God, Masonry, and King Solomon

Many men believe that when God breathed into men's nostrils the breath of life, man became a living soul as well as a living body.  Biblical emphasis is often placed upon the living soul which is to be a dwelling place for the Almighty.  Masonry seems to carry out these ideas in using the building of King Solomon's Temple, which was also to be God's dwelling place, as a fitting symbol of the spiritual temple man is to erect in his own soul.

For this reason, in our modern Masonic ritual, frequent mention is made of certain event which are said to have happened at the building of King Solomon's Temple.  The Bible tells us that the Great Architect of the Universe caused His name to dwell in this Temple, between the Cherubim and on the ark of the covenant, and in the construction of the Temple we learn many lessons applicable to character building.  Because of these lessons, legends, and allegories, which illustrate some phase of character building have been ascribed to the building of the Temple.

Paraphrased excerpt from the Indiana Monitor and Freemasons Guide (copyright 1966)...

Commentary

The above excerpt is a good example of how Freemasonry works.  Masonry investigates the word of God, learns the history surrounding Biblical times, and constructs symbolism.  This symbolism is designed to help man keep the work of God in his heart and mind.  More importantly, Masonic ritual and symbolism help good men become better men by providing a platform for the application of God's word.