MASONIC DICTIONARY
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ILL.
OR ILLUSTRIOUS: A title
used in addressing members of the 33rd. ILLUSTRATE:
Giving or showing an example. ILLUSTRATION:
A drawing, picture, or example. ILLUSTRATIVE:
Showing by example or picture. INDISCRIMINATELY:
Without distinction between. I.N.R.I:
Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudworum, meaning "Jesus of Nazareth, King
of the Jews." INTELLIGIBLE:
Capable of being read or understood JACHIN:
Comes from two Hebrew words meaning "God will establish."
The right hand pillar of the porch of King Solomon's Temple. JACOB'S
LADDER: Symbol of progress from earth to heaven. JEWELS,
MOVABLE AND IMMOVABLE: The Movable jewels are the Rough and Perfect
Ashlars and the Trestle Board and are so called because they are not
confined to any particular part of the lodge whereas the Immovable
jewels: the Square, Level, and Plumb, have definite locations. They
are called "jewels" not because of their materials, but
because of their meaning. The word "jewel" comes from the
Greek meaning "bright or shining." KORAN,
THE: The Sacred Volume of Mohammedan Law. LAMB:
"In all ages the Lamb has been deemed an emblem of
innocence." The candidate is therefore given a white lambskin
apron. LANDMARKS:
Ancient and universal customs of the Order which gradually grew into
operation as rules of action. LAWFUL
AGE: A man of discretion. LAWFUL
INFORMATION: That one has tested by trial and examination, or knows
that such has been done by another. LEGALLY
CONSTITUTED: A Lodge working under proper authority and Charter from a
Grand Lodge. LEGENDARY:
according to popular belief or report, but without proof. A legend
usually carries with it the idea of the miraculous. LEGIBLE:
Capable of being read. LIBERAL
ARTS AND SCIENCES: Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic, Geometry,
Music, and Astronomy. LILY-WORK:
Emblem of peace and unity. LODGE
OF THE HOLY SAINTS JOHN OF JERUSALEM and LODGE OF ST. JOHN: Masonic
tradition has it that the primitive, or mother, Lodge was held at
Jerusalem and dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and then to St. John
the Evangelist, and finally to both. This Lodge was therefore called
"The Lodge of the Holy Saints John of Jerusalem." From this
Lodge all other Lodges are supposed, figuratively, to descend. LOST
WORD: That for which the Mason search is to discover the divine in
himself and in the world that he might achieve mental satisfaction and
ultimate happiness. LOW
TWELVE: The hour of midnight; darkness is a symbol of death as well as
of ignorance. LUX
E TENEBRIS: Latin meaning "Light out of darkness." MAKING
A MASON "AT SIGHT": By a Grand Master's prerogative, some
constitutional requirement is set aside-usually the ballot, and a man
is made a Master Mason without waiting or instruction between degrees. MASONIC
AGES: The age of an Entered Apprentice is said to be three years (the
symbol of peace or perfect harmony); that of a Fellowcraft, five years
(the symbol of active life); and that of a Master Mason, seven years
(the symbol of perfection). MERIDIAN:
The position of the sun at noon. MORIAH:
A hill in Jerusalem on which the Temple of Solomon was built. MOSAIC
PAVEMENT: Tessellated pavement or checkered floor. An inlay floor
composed of black and white squares. MOUTH
TO EAR: The method whereby the esoteric work of Freemasonry is passed
on from one Mason to another, or from one Mason to the candidate who
is qualified to receive such information. MYSTIC
TIE: Spiritual tie not easily broken; fellowship among Masons. NEITHER
NAKED NOR CLOTHED: Neither unclothed, or defenseless, nor clothed and
self-sufficient. NOBLES:
Members of the Mystic Shrine. OATH:
A solemn affirmation, in the name of God, that what one testifies is
true. OBLIGATION:
A promise or pledge of obedience. The Mason takes an obligation, not
an oath, that he will not depart from the promises he makes. OBLONG
SQUARE: A right angle with one side longer than the other. ORALLY:
Aloud, spoken. ORIENTAL
CHAIR: The seat of the Master in the East; the Oriental Chair of King
Solomon. ORNAMENTS
OF A LODGE: The Mosaic Pavement, Indented Tessel, and Blazing Star. ORNAN:
Name of Jebusite from whom David purchased a thresingfloor in
Jerusalem in which King Solomon’s temple was built.
This was previously the site of the alter. PAST:
A term applied in Masonry to an officer who has held an office for the
term for which he was elected, and has then retired, as Past Master,
Past Senior Grand Warden. PASSING
THE CHAIR: The ceremony of installation of the presiding officer. PECTORAL:
Pertaini breast. PEDESTALS:
The columns before the Master and Wardens of a lodge. PERFECT
AHSLAR: Every Mason is expected to perfect or "polish"
himself in building his character in order that he may become
acceptable in the sight of God and be fit to take his rightful place
in the finished work of Masonry. PERFECT
LODGE: One which contains the constitutional number of members. PERFECT
POINTS OF ENTRANCE: Symbolic action called for on entrance into a
lodge. PERFECT
SQUARE: A right angle with the sides equal. PHARAOH:
The title of the ruler of ancient Egypt. PHILALETHES:
Friends of truth. PLANETARY:
Pertaining to the planets. PLUMB:
An instrument for erecting perpendiculars. PLUMB
LINE: The Working Tool of a Past Master; the perfect emblem of
uprightness. POTENTATE:
A ruler, sovereign, or monarch. POT
OF INCENSE: Signifies that, of all forms of worship, it is more
acceptable to God to be pure and blameless in our inner lives than
anything else. PROFANE:
A non-Mason, The word comes from the Latin pro meaning
"before" and Janum meaning "a temple."
Hence, in Masonry it means those who have not been in the
Temple, that is, initiated. PROFICIENT:
Means not only proficient in the ritualistic work, but before the
world in daily living. REFRESHMENT:
Rest period symbolized by noon. REGULAR
LODGE: One working under a charter or warrant from a legal authority. REPRIMAND:
One of the Masonic penalties which can be and is enforced to reprove. RITUAL:
Comes from the Latin ritualis meaning "ceremonial forms." ROUGH
ASHLAR: The unenlightened member; man in his natural state before
being educated. SANCTUM
SANCTORUM: Latin for "Holy of Holies." SECRETS:
Masonry's only secrets are in its methods of recognition and of
symbolic instructions. Its principles and aims have never been secret. SHIBBOLETH:
An ear of corn; a test word; a watchword; slogan. SIGNS,
MASONIC: Modes of recognition often serving as a reminder of some
event or pledge. SOLSTICE:
The point in the ecliptic at which the sun is farthest from the
equator (north in summer, south in winter). SONS
OF LIGHT: During the building of King Solomon's Temple the Masons were
so called. SPECULATIVE
MASONRY: Freemasonry in its modern acceptance; the application of the
implements of Operative masonry to a system of ethics. SPRIG
OF ACACIA: Symbolizes the immortality of the soul. STATIONS
AND PLACES: Officers are elected to stations and appointed to places. SUMMONS:
A notification from the Master to appear. For its neglect, because it comes
directly under the province of his obligation, a member may be
disciplined and/or punished. SUSPENSION:
Temporary privation of power or rights, such as suspension for
nonpayment of dues. One of the Masonic penalties. SWORD
POINTING TO THE NAKED HEART: Signifies that justice is one of the most
rigorous laws and if we are unjust in our hearts, the center of our
being, the inevitable result of injustice will find us out. SYMBOL:
Signifies or represents some truth, idea or fact, but is not itself
the thing it represents. SYMBOL
OF GLORY: The Blazing Star in the old lectures. The star in the center
represented Deity, hence, the "Symbol of Glory." TENETS
OF FREEMASONRY: Dogmas; principles, beliefs, doctrines; teachings of
Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth. A Tenet is something obviously true;
that which is universally accepted without question. TERRESTRIAL:
Belonging to the earth. TESSELLATED
PAVEMENT: Checkered floor of black and white, symbolic of the triumphs
and the despairs throughout life. TETRAGRAMMATON:
A Greek word signifying "four letters.' It is a name given by the
Talmudists when referring to God or Jehovah. TOKEN,
MASONIC: A sign used for recognition to prove that a man is a Mason. "TO
THAT UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY FROM WHOSE BOURNE NO TRAVELER RETURNS":
Comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet (Act III, Scene 1). TRACING
BOARD: Or emblematic chart. Emblems used to illustrate the lectures. TRADITIONAL:
According to a belief handed down from generation to generation, but
not supported by any sure or exact evidence. A tradition need have
nothing of the miraculous in it. TRANSITION:
The passing over from one stage to another. TRAVELING
FROM WEST TO EAST: In Operative Masonry workmen traveled from one job
to another and the word "traveling" came to signify a form
of work. Hence, a Mason works his way toward the East (place of light)
by improving himself as he progresses through life. THREE
STEPS: Emblematical of
youth, manhood, and age. TRESTLE
BOARD: The carpet or board upon which the Master inscribes the designs
for guidance of the Craft. In the present day it refers to the meeting
notice sent to the membership. TRIALS,
MASONIC: Are held in Masonic courts of law in which testimony is heard
and the accused either found innocent or guilty. TROWEL:
The Working Toot of the Master Mason. Symbolically, to spread the
cement of Brotherly Love to fit the capstone to complete the building. TUBAL
CAIN: Artificer in brass and iron.
The first Master Craftsman, son of Lamech and Zillah. See
Genesis IV:22. TYRE:
City of Sidonian Empire which is only 120 miles by sea from
Jerusalem. King Hiram or
Tyre provided materials for the building of the Temple. UN-MASONIC
CONDUCT: Conduct of a Mason which violates the laws of the Craft and
his obligation thereto. VISITING:
To visit a lodge outside of your "regular" lodge.
Visitation Is a privilege and not a right. V.S.L:
Volume of the Sacred Law. VOUCHING:
A brother cannot vouch for the Masonic standing of a brother unless he
has sat with him in a Masonic Lodge. Knowledge of his standing or
membership in a body requiring Masonic membership as a prerequisite is
not grounds for avouchment. VOID:
Empty. WARDENS
COLUMNS: At the beginning of the opening ceremonies both columns are
down, The Senior Warden's column is elevated down when the WM declares
the Lodge open. It is lowered when the Master declares the Lodge
called from labor to refreshment, or when, ill the closing ceremonies.
The Junior Warden's column is elevated up, when the Lodge is at
refreshment. It raised at the moment when the Master declares the
Lodge at refreshment, and is lowered when he calls the Lodge to labor.
The Senior Warden's column is lowered and raised at the same times. WAGES,
A MASTER'S: Symbolizing the fruits of a man's labors in Masonic work. WINDING
STAIRS: Is one which tries a man's soul. He must approach it with
faith believing that there is a top, that by a long and arduous climb
he will reach a Middle Chamber. A
place of light, WORKING
TOOL OF A PAST MASTER: The plumb line. WORSHIPFUL:
Title of honor and respect. WORTHY
AND WELL QUALIFIED: That by his character and moral living, the
candidate is worthy to be a member. YEAR,
MASONIC: While the civil calendar reckons from the Year of our Lord
and is designated A.D., the Masonic calendar dates from the year when
God said, "Let there be Light," and is designated A. L. YOD:
The tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. YORK
RITE: The degrees of the lodge, chapter, council, and commandery. ZEAL:
Intensity of purpose and of earnestness. ZEND-AVESTA:
The Persian Volume of the Sacred Law. ZENITH:
The point in heavens directly over head of the spectator; great
height. ZION:
The mountain or hill in Palestine on which Jerusalem was built. |