The Secret of 3 Ruffians - Jubel AMO
For me, the most fascinating part of the Masonic illustrations
has to be the ritual of “Tragedy” in Master Mason, which recounts
the story through the falling of our Grand Master Hiram Abiff.
In this legend, GM Hiram Abiff works as the chief architect of
Solomon’s Temple. 3 ruffians conspire to extort the secret of the
Master Mason from him. One Day as GM Hiram Abiff tries to leave
the site of the unfinished Temple through the south gate. Jubelo
smote him across the throat with 24-inch gauge. He fled thence to
the west gate where he was accosted in the same manner by
Jubelo to whom he gave a consistent answer, and who smote him with a square upon his left
breast. GM Hiram Abiff reeled but recovered himself, and endeavored to escape through east gate
where Jubelum smote him a fatal blow upon the head with a maul or common gavel which proved
his falling.
The “3 Ruffians”, first mentioned in Samual Pritchard's Masonry Dissected (London : 1730)
were not named. It was not until Three Distinct Knocks (London : H. Serjeant, 1760 p. 53) that they
were named Jubela, Jubelo, and Jubelum. They also appear in Jachin and Boaz (London : 1762. p.
39) but William Preston doesn't name them in Illustrations of Freemasonry (1773) and George
Oliver later writes that their names are unknown. William Finch's Masonic Treatise (London : 1802)
named them but he didn't name them in his 1810 edition and they subsequently do not appear in
later rituals worked in England. (Quoted from Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon)
They were never referred to as Juwes, nor were their names given in the several rituals used in
England at the time. The most common is the Emulation Work adopted in 1815, easily found in
reference libraries. There is also no evidence that “3 Ruffians” were ever referred to as "Juwes" in
any masonic context. (Quoted from Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon)
In my view, the 3 ruffians represent 3 awkward and absurd behaviors of human beings.
The 1st ruffian is representing ignorance. Ignorance is a lack of knowledge and information.
The word "ignorant" is an adjective that describes a man in the condition of being unaware, or even
cognitive dissonance and other cognitive relation, and can describe individuals who deliberately
ignore or disregard important information or facts, or individuals who intentionally unlisten to
important information or facts.
Studies suggest that a man with an adequate education who performs enriching and
challenging jobs are happier, and more in comforts of their environment. The confidence that men
obtain through the sense of control that education provides allows those better men to go for more
leadership positions and seek for integrity throughout their lives.
In 1984, author Thomas Pynchon observed: “We are often unaware of the scope and structure
of our ignorance. Ignorance is not just a blank space on a mental map of man. It has contours and
coherence, and for all we know rules of operation as well. So as a corollary to writing about what
we know, maybe we might add getting familiar with our ignorance, and the possibilities therein for
ruining a good outcome.”
The 2nd ruffian is representing prejudice. Prejudice creates and encourages hate and
intolerance. The indulgence of intolerance makes a man or institution reject the opinion, belief or
facts about others, without giving any concern as to their validity or value. Prejudice is a narrow
mindedness that outbreaks hate because of race, religious or political beliefs, or some other reason
that is unreasonable or invalid. It suppresses a man from innerstanding whose differences with
others and blocks the growth and strength that innerstanding and acceptance can produce.
The 3rd ruffian represents greed. Greed is a strong desire for more wealth, possessions, power,
etc. than a man needs. Greed is the desire to obtain additional fares by any means necessary.
Greed can manifest itself through thievery, deception, swindling, or any other means which can
result in a man or group attaining an unfair advantage over others.
The 3 ruffians demonstrate the forces of wickedness were always at work to influence the
unsuspecting and the weak and to assemble them in the battle so that wickedness can triumph
over good and chaos can then rule. They use strong tools and allurements to influence and
threaten people to their side, and they are always present to capture anyone who might escape.
Love heals anything. Love is considered to be wellness or addiction, with its virtue
representing human kindness, compassion, and affection, as "the unselfish loyal and benevolent
concern for the good of another"; and its vice representing human moral flaw, akin to vanity,
selfishness, amour-propre, and egotism, as it potentially leads man into a condition of mania,
obsessiveness or codependency. It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions
towards other humans, one's self or animals. In its various forms, love acts as a major facilitator of
interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most
common themes in the creative arts. Love has been postulated to be a function to keep human
beings together against menaces and to facilitate the continuation of the societies.
Ancient Greek philosophers identified love in 5 categories:
Agape: Divine love, charity, the love of God for man and of man for a good God
Eros:
Philia:
Storge:
Xenia:
Romantic love, passion love, appreciation the beauty.
Affectionate regard, friendship, usually refer "Equals".
Essentially, familial love.
Guest love, hospitality, generosity and courtesy.
Numerous cultures have also recognized love as Ren(仁, Chinese), Yuanfen(緣份, Chinese),
Mamihlapinatapai(曖昧, Yaghan), Cafuné(撫慰, Portugueses), Kama(渴望,Pali), Bhakti(奉獻, Pali),
Mettā(慈悲, Pali), Ishq(熱情,Arabic), Chesed(浪漫, Hebrew), Amō (愛, Latin), Charity, Saudade (相
思, Portuguese). “First Epistle to the Corinthians” is a letter to Corinthians addressed by Paul the
Apostle which covers the subjects of Love to admonish them behind exuberance.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (1 哥林多前書 13:4-8)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
愛是恆久忍耐、愛是仁慈。愛是不嫉妒，愛是不自誇，不張狂
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no
record of wrongs. 愛不損人利己，不輕易遷怒，不計較人之惡。
6 Love rejoices with the truth, but not in evil. 愛讚頌真理，遠離邪惡。
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
凡事包容，凡事篤信，凡事盼望，凡事堅持。
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues,
they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
愛是永不休止，其妄語狂悖，將無存；其流言蜚語，將休止；其認知亦將流逝
3 ruffians demonstrate the falling of our Grand Master Hiram Abiff and even more the human
degeneration, whereas, love will heal after all if we still trust in First Epistle to the Corinthians.
The ancient and original orders of architecture, esteemed by Masons, are no more than three
— the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. Corinthian is the most beautiful. These chapters of pillars were
ornamented with net-work, lily-work and pomegranates, denoting unity, peace and plenty. The network from the intimate connection of its several parts denoted unity; the lily, from its purity, and
the retired situation of its growth, denoted peace; and the pomegranates from the exuberance of
their seeds denoted plenty. Unity, peace and plenty are pervasively seem in our social issues.
To accommodate such extreme diversities in community, man should learn more from love
especially in Corinthians Verses.
In Latin, Jubel denoted as “Rejoice” and AMO as “Love”. Combination of these two words will
be “Jubel AMO”. Those verses are initiated In Corinthians, “Love rejoices with the Truth”. Jubela,
Jubelo and Jubelum now represent the addictions of Ignorance, Prejudice and Greed could be
redressed and rectified and regain their love and care among men or Masons forever. Sublime.
Grateful thanks to the rituals themselves, not only in the degree works, but also the
interweaving lectures among progressive degrees. All these metaphorical depictions or hidden
words lead us to better perfection in our lifelong travelling. That’s the benefit I granted from.
Dr. Alex Chang
Szechwan Lodge No. 4, Grand Lodge of China
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
2020.07.11