This Degree is the crown of the Blue Lodge. It is the culmination of all
that has been taught to the candidate in the two preceding ceremonies. At
this point the candidate has symbolically, if not actually, balanced his inner
natures and has shaped them into the proper relationship with the higher, more
spiritual parts of himself. His physical nature has been purified and
developed to a high degree. He has developed stability and a sure
footing. His mental faculties have sharpened and his horizons have been
expanded. The candidate is now ready to approach the portal of the Sublime
Degree of Master Mason.
The above would
be the ideal scenario, but is rarely carried out so seriously. However,
regardless of the candidate’s pace through the Degrees, he should always review
his personal progress and take action to improve himself in Masonry. He
should not be satisfied with taking the Degrees halfheartedly and then consider
himself a Master Mason. Very few of us are truly Masters of our Craft, and
we should maintain a healthy deference for this exalted status. For the
designation Master Mason should always be before us in our journey toward the
Light as the ideal of our Fraternity.
Being “Raised to
the Sublime Degree” is the appropriate terminology. Sublime is defined as
being exalted or elevated so as to inspire awe and wonder. And it also
means to undergo sublimation that, like distillation, requires a volatilization
of a substance that rises and reforms at a higher level. The significance
of this Degree is the portrayal of the removal of everything that keeps us from
rising to that state where the soul communes with the Supernal
Light.
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SYMBOLISM OF THE
DEGREE
The candidate enters the Lodge of the Master Mason in darkness, for he has not
witnessed the Light at this Degree before. But the difference of this
entrance from that of the others is that he is now in a state of equilibrium and
is prepared to walk on sacred ground. He becomes fully committed to the
Fraternity and completely puts his faith on the Three Great Lights. The
initiate is given full use of every working tool, but the one tool exalted above
the others from this point on is the one that symbolizes the spreading of
brotherly love.
After ceremonies in the first section which seem quite familiar, the candidate
partakes of the central Mystery Drama of our Fraternity. The very nature
of participating in this rite and assuming the role of the Grand Master Hiram
Abiff is to forge a link with the inner soul of our Fraternity. And as
our legend is completely and absolutely consistent with some of the august
Mystery Schools of antiquity, we are communing with the archetypal forces that
are the foundation of our tradition. And at least in some small way, we
may momentarily forget who we were when we entered the Holy of Holies and
realize who we really are.
The symbolism that we encounter in this Degree can be traced back for hundreds,
if not thousands, of years. Some of it is almost identical with very
ancient usage, but most of it has taken on the cultural flavor of its successive
conveyors. We will try to rediscover the hidden meaning of some of these
symbols.
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THE
WORKING TOOLS
The Working Tools of a Master Mason are “all the instruments of Masonry.”
In the United States, the Trowel is especially assigned to this Degree.
The Master Mason uses the Trowel to cement ties between Masons, and to spread
Brotherly Love.
It may be remembered that this Degree is specifically related to the soul and,
as such, the Trowel being the symbol of love is specifically related to the
soul’s relation with Spirit. Although all the tools are available to the
Master Mason, it is the Trowel with which he must now work.
It should be remembered that tools have always aligned us with the creative and
builder spirit within us.
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THE
LEGEND OF HIRAM
Hiram Abiff, the skilled artificer, was the Son of a Widow of the Tribe of
Naphtali. The earlier accounts of Hiram are recorded in the 1st Book of
Kings, 7:13 & 14. His coming to work on the great Temple at Jerusalem
is mentioned in a letter written to King Solomon by Hiram, the King of Tyre, and
recorded in II Chronicles, 2:13 & 14. The word Abiff is believed to
mean “his father”, and the name is often translated as “Hiram, my father”.
He was regarded as the father of the workmen on the Temple. One of the
lessons of the legend of Hiram Abiff is that of fidelity to one's highest
ideals.
Hiram Abiff is, in essence, identical with many of the Mystery School heroes.
The drama of the Egyptian god Osiris began with his tragic death, the
search for his body by Isis, its discovery and restoration. The Greek god
Dionysus was attacked by the Titans. In the course of the fight he went
through many transformations but was finally overcome. The Titans
dismembered him, but in due time the goddess Rhea came to his aid and he rose
glorious and entire. This formula is ancient. It is the concept of
the sacred king, who in many instances is lame (which signifies his dedication),
and is destined for sacrifice, that the earth might become regenerated and
uplifted by divine power.
Regarding Hiram as the “Son of the Widow,” there are a few things to
mention. The Egyptian god Horus, as the child of Isis and Osiris, was also
the son of a widow. Hermes Trismegistus called the stone “orphan.”
There seems to be a Manichaean origin to the terms “son of the widow” and
“children of the widow”. The Manichaeans were called “children of the
widow”. Etymologically, the word individual is related to the word
widow. Vidua, Latin for widow, derives from the verb
videre, meaning “to part.”
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THE THREE GRAND MASTERS
The three Grand Masters mentioned often in our rituals concerning the building
of the Temple are: Solomon, King of Israel; Hiram, King of Tyre; and Hiram
Abiff. In early times, some religions regarded Deity in three
aspects. The secrets known only to these Three Grand Masters typify Divine
Truth, which was known only to Deity, and was not to be communicated to man
until he had completed his own spiritual temple. Once these secrets were
attained, a man could reap the rewards of a well-spent life, and travel to the
unknown country toward which all of us are traveling. By knowing the
meaning of these names and references to their offices, you will better
understand what the ritual means. Tyre, by the way, means stone or
rock.
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TRAVELING IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
The goal of our ancient operative brethren was to become masters, so they might
posses those secrets which would enable them to practice the art of the builder,
no matter where they traveled, even in foreign
countries.
The term
“foreign countries” is used symbolically in Speculative Masonry, and is not
meant to refer to a certain geographical location. Freemasonry itself is a
foreign country to every new member. To fully appreciate and enjoy the
privileges of membership, he must become familiar with its territory. He does
this by learning its language, customs, and
history.
Once Raised, many of our members continue their journey into the inner recesses
of the Craft. This can be a most rewarding experience. Truly,
Freemasonry is the journey of a lifetime. We must continue to search for
light and truth where ever it may be found, even in foreign
countries.
The term “foreign countries” may also be a metaphor for the spiritual
worlds. The ancients, and some not-so-ancients, concerned themselves with
vast spiritual worlds. Their method of gaining admission was through secret
passwords, grips, signs, and sometimes angelic names and holy words.
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THE
THREE RUFFIANS
There are many symbolic explanations for the appearance of these three ruffians
in our ritualistic work. Their attempt to obtain the secrets not
rightfully theirs, and the dire consequences of their actions, are symbolic of
many things. Trying to obtain knowledge of Divine Truth by some means
other than a reward for faithfulness, makes the culprit both a thief and a
murderer. Each of us is reminded that rewards must be earned, rather than
obtained by violence or devious means. The Ruffians are also symbolic of
the enemies we have within us: our own ignorance, passions and attitudes, which
we have “come here to control and subdue”.
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LOW TWELVE
In ancient symbolism, the number twelve denoted completion. This sign
arose from the twelve signs of the Zodiac being a complete circle and the twelve
edges of the cube being a symbol of the earth. The number twelve denoted
fulfillment of a deed, and was therefore an emblem of human life. High
Twelve corresponds noon, with the sun at its zenith, while Low Twelve denotes
midnight, the blackest time of the night.
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THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF
JUDAH
The lion has
always been the symbol of might and royalty. It was the sign of the Tribe
of Judah, because this was the royal tribe of the Hebrew Nation. All Kings
of Judah were, therefore, called the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” This
was also one of the titles of King Solomon. This was the literal
meaning.
In the Middle
Ages, the lion was a symbol of resurrection. There were common tales that
the lion cub when born lay dead for three days until breathed upon by its
father. This breath brought the cub back to life. Representations of
roaring lions symbolized the resurrection of the dead on the Last Day. The
lion, being such a majestic animal, has long been considered the “king” of
beasts; associated with the sun because of its mane. Its likeness is
commonly found on the thrones and palaces of rulers. The Mithraic god
Aion had a human body with a lion’s head.
Because of its association with the sun and its correspondence to the zodiacal
sign of Leo, the Lion is also considered a symbol of alchemical
Fire.
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THE LOST
WORD
In the search
for “That Which Was Lost,” we are not actually searching for a particular
word. Our search is a symbol for our “feeling of loss” or “exile” from the
Source of Life. What we are searching for is Divine Truth, which should be
the ultimate goal of all men and Masons.
The Book of
Genesis gives us a clue to the power of speech. In it, we learn that the
first Act of Creation occurred when "God said." The utterance of the Word is
also closely connected with the idea of Light, and therefore knowledge.
Having the power of speech is perhaps the noblest attribute of man, because he
can communicate his thoughts to his fellows. Thus, The Word has been
carried down through the ages as synonymous with every manifestation of Divine
Power and Truth. We must always search diligently for truth, and never
permit prejudice, passions, or conflicts of interest, to hinder us in our
search. We must keep our minds open to receiving truth from any
source. Thus, Masons are devoted to freedom of thought, speech and
action. In our Craft Lodges, we have but a substitute for the True
Word. Each person must ultimately seek out and find the True Word for
himself, through his own individual efforts.
Some Masons feel
that the names of the Ruffians give us a blatant hint at the Lost Word.
Indeed, there is an allusion to the sacred syllable of the Vedic texts found in
these names. But again, that word is itself a symbol of the underlying
Reality that upholds and sustains the world. Some Masons feel that the
Lost Word is spoken of in the scriptures variously as “the sound of rushing
waters” and “I heard behind me a Voice like a great trumpet,” or “a great roar
like a lion” and such.
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THE
SETTING MAUL
This was a
wooden instrument used by operative masons to set polished stone firmly into a
wall. The Maul has been shown to be a symbol of destruction from
prehistoric times, and is shown many times in mythology. One of the best
known is that of Thor, God of Thunder, who is shown as a powerful man armed with
a mighty hammer.
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THE
SPRIG OF ACACIA
Hebrew people used to plant a sprig of acacia at the head of a grave for two
purposes - to mark the location of the grave, and to show their belief in
immortality. Because of its evergreen nature, they believed it to be an
emblem of both immortality and innocence. The true acacia is a thorny
plant, which abounds in the Middle East. Both Jews and Egyptians believed
that because of its hardness, its evergreen nature and its durability, it
signified immortality. It is believed that the acacia was used to
construct most of the furniture and the tabernacle in the Temple. Acacia
has red and white flowers. It is a tradition in the Near East that the
Crown of Thorns was acacia. In Egypt, it symbolized rebirth and was an
emblem of Neith.
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RAISING OF A
CANDIDATE
Most people do not understand what being “Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master
Mason” means. This Degree is the sublime climax of Symbolic
Freemasonry. If you learn only that the living, dying and raising of a
Master is a drama, designed to teach the virtues of fidelity, faith and
fortitude, you have received only partial light and have seen nothing but a
moral lesson. This Degree seeks to answer the age-old question put forth
by Job - “If a man die, shall he live again?”.
The Degree delves into the deepest recesses of man’s nature. While it
leads the initiate into the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Temple, it probes into the
Holy of Holies in his heart. As a whole, the Degree is symbolic of old age
and by the wisdom of which we may enjoy the happy reflections consequent on a
well-spent and properly directed life, and die in the sure knowledge of a
glorious immortality.
It teaches no creed, no dogma, no doctrine, no religion; only, that there is
immortality.
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QABALISTIC ALLUSIONS OF THE THIRD DEGREE
The system of
Traditional Jewish Mysticism known as Qabalah often provides important clues to
the interpretation of passages of Scripture. Since much of our ritual is
derived from Scripture, there are certain very interesting Qabalistic allusions
throughout the rituals of Freemasonry.
We will here list only one of the more interesting occurrences, without reference to either
Hebrew or Greek. However, some familiarity with these languages can be
useful when searching for Qabalistic allusions within
Freemasonry.
Using the Qabalistic discipline of gematria, the Hebrew spelling of Hiram Abiff
equals the number 273. So does the Hebrew word for “Hidden Light”.
And the phrase found in Psalms 118:22 “the stone refused by the builders”
also adds up to 273. Sometimes Gematria can cross languages,
too. For example, the Greek word athanasia, which means
“immortality,” also equals 273. From the standpoint of gematria,
the message could not be clearer. [See also FC: THE MASONIC LETTER “G”]
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HIEROGLYPHICAL EMBLEMS
In The Three Pillars we have the three great supports of Masonry -
Wisdom, Strength and Beauty. The Three Steps remind us of how
youth, manhood and old age is each an entity in itself, each possessing its own
duties and problems, and each calling for its own philosophy. The Pot
of Incense teaches that, to be pure and blameless in our inner lives is more
acceptable to God than anything else, because that which a man really is, is of
vastly greater importance than that which he appears to be. It is also a
symbol of prayer and meditation. The Beehive recommends the virtue
of industry and teaches us that we should never rest while our fellow creatures
are in need of assistance. It should be mentioned that bees have also
been symbols of messengers from the heavens. The Book of Constitutions
Guarded By The Tyler’s Sword is the emblem of law and order, and reminds us
that our moral and spiritual character is grounded in law and morality as much
as is government and nature. It teaches that no man can live a
satisfactory life who lives lawlessly. The Sword Pointing To A Naked
Heart symbolizes that one of the most rigorous of these laws is justice, and
that if a man be unjust in his heart, the inevitable results of injustice will
find him out. The All Seeing Eye shows that we live and move and
have our being in God; that we are constantly in His Presence, wherever or
whatever we are doing. The single Eye is found in many countries from
Egypt to India: The Eye of Horus, the Eye of Shiva and so on. The
Anchor and Ark stand for that sense of security and stability of a life
grounded in truth and faith, without which sense there can be no happiness.
The Forty-Seventh Problem of Euclid, or the Pythagorean Theorem, is a very potent symbol and is so important in Freemasonry that it cannot be overemphasized. It is the Sacred King of the scalene (limping) triangles. Its properties have incredible implications in many different areas. Plutarch informs us that the Egyptians attributed the holy family of Osiris, Isis, and Horus to this specific triangle: Osiris the vertical (3), Isis the horizontal (4), and Horus the diagonal(5). Remember that after Osiris is killed, Horus becomes the Son of the Widow.
In The Hourglass we have the emblem of the fleeting quality of life. The
Scythe reminds us that the passing of time will end our lives as well as our work, and if ever we are to become what we ought to be, we must not delay.
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