Originally posted by Gazrok
I've known many masons...you seem to be one.
Indeed I am.
No need to be defensive,
This is a tough phrase to which to respond. The natural response is "I'm not being defensive!" which is, in itself, defensive. I can only assure
you that I am not defensive, only confused by what you mean.
it makes sense that the symbolism would be present in government symbols...
That may well be, but as the link I posted a bit back (
this one) indicates, there was no Masonic
involvement in the design of the Great Seal. It's possible that non-Masons wanted to acknowledge the contribution of Masons to the country, but the
symbols are not explicitly Masonic (it would be easier to incorporate a Square & Compasses, or a Square, Level, and Plumb Rule, or even a Beehive),
and have credible non-Masonic explanations.
An "all-seeing" eye could mean many things, and has been used by many cultures/groups, etc. Eye of Horus, Eye of Odin. As they all came before the
symbol on the bill, it can easily be said to be derived from it's predecessors...
It can be said to derive from its predecessors, but saying this does not, in itself, mean much. The Alpha is defined from a picture of an Ox, and the
'A' from the Alpha, and the 'A' is the first letter in my name... but does it signify anything? Am I Ox-like? I hope not, at least
odour-wise.
I guess my question is, if this symbol is similar to,
e.g. the Eye of Horus, what is the significance?
EDIT: Yaay! I am no longer "warned." My shame is washed away!
[edit on 26-8-2004 by AlexKennedy]