent Lodge at the tinic
of Constitution. The
Master is its custodian, and must see to its security at all
times. The charter
must be in the Lodge room during all communications of the Lodge,
preferably in the Master's charge, but it may be on the Secretary's
desk, or in the archives of the Lodge. It should not be framed
to hang on the wall. The
request of a visitor to inspect the charter in advance be granted
or refused. Should
the charter be lost or destroyed, the Grand Master or Grand
Secretary should be notified at once. Pending the issuing of
a duplicate charter, a permission, or dispensation to continue
work should be obtained from the Grand Master.
CHASTEN:
To correct by discipline.
CIRCLE:
A figure which has neither beginning nor end and symbolizes
eternity; the universe.
CIRCURNAMBULATION:
The movement is in imitation of the apparent course of
the sun, and so is in the form of an ellipse.
After the obligation the Senior Deacon with the candidate
should make all turns square.
CIRCUMSCRIBED:
literally encircled hence limited.
CLOTHED,
PROPERLY: With white gloves and apron, and the jewel of his
Masonic rank. Today the gloves are usually dispensed with.
COLUMNS:
From the Latin culmen meaning "a pillar to support or adorn
a building." In Masonry the symbolic Significance pertains
to the supports of a lodge: Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.
COLUMNS,
WARDENS: Represent Jachin and Boaz. While the lodge is at work
the columns are erect and horizontal, respectively; while on
refreshment, such positions are reversed.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The meetings of a Symbolic lodge.
COMPASS:
A mathematical instrument for dividing and drawing circles;
an instrument indicating the magnetic meridian.
COMPASSES:
One of the Working Tools. Freemasons have adopted the plural
spelling to distinguish it from the magnetic compass.
CORNICE:
The ornamented slab placed above the capital of a pillar, and
extending beyond it.
COWANS:
profanes, pretenders, intruders, particularly those seeking
to obtain the secrets of
Masonry unlawfully.
CORNUCOPIA:
The horn of plenty; a symbol of abundance.
CORN,
WINE, AND OIL: Three elements of consecration. In ancient times
these were regarded as the basic commodities for the support
of life and constituted the wealth of the people. Today in the
U.S. we think of corn as maize, but the original meaning is
an edible grain or cereal. The Hebrew word for corn means "to
be increased or to multiply."
D
DAIS:
The platform, or raised floor, in the East of the lodge where
the Master sits. In the lodge, the steps to this should be three.
The Senior Warden's place should be raised two steps and that
of the junior Warden, one step.
DARKNESS:
Symbolizes that state of ignorance before light (knowledge)
is received.
D.D.G.M:
District Deputy Grand Master, an assistant who acts for the
Grand Master in a particular district.
DEACON:
Comes from the Greek diakonos meaning "messenger or waiting-man."
"DEDICATED
TO THE MEMORY OF THE HOLY SAINTS JOHN.": Dedication is
a less sacred ceremony than consecration. Hence, lodges are
consecrated to God, but dedicated to patrons of the Fraternity.
DEMIT
or DIMIT: A release; a resignation of membership; a paper certifying
a withdrawal from a lodge (or Masonic body) when in good standing.
Both spellings are used, although DIMIT is peculiar to Freemasonry
only. In the U.S. some jurisdictions use the former spelling,
but the majority use the latter, "Dimit."
DESTITUTE:
lacking means, as without money or food.
DIGEST:
Book of laws of a Grand Lodge in the U.S.; sometimes called
The Code.
DISPENSATION:
Permission to do that which would be forbidden otherwise.
DISTRESS:
Physical or mental anguish. A brother in distress does not necessarily
mean that he is without funds.
DOTAGE:
An advanced age when the mind is no longer able to comprehend
clearly.
DUE
EAST AND WEST: Moses built the Tabernacle due east and west
and this practice was carried on by the church builders. The
Freemason travels from the West to the East (light) in search
of a Master from whom he may gain instruction, or light,
DUE
FORM: A Masonic body is opened or closed in "due form"
when performed fully according to a prescribed ritual. Distinguished
from "ample form."
DUE
GUARD: A mode of recognition peculiar to Freemasons.
DULY
AND TRULY PREPARED: That the candidate is truly prepared in
his heart
and
mind to receive further enlightenment; also, properly clothed,
Masonically.
E
ECLIPTIC:
the imaginary line followed on the earth's surface by the direct
ray of the sun during the year. It niakes an angle of 23' 27'
with the equator. Jerusalem is located in approximately 31'
30' north attitude, that is, approximately 7' 3' north of the
ecliptic.
EAR,
THE ATTENTIVE OR LISTENING: The Hebrew word means not only to
hear, but to understand and to obey.
EAST:
From the Sun worshipers down through the ages, the East has
always been considered the most honored place because the sun
rises in the East and is the region from which light rises.
EAVESDROPPER:
One who attempts to listen surreptitiously; literally, one standing
under the eaves and thus gets only the "droppings."
EMBLEM:
A representation of an idea by a visible object; a symbolical
figure or design.
EMBLEMATICAL:
symbolical, representing.
EMBROIDERED:
having a border.
ENTERED
APPRENTICE: In Operative Masonry the apprenticeship lasted seven
years; if then found acceptable, the apprentice’s name was entered
on the books of the lodge and he was given a recognized place
in the craft organization.
EUCLID:
the first mathematician to Systematize the science of geometry.
EXAMINATION:
the examination of a brother to determine his geniuses should
not aim at displaying the committee's knowledge. It is a test
of the visitor. He need not be able to answer questions from
the Posting Lecture. He should know the signs, grips, and words.
EXPULSION:
Forcible ejection from membership for such reasons as un-Masonic
conduct, crimes, etc. It is the most severe of Masonic penalties
and deprives the person of all rights and privileges formerly
enjoyed from his lodge and the Fraternity as a whole.
F
FAITH.
The evidence of things not seen; confidence; trust.
FAITHFUL
BREAST: Symbolically, the initiate is instructed that the lessons
he has received are to be treasured in his heart and remembered,
and not to be forgotten; that which is told in confidence will
be so held.
FELLOWCRAFT:
A craftsman no longer an apprentice who has been admitted as
full member, but who has not yet reached the status of a master.
The fellowcraft age represents the stage of manhood.
FEALTY:
Loyalty.
FIAT
LUX ET LUX FIT: Latin motto meaning "Let there be light,
and there was light."
FIDELITY:
faithfulness.
FIRST
LANDMARKS OF MASONRY: Modes of recognition with no variation.
FORM
OF A LODGE: An oblong square or parallelogram, twice as long
as wide. At the time of the Temple, the only known world was
the Mediterranean Sea and the countries to the north, south
and east, forming an oblong. Thus, the Freemason's lodge was
the world itself.
47TH
PROPOSITION OF EUCLID: Derived its name from the fact that it
was the 47th problem in Euclid's geometry. Sometimes called
problem or theorem, which are also correct. The 47th Proposition,
or problem, is to prove that in a right angled triangle, the
sum of the squares of the two sides is equal to the square of
the hypotenuse. Masonically, it is an emblem of the arts and
sciences and reminds us that next to sinfulness, the most dangerous
enemy of life is ignorance.
FRATERNITY:
A brotherhood, in which blood-bonds are replaced by a
common devotion to a principle, code, or creed.
FREE
BORN: A free soul; one having attained mastery of himself by
self discipline. It is a misconception that this refers to one
not born into slavery.
FREEMASONS:
The early builders in Operative Masonry times were free men,
not serfs or bondsmen and were free to move from one place to
another as their work demanded. Thus, they came to be called
"Freemasons."
FURNISHINGS
OF A LODGE: Holy Bible, Square and Compasses, Charter or Dispensation.
G
"G":
The letter -G- is the Saxon representative of the Hebrew Yod
and the Greek Tau; The initial letter of the name of the Eternal
in those languages. It stands not only for God, but for Geometry,
that science so important to all Freemasons.
G.A.O.T.U.:
Grand Architect of the Universe.
GAVEL:
Derives its name from its shape-that of the gable or gavel end
of a house. It is a tool used by a stonemason and resembles
a hammer having a pointed end for cutting. The Working Tool
gavel differs from the upright gavel, or "Hiram."
(See Hiram.)
GOD:
The Hebrew words for Beauty, Strength, and Wisdom (the supports
of Freemasonry) are Gomer, Oz, and Dabar. The initials of these
words compose the English name of the Deity.
GRAND
EAST: The place where the Grand Lodge holds its communications
and from which place the edicts are issued.
GREAT
LIGHTS: The Holy Bible, Square and Compasses. The Bible represents
the will of God, the Square is the physical life of man and
the Compasses represents the moral and spiritual life.
GRIPS:
Every brother following his raising should be taught to start
with the grip of an Entered Apprentice Mason and go through
the grips, passes, and words to the Grand Masonic Word.
GUILD
(GILD) MASONS. GUTTURAL: From the Latin guttur meaning "the
throat."
H
HISTORICAL:
According to history, verifiable, capable of documentary proof.
We also speak of traditional and legendary history, meaning
popular belief, not upheld by fact.
HOMAGE:
respect, as applied to men; worship, as applied to deity.
HOUR
GLASS: Emblem of
life.
HEALED:
Obligated in a degree which the Mason has not had conferred
on him. To "heal" is to "make valid."
HELE:
Pronounced "hail" and means to keep guarded, or secret.
Sometimes spelled "hale."
HEMISPHERE:
Half of the earth's surface, as the western hemisphere, the
northern hemisphere.
HIEROGLYPHICS:
Literally the symbols in the priestly writings of the Egyptians.
Generally, a symbol or sign the meaning of which is known only
to the initiated.
HIRAM:
An upright gavel made in the form of a maul and used by a presiding
officer.
H.K.T:
Hiram, King of Tyre.
HOODWINK:
A blindfold which is a symbol of secrecy; mystical darkness.
HOUR
GLASS: An emblem of the passage of time.
(I
through Z click here)
(To the top click here)
|