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Valley Hi Masonic Lodge #1407 A.F. & A.M. San Antonio, Texas | |
A DICTIONARY OF MASONIC
WORDS AND PHRASES
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Valley Hi Masonic Lodge #1407 A.F. & A.M. San Antonio, Texas | |
A DICTIONARY OF MASONIC
WORDS AND PHRASES
Aaron - The brother and assistant of Moses. The first high priest under Mosaic dispensation.
Aaron's Rod -The staff carried by Aaron as a token of his office. It later bloomed.
Abhorrence of Evil - Required of all true Masons.
Abif- An honorary title given to Hiram, the Tyrian builder.
Abraham - Abraham, the founder of the Hebrew race, whose name was changed by God.
Acacia - The Shittim tree. The wood was used for the furniture of the Temple.
Accord - Agreement, required ofl Masons to attain true Brotherhood.
Active Member - One who pays of his yearly dues and who takes part in the work of the Lodge.
Adam - The name given to the first man created by God.
Adjournment - Adjournment of a Lodge is only done by the Worshipful Master.
Admonish - An admonition must be given with brotherly affection and with "mercy unrestrained."
Adonai - The pre-incarnate Son of God.
Adoration - With Freemasons, God is worshipped in adorations which are expressed in both silent and oral prayers.
Adversity - Problems, Mason's help Brother Masons in adversity.
Affirmation - Affirmations are a promise but only oaths are admissible in Freemasonry.
Age, Lawful - This is the age when a man may apply to join a Masonic Lodge.
Aid of Deity - A fundamental principle of Freemasonry is asking for aid in prayer.
Alarm - Someone desires to be admitted to the Lodge Room..
Allegiance - A Mason first allegiance is to God, second to family, and last to Lodge.
All-Seeing Eye - A symbol of the omnipresence and omniscience of God.
Almsgiving - Helping the poor.
Altar - A place of sacrifice or worship. Where Masons assume the oaths and obligations of the several Degrees.
Amen - In agreement, as in So mote it be.
Anchor - The symbol of mans hope of immortality and a safe landing in the haven of eternal security.
Anger - Vexation, ire or rage
Anxiety - A feeling of uneasiness.
Apron - A pure white lambskin apron is the "badge of a Freemason."
Apron, Washington's - The Marquis Lafayette presented George Washington with an apron at Mount Vernon that the emblems of Freemasonry had been embroidered by Madam Lafayette.
Arch, Holy Royal - The pillars which support the arch represent Wisdom and Strength; the former denoting the wisdom of the Supreme Architect of the universe.
Architecture - The Freemasons five orders of architecture are Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan and Composite.
Ark of the Covenant - The Ark of the Covenant was a chest which held the tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were engraved.
Artificers - Skilled workmen in the building of the Temple.
Arts, Parts and Points - Arts represents the knowledge or things made known; Parts, the degrees into which Masonry is divided; and Points, the rules and usages of Masonry.
Arts and Sciences - Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and Astronomy are Freemasonries arts and sciences.
Asher - Asher was the eighth sone of Jacob.
Ask, Seek, Knock - The applicant for membership in Freemasonry Asks for acceptance, Seeks for Light, and Knocks for initiation.
Atheism - The denial of the existence of a Supreme Deity.
Audi, Vide, Tace - The Latin worded Masonic motto "Hear, See, Be Silent."
Babbler - Talking without meaning, vague and senseless talk.
Backbiting - Slandering a brother in his absence.
Badge of a Mason - See Apron (above).
Balloting - Voting on the acceptance or rejection of a candidate.
Every member is required to vote conscientiously for the good of the
Banishment - The exile of one who is unworthy.
Barefoot - The removal of one or both shoes.
Beauty - The beauty of character and the virtues of true manhood.
Beehive - A symbol of an obedient people and industry.
Benediction - A solemn invocation of Divine Blessing.
Benevolence - To do good and be charitable.
Bible - The Great Light of Freemasonry. An open Bible is on the altar during all work of the Lodge, and certain appropriate passages are used for the different Degrees.
Bigotry - Intolerance toward those of different creeds or religious affiliations.
Blue - Blue is the color of Freemasonry and the vault of Heaven. Blue and white are the only color ever used for decoration in a Master Mason's Lodge.
Boaz - The left-hand pillar that stood on the porch of King Solomon's Temple.
Book Of The Law - The Holy Bible.
Brass - An alloy of copper with another metal added for strength.
Brotherly Love - Godly men love their neighbors and that this love should be for all mankind.
Building of the Temple - The Masonry rituals are traced directly back to the building of the king Solomon's Temple.
Burial - The interment of their dead.
Busybodies - Meddling persons.
Cable Tow - A cable tow is a rope used for leading. The covenant which binds all Masons.
Cabul - Sterile, barren and displeasing.
Cardinal Points - East, West, South and North. for Wisdom; Strength; Beauty; and Darkness.
Cardinal Virtues - Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence and Justice.
Carnality - Fleshly appetites which are natural to humanity, but in Freemasonry men are taught self-control, temperateness, regularity, and lawfulness.
Cedars of Lebanon - Solomon used cedars of Lebanonfor in the construction of the Temple.
Chambers - King Solomon's Temple was a series of chambers built on the north, south and west sides of the Temple.
Charge - Charges are given to the candidate as he advances from one Degree to another.
Charity - one of the three great cardinal virtues, Faith, Hope and Love. Chasity - Remaining pure in sexual relations.
Citizenship - Democratic principles, good government, freedom of conscience and civic liberty.
Clay Ground - A special clay found only in the Jordan Valley was used in casting the two great pillars, called Boaz and Jachin.
Clods of the Valley - The sweetness of rest for the dead of the Lord.
Clothing - It has always been the custom among all peoples for designated officers, leaders, and people of rank to wear special regalia or a particular type of clothing which indicates a person's official position. Based on this custom and upon Biblical examples, and for reasons of dignity and beauty, Masons follow this practice.
Column - Three columns signify the supports of a Lodge; Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.
Communication - A Masonic Lodge meeting is called a "communication".
Compasses - The compasses are emblems of virtue.
Contention Among Brethren - Differences of opinion.
Cornerstone - The block at the corner of two wall of a building in which often certain historic documents are placed and on which historic inscriptions are engraved.
Covenant of Masons - A covenant is a contract or agreement between two or more parties on certain terms.
Cowan - An intruder, and an eavesdropper.
Craftsmen - In speculative Masonry, the Fraternity is called the Craft, therefore the members are called Craftsmen.
Creation - God created the earth and the heavens.
Cubit - The sacred cubit is 36 inches; the profane cubit is 18 inches.
Darkness to Light - The teaching of Freemasonry bring a man from darkness to light.
David - David was the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem who become the successor of Saul as King of Israel.
Day - A period of twenty-four hours. The period between sunrise and sunset.
Deacons - The Senior and Junior Deacons maintain surveillance of the Lodge, introduce visitors, and act as proxy for the Worshipful Master on occasion.
Death - The sleep after a person dies until the resurrection of a spiritual body.
Decalogue - The Ten Commandments.
Desires Shall Fail - As men grow older they are no longer concerned about the carnal and secular things of the earth.
Destruction of the Temple - The destruction of the Temple of Solomon was often prophecied and as predicted by God occured by the the armies of Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C..
Dew of Hermon - The dews of Mount Hermon, were sources of water for irrigation and agricultural growth.
Distressed Worthy Brother - Masons go to the aid of a distressed worthy Brother.
Doors Shall Be Shut - The expression, "The doors shall be shut in the street when the sound of the grinding is low" refers to the decrepitude of old age.
Dotage - An old man in his dotage is one whose who has suffered the loss of judgment and memory and incapable of comprehending the lessons of Freemasonry.
Dust to Dust (or Dust To Earth) - Man's body was made from the earth and must return to dust.
Emblem of Innocence - The lamb is used as an emblem of innocence, and the white leather lambskin apron is regarded as an emblem of purity for Masons.
Eternal Life - The faith and belief in eternal life beyond the grave.
Evergreen -- A symbol of the immortality of the soul.
Faithful Servant - One who is diligent in his stewardship, dutiful to his master and loyal in the face of temptation and trial.
Fatherhood of Good - God made mankind all of one blood and that God is, by virtue of His creation of man and of His goodness to man, man's Father.
Fears Shall Be In The Way - The failing of courage of old age.
Flight to Joppa - Jonah's flight to Joppa in his effort to escape a Divinely-entrusted responsibility and service for God.
Foreign Country - Heaven is the "foreign country" into which Master Masons travel.
Fortitude - The virtue of true manhood for Masons.
Foundation - The basis of building character and in mens's vocations.
Free - Operative Masons who worked on King Solomon's Temple were exempted from imposts, duties and taxes as were their descendants and as such declared to be "free."
G - The letter "G", the most sacred symbol in Freemasonry. The Lodge cannot open, and no work can be performed unless this sacred letter is conspicuously seen in its regularly assigned place of honor in the Lodge hall. It is representive of God and the science of geometry.
Gates of the Temple - The walls of the enclosure of Temple of Solomon had a gate at each points of the compass. The three gates on the east, west, and the south. These gates are symbols of the sun, rising in the east, reaching its zenith in the south, and setting in the west.
Glory and Beauty of the Day - Daylight, the supreme glory and example of the goodness and glory of God.
Golden Bowl Be Broken - The rule of conduct in man's relation to and treatment of his fellow man as spoken by the Saviour.
Grasshopper Shall Be A Burden - The weakness accompanying old age.
Great Porch -
The vestibule at the entrance into the Temple of Solomon.
Great and Sacred Name - Any name that is used as a title of Deity are sacred and all names of our God are to be uttered with profound reverence and never blasphemously.
Great White Throne - The pure and glorious throne of God. Before it, every knee must bow.
Ground Floor of the Lodge - Mount Moriah, the site of Solomon's Temple is symbolically referred to as the "ground floor of the Lodge."
Harodim - The title given to the overseers and princes appointed by Solomon to supervise the workmen preparing the material and in the building of the Temple.
Heaven - A Heaven of bliss beyond the grave. The "foreign country" in which the Master Mason seeks wages is Heaven.
Hills and Valleys - The hilltop or mountaintop is a symbol of "Holiness unto the Lord."
Holiness - The absolute and superlative Holiness of God in symbols, attitudes and words.
Holy of Holies - The ancient Tabernacle erected by Moses at Mount Sinai was divided into two compartments or rooms. At the west end was the Most Holy Place constructed of a perfect cube fifteen feet in all dimensions contained the Ark of the Covenant.
Holy Place - The east end of the Tabernacle containing the great Candlestick, the table for shewbread and the altar of incense with its censer and snuffers.
House Not Made With HandsThe eternal dwelling place of God and the resurrected bodies of the redeemed in the life beyond.
Human Senses - The natural faculties and endowments of man.
I Am That I Am - The title of Jehovah God given to Moses at the burning bush. In its original Hebrew form, the "self-existent, independent, unsearchable One."
Immortality - Man's immortality, the fundamental tenet.
Indwelling of God - That God deigns to dwell among his people and with the hearts of the pure and the good.
Ineffable Name - It is believed that the correct pronunciation of the most sacred name of God has been lost. In it believed, however, that this Ineffable Name is held by the Messiah until the Day of Resurrection.
Inner Door - Those who earnestly knock to be admitted to the lessons of Freemasonry are opened by the proper knock at the Inner Door of the Lodge.
Innocence - From time immemorial, the lamb has been regarded as an emblem of innocence.
Interment - The grave, the the resting place for bodies of the dead.
Iron Tools - no iron tool of any kind was employed in the building of the Temple in order that quiet and reverence might prevail.
Jachin - He doth establish
The two great pillars of Solomon's Temple called Boaz and Jachin. Jachin is a combination of two words, Jah, a name of Jehovah, and iachin, meaning establishment. The full significance of the name is, therefore, "With God's help to establish,"
Jacob's Ladder - Jacob's vision in which he saw a stairway from earth to Heaven with angels descending and ascending.
Jah - A name forJehovah.
Jesus and the Temple - Jesus was carried to the Temple when he was only forty days old for purification ceremonies. Again at twelve, for Passover in Jerusalem and later for public ministry.
Judah - The fourth son of Jacob and the founder of the tribe bearing his name.
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Keepers of the House Shall Tremble - The failings of the body in old age or as weakened by the approach of death. The usual interpretation is that the arms and legs are the keepers.
Landmark - Marking boundaries of lands by stone pillars or heaps of stones.
Level of Equality - The fundamental principle that all men are created equal, with certain inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happines.
Light - Light is the symbol of knowledge, Just as God spoke into existence physical light, so He is the original source of all true knowledge.
Light of Life - The source of enlightenment and knowledge for life's darkness, perplexities and doubts is the Holy Bible -- the Great Light of Masonry.
Lily Work - An emblem of peace and purity which occupies a place of conspicuousness and distinction in the Temple and its furniture.
Lion of the Tribe of Judah - Emblematically of strength. Refers to Christ, the anointed of God and royal head of God's Kingdom.
Lodge - Three or more Freemasons, "in regular assembly and properly opened and prepared for work or business," constitutes a Lodge.
Lost Word - The lost word was the ineffable name of God.
Master of the Lodge - This title signifies "teacher," not Lord. The Master is to the Lodge what the sun is to the day .
Master Builder - An architect, a skilled worker and a capable artisan. One who is qualified in heart and mind, by skill in moral and spiritual science, and by Holy consecration to erect temples of immortal characters.
Metal Tools - The preparation of all materials for the building of Solomon's Temple was done in the forests and quarries as the use of metal tools in the actual construction of sacred altars and edifices was forbidden.
Money Changers - Exchange bankers who set up tables in the Temple where Jewish coins for Temple offerings were exchanged for foreign moneys, charging fees for their services.
Mystic Tie - Tthe bond of fraternal love, where men of the most discordant opinions are united in one band, meet at one altar, even when fighting in opposing armies or affiliated with different religions.
Names of the Temple - The Temple built by Solomon, which occupies such importance throughout the symbolisms and legends of Freemasonry, is given a number of names in the Bible: The Palace of Jehovah, The House of Sanctuary, and The House of Ages.
Naphtali - Naphtali was the fifth son of Jacob and the founder of the tribe bearing his name.
New Name - With the change in character and fortune, it is often appropriate that one be given a new name.
North Side - In Masonic symbolism the North Side of the Lodge represents God's exalted throne.
Northeast Corner - As one receives more light in Masonry he reaches the Northeast Corner which is representative of the cornerstone of a great moral and spiritual edifice.
Obligation - The oath in such covenants is given in the name of God, and perjury in such oaths is subject to severe penalties.
Opening of the Lodge - The Lodge must be opened in due and ancient form and the Master must be reminded of the dignity and character of himself and of his position. The other officers must be impressed with the respect and veneration due from their stations and the Fraternity in Lodge assembly and in work must maintain a reverential awe for Deity, and must look to the Great Light of Freemasonry, the Holy Bible, for guidance and instruction. The Lodge must be opened and closed with a Prayer.
Peace on Earth - The principles and tenets of Freemasonry teach "peace on earth and good will to men."
Pearly Gates - The beauty and glory of Solomon's Temple and its furnishings were symbols and prophecies of the superior Temple, that house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens, with its gates of pearl.
Pillars of Brass - The two giant bronze pillars, Boaz and Jachin were significant features of King Solomon's Temple that stood in front of the entrance to the Great Porch at the east entrance of the Temple.
Pillars of Wisdom - The seven great pillars of wisdom are regarded by Masons to be of value in the building of a moral and spiritual edifice.
Pitcher Be Broken at the Fountain - The heart is the fountain of human life, and the great vein which carries the blood to the right ventricle is symbolically called the pitcher. When this is broken as a result of the decrepitude of old age or by human disease, death soon follows.
Plumbline - A tool used to maintain a perpendicular walls. In Masonry it is a symbol of justice and uprightness in our deals with our fellowmen.
Poor - One of the tennets of Freemasonry is the duty of rendering aid and sustenance to those in need.
Porch - The Great Porch of the Temple of Solomon a distinctive recognition in the ritual and teachings of Masonry.
Prayer - A petitions to Deity in behalf on one's own needs and others, A communion with God.
Preparation - In Masonry it is the preparation of moral, ethical and spiritual vocations.
Prudence - Regulating our conduct by the dictates of reason and in obedience to the cardinal virtues of faith, hope and love.
Raised - "Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason" refers to the final symbolic ritual of the Third Degree celebrating our faith in the Final Resurrection of our bodies.
Resurrection - Freemasonry is built on two cardinal beliefs: A belief in God, and a belief in a Resurrection to a future life.
Reverence for God - Anything and everything that represents God to the mind of man should be held sacred and in Reverence.
Rubbish of the Temple - Repersentive of worldly and material things of life which prevent proper moral, ethical and spiritual growth.
Sabbath Day - Freemasonry recognizes man's constitutional requirement for one day's rest. The Sabbath Day is honored as an allotted period for rest and Divine Worship.
Sanctuary - Holy places dedicated to the services and worship of God.
Sanctum Sanctorum - The Latin phrase referring to the Holy of Holies or innermost chamber of King Solomon's Temple where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.
Scripture Readings - The Bible must be on the altar in the Lodge, spread open for opening the Lodge and during its work and to be opened at certain passages during the Degrees. At Psalms 133 for the First Degree, Amos, chapter 7 for the Second Degree, and 1Ecclesiastes, chapter 12 for the Third Degree.Self Support - The duty to support one's self and his family by individual initiative and personal labor is a universal tenet of Freemasonry.
Shibboleth - A word used by followers of Jephthah to test certain of the Ephraimites who because of their Ephraimite dialect, they pronounced it Sibboleth.
Silver Cord - "Or ever the silver cord be loosed" is an expression descriptive of the delibitations of old age or approaching death.
Solomon - peaceable - Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba, and David's successor on the throne of Israel.
Spiritual Temple - Symbolic of the building of King Solomon's Temple, for the more important superstructure of moral, ethical and spiritual components knows as the Spiritual Temple.
Stand To and Abide By - This is a unique pledge of every mason and means that he convenants himself to stand by and obey every regulation of the Order, that he will be governed at all times by its laws and rules, and that the landmarks of the Fraternity will be followed faithfully in every detail.
St. John the Baptist - Masons honor St. John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Messiah and Saviour. The names of the Holy St. John the Baptist and the Holy St. John the Evangelist are reverently associate in significant rituals of the Masonic Fraternity.
St. John the Evangelist
As a disciple of St. John the Baptist, John, a son of Zebedee and brother of James, was among the earliest to follow Jesus and to enter into full Christian discipleship. In Masonic history and in rituals, St. John the Evangelist is highly honored and his memory beautifully commemorated.
Tabernacle - A moveable structure build at Moses' directions from a pattern given to him by God in a revelation. A central place for worship.
Table of Shewbread - One article of furniture in the Tabernacle was a table made of acacia wood. It was furnished with dishes, bowls, spoons and covers, all made of pure gold. Twelve cakes of bread made of fine flour, in two rows of six, called shewbread. They were removed every Sabbath and fresh bread supplied in their place. Only the priests were allowed to eat this removed bread.
Temple - In Freemasonry a number of rites and ceremonies associated with the building of King Solomon's Temple. The Temple has been kept alive through innumerable symbols and rituals.
Temple Builder - In Freemasonry the legend of the Temple builder forms a significant part of the Third Degree.
Temple of the Body - In Masonry we are taught that man's body is to be made a fit Temple for the indwelling of God.
Ten Commandments - The laws of Moses are the moral code by which all human relations with God and with mankind should be regulated.
Testimony - In ancient Israel and other societies, the putting off of the shoes was a testimony of reverence for God or for an earthly superior.
Three Chambers - The upper, middle and lower chambers of King Solomon's Temple were rooms adjoining the main building fitted for quiet communication with God.
Tiler - The duty of the Tiler/Tyler is to provide protection for the Lodge when it is organized and ready for business, closing the doors, keeping away eavesdroppers and intruders.
Troubles of Life - Freemasonry recognizes the fact that man in his sin-fallen state is the natural heir to sufferings, frailties, weaknesses, trial and troubles; and that release and renewal of strength may be found only in God.
Trust in God - As a candidate crosses the threshold of the Lodge, and throughout all the ceremonies and rites of Freemasonry, he is required to "put his trust in God."
Tubal-cain - The son of Lamech, a descendant of Adam through the Cainite line, and thought of in Masonry as the father of skilled workmanship in artistic productions for building purposes.
Unity - Masons are constantly taught to avoid "confusion among the workmen," discord, strife, jealousies and vain discussions on non-essentials; and to cultivate zealously and fervently the spirit of true unity in the Lodge and in the Fraternity.
Untempered Mortar - Weak mortar with incorrect ingredients or the ingredients improperly mixed. In Masonry untempered mortar is symbolic of dishonest and fraudulent mistures in the building of character or in the construction of the institution of Freemasonry.
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