THE SYMBOL

In arriving at an understanding of Freemasonry, it is necessary that the Masonic student observe the method whereby the fraternity conveys to the novitiate, the principles, and truths which it contains. The early man recorded his ideas and emotions on the sides of rocks with charcoal. In the crude periods of the world before the age of printing when there were no books or newspapers, symbols were needed for the expression of ideas. Language had not become so far developed as to be able to convey the thoughts and emotions of the sometime man who was in the process of his evolution toward a Godlike perfection, and as a result picture writing, hieroglyphics, and allegory were resorted to in an effort to communicate ideas.

From this crude beginning through a long process of evolution and amplification there has grown the system of recording ideas by means of figures, pictures, and symbols.

It seems rather remarkable that the institution of Freemasonry should have accepted symbolism or the idea of teaching through the eve as a means of conveying its lessons of morality. Light travels at the rate of one hundred eighty-three thousand miles per second, and an eminent scientist recently stated that man learns eight times faster through the eye than through the ear. From this, it can be readily understood why the system of instruction as adopted by Freemasonry is most potential. In the school of Freemasonry, the eye is ever resting upon a symbol and the eye is the window of the soul. It is a significant fact that in the United States at the present time nearly twenty million people daily attend the moving picture houses where they find instruction and entertainment in symbols and pictures which are thrown upon a screen.

The first learning of the world consisted chiefly of symbols. In fact, all the knowledge of the Chaldeans, Phoenicians, Egyptians, and in fact of all ancient peoples that has come to the present generation is purely symbolic. Allegory and personification seem to have been the particular methods through which the knowledge and attainments of those remote days were transmitted. Various symbols are to be found upon Egyptians tombs as well as upon the monuments of the Assyrians which reveal the crude religious notions of the peoples of those times. The Hebrews borrowed considerable of their religious symbolism from the Egyptians and Babylonians. And much of it has descended to the present generation. The Egyptian priests were expert in symbolism as well as feats of necromancy. Moses who grew up with these people adopted much of their symbolism and tricks of magic which he used among the Jewish people in a way and manner that caused him to be looked upon as superhuman, and a man of extraordinary powers.

In the absence of any written language among primitive peoples it can be readily understood why symbolism would be resorted to as a means of conveying ideas. Symbolism among the early peoples was a necessity, and became associated with the religious systems of those primitive times. So powerful did this method of conveying ideas and teaching crude notions become that even in this later period it is quite impossible to entirely divest ourselves of this means of teaching and illustrating because it is the simplest form of revealing knowledge, and when a thought is associated with a symbol, the picture makes such a lasting impression upon the mind that the lesson is never to be forgotten.

A symbol is a visible sign with which a spiritual feeling, emotion, or idea is connected. It is the vesture of thought, philosophy and art, the enduring garment which preserves things for widespread use. It may be likened to the cup of the flower, which holds the unseen forces and sweetness of light and air. Symbols are to be found everywhere. God threw a rainbow over the sky and the evanescent bow which follows in the wake of a summer shower will always be a symbol of his promise and covenant. Cain built a city which will ever be remembered as a symbol of remorse. Noah erected an altar and that device wherever found is the accepted symbol of gratitude. Solomon built a temple, and temples are but symbols of man's devotion to the God which he worships. A conscience stricken people piled rock upon rock until the structure climbed toward the sky and the tower of Babel will ever be remembered as a symbol of retribution. Geometry is but the science of mathematics portrayed through symbols composed of straight and curved lines. Freemasonry carries the symbolism further and uses the circle to teach infinity and the square, morality.

The whole world is a tremendous treasure house in which are concealed wonderful symbols. Who can look upon the deep blue azure without being reminded of the infinity of God? Who can ascend the snow capped mountain without being impressed with the majesty of its Maker? Who can behold the frail bird flitting from bough to bough without thinking of the kindness of Providence? Who can gaze upon the tiny flower that lifts its chalice with grateful heart to receive its drop of dew without being impressed with the love of its Creator? What a wonderful story is told by the worn wedding ring upon the wasted finger of her whom we love to call Mother, and what more powerful symbol of the grief of a burdened heart than the little red shoe in the bureau drawer.

In an armory in one of our large cities, there are stored many trophies of the battle field. Upon the wall, blackened by smoke, riddled by shot, is a torn shred of bunting preserved not for its intrinsic worth, but for the associations that it represents. As one gazes upon that mute symbol, there rises a vision of a great body of men rushing against each other with maddened vehemence. Breast hurtles against breast, bayonet contests with bayonet, sword with sword; the shriek of mighty shells pierces the air, followed with terrible intonations which split the eardrums of those close by. Guns roar and drown the groans of dying men, but through the fire and the smoke is seen a piece of Red, White, and Blue Bunting.

As a bit of cloth, it is nothing: As the Star Spangled Banner, it is everything, for into that glorious banner are constitution, government, fireside, and liberty. It is a symbol of the home of the brave, the land of the free, and men give their life's blood that its honor may be upheld. Such is the power of the symbol.

Unconsciously symbols are sought to disclose that which is in the mind and heart. A story is told of a little child in an English hospital who was waiting an operation by the surgeon which meant life or death. In the same ward were other little ones whose sympathy was aroused for the sufferer. They agreed among themselves that they would plead for her that she might be spared the pain, but the great question which perplexed them was how the angel of God should know this little one from those in the neighboring beds, when he should come to her. But at length, they devised a way. When the child was placed in a position for sleep, her arms were arranged
over her breast in the form of across, and the prayers that went up from this sympathetic band were answered, for before morning dawned on the pale and wasted face, the Angel of Death came and took her back to the arms of God. How simple, yet how forceful was the symbol made for the visiting angel by these children! - A splendid tribute to the power of symbols.

When in its evolution Freemasonry passed from a purely operative to a speculative or philosophical society. It took some of the old tools and implements used by the operative guilds and used them as symbols to convey the somewhat crude lessons of morality which the society sought to teach in its early period. It is not known that the old operative guilds in any way resorted to symbolism in their Craft organizations. Being engaged in practical work, it is not assumed that they would adopt symbolism to any great extent, but when these old lodges were no longer operative in character, it would be most natural that the tools, implements, and materials so familiar to them should be in some way preserved and this was done by making them symbols and observing them as priceless legacies from those sources whence Freemasonry came. The plumb, square, level, trowel, gauge, and rough ashlar were used by Anderson, Desaguliers, Preston, and the early ritual builders as symbols to teach moral and social truths with the result that the meagre system which they established bas in the past two hundred years been gradually amplified and added to by succeeding ritual builders until Freemasonry presents to the world at the present time a matchless and almost perfect system of morality taught by symbols.

The fact that there are found in Masonry numerous symbols which were used by the ancients does not prove that Freemasonry in any sense descended from those remote times or peoples. It simply means that some ritual builder finding the symbol in question to his liking injected it into the Masonic system for the purpose of teaching some truth which lie thought vital to the fraternity. Freemasonry has suffered much at the hands of modern symbologists, who have allowed their minds to run riot upon the matter of symbolism, and have associated with the fraternity many devices with which it never bad any connection whatsoever. Many of these symbologists become itinerant lecturers going from lodge to lodge disseminating their false ideas and notions concerning the society and its symbolical teaching. Many brethren who prefer to take the statements of others rather than to do their own thinking, have listened to these spell binders and have accepted as literal truth the assertions which they make. As a result, there are extant today many false and erroneous ideas concerning Freemasonry due largely to these peddlers of alleged Masonic symbolism.

The fact that the American Indian made use of certain hieroglyphics, indulged in grotesque dances, and the medicine men practiced fantastic ceremonies has led some Masons to believe that the early Aborigines were Freemasons, acquiring their knowledge of the fraternity from some remote age and that the various hieroglyphics, dances, and mystical practices indulged in by them were simply embryonic Freemasonry. No greater error can be conceived. The American Indians were not Freemasons, nor in any of their rites and practices has there ever been discovered the least thing to connect them with the society of Freemasons. Any statements made to this effect are erroneous, and misleading, and are simply the efforts of ignorant and overly zealous members of the Craft who seek to connect the Fraternity with everything weird and fantastic.

The charge has often been made by those with whom Freemasonry does not find favor that its symbol worship is mere mummery. This objection must be accepted as most natural for the reason that by drawing upon the imagination, it is possible to reduce to symbolism almost anything with which the fancy cares to play. Take for instance that good old nursery rhyme with which everyone is familiar,

"Sing a song of sixpence,
Pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in a pie."

To show the ease with which symbolism may be applied, some modern genius translated this rhyme into symbolic significance. The four and twenty blackbirds are the four and twenty hours of the day. The pie that holds them is the underlying earth, and the over-arching sky. "When the pie is opened," that is to say, "when the clay breaks," the birds commence to sing. The king is the sun, and "counting out his money" is pouring out his sunshine. The queen is the moon, and her honey is the moonlight. The maid is the rosy dawn, who rises before the sun and hangs out his clothes, the clouds across the sky. The naughty blackbird who snipped off her nose, and thus brings to a close this nursery tale, is the hour of sunrise.

But the symbolism of Freemasonry permits of no fanciful interpretation. It is based upon serious and everlasting truths. Originating as it did from the common vocation of stonemason, it took the tools and materials of that particular calling and used them as types for the purpose of teaching moral truths. To Masons throughout the world, these various symbols are characters in the alphabet of fraternity. The whole system of Freemasonry through a long process of evolution and development has become a series of pictures with the lesson so harmonized as to leave a lasting impression upon the mind. It is an album of scenes drawn from life, through which there is portrayed that never ending drama which commences at the cradle and ends with the grave. No Mason can commit an act, whether good or bad, but there appears before him some symbol portraying a fitting reward or a just retribution. The symbolism of Masonry then is simply human life in pictures - an illustrated picture gallery of the heart, a complete compendium expressive of man's constant duty to the God who made him and his fellow traveler in life's journey.

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