THE MASTER MASON DEGREE
This
Degree is the crown of the Blue Lodge. It is
the culmination of all that has been taught to the candidate in the two preceding
ceremonies. At this point the candidate has
symbolically, if not actually, balanced his inner natures and has shaped them into the
proper relationship with the higher, more spiritual parts of himself. His physical nature has been purified and
developed to a high degree. He has developed
stability and a sure footing. His mental
faculties have sharpened and his horizons have been expanded. The candidate is now ready to approach the portal
of the Sublime Degree of Master Mason.
The
above would be the ideal scenario, but is rarely carried out so seriously. However, regardless of the candidate’s pace
through the Degrees, he should always review his personal progress and take action to
improve himself in Masonry. He should not be
satisfied with taking the Degrees halfheartedly and then consider himself a Master Mason. Very few of us are truly Masters of our Craft, and
we should maintain a healthy deference for this exalted status. For the designation Master Mason should always be
before us in our journey toward the Light as the ideal of our Fraternity.
Being
“Raised to the Sublime Degree” is the appropriate terminology. Sublime is defined as being exalted or elevated so
as to inspire awe and wonder. And it also
means to undergo sublimation that, like distillation, requires a volatilization of a
substance that rises and reforms at a higher level. The
significance of this Degree is the portrayal of the removal of everything that keeps us
from rising to that state where the soul communes with the Supernal Light.
The candidate enters the Lodge of the Master Mason in darkness, for he has not
witnessed the Light at this Degree before. But
the difference of this entrance from that of the others is that he is now in a state of
equilibrium and is prepared to walk on sacred ground.
He becomes fully committed to the Fraternity and completely puts his faith on the
Three Great Lights. The initiate is given
full use of every working tool, but the one tool exalted above the others from this point
on is the one that symbolizes the spreading of brotherly love.
After ceremonies in the first section which seem quite familiar, the candidate
partakes of the central Mystery Drama of our Fraternity.
The very nature of participating in this rite and assuming the role of the Grand
Master Hiram Abiff is to forge a link with the inner soul of our Fraternity. And as our legend is completely and absolutely
consistent with some of the august Mystery Schools of antiquity, we are communing with the
archetypal forces that are the foundation of our tradition. And at least in some small way, we may
momentarily forget who we were when we entered the Holy of Holies and realize who we
really are.
The symbolism that we encounter in this Degree can be traced back for hundreds, if
not thousands, of years. Some of it is almost
identical with very ancient usage, but most of it has taken on the cultural flavor of its
successive conveyors. We will try to
rediscover the hidden meaning of some of these symbols.
The Working Tools of a Master Mason are “all the instruments of Masonry.” In the United States, the Trowel is especially
assigned to this Degree. The Master Mason
uses the Trowel to cement ties between Masons, and to spread Brotherly Love.
It may be remembered that this Degree is specifically related to the soul and, as such,
the Trowel being the symbol of love is specifically related to the soul’s relation
with Spirit. Although all the tools are
available to the Master Mason, it is the Trowel with which he must now work.
It should be remembered that tools have always aligned us with the creative and builder
spirit within us.
Hiram Abiff, the skilled artificer, was the Son of a Widow of the Tribe of Naphtali. The earlier accounts of Hiram are recorded in the
1st Book of Kings, 7:13 & 14. His coming
to work on the great Temple at Jerusalem is mentioned in a letter written to King Solomon
by Hiram, the King of Tyre, and recorded in II Chronicles, 2:13 & 14. The word Abiff is believed to mean “his
father”, and the name is often translated as “Hiram, my father”. He was regarded as the father of the workmen on
the Temple. One of the lessons of the legend
of Hiram Abiff is that of fidelity to one's highest ideals.
Hiram Abiff is, in essence, identical with many of the Mystery School heroes. The drama of the Egyptian god Osiris began with
his tragic death, the search for his body by Isis, its discovery and restoration. The Greek god Dionysus was attacked by the
Titans. In the course of the fight he went
through many transformations but was finally overcome.
The Titans dismembered him, but in due time the goddess Rhea came to his aid and he
rose glorious and entire. This formula is
ancient. It is the concept of the sacred
king, who in many instances is lame (which signifies his dedication), and is destined for
sacrifice, that the earth might become regenerated and uplifted by divine power.
Regarding Hiram as the “Son of the Widow,” there are a few things to mention. The Egyptian god Horus, as the child of Isis and
Osiris, was also the son of a widow. Hermes
Trismegistus called the stone “orphan.” There
seems to be a Manichaean origin to the terms “son of the widow” and
“children of the widow”. The
Manichaeans were called “children of the widow”.
Etymologically, the word individual is
related to the word widow. Vidua, Latin for widow, derives from the verb videre, meaning “to part.”
The three Grand Masters mentioned often in our rituals concerning the building of the
Temple are: Solomon, King of Israel; Hiram, King of Tyre; and Hiram Abiff. In early times, some religions regarded Deity in
three aspects. The secrets known only to
these Three Grand Masters typify Divine Truth, which was known only to Deity, and was not
to be communicated to man until he had completed his own spiritual temple. Once these secrets were attained, a man could
reap the rewards of a well-spent life, and travel to the unknown country toward which all
of us are traveling. By knowing the meaning
of these names and references to their offices, you will better understand what the ritual
means. Tyre, by the way, means stone or
rock.
TRAVELING IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
The goal of our ancient operative brethren was to become masters, so they might posses
those secrets which would enable them to practice the art of the builder, no matter where
they traveled, even in foreign countries.
The
term “foreign countries” is used symbolically in Speculative Masonry, and is not
meant to refer to a certain geographical location. Freemasonry
itself is a foreign country to every new member. To
fully appreciate and enjoy the privileges of membership, he must become familiar with its
territory. He does this by learning its language, customs, and history.
Once Raised, many of our members continue their journey into the inner recesses of the
Craft. This can be a most rewarding
experience. Truly, Freemasonry is the journey
of a lifetime. We must continue to search for
light and truth where ever it may be found, even in foreign countries.
The term “foreign countries” may also be a metaphor for the spiritual worlds. The ancients, and some not-so-ancients, concerned
themselves with vast spiritual worlds. Their method of gaining admission was through
secret passwords, grips, signs, and sometimes angelic names and holy words.
There are many symbolic explanations for the appearance of these three ruffians in our
ritualistic work. Their attempt to obtain the
secrets not rightfully theirs, and the dire consequences of their actions, are symbolic of
many things. Trying to obtain knowledge of
Divine Truth by some means other than a reward for faithfulness, makes the culprit both a
thief and a murderer. Each of us is reminded
that rewards must be earned, rather than obtained by violence or devious means. The Ruffians are also symbolic of the enemies we
have within us: our own ignorance, passions and attitudes, which we have “come here
to control and subdue”.
In ancient symbolism, the number twelve denoted completion.
This sign arose from the twelve signs of the Zodiac being a complete circle and the
twelve edges of the cube being a symbol of the earth.
The number twelve denoted fulfillment of a deed, and was therefore an emblem of
human life. High Twelve corresponds noon,
with the sun at its zenith, while Low Twelve denotes midnight, the blackest time of the
night.
THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH
The
lion has always been the symbol of might and royalty.
It was the sign of the Tribe of Judah, because this was the royal tribe of
the Hebrew Nation. All Kings of Judah were,
therefore, called the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” This was also one of the titles of King Solomon. This was the literal meaning.
In
the Middle Ages, the lion was a symbol of resurrection.
There were common tales that the lion cub when born lay dead for three days
until breathed upon by its father. This
breath brought the cub back to life. Representations
of roaring lions symbolized the resurrection of the dead on the Last Day. The lion, being such a majestic animal, has long
been considered the “king” of beasts; associated with the sun because of its
mane. Its likeness is commonly found on the
thrones and palaces of rulers. The Mithraic
god Aion had a human body with a lion’s
head.
Because of its association with the sun and its correspondence to the zodiacal sign of
Leo, the Lion is also considered a symbol of alchemical Fire.
In
the search for “That Which Was Lost,” we are not actually searching for a
particular word. Our search is a symbol for
our “feeling of loss” or “exile” from the Source of Life. What we are searching for is Divine Truth, which
should be the ultimate goal of all men and Masons.
The
Book of Genesis gives us a clue to the power of speech.
In it, we learn that the first Act of Creation occurred when "God
said." The utterance of the Word is also closely connected with the idea of Light,
and therefore knowledge. Having the power of
speech is perhaps the noblest attribute of man, because he can communicate his thoughts to
his fellows. Thus, The Word has been carried
down through the ages as synonymous with every manifestation of Divine Power and Truth. We must always search diligently for truth, and
never permit prejudice, passions, or conflicts of interest, to hinder us in our search. We must keep our minds open to receiving truth
from any source. Thus, Masons are devoted to
freedom of thought, speech and action. In
our Craft Lodges, we have but a substitute for the True Word. Each person must ultimately seek out and find the
True Word for himself, through his own individual efforts.
Some
Masons feel that the names of the Ruffians give us a blatant hint at the Lost Word. Indeed, there is an allusion to the sacred
syllable of the Vedic texts found in these names. But
again, that word is itself a symbol of the underlying Reality that upholds and sustains
the world. Some Masons feel that the Lost
Word is spoken of in the scriptures variously as “the sound of rushing waters”
and “I heard behind me a Voice like a great trumpet,” or “a great roar like
a lion” and such.
This
was a wooden instrument used by operative masons to set polished stone firmly into a wall. The Maul has been shown to be a symbol of
destruction from prehistoric times, and is shown many times in mythology. One of the best known is that of Thor, God of
Thunder, who is shown as a powerful man armed with a mighty hammer.
Hebrew people used to plant a sprig of acacia at the head of a grave for two purposes - to
mark the location of the grave, and to show their belief in immortality. Because of its evergreen nature, they believed it
to be an emblem of both immortality and innocence. The
true acacia is a thorny plant, which abounds in the Middle East. Both Jews and Egyptians believed that because of
its hardness, its evergreen nature and its durability, it signified immortality. It is believed that the acacia was used to
construct most of the furniture and the tabernacle in the Temple. Acacia has red and white flowers. It is a tradition in the Near East that the Crown
of Thorns was acacia. In Egypt, it symbolized
rebirth and was an emblem of Neith.
Most people do not understand what being “Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master
Mason” means. This Degree is the
sublime climax of Symbolic Freemasonry. If
you learn only that the living, dying and raising of a Master is a drama, designed to
teach the virtues of fidelity, faith and fortitude, you have received only partial light
and have seen nothing but a moral lesson. This
Degree seeks to answer the age-old question put forth by Job - “If a man die, shall
he live again?”.
The Degree delves into the deepest recesses of man’s nature. While it leads the initiate into the Sanctum
Sanctorum of the Temple, it probes into the Holy of Holies in his heart. As a whole, the Degree is symbolic of old age and
by the wisdom of which we may enjoy the happy reflections consequent on a well-spent and
properly directed life, and die in the sure knowledge of a glorious immortality.
It teaches no creed, no dogma, no doctrine, no religion; only, that there is immortality.
QABALISTIC ALLUSIONS OF
THE THIRD DEGREE
The
system of Traditional Jewish Mysticism known as Qabalah often provides important clues to
the interpretation of passages of Scripture. Since
much of our ritual is derived from Scripture, there are certain very interesting
Qabalistic allusions throughout the rituals of Freemasonry.
We
will here list only one of the more interesting occurrences, without reference to either
Hebrew or Greek. However, some familiarity
with these languages can be useful when searching for Qabalistic allusions within
Freemasonry.
Using
the Qabalistic discipline of gematria, the
Hebrew spelling of Hiram Abiff equals the number 273.
So does the Hebrew word for “Hidden Light”. And the phrase found in Psalms 118:22 “the
stone refused by the builders” also adds up to 273.
Sometimes Gematria can cross
languages, too. For example, the Greek word athanasia, which means “immortality,”
also equals 273. From the standpoint of gematria, the message could not be clearer. [See
also FC: THE MASONIC LETTER “G”]
In The Three Pillars we have the three great
supports of Masonry - Wisdom, Strength and Beauty. The Three Steps remind us of how youth, manhood and
old age is each an entity in itself, each possessing its own duties and problems, and each
calling for its own philosophy. The Pot of Incense teaches that, to be pure and
blameless in our inner lives is more acceptable to God than anything else, because that
which a man really is, is of vastly greater importance than that which he appears to be. It is also a symbol of prayer and meditation. The
Beehive recommends the virtue of industry and teaches us that we should never rest
while our fellow creatures are in need of assistance.
It should be mentioned that bees have also been symbols of messengers from
the heavens. The Book of Constitutions Guarded By The Tyler’s
Sword is the emblem of law and order, and reminds us that our moral and spiritual
character is grounded in law and morality as much as is government and nature. It teaches that no man can live a satisfactory
life who lives lawlessly. The Sword Pointing To A Naked Heart symbolizes that
one of the most rigorous of these laws is justice, and that if a man be unjust in his
heart, the inevitable results of injustice will find him out. The All
Seeing Eye shows that we live and move and have our being in God; that we are
constantly in His Presence, wherever or whatever we are doing. The single Eye is found in many countries from
Egypt to India: The Eye of Horus, the Eye of Shiva and so on. The Anchor
and Ark stand for that sense of security and stability of a life grounded in truth and
faith, without which sense there can be no happiness.
The Forty-Seventh Problem of Euclid,
or the Pythagorean Theorem, is a very potent
symbol and is so important in Freemasonry that it cannot be overemphasized. It is the Sacred King of the scalene (limping)
triangles. Its properties have incredible
implications in many different areas. Plutarch
informs us that the Egyptians attributed the holy family of Osiris, Isis, and Horus to
this specific triangle: Osiris the vertical (3), Isis the horizontal (4), and Horus the
diagonal(5). Remember that after Osiris is
killed, Horus becomes the Son of the Widow.
In
The Hourglass we have the emblem of the
fleeting quality of life. The Scythe reminds us that the passing of time
will end our lives as well as our work, and if ever we are to become what we ought to be,
we must not delay.