A short guide to
understanding Freemasonry
and some of its implications
within the media.
By Sabin Iliev
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Table of Contents:












Introduction
From Operative to Speculative
Modern Freemasonry
Rites and Rituals
Understanding Masonic Symbols:
 Chamber of Reflection
 The Temple of Solomon
 The Mosaic Pavement
 Light
a) Masonic Light
b) The Three Lesser Lights
c) The Three Greater Lights
d) The Lights of the Workshop
 The Volume of the Sacred Law
 The Square and Compasses
 The Two Pillars: Jachin and Boaz
 The Three Columns
 The Rough Ashlar, Cubical Stone and the Pointed Cubical Stone
 Other Tools of the Freemason
 The Blazing Star
 The Mason`s Clothing
 The Letter G
The Seven Liberal Arts
 Geometry
 Grammar
 Rhetoric
 Logic
 Arithmetic
 Music
 Astronomy/Astrology
Hermes Trismegistus
Pythagoras
Important Masons Throughout History
Freemasons and The Media
Conclusion
Bibliography
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 INTRODUCTION:
When asked the question : “What are the freemasons?” most people tend to answer:
Well..Winston Churchill was one..and I think Bush is one aswell.” Unless you are a
mason or have been familiarized with the topic, it is quite difficult to form a definition.
According to W. Kirk MacNulty Freemasonry is a secular fraternal organization,
traditionally open only to men. It promulgates the principles of morality and seeks the
practice of brotherly love and charitable action among all persons-not simply masons. It is
not a religion, but it isa a society of religious men in the sense that It requires its
members to believe in the existence of a Supreme Being. The name of that Being, the
scripture which it is revealed and the form in which it is to be worshipped is entirely the
business of the individual Mason. When entering the Order, Masons take obligations on
the Volume of the Sacred Law and each mason takes his obligation on that particular
volume of writings which HE holds to be sacred. While encouraging each Brother to
follow the teachings of his own religion, Freemasonry is not concerned with the detail of
those religions and sectarian religious discussion aswell as politics is forbidden at
Masonic gatherings. While not a religion, the Order might be considered to be a
“philosophical companion to religion”. Freemasons portray the idea of a society based
around the idea of diversity, opposite of a union of conformity
Freemasonry`s mode of operation is unusual. It communicates its teachings through a
series of dramas called Degrees and by the use of an elaborate structure of symbols
derived largely from the tools and practices of the stonemasons craft.
The Masonic viewpoint can be defined by two ideas which are repeated again and
againd during all the Masonic rites: “to reach further” and “to gather what is scaterred”. It
is by responding to these exhortations that progress is made towards objective
knowledge. Symbolism emphasise subjective knowledge. The use of symbolism
encourages a form of introspection through free association, linking individual and
collective history, as well as the laws governing all things. (W. MacNulty,2006 Symbols,
Signs and Significance)
To start understanding Freemasonry, one must look at the history of the Order and in
particular, at the various philosophies and traditions from which it was derived. For one
reason or another, there is very little reliable information available. Some of the earliest
Masonic histories date from 18th and 19th centuries and were quite fanciful and uncritical
in their approach. Most of these writings associate the start of Freemasonry with the
biblical and classical periods and they imply a secret Order that operated through the
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medieval period and the Renaissance before finally becoming public in the early 18th
century (W MacNaulty,2006 Freemasonry:Symbols, Signs, Significance.)
One of the earliest legends associated with Freemasonry is the construction of the
Temple of Solomon. It was said to contain the Ark of the Covennant within its sanctuary(
Holy of Holies). The “Temple of Solomon” or “The Jerusalem Temple” , central symbol of
Freemasonry, was built by King Solomon who appointed Hiram Abif (Master Hiram) as
main architect. He gathered materials of high quality and hired 80 000 workers in order to
complete the Temple. (Gilbert Garibal,2005, ABC de la Francmaconnerie).
The legend says only Hiram Abif and King Solomon knew what was inside the Holy of
Holies and this led to other stonemasons being jealous of Hiram Abif. It is said that one
day, three buiders followed and killed Hiram Abif with their tools because he refused to
reveal the “royal secrets”.
The sacrifice that Hiram made in order to keep a secret was adopted by Freemasons
and transformed into a super-symbol which later generated other symbols and teachings.
 FROM OPERATIVE TO SPECULATIVE
In order to deepen the understanding of masonic history, one must understand the
differences between Operative and Speculative Freemasonry and how the latter became
what we now call Modern Freemasonry.
Many Masonic historians claim that Masonry originated in the East-probably Egypt or
China and mate its way gradually through Asia Minor, Constantinopole, Greece and
Cyprus to Rome. It is interesting to note that a Chinese philosopher called Mencius wrote
these words three centuries before Christ- “ A man should abstain from doing unto
others, what he woud not want done on himself; this is called the principle of acting on
the square” .
Ancient papirus texts have been discovered, that mention secret gatherings of guildes of
architechts and temple(pyramid) builders 2000 years b C. The guildes offered charity to
widows, orphans and other people in need; the meetings were held in secret and the
members wore an apron.
In ancient Egypt aswell as other ancient civilisations the building of temples and graves
had a divine character. All the crafts were said to be created by gods, and the individual
was a simple tool for the divine forces. Whitout being considered heretics, the buiders of
great religious monuments circulated codes and teachings of their own and met in
organised associations in order to reveal the secret of their art through simple initiation
practices.(Jack Chabaud, 2006,Decouverte de la Francmaconnerie p 17-20)
In Europe, the 5th century marked the beginning of the “Age of the Cathedrals”. Saint
Benedict (480-587) created the Benedictine Order which consisted of monks with great
knowledge in architecture and construction. This led to the construction of around 40
monasteries at the end of the 5th century which grew to around 250 at the end of the 6th
century.
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As Roger Dachez mentions, the history of Freemasonry is actually the history of a craft.
The initial lodge of the Operative Freemasonry was a hut or a barrack which was tied to
the building site. In an age where life expectancy was short and work conditions were
extremely difficult, people often spent their entire lifes working on a cathedral and the
lodge was their only place of rest and juman interaction( Roger Dachez,2009,Histoire de
la Franc-Maconnerie francaise).
The guildes of workers later became state organisations and gradually adapted to the
different types of government. Alain Queruel notes that the Lodge becomes a place
where the workers rest, eat, arrange their tools and most of all, exercise their craft. The
Lodge is overseen by a Master, helped by a Fellowcraft whom together teach the
Apprentices the secrets of the craft. The lodge gradually becomes an important place, a
“center of life” (Alain Queruel, 2008 Decouvrir la Francmaconnerie.).
History notes that during the 14th century, the construction of cathedrals stopped and
many sources give the destruction of the Knights Templar Order as the main reason. In
the 15th and 16th centuries, more and more non builders start to join the lodges. Public
figures of the time, intellectuals, scientists, rich, noble and influential people became the
majority in the lodges that were now located within every important city. Christian Jacq
observes that in an age of intolerance from the church, the people that were dedicated to
spiritual and philosophical searches find in Freemasonry an environment where they
safely share and discuss their beliefs.
It is vital that we mention the opinion the the Benhamou-Hodapp couple which states
that these new masons-philosophers, scholars, etc saw in Freemasonry a new original
method which, through the symbolism reffering to buildings-could allow people to perfect
and construct their life in a harmonious way.
In the same way as stoneworkers were building Cathedrals in order to glorify God,
freemasons had to build, inside their interior space, the ideal Temple of Solomon. The
analogy between the construction of Cathedrals-as both material and spiritual temples
marks the beginning of Speculative Freemasonry.(Benhamou-Hodapp, 2006, La
Francmaconnerie).
Harry Carr explains the historical and traditional unity of the craft from the mid 14th
century to the present day. “During the past 600 years, under the influence of several
industrial, economic and socia factors, the Craft suffered notable changes which form the
history of the transition from Operative to Speculative Freemasonry”.
In Lex textes fondateurs de la Franc-Maconnerie, Patrick Negrier states that “Operative
Freemasonry is as old as the art of construction and if Christian Freemasonry saw a
progress with the construction of Cathedrals it is only because of Operative
Freemasonry”.
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 MODERN FREEMASONRY
Frances A Yates examined the history of though during the Renaissance-the revival of
classical thinking- that took root in Italy in the 14th century. Through her studies, she
determined that the essence of Renaissance philosophy was a body of thought which
she called “Hermetic/Cabbalistic tradition” (wich we shall examine more further on). Her
historical research demonstrated that, as well as the important developments made in art
and architecture (which included the rediscovery of Vitruvius), the Rennaisance also saw
a profound shift in European intellectual activity.
The Hermetic tradition was influence by the Hermetica, a work of egyptian philosophy
with a heavy Hellenistic and Christian influence. It was written in Alexandria in the 2nd
century A.D. and attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. The second was Caballa-the
mystical tradition of Judaism.
Combined, they gave rise to a philosophy in which, in addition to seeking the salvation of
one`s soul after death, one can also ascend in consciousness from the physical world
through the levels of the psyche/soul and experience the Divine Presence while one is
incarnate. That was also the intent of the practicioner of the Ancient Mysteries. This
theme was followed by many of the serious thinkers of the Rennaisance. The writings of
Francesco Giorgi-a franciscan monk in Venice, Johannes Reuchlin and Cornelius
Agrippa, both German philosophers, and John Dee and Elias Ashmole, both British
scholars, provide examples that cover the period from about 1500 to 1650 and a
geographical area from Northern Italy, through Central Europe to Britain. (W
MacNaulty,2006 Symbols, Signs, Significance.).
Therefore it seems reasonable to state that the source of Modern Freemasons` interest
in classical philosophy was their study of the Renaissance philosophers.
24 June 1717 marks a fundamental moment in the history of Universal Freemasonry
when 4 lodges come together and form the United Grand Lodge of England.choosing
Anthony Sayer(gentleman) as Master Mason. The second Master Mason is George
Payne(gentleman); the third is Jean Theophile Desaguliers(anglican bishop and
physicist); the fourth is again George Payne. The fifth Master Mason is Duke John of
Montagu which empowers Anderson the task to write famous Constitutions.
Anderson`s Constitution (17 january 1723) features a section that regards history,
followed by a section containing 39 rules and finally a section dedicated to masonic
songs.”A Mason is obligated, by his Tenure to obey the moral Law and if he rightly
understands the Art, he will never be a stupid Atheist nor an irreligious Libertine”.
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With the founding of the premier Grand Lodge in 1717 Freemasonry saw a huge growt.
By 1730 the number of Private Lodges had grown from four to over seventy and the area
governed by the Grand Lodge had expanded to include provinces throughout England (W
MacNaulty,2006 Symbols, Signs, Significance.)
Although Freemasonry was generally popular and grew rapidly, there were periods in
France and the Netherlands when Masonic activity was prohibited by law. Exclusive
meetings, a large body of secret material and serious oaths taken on the scriptures were
considered to be a threat to the authority of the Church and government. Eventually, as
members of the nobility became Masons and as the governments came to
understand the nature of Freemasonry, these prohibitons were lifted and the Order
continued to grow. In Germany, which at the time was a group of Principalities, the
philosophical teachings of Freemasonry were apparently attractive to many of the princes
and freemasonry prospered there.( W MacNaulty,2006 Symbols, Signs, Significance.)
The expansion covered a very large geographical area. In the eastern hemisphere
Freemasonry was introduced to all the English, French and Dutch colonies in Africa,
India, Burma, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia and eventually into
Japan.
This raised the question regarding travelling masons: How was a lodge to know that the
visiting brother was a proper mason? This led to the implementation of several general
principles:
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A new Grand Lodge must have been established by a regular Grand Lodge
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The belief in a Supreme Being is required. The name of that being is an individual
matter
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All initiates take the Obligations on, or in the full view of, the open Volume of
Sacred Law which the initiate considers to be sacred.(Bible, Coran, Tao te Ching,
etc)
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The membership shall consist exclusively of men.
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The Grand Lodge shall have sovereign juristiction over its subordinate lodges.
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The Three Great Lights of Freemasonry (Volume of Sacred Law, the Square and
the Compasses) shall be displayed when a Grand lodge or subordinate lodge is at
work.
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The discussion of religion and politics within a lodge is prohibited.
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The antient landmarks, customs and usages of the craft are to be strictly
observed.
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If a Grand Lodge adheres to these principles it is considered to be regular.
 RITES AND RITUALS
A rite is a formal act, and a ritual is a set order for the carrying out of rites. They are
actually techniques for increasing the efficiency of communication (or signalling) and
serve to create a network of ties between different members of a group. In animals,
ritualisation is seen to decrease the use of violence. It exists before language. As for
human beings, it enables us to look at ourselves from the outside and view ourselves as
objects of study.
Freemasons are interested in rites because they want to understand how human beings
and society operates, with a view to “preparing the coming of a better and more
enlightened society.” (extract from Masonic ritual). Masons explore how rites function and
how traditional and religious rites are observed in every nation, according to specific
social codes and lifestyles.(Daniel Beresniak,1997,Symbols of Freemasonry)
The purpose of a Masonic Lodge is to confer the Three Degrees of Freemasonry. The
rituals relate to practices and events that were said to have occurred at the building of
King`s Solomon Temple. By taking part in those rituals, the initiate is taught many things
but most importantly the fundamental moral principles of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
These principles are universal throghout all masonic teachings. Using elaborate rituals
and lectures, they provide the Mason with the tools and knowledge necessary to work on
his interior development, while the fraternal atmoshphere of the Lodge provides a
supportive environment. Once initiated, passed and raised, the brother is a Master
Mason and as with all the Master Masons, is eligible to occupy the offices in the lodge.(
W MacNaulty,2006 Symbols, Signs, Significance.).
 UNDERSTANDING MASONIC SYMBOLS
Before entering the complex world of Masonic Symbolism, it must be stated that most of
the information presented comes from authors which are generally known Masons. This
has the purpose to confer the reader an understanding from a masonic point of view. On
the other hand, the wide range of symbols and the secrecy surrounding them,
consequently means a wide range of interpretations and the reader is allowed and even
encouraged to try and interpret the symbols in a way that he considers appropriate and
suitable for himself.
Entered Apprentices are always initiated after three symbolic journeys, during which
they must confront the elements of earth, water, air and fire. Fellows undertake five
journeys, at the end of wich they contemplate the Blazing Star. As for the Masters, they
must relive the passion of Hiram, the murdered architect. In all the rituals observed
throughout the world, Entered Apprentices, Fellows and Masters work in lodges,
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symbolic representation of Solomon`s Temple with its two pillars: Jachin and Boaz.
The temple lies on the east-west axis.
In every lodge the vault of the ceiling is decorated with stars, to show that the temple
acts as a mediator between human beings and the universe. Everyone enters wearing an
apron and gloves, and works symbolically with the tools of a Mason :square,
compasses, gauge, lever, plumb rule, plumb line and trowel
The temple is an image of the world and the beginning of the world establishes time. The
masonic world is symbolically coeval with the universe and refers to the moment of
creation as the Anno Lucis( Year of Light or Year of Masonry). English Masons took their
dates from James Ussher, an Anglican priest born in Dublin in 1580, who published his
Annals of the Old and the New Testaments in around 1650. According to Ussher`ss
reading of the Bible, 4004 B.C. is the date of the Creation.
A psychological masonic interpretation of the Order sees the Three Degrees as three
levels of consciousness within the psyche. The First Degree: The Entered Apprentice,
represents the level of ordinary consciousness, that part of the psyche that interfaces
with the physical world. The Second Degree: the Fellow Craft represents the level that
one might call the individual unconscious and the Soul. The Third Degree: the Master
Mason represents that level of consciousnss that interfaces with the Spirit.(Daniel
Beresniak,1997,Symbols of Freemasonry )
 Chamber of Reflection
The Chamber of Reflection is a small room in which the candidates are left on their own
for a period before the initiation ceremony begins. Before being admitted to the Lodge to
receive the First Degree the Candidate was asked to sit alone in the room, consider his
understanding of the work he was about to undertake, and write the reasons for asking to
become a Freemason. These were read to the Brethren in the Lodge for their approval
before the Degree was conferred. The Chamber of Reflection is lit only by a candle and
features a number of ornaments: a human skull, some bones, a loaf of bread, a flask of
water, an hour-glass, a sacer containing salt and another containing sulphur.
On the wall, are murals painted in white on a black background: a cockerel, and the
word VITRIOL or VITROLUM which is the ancient command to examine oneself. Visita
Interiora Terrae, Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem ( Visit the centre of the earth
and by rectifying you shall find the hidden stone).
These symbols derive from alchemy. Salt, which is extracted from sea water by
evaporation, is fire delivered from water. As for sulphur, alchemists believed that is to the
body what the sun is to the earth. The coupling of salt and sulphur is an image of duality,
of life and death, of ligh and darkness nourising one another.(Daniel Beresniak,1997,
Symbols of Freemasonry)
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 The Temple of Solomon
References to the construction of King Solomon`s temple at Jerusalem have been
included in the rituals of the Operative Freemasons since ancient times. In operative
lodges the layout of the lodge room in each of the several degrees, the candidate
progressively represents the various types of stone used in the building, until ultimately
he represents the plan of the temple.
One of the most learned and distinguished of the early English Freemasons was the Rev
Dr. George Oliver DD, who studied and wrote extensively on ecclesiastical antiquities
and all aspects of speculative Freemasonry. In his renowned work, the Revelations of the
Square, Dr Oliver states:
“The Society adopted the Temple of Solomon for its symbol, because it was the most
stable and the most magnificent structure that ever existed, wheter we consider its
foundation or superstructure; so that of all the societies men have invented, no one was
ever more firmly united, or better planned, than the Masons… The edifices which
Freemasons build are nothing more than virtues or vices to be erected or destroyed; and
in this case heaven only occupies their minds, which soare above the corrupted world.
The Temple of Solomon denotes reason and intelligence”
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Daniel Beresniak also mentions Solomon`s Temple as the place where the murder of
Hiram the Architect took place. “A mystical tale has arisen around this incident. It speas
of a Lost Word, the word of life, key to all secrets, which was substituted at that time, not
as much because it was lost, but because such a word could not be spoken”.
As for the “wise King Solomon” it was he who inspired Francis Bacon`s New Atlantis
which in turn influenced the founders of the Royal Society in 1662. This institution shares
the Masons “faith” as expressed in two essential ideas:


All men are brothers and must be judged according to their good works, and not
the religion they belong to
Ignorance is the cause of all vice of the evil men do to one another. The human
species can be redeemed only throguh knowledge.
 The Mosaic Pavement
The Mosaic Pavement, or ceckered floor is similar to a chessboard and consists of black
and white squares. It can be seen on the floor in the centre of the lodge it symbolises
duality and how opposites contradict and complement each other. The Masonic tradition
is that the floor of the Temple of Solomon was decorated with a mosaic pavement of
black and white stones.
Another interpretation can be suggested by this passage in the Gospel of Saint John 13
“When Pilate, therefore, heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the
judgement-seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha”.
The word here translated Pavement is in the original Lithostroton, the very word used by
Pliny to denote a mosaic pavement.
 Light
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The word Light has a number of separate meanings for Freemasons, which together
form a network of meaning which expresses the depth of its importance to their thinking.
Light was seen as a symbol for knowledge and truth since earliest human civilizations
and has a major significance in the Bible aswell : “And God said: Let there be Light “.
a) Masonic Light
When a new member becomes a Freemason he Is “given the light” during the
ceremony of initiation to the degree of Entered Apprentice. The shock of initiation
comes when the blindfold is removed from his eyes.
b) The Three Lesser Lights
These are the Sun, the Moon and the Lodge Master and are described in these
terms: “ The Sun to rule over the day, the Moon to preside over the night and the
Master to govern and direct his Lodge”.
c) The Three Greater Lights
These are “the Volume of The Sacred Law, the Square and the Compasses”.
d) The Lights of the Workshop.
In the French and Scottish Rites, the Worshipful Master (Lodge Master), the two
Wardens, the Orator and the Secretary are called “the Lights of the Workshop”.
Sometimes the term “the three great lights” is used for the Worshipful and the two
Wardens.
 The Volume of The Sacred Law
As mentioned before, the Volume of the Sacred Law can be any book of importance
to the individual. It is the holy boo of the new member`s religion so that he can swear
his oath on it. The most common books are:the Bible, the Qur`an, the Veda, the
Bhagavad Gita, the Zend-Avesta, the Tao Te Ching or the Constitutions of
Freemasonry.
The notion of the Sacred Law is a matter for study and debate within the Freemasons.
Books considered to be sacred are there to be read. The act of reading entails not only
receiving a message, but also understanding it, deciphering its metaphors and allegories,
finding out where this version came from and wondering. Reading involves not only
checking what the text says, but also what the commentatiors have said about it and the
final purpose is that the Mason acknowledges the teachings of the book. (W
MacNaulty,2006 Symbols, Signs, Significance.)
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 The Square and Compasses
One of the most important and widesprea symbols in Freemasonry is the Square and
the Compasses.When asked by non-masons, the most commons response given by
Freemasons is: “Both are architecht`s tools..to teach symbolic lessons”. However, the
two symbols have a more deeper meaning than most people tend to believe.
 The Compass is used to represent the circle and the Square tools to draw a
square
When joined together they form a circle inside a square which relates to Euclid`s 47th
problem: “Squaring the circle” .Since ancient times the square represented the physical
nature of an individual while the circle stands for spiritual side. Therefore “squaring the
circle” means bringing the two into harmony.
“…the compasses stand for the spiritual side of man, while the square appertains to the
material world…the square represents matter. In the case of the compasses…they
represent the Spiritual”
-J. S. Ward “Interpretation of Our Masonic Symbols”
Notice how the circle is bounded by the four-sided square, an analogy for how the spirit is
bounded in the physical body. The number four is a very strong symbol of the material
world which we shall discuss further in the following chapters.
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“ The Compass, as the Symbol of the Heavens, represents the spiritual portion of this
double nature of Humanity…and the Square, as the Symbol of the Earth is material,
sensual and baser portion”-Albert Pike, Morals & Dogma
When beginning work as an Apprentice, the Square is laid on top of the compasses to
show that the spirit is still dominated by matter. At the second degree, that of Fellow, the
Square and Compasses are interlaced. There is balance. At the degree of Master, the
Compasses are laid over the Square.
W.K Macnulty has a more metaphorical interpretation:The oldest definition of
Freemasonry emphasises its central function and role in the city: a Mason is someone
who proves by verification, that is to say someone who listens attentively to “what” is
being said and no to “who” is saying it. The geometrician-buider measures words with
the yard-stick of meaning and not according to the social status of the speaer. Therefore
the Square and Compasses are the tools of a free man. They are the tools of a way of
thinking which recognises the possibility of making statements about reality,
understanding its laws and modifying it in order to better the human condition. They are
tools invented by human beings to help them exercise the power they know they possess
to shape reality. Symbolism makes the meaning of these tools clearer by depicting them
as images of the mind and soul. Leonardo Da Vinci, who reportedly was a 33rd degree
mason, depicted this idea in his famous Vetruvian Man.
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.
To begin the analysis of the Vetruvian Man notice how in the image on the right that
there are lines drawn over the arms and the trunk, across the chest and over the legs and
neck. The head is divided into another series of lines. Notice that the feet are drawn at
both 90 degrees and 45 degrees. If you were to stand with your arms straight out and
15
your legs straight down, a square or cube forms around your body, as in Leonardo`s
drawing. If you put your legs out to the side, like the outer legs on the drawing and stretch
out your arms like the upper arms, a perfect circle or sphere fits around your body, and its
center is located exactly at the navel. When you do that, the circle and the square exactly
touch at the bottom.(Drunvalo Melchizedek,1999,The Ancient Secret of the Flower of
Life)
Also notice that the hand length from the wrist ine to the longest finger equals the
distance from the top of the head to the top of the circle. This is a principle that applies to
every human being. Another interesting fact concerning geometries in the human body is
the notion that the navel sits at the phi ratio between the top of the head and the bottom
of the feet. This again is a principle that applies for all human beings. The Square and
Compasses are symbols that concern Geometry, which we shall examine more further
on.
Though being by far the most widespread association of the square and the circle, it is
not the only one.
.
From Top Left to Right Bottom: Fra Giovanni Giocondo (1435-1515); Hildegard von
Bingen (1098-1179) Cesare Cesariano, Vitruvian Man (1521)Francesco Giorgi, Vitruvian
Man, (1525); One Euro Coin; Francesco Giorgi, Vitruvian Man, (1525); Francesco di
Giorgio, contemporary of Leonardo, Vitruvian Man; Albrecht Durer, Study on anatomy
and geometrical proportions (1528)
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The idea of the circle representing the soul comes from the ancient knowledge and dates
from the time of the Egyptians and ancien China.
Left: Egypt`s Aten glyph is formed by a circle with a dot in the center. Right: China`s
ancient Yin Yang symbol depicting complementary male and female energies.
 The Two Pillars- Jachin and Boaz
The Two Pillars were said to have standed at the entrance of Solomon`s Temple and the
intepretation of the their signifance varies from author to author.
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Their symbolic nature is duality and essentialy binary: each of them represents one pole
of reality. They are aesthetically similar, but each has its own particular character. The
pillars are described in three Biblical passages. All three descriptions although markedly
different, name the right hand pillar Jachin and left hand one Boaz. In the Masonic rites
Jachin is translated as “may it establish” and Boaz as “with strenght”( W MacNaulty,2006
Symbols, Signs, Significance.)
Emulation Working, which is a commonly observed English system of Freemasonry,
says of the pillars: “They were built to be hollow, so that they could hold the archives of
Masonsry and indeed the scrolls of the constitution were laid within them.” In the
Constitutions of 1738 James Anderso says of them :” Some call them the pillars of Seth,
but the old masons always refer to them as the pillars of Enoch”

Pomegranates- The pillars are topped by capitals decorated with pomegranates.
Commentators of rituals have compared the seeds of the pomegranate to the
Masons, who are joined together by their souls. In ancient Greece, pomegranate
seeds were linked to the idea of error. Persephone tells her mother how she was
seduced against her will : “He cunningly placed sweet sugared food in my hand, a
pomegranate seed, and forced me to eat it despite myself” (Homeric Hymn to
Demeter).
W.K MacNulty points out that “ In the text of Genesis the fruit is not actually
named. The word used is peri which means fruit. This has become apple in
translation but many commentatiors now associate the apple with the
pomegranate. In fact, the fruit in Genesis could well be a fig or pomegranate,
which are more common in the Middle East than apples”.
18
 The Three Columns(Three Orders of Architecture)
The Three Orders of Architecture(Doric, Ionic and Corinthian) originated in Greece and
are distinguished by their proportions, characteristic profiles and details. In Freemasonry
each of them represents a virtue: Doric-Strength,Ionic-Wisdom and Corinthian-Beauty.
In many rites the three columns are topped with candles or three tall candlesticks are
placed in the Lodge. Lights are lit are the beginning of work and extinguished at the end.
These columns, or pillars, stand for the trinit of Wisom-Strenght-Beauty. Wisdom is
necessary for invention, Strength to accomplsh a task and beauty is for ornament.
(Daniel Beresniak,1997 Symbols of Freemasonry.)
 The Rough Ashlar, Cubical Stone and Pointed Cubical Stone
19
In Creation, God says that Man shall be punished to work “by the sweat of his brow”’
Masonic philosophy wants man to willingly choose work, as a source of tremendous
satisfaction and joy.
“If the profane man works to live, the Fellow Craft lives to work” Father Chenu
a) Rough Ashlar- is by excellence the raw material of the Freemason; it is a
“nothing” with wretched aspect, bad smell and black colour but it is a “nothing”
that contains within itself “Everything” (Gibet, 2006, Le Livre de l`Apprenti)
It is the first symbol presented to the initiate-“He who understands this
symbolism understands everything about Freemasonry” Jean Verdun
Derived from the art of building cathedrals and temples, Freemasonry extracts its
symbolism from the art of construction and sees the individual as rough ashlar
that must be processed, cut and polished in order to become cubic stone.
Rough ashlar is the raw material to be worked one. Stone symbolises human
beings in their natural state, before they work on themselves through
introspection. The symbolism of builders, guildsmen and Freemasons develops
around the notion that “to make” refers to “making something of oneself”. A
reading of Masonic texts shows that role models are presented with the invitation
that they be copied. The models are asked to identify themselves with are the
sages and, to achieve mastership, the architecht Hiram. Cutting stone is seen as
“becoming”. It is an act which recognises the need for change (Jean Verdun,
2007, La Realite Maconnique)
20
b) Between the rough ashlar and the pointed cubic stone, the Apprentice receives
the cubic stone as a model for his work. He uses his tools to polish it and in the
same time it polishes his tools and invites him to persevere.
c) The pointed cubic stone is represents, through a simplified form as a square
continued by a triangle. The passage from rough ashlar to pointed cubic stone is
alegoric, a symbol that mars a gradual process which leads to a state of
perfection.
The masonic grinding is a complex process which necesitates not only physical
force but also the four attributes of the Apprentice :to know, to dare, to want, to be
silent (Oswald Wirth 2007 Le Symbolisme Occulte de la Franc-Maconnerie ).
Alber G. Mackey reminds us that the difference between operative and
speculative Freemasonry is the fact that while the first was entrusted to create a
material temple, the latter concerns the building of a spiritual structure where the
stones, wood and precious metals are replaced by virtues of the heart, emotions
of the soul and the affection of the spirit.
Thus the association between the cornerstone (cubical stone) of a material
edifice and a Mason at his first initiation who starts the intellectual task to build a
spiritual temple in his heart. The cornerstone`s sides must all be perfect squares
because whitout this geometric form, the walls will deviate from perpendicularity
therefore weakening the structure.
If all the faces are squares the solid content will be a cube. And the square and
the cube are very important symbols. For the greeks, the square was considered
a perfect geometric figure and the expression: “Squared(or cubic) man” was used
to describe a man of intact integrity(Albert G Mackey,1935, The Symbolism of
Freemasonry.).
 Other tools of the Mason
a) The Gavel and the Chisel
These two tools are used to impose the worker`s will on a piece of stone.
Masons strike their chisel with the gavel to create the shape that they have
imagined. The gavel is thus associated with the active will. The fact that the
21
gavel and chisel are useless if separated, makes the complementary nature of
the active and the passive quite clear. The gavel is the active element
because it hits the chisel, thus giving it a force which the passive chisel
directs.
b) The Plumb line and the Plumb rule.
The plumb line is a piece of lead on a string attached ot a ring, while the plumb
rule is a
piece of lead on a line attached to the summit of a triangle. The first is
used to find a vertical axis and the second is used for the horizontal axis. Studies of these
two tools suggests various metaphors which mention how we locate ourselves on a
vertical plane by determining its two dimensions: height and length W MacNaulty,2006
Symbols, Signs, Significance.)
c) The Gauge and the Lever.
The gauge is a measuring tool, divided into twenty four sections, like the
division of the day into twenty –four hours, and allows us to check that the
finished building conforms to the original plan. The lever is a tool which
increases the worker`s physical strength.
d) The Trowel
This tool represents the final stage of a job, the moment when mortar or
plaster is applied over the walls, thus obscuring the differences between the
stones. It may be interpreted as obscuring differences between men, whom
have reached a common level of enlightenment through initiation.
It is also associated with creative power, which is illustrated by the fact that in
the Middle Ages the Creator was sometimes depicted holding a trowel.
22
 The Blazing Star
The Blazing Star is a symbol associated with the Second Degree: The Fellow Craft. In
the Christian tradition the star represents the souls that will be incarnated. God tells
Abraham that he`s descendants will be “as many as stars in the sky”. Another important
mention of the star is when the 3 wise men were guided by a star to the place of birth of
Jesus.
In the Hebrew tradition an angel is associated with every star and also the star
represents eternal life for the righteous.
For the aztecs stars represented the souls fo warriors killed in battle and in China it is
believed that every living creature has a corresponding star, therefore shooting stars
mark deaths or births.
Also, Julien Behaeghel states that Pharaoh, in order to enter eternity must execute
three steps (journeys) : the Step of the Earth, the Step of the Sun and the Step of the
Star, making th Star the purpose of a journey.( Julien Behaeghel,2007 Quete Symbolique
d`un FrancMacon).
One interesting fact concerns Dante Alighieri. Being known as an active member of
secret societies during his time, he ends all of the three books of the Divine Comedy with
a reference to a star.


Inferno: “E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle” –And then we went outside to see
the stars
Purgatory: “Pur e disposto a salire alle stelle” –Pure and ready to touch the stars
23

Paradise: “L`amour che move il sale e l`altre stelle”- The love that moves the sun
and the other stars.
Being an important presence in so many cultures of reference to Freemasonry, it is
easy to observe why the Blazing Star was adopted as an important symbol to the
Order.
Irene Mainguy also states that the Blazing Star is shown to the Fellow Craft at the
end of his initiation. To the question: “Are you a Fellow Craft?” he answers “I have
seen the Blazing Star”. This corresponds with the interior vision performed with the
Third Eye(Inner Eye/Eye of the Heart). To see with the Inner Eye means to know, to
understand. (Irene Mainguy,2004 La Symbolique maconnique du troisieme millenair p
203).
 The Mason`s Clothing:
Masons are required to wear specific items of clothing which also bear symbolistic
meaning.
a) The Apron is the Mason`s most distinctive item of clothing. It dates back to the
days of Operative Freemasonry when Masons wore a long apron of thick leather
to protect themselves against splinters of rock and blows from their tools. Entered
Apprentices aprons are made of a white material, traditionally lamskin. The
Fellows wear the same apron, but with the bib turned down. Masters` apron are
made of hide or satin, edged with red, green or blue depending on the rite and
lined with black. As a piece of protective clothing, the apron symbolises hard work
because it is necessary to protect oneself from the splinters of rough ashlar. At
the same time it helps create and maintain the bond of belonging to the same
fraternity.
b) The Sash and collar are the only decorative items to be worn above the belt. In
pre-revolutionary France, the sash was worn only by the nobility. The Masonic
lodge became he first place where everyone, whatever their social status or
origins, wore a sash, showing equality from “on high”.
c) The Gloves are generally white but, in the higher grades, may be red, blac or
white edged with red. In the past, following the initiation ceremony, an Apprentice
received two pairs of gloves: one for himself and another to give to “the lady he
esteemed most highly”. In 1780 having “been given the light” at the Amalia with
Three Roses Lodge in Weimar, Goethe sent a pair of gloves to Madame de Stein
with a letter containing the following words :” Here is a rather modest present, but
it is one that a man can give only once in his life”.
24
d) The Hat comes from the 18th century when the Worshipful Master wore a hat in
the Lodge, as did the other Masters sometimes. The hat, like the crown, is an
emblem of royalty and is a reminder to the Masters that their task is to rule, and
not to wield power for their own purposes. (W. MacNulty, 2006, Freemasonry:
Symbol, Signs,Significance)
Other symbols :


The acacia- appears at the thid degree, that of Master and it is used symbolically
to locate the tomb of the Master Hiram.
The rose- holds the same symbolic value as the lotus in the East. The rose is
also associated with knowledge and is thought to be the treasure of wisdom. Jean
de Meung`s Roman de la Rose is the world`s first encyclopedia,the sum of
thriteenth-century medieval knowledge. The mystic rose is the final illumination at
the last stage of a spiritual quest.
As one progresses past the Third Degree, the number of symbols increases and
their meaning deepens. Amongs some of them are:the all-seeing eye, the corn
seed, the tree and the forrest, the laurel and the olive, the two-headed eagle,
the brazen serpent and the true word, the pelican and the phoenix, the lamb,
the ivory key, the cave, the ladder, the liferope, the keystone
25
 The Letter G
The letter G is a very importat Masonic symbol and in most of the rites it is associated
with the Second Degree: Fellow Craft.
Roger Richard quotes from an ancient ritual from the 18th century: “The letter G which
you see in the centre presents two great and sublime ideas: First is a monogram of one
of the names of the Divine Being; the second represents Geometry, science that is based
on the application of the properties of numbers to the size of things” Roger Richard,
2002, Dictionnaire Maconnique)
Q: Why have you been accepted as a Fellow?
A: In order to learn about the letter “G”
Q: What does this letter mean?
A: Geometry or the fifth science
Irene Mainguy states that the first references to the letter G appear in Masonry
Dissected Samuel Prichard (1730), then in the Catechisme des Franc-Macons(1744), in
Sceau Rompu (1745) and Le Macon Demasque (1751) whre we see catechismes such
as:
Q: This G, what does it mean?
A: Someone greater than you.
Q: Who is greater that men, which I am a Free and Accepted Mason, the Worshipful of a
Lodge
26
A: The Great Architect of the Universe
Daniel Beresniak states that the Fellow Mason must be informed of the history of the
Rituals in order to clarify the meaning of the letter G in raport to the time period. For
example, one of the meanings: Gravitation must be seen in connection with the impact of
Isaac Newton`s theories in the society of the 18th century. In the same way, at the time of
the Regius and Cooke manuscripts the primordial meaning was Geometry (Daniel
Beresniak,1995m Rites et Symbols de la Franc-Maconnerie.).
Oswald Wirth also mentions that in the 18th century French Masons saw the letter G as a
potential symbol for: Glory, Grandeur and Geometry. (Oswald Wirth 2002,La FrancMaconnerie rendue intelligible a ses adepts. Le Compagnon p 48-49).
The Regius Manuscript (1390) which is an important part of the Old Charges(first
document that establishes the guides and principles of Freemasonry) features a poem
that sustains the idea that the letter G comes from Geometry
(…)
Both well and honestly full securely.
In that time, through good geometry,
This honest craft of good masonry
Was ordained and made in this manner
(…)
At these lord's prayers they counterfeited geometry,
And gave it the name of masonry,
For the most honest craft of all.
(..)
The full poem and its translation can be found here:
http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/regius.html
27
 THE 7 LIBERAL ARTS.
Borned in Antiquity they formed the basis of knowledge in the Middle Ages and the
Renaissance. They were grouped in Trivium (The Three Paths) or the science of
words:Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric. After these were mastered came the Quatrivium
(The Four Paths) or the science of things : Arithmetic, Geometry, Music,
Astronomy/Astrology.
The Old Charges, the Regius (1390) and the Cooke manuscripts (1440) also mention
these arts: “There are seven liberal arts, through wich all the sciences and techniques of
this world were invented and one is the foundation for all of them: Geometry”.
The texts mention them in this order:







Grammar- the art that teaches us to speack correctly.
Rhetoric- the art that teaches us to speack gracefully.
Logic- the art that teaches us to make the difference between true and false
Arithmetic- the science that teaches us the art of the numbers and how to
calculate.
Geometry- art that teaches us how to measure all things and how to calculate
weights.
Music- the art of singing through notes
Astronomy- the art that shows us the path of the Sun and the Moon.
After the list of the seven liberal arts comes the following observaton: “No science, not
even Grammar or Rhetoric, can operate whitout Geometry”.
Saint Augustin stated during his time that all seven arts contained the basic knowledge
necessary for man and his evolution.
In order to maintain the connection with the letter G we shall start examining Geometry
first, after which we will discuss the remaining 6 Arts.
 Geometry:
“Let no one ignorant of Geometry enter” Platon
The great philosohper therefore transmits to the world the fact that Geometry is the
science of the builder, the mason. In the Old Charges, Geometry is considered the
fundamental system from which all intellectual, moral and spiritual approaches come
from. In Freemasonry, Geometry allows the Universe to be measured, being the only
discipline that concerns universal building. Through the letter G, Geometry enters a
sacred state of trinity: God- Geometry-Freemasonry.
28
Geometric figures and shapes: triangle, square, circle, cross, sprial, pyramid, sphere,etc
are all bearers of great symbolical semnification like this ancient egyptian saying states:
“And there is truly nothing more philosophical, more esoteric than Geometry. And he who
will search, within its theories, the hidden metaphysics, shall enter a beautiful garden”.
Plato discovered that there are five solids which are regular, convex polyhedrons. Their
faces are congruent, regular polygons, with the same number of faces meeting at each
vertex. They were named: The Five Platonic Solids
In Plato`s vision, the Cube represents the Earth, the Icosahedron is Water, the
Octahedron is Air, the Tetrahedron is Fire and the Dodecahedron represents the
Cosmos.
The first reference in a book concerning Masonry appears in “A Defence of Masonry”
(1730). The author refers us to Proclus in Euclid. In that reference, Proclus says that a
point moving generates a line, a line moving in a direction not parallel to itself, generates
a superficies and a superficies moving in the same way generates a solid. Thus the stuff
of the point is the fabric of the line, the stuff of the line is the fabric of the superficies, and
the stuff of the superficies is the fabric of the solid. Since Proclus was the last of the
classica neo-Platonists, and the reference is in a work that is among the literature of the
Renaissance Hermetic/Cabbalistic tradition, one is led to think that the letter G is a neoplatonic reference to Deity.(Daniel Beresniak 1997 Symbols of Freemasonry).
Daniel Beresniak also mentions that in the Middle Ages, the teaching of geometry
cleared the way for objective thought. Until that time, all knowledge had been handed
29
down from an authority: an affirmation was considered to be true because it had been
declared by priests who were recognised by the establishment. The expressions:
“Magister dixit” (The Master has said it) and “Roma locuta, causa finita” (Rome has
spoken, the case is closed) were meant to put a stop to any debate and eliminate doubt
or the need for proof. Only one kind of knowledge could not be taught in this way:
Geometry. A theory about the properties of a shape can only be accepted when it has
been verified using reason, and a square and compasses. The teaching of geometry
implies therefore the recognition of students as people who are able to think rationally
and find meaning on their own. Such teaching creates and structures critical faculties and
objective analysis. Most importantly, it develops the desire to prove the truth of a
proposition.
As mentioned before, the adoption of the Square and Compasses as a central symbol of
Freemasonry came from the notion that intellectuals of the time saw in the Order a place
where they could escape persecution from the Church or the State.
 Grammar
In linguistics, Grammar is the set of structural rules that governs the composition
of clauses, phrases and words in any given natural language. The Masonic
Grammar puts the Mason in a position where he has to re-learn to read and write
in order to master the secret passwords, sacred words and secret alphabet.
(Claude Darche,2007,Vade-mecum du Compagnon p 41)
In Irene Mainguy`s vision Grammar`s: morphology, syntax and style refers to the
Three Columns (Three Orders of Architecture) and their symbolism: Wisdom,
Strength, Beauty
(Irene Mainguy 2004 La Symbolique maconnique du troisiem millenaire p 228)
 Rhetoric
Is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the capability of writers or
spearkes who attempt to inform, persuade or motivate particular audiences in
specific situations. In the Masonic Lodge, there exists a certain procedure
regarding speeches-certain historical, mandatory means of addressing which
Freemasons follow profesionally.
“To transmit is the most beautiful and noble duty of the Freemason” (Claude
Darche,2007, Vade-mecum du Compagnon p 42)
 Logic
Is the sstudy of means of reasoning. Having Aristotle as a mentor, Logic sees in
Plato the person that connects it with Divinity. Derived from the greek logikos
which comes from Logos(God, reason, Verb) it contains within itself the
30
archetypes which materialise through Word.(Irene Mainguy 2004 La Symbolique
maconnique du troisieme millenaire p 230)
In Rene Guenon`s definition, Logic is a special science(art) because it
represents the study of the conditions of human understanding. It is in direct
connection with metaphysics representing “the specific application of the
principles of the Universal Order.” (Rene Guenon, 1939 Introduction generale a
l`etude des doctrines hindous).
 Arithmetic
From an esoteric point of view, a number does not express a notion of quantity
but one of quality. By nature, a number represents a geometric and symbolic
construction. The manner in which a number structures itself (for example 9=3x3)
aswell as his own value have deep esoteric meaning.(Leonard Ribordy,2007
Nombre et Geometrie).
The science of numbers is known as Numerology. In Antiquity three numbers
were considered sacred: 3, 7 and 12. It must be mentioned that their sum (22) is
the number of major arcanes in Tarot and also the number of letters in the
Hebrew alphabet (Corinne Morel 2005, Dictionnaire des Symboles, Mythes et
Croyances).
The Kabbalah and Tarot blend together through numerology aswell as through
Astrology and Alchemy, each of them being an entry point for a Higher
Knowledge, notion that is at the core of Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry.
In the symbolism of the first 10 numbers exists the whole esoteric essence of
arcane knowledge consequently Rosicrucian and Masonic teachings (Lucien
Gerardin 2004, Le Mystere de Nombre).

One(1)- In the vision of Carole Sedillot and Elisabeth Zana (2007 ABC du
Symbole) it presents itself in a shape of a straight, vertical line with an
angle facing up. It suggests man`s standing position, a line that connects
the Earth with the Heaven. The number has the same appearance in
every language.
Derived from the latin unus it generates unio (union) and unitas (unity); it is
the equivalent of the center, of the origin. M. Centini mentions that One is
the “Being” which mixed with other numbers gives birth to different
compositions which despite their complexity can be always reduce to
unity: origin of counting (Massimo Centini, 2008 Simbolisme EsoteriqueCode)
31
For L. Gerardin ONE-Unity is previous to the number because all numbers
derive from it while it not derives from any other number, as an unborn
God. (Lucien Gerardin, 2004, Le Mystere de Nombres)
One is divine by excellence, the fundamental essence of all things and
beings. It is Adam, androgynous, man and woman unseparated in their
unity.

Two(2) – Is the even principle with which the Geometry of the line
starts(2+2=2x2). It is the first digit that separates from unity, symbolising
all dualities: inspiration-expiration, Heaven-Earth, good-bad, the Two
Pillars (Jachin and Boaz).
2x1=1 is the expression of duality, polarity, sexuality. It is the divison of
unity in masculine and feminine, active and passive, ying and yang. (Luc
Benoist. 2003 Signes, Symboles et Mythes).

Three(3)- Is the evolution of two, an escape from duality to the mystery of
trinity.(inspiration and exhalation become respiration,birth-life-death, hellearth-heaven, man-woman-child, the three dimension, triangle, the Fatherthe Son-the Holy Ghost) (Carole Sedillot,2000, ABC du Symbole).

Four(4) is the symbol for Earth, stability, solidity. It is
matter;front/back/left/right, 4 seasons, 4 cardinal points, 4 gospels. It is the
square and the cross.

Five(5) is Man. He has 5 fingers at one hand, 2 hands+2 feet+1 head. It is
the the human translation of the Divine World (1+4=5) when you add up
divine unity (1) and Earth (4).
The Pentagram is an important symbol derived from this number which
translates into the 5 corner star.
Pierre Delmas proposes a demonstration reffering to the presence of 5 in
the biological structure of the human DNA. He states the fact that one
DNA filament measures cca 2.40 m and each of the 46 chromosomes
contains 5 cm of DNA.
(P. Delmas 2004, Le Nombre d`Or, les Sciences, l`Astrologie).
32

Six(6) represents stability, balance, (the world was created in 6 days). It
oscilates between God and Evil. In its positive value it inclins towards God
while in its negative value it symbolises the Antichrist in the Bible(666).

Seven(7) is a sacred number and represents abundance. (7 planets, 7
days of the week, 7 virtues, 7 deadly sins, Cain took revenge 7 times, 7
demons came out of Mary Magdalene.(C.Sedillot 2000 ABC du Symbole p
342-343).

Eight(8) is realisation, the kabbalistic balance, the baptising of christians. It
is a cosmic number, sum of two squares 4+4. The octogonal shape is for
C.Sedillot and E. Zana a symbol of ressurection (The 8th day-Day of the
Ressurection).

Nine(9) represennts reintegration, hierarchy. It is the number which at the
end of the process it becomes itself again. (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9=45; 45
is composed from 4 and 5; 4+5=9).
Heaven, Earth and Hell are all symbolically represented by a triangle
therefore te number 9 represents the sum of the three world. It is
Ouroboros, the snake that eats its tail, great universal symbol signifying
cyclicality, eternal continuity.

Ten(10) Is Pythagora`s Tetraktys. It is the Universe, totality (10 fingers, 10
Sephirots in the Kaballa) (Luc Benoist 2003 Signes, Symboles et Mythes).
 Music- Comes from the greek “mousike” which also comes from the latin
“mousa” which means the eterior development of a principle (Claude Darche
2007, Vade-mecum du Compagnon p 46).
The ancient theorists made a classification of music as follows:
 Musica coelestis-the harmony of the angel choruses.
 Musica mundana- music of the spheres, present in the evolution of stars,
movement of elements and succession of seasons.
 Musica humana –harmony between the soul and the body (reason and
sensibility)
 Musica instrumentalis-i initiation of nature through art
(Irene Mainguy, 2004, La symbolique maconnique du troisiem millenaire)
33
Note
*Music seems to have lost the connection with the other 6 liberal arts in today`s
world and even mentioning the idea that music and geometry are interconnected would
probably generate smiles and laughs.Nonetheless I would like to mention that amongst
musicians that understood this connection were: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,(The
Magic Flute is known to be a masonic song), Franz Haydn, Louis Armstrong who were
all Freemasons. Sources give Ludwig Van Beethoven as a probable Mason though it
has never been fully confirmed.

Astronomy/Astrology
In the masonic ritual “Astronomy” reffers to what is known as “Astrology” which is
the ancient art of observing and “reading” the stars. The name comes from Greek
where “astron” is star and “logos” is word.
At around 1800 B.C. the babylonian priests had the task to schedule the affaris
and events of the kingdom according to the movement of the stars.
They noticed that the appearance of the sky changes throughout the seasons
and the Moon needs 28 days to regain its aspect from the beginning of the cycle;
the succession of the phases of the moon was split into four groups of seven
days; seven stars(planets) were visible with the naked eye in the time of the
ancien babylonians: Sun (Sunday), Moon (Monday), Venus (Friday/Veneris in
latin), Mercury (Wednesday/Dies Mercurii in latin) Mars, (Tuesday/Martis in latin),
and Saturn (Saturday).
The same babylonians noted that seen from Earth, the Sun, Moon and other
stars seemed to move around our planet forming an elipse. Along this fictional line
they placed 18 constellations which were then reduced to 12: Aries, Libra, Taurus,
Scorpio, Gemini, Sagitarrius, Cancer, Capricorn, Leo, Aquarius, Virgo, Pisces.
With the signs of the zodiac, Astrology becomes a system, a structure, a
science. The science that studies planets: Astronomy becomes Astrology when it
involves individual future predictions. The developments of the two, in close
connection with each other made possible the measuring of time, the invention of
time measuring devices aswell as observing and predicting special natural
phenomenons: floods, earthquaques, eclipses, climate changes.
Astrology lost its religious character throughout time; being strongly connected
with Astronomy, it was close to becoming a science but faced reprecusions from
the Church because it was seen as an alternative to the almighty will of God.
Astronomers tried to mae a compromise in their relationship with the Church
stating that “Astra inclinant, non necessitant”/ “The stars balance, don`t
determine”.
34
 HERMES TRISMEGISTUS or “thrice-greatest Hermes” is a legendary rather than
historical figure, the purported author of the Hermetic Corpus, a series of sacred
texts that are the basis of Hermeticism.
The Hermetic tradition is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs that have the
purpose to regenerate the normal and profane human being through the
understanding of his superior reality and the powers that are hidden underneath
his apparent nature.(Edouard Schure 2009,Les Grand Inities).
Occidental and arab alchemy aswell as other teaching are syntetized within the
famous Tabula Smaragdina ( Emerald Tablet) a text attributed to Hermes
Trismegistus and discovered in his tomb. It was highy regarded by European
alchemists as the foundation of their art and its Hermetic tradition.
The layers of knowledge in the Emerald Tabled have been associated with the
creation of the Philosopher`s Stone, laboratory experimentation, phase transition,
the alchemical magnum opus, the ancient, classical element system and the
correspondance between macrocosm and microcosm.
A translation by Isaac Newton is found among his alchemical papers that are
currently housed in King`s College Library, Cambridge University.
1.
This true whithout lying, certain & most true
2.
That which is below is like that which is above & that which is above
is like
that which is below to do the miracles of one only thing
3.
And as all the things have been & arose from one by the mediation of
one: so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation
4.
The Sun is its father, the moon its mother, the wind hath carried it in
its belly, the earth is its nourse
5.
The father of all perfection in the whole world is here
6.
Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth
7.
Separate thou the earth from the fire, the subtile from the gross
sweetly with great indoustry
8.
It ascends from the earth to the heaven & again it descends to the
earth & receives the force of things superior & inferior
9.
By this means you shall have the glory of the whole world
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10.
& thereby all obscurity shall fly from you
All that is divine (above) materialises (below). The big infinite, Macrocosm is in
close connection with the small infinite, Microcosm both being in
interdependence. (Caroline Sedillot 2000 ABC du l`Alchimie).
 PYTHAGORAS “In the Universe, all is number and harmony”
Born approximately between 590 and 570 B.C. in Samos lived in a rich spiritual
century where he was contemporary with Budha, Confucius and Lao-Tsu.
Pythagoras becomes “the man of his age” which he leaves his mark on with his
revolutionary way of thinking. In the Old Charges, the Pythagoreic Order is quoted
oftenly, as being one from which Freemasonry claims its descending. Pythagoras
is mentioned as the one who introduced Freemasonry in Europe. (Irene
Mainguy,2004 La Symbolique maconnique du troisiem millenaire p 242)

Tetraktys
1
*
2
*
*
3
*
*
*
4 *
*
*
*
1=Divinity, One, Unity
2=Rupture of Unity
3=1+2=Trinity
4=Material,terrestial creation
1+2+3+4=10=1+1=1 One God
A prayer of the Pythagoreans shows the importance of the Tetractys (sometimes called
the Mystic Tetrad”).
"Bless us, divine number, thou who generated gods and men! O holy, holy Tetractys,
thou that containest the root and source of the eternally flowing creation! For the divine
number begins with the profound, pure unity until it comes to the holy four; then it begets
the mother of all, the all-comprising, all-bounding, the first-born, the never-swerving, the
never-tiring holy ten, the keyholder of all"
Pythagora`s teaching places man in the centre of the concerns, it is a reflection on the
human action directed towards self-knowledge and elevation; Irene Mainguy proposes
that this self-knowledge should be seen as a philosophy but also a cosmology, a means
for interior realisation. (Irene Mainguy,2004, La Symbolique maconnique du troisieme
millenaire)
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 IMPORTANT MASONS THROUGHOUT HISTORY:
Members of the Royal Society: Sir Isaac Newton and according to William Preston, Sir
Christopher Wren, the architecht of St Paul`s Cathedral in London became a mason in
1691.
18th century proeminent Masons include the German philosopher Goethe and the Frenc
writer Voltaire.
The Enlightenment spread to North America where several “fouding fathers” were
Freemasons including:Benjamin Franklin,John Hancock, George Washington, and
Theodore Roosevelt
18th century architects who are known to have been Freemasons include Sir John Soane
and Claude Nicholas Ledoux.
The 19th century: Sources mention state a number of Napoleon`s brothers were Masons
but there is no strong evidence to state that he also was a Mason.Characters such as:
Marat, Winston Churchill, Giussepe Garibaldi and Simon Bodivar were also part of
Freemasonry.
James Watt-the inventor of steam power and Edward Jenner-who first used vaccinations
for smallpox.
20th century Holliwood: Cecile B Demille, Douglas Fairbanks, Clark Gable, Al Johnson
and Houdini.
The builder of the Eiffel Tower-Alexandre Gustav Eiffel who built it to celebrate the
centennial of the French Revoluiton also built the armature for the Statue of Liberty. The
design of the statue was the creation of another French Freemason, Frederic Bartholdi
Writers: Rudyard Kipling, Oscar Wilde, Jonatha Swift (author of Gulliver`s Travels)
Musicians: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Haydn, Louis Armstrong and possibly
Ludwig van Beethoven.
Other important figures: King Edward VII, King Edward VII, George Bush Sr, Geore Bush
Jr, Barack Obama(confirmed by sources within the Order), Buzz Aldrin
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 Freemasons and the Media
A key role in understanding the connection between Freemasonry and pop icons of
today`s media is Fritz Lang`s 1927 movie “Metropolis” which despite being launched
more than 80 years ago is increasingly relevant as many of its predictions are becoming
reality. We will look at the underlying occult message of the film and the usage of its
imagery in the acts of pop stars such as Lady Gaga, Madonna, Beyonce, Kylie Minogue
and others.
The full movie can be found here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebejt0Pja8c
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Movie Analysis:
The Workers:
The movie opens by showing the workers in their city, situated deep below the earth`s
surface. They are shown dressed alike, walking in line with their head bowed down in
submission and resignation. Throughout the movie, the “human cattle” is depicted as
being physically and mentally exhausted and highly impressionable.
The workers labor in a monstrous machine, an enormous industrial complex where they
must accomplish repetitive and dehumanizing tasks. At one point, the machine is
compared to Moloch, the ancient Semitic deity honored by human sacrifices
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The tasks assumed by the workers are purely mechanical, necessitating absolutely no
intellectual capabilities making them nothing more than an extension of the machine.
The Thinkers
While the workers live in a hellish underground dystopia, the thinkers evolve in a
gleaming utopia, a testimony of human achievement but which could not function
whithout the existence of the Machine (Moloch). In the same time, the Machine would not
exist whitout the need to sustain the city. We find here a dualistic relation where two
opposite entities exist in mutual dependance, a concept that has deep meaning.
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Here we see a reference to the hermetic axiom “As Above, So Below” described in
previous sections.Also notice the triangle shape of the writing.
Joh Fredersen, the Demi-God
The city was founded, built and is run by the autocratic Joh Fredersen. As the creator
and only ruler of Metropolis, Fredersen is likened to the Gnostic demiurge, a demi-god
who is creator and ruler of the material world. Notice how he is holding a compass in
his left hand.
Joh`s son, named Freder, who, like all sons of “the thinkers” was enjoying a life of luxury,
discovers the harsh reality of the workers from down under. Wanting to experience the
worker`s reality first-hand, Freder descends to the lower level and trades places with a
worker, Freder therefore becoming a Christ-like figure, a savior who descends from
above. He also becomes enamoured with Maria, a saintly young woman from the
proletariat.
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Maria
Maria is a charismatic woman who is highly admired hy her fellow workers.
Understanding their suffering and despair, and knowing that a rebellion is inevitable, she
preaches peace and patience, prophesying the coming of a “mediator”, who could
become the “heart between the head (the thinkers) and the hand (the workers)”
At one point, Maria tells the story of the tower of Babel, upon which would be written:
“Great is the world and its Creator! And great is Man! “
This statement present in ancient Mystery Schools as it taughts the idea that men have
the potential to become gods through enlightenment.
“As regards to Masonry, Babe of course represented a Masonic enterprise and early
expositors reaped full benefit from the facts. They remembered that the people, who were
of ‘one language and one speech’ journeyed from the East to the West, like those who
have been tried and proved as Master Masons. When they reached an abiding place in
the land Shinar, it is affirmed that they dwelt therein as Noachide, being the first
characteristic name of Masons. It was here that they built their high tower of confusion.
Out of evil comes good, however, and the confusion of tongues gave rise to the ‘ancient
practice of Masons conversing without the use of speech”
-Arthur Edward Waite, A New Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and of Cognate Instituted
Mysteries: Their Rites, Literature and History, Volume I
However, says Maria, “one man`s hymns of praise became the other man`s curse”. In
other words, the monument showing the greatness of the human spirit was built with the
blood and sweat of workers who knew nothing of the Thinker`s grand vision. The film
portrays this idea by naming Joh Fredersen`s headquarters-The New Tower of Babel
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Rotwang
Upon learning that the workers are planning an uprising, Joh Federsen seeks the advice
of Rotwang, an inventor and scientist. Although his work utilizes the latest of
technologies, he is said to live “in a small house overlooked by the centuries”
symbolically meaning that the scientist`s knowledge descended from ancient traditions;
the basement of his house has a secret trap door leading to 2000 year-old catacombs,
further alluding to his mysterious. condition. Furthermore, the front door of his house
bears a pentagram, an important symbol for Freemasonry aswell as Pythagoreans.
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Further on in the movie, the inventor proudly presents to Fredersen his latest invention,
the Machine-Man, which he considers to be the “Man of the Future”. The android has the
faculty of taking the form of any person and, says Rotwang, “no one will be able to tell a
Machine Man from a mortal!”. The transhumanist dream was, apparently, already present
back in the early 1920s.
Frederesn then tells Rotwang to give the Machine-Man the likeness of Maria in order to
use her credibility and charisma to spread corruption among the workers.(Notice the
inverted pentagram right above the Machine-Man`s head.If the pentagram faces up It
represent healing, geometrical perfection and the five elements while the opposite stands
for corruption of those principles.)
This is when some similarities between the pop-cultures and Machine-Man version of
Maria start to appear.
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Beyonce
Kylie Minogue
Lady Gaga
Janelle Monae
Returning to the movie,Rotwang tells the completed andoid: “I want you to visit those in
the depths, in order to destroy the work of the woman in whose image you were created”.
The Maria android is then sent to Yoshiwara, a man`s club, where she performs erotic
dances. In one of her acts, she is portrayed as Babylo, the Great Harlot from the
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Apocalypse.(“And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, having a golden
cup in her hand” She is held up by the seven deadly sins.
This scene has a great resemblant in more modern media.
Madonna-Material Girl
The programmed Maria performs mesmerizing dances in front of an avid public,
causing men to fight, to lust, to be jealous and to commit the rest of the deadly
sins. Amongst her fellow workers, Maria acts as an “agent-provocateur”, inciting
the working men to riot and giving Joh Fredersen reason to use force against
them. She is basically acting against the best interest of the public and for the
interest of the elite.
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The workers ultimately realize that they have been mislead by the android. Believing
she`s a witch, they find robot-Maria and burn her at the stake.
The movie finishes with this caption:
The essence of the movie is basically a message to the elite, a tip to keep the masses in
check: in order to keep the oppressed content, you must capture their heart. That is what
the media accomplish.
Madonna`s Express Yourself video heavily borrowed its imagery from
Metropolis. In
turn, Christina Aguilera`s Not Myself Tonight, heavily borrowed from Express Yourself.
The Moral of the Story
A direct way of putting it is “Let`s send the workers back to the depths where they belong,
but with the addition of a mediator, who will be the link between the workers and the
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thinkers”. The movie is intrinsically “elitist”, as it still calls for the existence of an
elite group of people holding most of the resources and managing a working class.
In the end, the workers-and Freder- were duped to believe that their conditions would
change. In fact, the status-quo remained and Joh even got his naïve son to give the elite
a friendly image while reporting everything happening in the depths, resulting in thighter
surveillance and control.
Who is the Freder of today`s working class? The media. Media is the Mediator.
That is its function.
Mass media manipulates the masses` thought and feelings on a daily basis, tricking them
into loving their oppression. Popular culture is the entertainment branch of mass media
and pop music is the fun way to communicate the elite`s message to the youth.
References to Metropolis in pop music are abundant for those who know where and how
to look.
The movie can be classifed as made “by the elite, for the elite”. It presents a solution that
does not distub the status-quo. It is also filled with Masonic symbolism and contains
many other symbols referring to ancien Mysteries which were meant to be decoded by
proper initiates.
Source: http://vigilantcitizen.com/musicbusiness/the-occult-symbolism-of-moviemetropolis-and-its-importance-in-pop-culture/
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 CONCLUSION:
This dissertation had the purpose to present the reader with informaton gathered from
reliable sources in order for him to create an objective opinion regarding Freemasonry. I
tried to include as least “noise” as possible. When I say “noise” I mean information that is
generally classified as “conspiracy theories”.
In researching for the topic, I found out that it is quite difficult to find academic resources
regarding the Freemasonry and especially, their implication in the media therefore by
presenting the reader with a description of the Main masonic symbols and theire
signifance, he can then try and form a personal and objective opinion.
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 BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Behaeghel, Julien Quete Symbolique d`un Franc-Macon, 2007
Beresniak, Daniel, Rites et Symboles de la Franc-Maconerie, 1995
Beresniak, Daniel, Symbols of Freemasonry, 1997
Centini, Massimo, Symbolisme Esoterique-CODE, 2006
Dachez, Roger, Histoire de la Franc-Maconnerie francaise, 2009
Darche, Claude, Vade-mecum du Compagnon, 2007
Garibal, Gilbert, ABC de la Franc-maconnerie, 2006
Gibet, Le Livre de L`Apprenti, 2006
Guenon, Rene, Etudes sur la Franc-Maconnerie et le Compagnonnage, 2000
Hodapp, Christopher, Freemasons, 2005
MacNullty, Charles, Freemasonry:Symbols, Signs, Significance, 2006
Mainguy, Irene, La Symbolique maconnique du torisieme millenaire, 2008
Morel, Corinne, Dictionnaire des Symboles, Mythes et Croyances, 2005
Pike, Albert, Morals and Dogma, 2004,
Richard Roger, Dictionnaire Maconnique, 2002
Schure, Edouad, Les Grands Inities, 2009
Sedillot, Caroline, ABC de l`Alchimie 2000
Verdun, Jean, La Realite Maconnique, 2007
Wirth, Oswald, La Franc-Maconnerie rendue intelligible a ses adeptes. Le Compagnon
2002
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