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OF EMBLEMS AND SYMBOLS

By: Bro. Geminiano V. Galarosa, Jr.
Dagohoy Lodge No 84
(HM- LL 185, JS 169 and RP 147)


One of the more distinct definitions of Freemasonry is that it is “a system of morality veiled in allegory”; or phrased differently, “a system of morality expressed in symbols” both of which mean the same. For allegory is simply defined as expression through symbolic figures and actions of truth.

Freemasons no longer need to be told of the symbolic meanings of the Square, the Level, and the Plumb as these are well explained in the second degree conferral. And just in case he feels he needs more elaboration, all he need is listen to the annual installation ceremonies of the Craft and there he will be reminded of their full significance.

The working tool which serves as emblem or symbol that is first presented to an initiate is neither the Square, the Level, nor the Plumb. Neither is it the Compasses that figure prominently in the logo of the Craft. It is the twenty-four inch gauge; and on this, here is an interesting historical morsel that was extracted verbatim from page 34 of a book authored by Daniel J. Boorstin titled “The Discoverers”.

“A famous candle clock was that reportedly designed to help the pious Alfred the Great (AD 849-899) king of the West Saxons, keep the vow he made when he was a fugitive from his native country. He swore that if his kingdom is restored, he would devote a full third of each day to the service of God.

According to the legend, when he was back in England, he ordered a candle-clock. From seventy-two pennyweight of wax, six twelve-inch candles were made, all uniform in thickness, each marked in one-inch division. The candles were lit in rotation, and the six candles were said to last a full twenty-four hours. These were protected by transparent horn panels set into wooden frames to prevent the light from being extinguished by a draft. If King Alfred devoted the time of two full candle lengths to his religious duties, he could be assured that he was fulfilling his vow.”

From the above-mentioned excerpts, it is interesting to note that the twenty-four inch gauge was replaced by candlesticks (remember the nursery rhyme Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jumped over the candlestick?) but the essence remains the same. And was Alfred the Great a Freemason? Who could tell!!

But to this writer, one confusing emblem that he found in the monitor is the hieroglyphic emblem that was explained at the end of the second section of the lecture of the Master Mason’s degree states:

Ths, m Br, ws # bd % # G M H A rsd f # gr, envd t # t # T @ br, wch md thr tms, fs, I # rbs % # T b # rfns;scdl, at # brw % # hl nr Mt Moriah b # sm, @ lstl, nr # S S, o H % H, whr Mc trdtn infs us, thr ws erc t hs m a mrbl mt, cnstg % a btfl clmn brkn; by it a vrgn wpg; an op bk bfr hr. . . etc. etc.

Let us now decode part of the subsequent paragraph of the said lecture to illustrate a point:

“The column broken denoted the untimely death of the Grand Master Hiram Abif; the virgin weeping, the unfinished station of the Temple.”.

But look, there seems something unusual about the above-mentioned explanation, as broken columns should properly denote the unfinished Temple while the virgin weeping which denotes the expression of sadness must have referred to the death of the Grand Master Hiram Abif. Weren’t the explanation jumbled or interchanged?

This writer noticed this apparent discrepancy in 1996 and so wrote the Grand Lodge accordingly. But the Committee on Works, “in defense of usage”, ruled that the passage should be taken in its context.
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Not satisfied with the explanation, he later asked a brother through the Internet and asked if other Grand Jurisdictions have the same wording. One said that the California Cipher from where the Philippine Monitor was copied almost verbatim also said the same thing. Further that brother explained that the said paraphrasing is correct and that the explanation be not taken literally and out of context detailing thereon the said explanation to support it.

And so the lion made a little sleuthing and found that on page 378 of Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma, it said that the virgin weeping is Isis, the applicable narration of which is being copied verbatim from the said book:

“To aid the in the search for the body of Osiris, and to nurse her infant child Horus, Isis sought out and took with her Anubis son of Osiris, and his sister Nepthe. He, as we said, was Sirius, the brightest star in the Heavens. After finding him, she went to Byblos, and seated herself near a fountain, where she had learned that the sacred chest had stopped which contained the body of Osiris. There she sat, sad and silent, shedding a torrent of tears. Thither came the women of the Court of Queen Astarte, and she spoke to them, and dressed their hair, pouring upon it deliciously perfumed ambrocia. This known to the Queen, Isis was engaged as nurse for her child, in the palace, one of the columns of which was made of erica or tamarisk, that had grown up over the chest containing Osiris, cut down by the King, and unknown to him, still enclosing the chest, which column Isis afterward demanded, and from it extracted the chest and the body, which the latter wrapped in thin drapery and perfumed, she carried with her.

Blue Masonry, ignorant of its import, still retains among its emblems one of a woman weeping over a broken column, holding in her hand a branch of acacia, myrtle or tamarisk, while Time, as we are told, stands behind her combing out the ringlets of her hair. “

So there we have in Blue Masonry a marble monument that was said to be erected “in honor of the GHMA. But it did not explain the apparent switching of the explanations for the “broken column and the virgin weeping” for as can be gleamed from hieroglyphic writing that was earlier invented by the Egyptians from where Osiris and Isis were considered as gods, and also from the Greeks were hieroglyphs were further refined via sculpting, what is pictured out is what is alluded to. Ever had a glimpse of the Book of the Dead?!

On second thought, could it be that since Freemasonry only gives hints on what it intends to convey and would even purposely waylay the gullible and the unsuspecting brethren, could it be that Blue Masonry intentionally switched the two explanations for reasons they alone can comprehend?!
Consider the following:
One symbol peculiar to Freemasons is the blackball, which means rejection of a candidate. This word is understood by the general public, even by cowans and eavesdroppers. But have we ever pondered that it is not a black ball that is used for rejection but a black cube?! Balls, and in the masonic sense, white, is used to elect, and black cubes (not balls) eject!!
Consider also the use of word “hail” which the English dictionary defines as “an expression of greeting.” But the meaning of this word to Freemasons is to conceal!
Talk about having double-edged meanings and these two examples will undoubtedly fill the grade.

Think about it, brethren!





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