Symbolism in freemasonry, page 1

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Topic started on 21-2-2010 @ 11:01 PM by loveguy

Hello,
I wasn't sure where to post this thread. This one seems as good a place than any. If not, mods can move it to a more appropriate place. Thanks.

I do alot of thinking. Daydreaming more like it! I saw a liscence plate today and it had an "X" on it. Nothing out of the ordinary really. "X" is in the english alphabet.

I saw the "X", looking into it, rather than at it. The strangest thing occured to me; If I invert the top of the "X" with the bottom of the "X": example; ^. Wouldn't you know it, my keyboard doesn't have an arrow pointing down to show my complete example!!!

So, where I was going with this is see how the "X" can be inverted to look like a well-known free-mason symbol? The compass and the square? This line of thinking makes me want to study symbolism in free-masonry to try and determine what other alphabet letters can be manipulated to resemble free-masonry symbols.

Anybody have some good links to help me in my studies? Greatly appreciated, thanks.

reply posted on 22-2-2010 @ 12:24 AM by JoshNorton

reply to post by loveguy

I would say that X is more reminiscent of St. Andrew's cross. You should check into some of the legend regarding the Templars, the Hospitallers, Robert the Bruce and the Battle of Bannockburn, etc.

If you really want to overlay ∧ and ∨ and come up with a roman character, a stylized capital A might also work, though I have no particular Masonic symbolism associated with that letter or character.

The obvious letter of importance to (primarily) American Masons is "G", for Geometry. (Some will also say it stands for God, though I find that a bit biased towards English speakers... Deus, Dios, Dieu, and Dio are the word for God in Latin, Spanish, French and Italian, respectively. Whereas in all those languages the word for Geometry starts with a G...

reply posted on 22-2-2010 @ 10:46 AM by KSigMason

reply to post by loveguy

As a Mason I have thought about that, but nowhere in our ceremonies is the letter "X" from the English language used for a covert symbol of the square and compass. Also if you manipulate the connecting middle bar in the letter "A" you could get the square and compass.

reply posted on 22-2-2010 @ 08:38 PM by loveguy

Originally posted by JoshNorton
reply to post by loveguy

I would say that X is more reminiscent of St. Andrew's cross. You should check into some of the legend regarding the Templars, the Hospitallers, Robert the Bruce and the Battle of Bannockburn, etc.

If you really want to overlay ∧ and ∨ and come up with a roman character, a stylized capital A might also work, though I have no particular Masonic symbolism associated with that letter or character.

The obvious letter of importance to (primarily) American Masons is "G", for Geometry. (Some will also say it stands for God, though I find that a bit biased towards English speakers... Deus, Dios, Dieu, and Dio are the word for God in Latin, Spanish, French and Italian, respectively. Whereas in all those languages the word for Geometry starts with a G...

Hello,
Thanks for the input.
I wonder, who invented the game of pool/billiards?
As far as Templars go, I've only watched documentaries on discovery channel. And so on to more research! Thanks.

reply posted on 22-2-2010 @ 08:46 PM by loveguy

Originally posted by KSigMason
reply to post by loveguy

As a Mason I have thought about that, but nowhere in our ceremonies is the letter "X" from the English language used for a covert symbol of the square and compass. Also if you manipulate the connecting middle bar in the letter "A" you could get the square and compass.

Hello,
Yup, I see how that can be done!
A mystery to me is how well buildings were built so early, and so precise. Cathedrals and stuff way back when...Those people had strange abilities not only with their hands, but also their minds in planning such architecture. The dome is quite fascinating.

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 12:38 AM by JoshNorton

Originally posted by loveguy
A mystery to me is how well buildings were built so early, and so precise. Cathedrals and stuff way back when...Those people had strange abilities not only with their hands, but also their minds in planning such architecture. The dome is quite fascinating.

That's why the were, well, not a secret society but a society with secrets... The stonemasons who knew how to build taller walls, cut more square stones so there were no gaps, etc, guarded their trade secrets as a means of job security. The traditions of speculative masonry grew out of those operative groups.

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 01:01 AM by KSigMason

When I attended college I majored in History. I love (emphasis on love) ancient history and architecture. I have some books that each one contains something different about architecture whether its infrastructure of defensive structures.

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 01:39 AM by articulus

reply to post by JoshNorton

KSigMason also mentioned the thing about the letter A, so I thought I'd reference an old thread I started a while back that never went anywhere (for good reason). In fact, it was nipped in the bud due to my own, over-eager misidentification of the letter A as a stylized compass and square.

It's peripherally related to this discussion, as I wanted to examine the connection between the Order of the Amaranth in Queen Christina's Sweden and a women's organization of the same name that has been incorporated into the larger body of auxiliary Masonic orders.

the old thread

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 01:50 AM by Silver Shadow

You are very very close...........

The real explanation is the "double cross". Move two X's together so they actually touch.
You now have a perfect square and compass.

We all know what being double crossed means, don't we ?

But how many know the true origin of the term being "double crossed" ?

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 11:34 AM by KSigMason

reply to post by Silver Shadow

Well, the double cross (current or old meaning) has nothing to do with the Square and Compass. Now, I know the Patriarchal cross was a double cross used around the 9th century, I think.

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 04:03 PM by Silver Shadow

Sorry my friend you are wrong.
The term, "double crossed", like many masonic phrases has entered common usage. But few people understand the origin or real meaning behind it.

As a matter of fact, the lower degrees of masonry are given simple and deliberately FALSE or incomplete explanations for many of the signs and masonic symbols.
As you proceed to higher degrees, more of the secrets and esoteric wisdom will be slowly revealed to you.

If you think an apprentice mason is told absolutely everything, and the whole truth, in a system based on secrecy, lies, and deception.
Then I wish you luck.

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 04:18 PM by light_circle

X - Think of a spiral, double-helix, movement from top to bottom.

A - Think first letter of the alphabet, number One, which way is the "A" pointing?

good post, keep on diggin

[edit on 23-2-2010 by light_circle]

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 04:34 PM by articulus

reply to post by Silver Shadow

I'm always curious about this phenomenon: people who have a blatant dislike of Freemasonry and who manage to be simultaneously convinced that (A) the fraternity is "based on deception" and that (B) they somehow know of a "real truth" about Freemasonry that is obscured from members but revealed to detractors.

How can you be so certain that whatever sources you're taking your information from are more accurate than the actual words of Freemasons and their teachings? Many formerly "secret" documents, signs and rituals are available to everyone with a computer, and I understand that anyone, Mason or not, is welcome to read the books in the major Masonic libraries.

I'm not a Mason, so it would be laughable for me to claim more knowledge of the rituals, lessons, or structure of any of the organizations that can be collected under the umbrella of Freemasonry than is possessed by those who spend years in earnest study of their craft. I am an editor by trade; I would not appreciate being told by a carpenter that I do not understand the true meanings of commas and ellipses.

I wonder when those who would ask us to open our minds to extreme possibility will likewise open their minds to the possibility that they are wrong. To some degree, I understand people who are mistrustful of things that they don't understand. I truly do not get, however, how some of those people can be so entrenched in their own dogma of opposition. I suppose different people arrive at such concrete conclusions for a variety of reasons, but this attitude would seem to be counterproductive in terms of further understanding the things that upset them.

[edit on 2/23/10 by articulus]

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 05:35 PM by Silver Shadow

reply to post by articulus

Very simply, masonry has become very popular and widespread, and is becoming ever more so.
It is just a vast self serving web of corruption and immorality.

Likewise the number of ex masons, and victims that have been hurt by masonry are also increasing in numbers.

When there are literally hoards of people all over the world that have abandoned freemasonry in total disgust, all telling very similar stories, the truth is not hard to fathom.

Yet many staunch masons deny any wrong doing at all in masonry.
Funny about that.

I will say one thing though.
The truth always withstands the test of time far better than lies ever do.

[edit on 23/2/2010 by Silver Shadow]

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 06:18 PM by AugustusMasonicus

Originally posted by Silver Shadow
The term, "double crossed", like many masonic phrases has entered common usage. But few people understand the origin or real meaning behind it.

After some searching the best I could determine was that the phrase originated in the 19th Century and that no one is certain of its origins. Please direct us to where you discovered its meaning, I would be interested in examining the evidence.

As a matter of fact, the lower degrees of masonry are given simple and deliberately FALSE or incomplete explanations for many of the signs and masonic symbols.
As you proceed to higher degrees, more of the secrets and esoteric wisdom will be slowly revealed to you.

What specifically constitutes a 'higher degree'?

If you think an apprentice mason is told absolutely everything, and the whole truth, in a system based on secrecy, lies, and deception.
Then I wish you luck.

What portions of the ritual are deceptive and what in particular about them do you find to be deceptive?

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 08:16 PM by loveguy

Hello,
I can't seem to find more symbols than the square and compass, and the- I forgot what it's called; the chisel-driver? Just curious what other hand tools were used way back when. I need to learn how to copy my research/studies for later reference!

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 08:39 PM by Silver Shadow

Originally posted by loveguy
The- I forgot what it's called; the chisel-driver?

It is called a "Lewis".

It is used for lifting and placing stones into position.
The son of a mason is also called a Lewis.

Happy research loveguy.

reply posted on 23-2-2010 @ 10:04 PM by KSigMason

reply to post by Silver Shadow

This "deception" is in the opinion of one man who wrote a book about the Scottish Rite. And yet as far as I understand everything all the rituals are based around the 3 Blue Lodge degrees. The Blue Lodge is the tree trunk which without the branches would not exist as they do now. Plus the Scottish Rite has no authority except unto itself.

The SGIG of Idaho could have come into my Lodge and he has no authority in the Lodge, other than being a Brother worthy of great respect (and being a Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge). Just as none of my York Rite positions are never introduced in the Lodge except in special instances such as public installations, but only when I'm attending in the faculty. Here's the catch though, all the appendant bodies I belong too still introduce regularly the Worshipful Master and/or the Grand Master of the Blue Lodge.

Freemasonry is a progressive moral-science; every Brother knows this. What Freemasonry is not is deceptive.

reply to post by Silver Shadow

Where is your proof of this "self serving web of corruption and immorality"? Our goal is only betterment through acts of charity. There is nothing wrong with that. I have seen some very committed men that I'm fortunate enough to call my Brother.

Ex-Masons are a subject for another time. Simply, to each his own. As for victims, most of any real victim is a victim of their own actions. Freemasonry doesn't condone harm to anyone.

Originally posted by Silver Shadow
The truth always withstands the test of time far better than lies ever do.

I can apply this to Freemasonry, as it has withstood the tests of time, the passing of generations, and the lies told about it; and it will go one as it always has for logical, reasoned people will see it for what it is and not as the conspirators try to paint it.

I'm sure though that if I put:

Name, 33rd AASR, SGIG, KCCH, PGM, PM, PEGHP, PIGM, PGC, KYCH, KCT, ROOS, RCC, YRSCNA, TIM, OHP, HRAKTP, OKP, KTCH, and so on

You would still say that I am not a high enough level and that were was some inner circle I was still not a part of.

reply posted on 24-2-2010 @ 06:15 AM by AugustusMasonicus

Originally posted by loveguy
Hello,
I can't seem to find more symbols than the square and compass, and the- I forgot what it's called; the chisel-driver? Just curious what other hand tools were used way back when.

I believe you are refering to a setting-maul. Other hand tools that appear in Masonry besides the Square and Compasses are the Plumb, Twenty Four Inch Gauge, Trowel and Common Gavel.

reply posted on 24-2-2010 @ 07:54 AM by Masonic Light

Originally posted by Silver Shadow

Likewise the number of ex masons, and victims that have been hurt by masonry are also increasing in numbers.

When there are literally hoards of people all over the world that have abandoned freemasonry in total disgust, all telling very similar stories, the truth is not hard to fathom.

This, it should be noted, is incorrect. Freemasonry, like practically all organizations, has had people leave it for various reasons. Most of the so-called modern "anti-Masons" who are indeed ex-Masons have left because nobody elected them to become Grand Poohbahs, and they became jealous of others.

To claim that such folks constitute "hoards of people" is laughable. Very few people have left Freemasonry, and most of those that have apparently just crave attention.

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