It has been my observation for quite some time now, that in English-speaking lodges, where the Holy Bible is almost exclusively the Book which resides upon the altar to open the lodge, the term "VSL" is quite commonly used in direct reference to the Holy Bible, so that the term itself, "Volume of Sacred Law," cannot automatically be taken as a generic reference in such contexts. Naturally, I stand quite ready to produce NUMEROUS examples where this takes place, in practically every Freemasonic venue you care to name in English Masonry.
One of the most prominent I have seen, comes from a website familiar to many a Mason, as well as many a critic, Bessel.org. On his index page, we find a couple of pages concerning the "Volume of Sacred Law," and on visiting one of them, we find the title: "Where VSL is Opened To."
On scrolling down the page to peruse the entries included in his chart, we find that without exception, in the cases where listings were provided, they are all chapter and verse notations from the Holy Bible.
What higher authority do we have on the Temple of King Solomon than the Volume of the Sacred Law? In 1 Kings 7:21 it says "He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple; he set up the pillar on the south and called it Jachin; and he set up the pillar on the north and called it Boaz." ("A Tale of Two Pillars," Masonic Education Newsletter, GL of Ontario, Vol. 16 No. 3)
Called "Volume of Sacred Law, and then cited from 1 Kings 7:21--making it clear that "Volume of Sacred Law" was a reference to the Bible in this context.
Upon the Altar of every Masonic Lodge, supporting the Square and Compasses, lies the Holy Bible. The old, familiar Book, so beloved by so many generations, is our Volume of Sacred Law and a Great Light in Masonry. the Bible opens when the Lodge opens; it closes when the Lodge closes. No Lodge can transact its own business, much less initiate candidates into its mysteries, unless the Book of Holy Law lies open upon its Altar. Thus the Book of the Will of God rules the Lodge in its labors, as the Sun rules the day, making its work a worship. [Lake Harriet Lodge, Minnesota, "The Holy Bible or Volume of Sacred Law (V.S.L.)"]
FIRST called the Holy Bible, THEN Volume of Sacred Law, and before the first paragraph of the article has finished, the Bible has also been referred to as "Great Light," "Book of Holy Law," and "Book of the Will of God."
Paragraph four of "Aims and Relationships of the Craft" issued by the three British Grand Lodges states:
"The Bible, referred to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law, is always open in the lodge." (From the GL of Iowa--they apparently intended to include more, since a second sentence of the material was begun--however, before the next sentence concluded, it went to the next page of the document, but was nowhere to be found.)
This matter-of-factly states that the Bible is "referred to by Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law." How can they do so? Because it occurs in a specific context, the UGLE, where the Bible IS the "Volume of Sacred Law."
The Temple of Solomon in the Volume of Sacred Law and Craft Ritual, by W. Bro. Stephen Michalak, Assistant Grand Lecturer, Grand Lodge of South Australia and the Northern Territory (Book, Pietre-Stone's Review of Freemasonry website)
There's only one "Volume of Sacred Law" to which this can refer, since the very title says it is in both the Volume of Sacred Law AND in craft ritual. Since Masonry's accounts are derived from the Bible, that would mean "VSL" in this case can be no other book than the Holy Bible.
In Royal Arch, Netherlands, as the degree opens there is this notation:
Bible opened at Isaiah, chap. XII.
But later the candidate is told:
Place your right hand on the Volume of the Sacred Law. . .
Still later the candidate reads from it:
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3)
The candidate is then told:
Such, newly-exalted Companion, are the first words of the Sacred Volume, which contains the treasures of God’s revealed Will. Let us praise and magnify His Holy Name, for that knowledge of Himself which He has vouchsafed to us, and let us walk worthily in that light which has shone around us.
Not the full "Volume of Sacred Law" phrase, of course, but "Sacred Volume" carries the same concept, and is basically identical in expression.
Believe me, I could produce an abundance of these. The common denominator, of course, is the fact that in each instance, whether it be during the course of discussions, or the conducting of ritual, "Holy Bible" and "Volume of Sacred Law" are used interchangeably, with "VSL" in each case being a reference made specifically to the Holy Bible, and not merely as a general reference.
I submit that the reason this is practiced is, that in each of these instances, the Volume of Sacred Law within the GL jurisdiction where it takes place, IS the Holy Bible, and the references are thus an employment of a general term, but clearly it is done with a specific reference. I also submit, that in documents from the Grand Lodge of Florida, it is equally likely, since Florida clearly has the Bible as its designated book that opens the lodge, that references to "Volume of Sacred Law" as employed within those documents, is done so with specific reference to the Holy Bible as well.
It has already been established that the ritual and monitor do not have the general references, but specifically state "Holy Bible," as both furniture and Great Light. These being the documents of primary authority in Florida, it would make much more sense that other documents would be interpreted and understood in the light of these two primary sources, rather than vice versa.
While it may not be insisted upon that this is the case, nevertheless one thing is for sure: with so many instances that can be pointed to as examples of just how commonly this is practiced in lodges other than Florida, it most definitely cannot be discounted.