The Symbolism of Freemasonry [MOVED FROM UNORTHODOX THEOLOGY]

[circuitrider]

While I haven't read any official government description of the Great Seal that uses the term "capstone" (I have not researched this thoroughly), a Google search of "great seal capstone" shows that many people are using that term when discussing the Seal.

If they are they are misusing the word. A capstone is the stone that is a finishing stone for the top of a wall, not to be confused with a keystone which is the central stone at the top of an arch.

Metaphorically it is also used to describe someone's crowning achievement. But it really doesn't apply to pyramids per se.

Any two groups can choose to use a similar symbol and often that choice is totally unconnected. This is particularly true with symbols like eyes, triangles, and other geometric shapes. Most of the time the same use of such symbols is coincidental.

 

[Drudgeon]

If they are they are misusing the word.

I'm in complete agreement, Bro.:

 

[ChristianMasonJim]

As a slight aside, it has been a while since I have participated here, not because of my lack of Masonic interest, but because I simply felt beaten down on issues that are clearly misunderstood.

I feel it important to convey an ongoing sentiment of mine: To one who is anti-Masonic, the word of a Freemason will never be trusted or believed. They view the Freemason as either one of the "lower-level" members who has been deceived by his "high-level" brethren, or he is one of the "high-level" members who is doing the deceiving. To the Freemason, no matter how genuine, rational, or rigorously scholarly he may be, it is a no-win situation. My almost 300 posts in the past were intended to convey my honest observations, opinions, beliefs, and convictions, yet to those who hold anti-Masonic views, these continue to fall on deaf ears. But I persist because of the truth in what I know, have seen, experienced, and witnessed. But you will have to take my word for it.

Now back to our regularly-scheduled "discussion"....

Symbols themselves are very powerful but are often open to multiple interpretations. Consider the "swastika" for example. Most would look at this symbol as a symbol of vile and evil hatred. But in some cultures (that very much predate Nazi Germany) this is a symbol auspiciousness. Consider the symbol of the rainbow, which traditionally is a symbol of life, hope, and divinity. Yet today it is often considered a symbol of the gay community. Consider the cross, a symbol which Christianity embraces as one of the death of Jesus Christ, yet it can have many varied meanings in other cultures and religions.

Symbols can have many meanings, yet the intended meaning can only come from the context in which they are found. The many teachings of Freemasonry rely heavily on many symbols, not to cause confusion or ambiguity, but to promote study, research, and the scholarly personal improvement so well articulated in the Fellowcraft degree. Specific concepts and teachings are very easily conveyed through symbols, yet deeper study can reveal deeper meanings. And yet if the context in which they were presented is not considered, then the intended meanings may be lost or confused.

One could very easily misconstrue the meaning behind the "all seeing eye", the letter "G", the "capestone", the "pentagram", or any of the myriad of symbols that are woven through Masonic teachings. but if we are honest with ourselves, we can see that until you know and understand the context in which the symbols are presented, a vague assumption based on cursory knowledge will never provide the intended meanings, only confusion and misinterpretation.

 

[Albion]

As a slight aside, it has been a while since I have participated here, not because of my lack of Masonic interest, but because I simply felt beaten down on issues that are clearly misunderstood.

I feel it important to convey an ongoing sentiment of mine: To one who is anti-Masonic, the word of a Freemason will never be trusted or believed. They view the Freemason as either one of the "lower-level" members who has been deceived by his "high-level" brethren, or he is one of the "high-level" members who is doing the deceiving. To the Freemason, no matter how genuine, rational, or rigorously scholarly he may be, it is a no-win situation. My almost 300 posts in the past were intended to convey my honest observations, opinions, beliefs, and convictions, yet to those who hold anti-Masonic views, these continue to fall on deaf ears. But I persist because of the truth in what I know, have seen, experienced, and witnessed. But you will have to take my word for it.

Alas, it's true. And it's about the only subject I know of about which the opponents don't feel the need for any personal, first-hand knowledge of the subject before issuing their conclusions and attacks. If the topic were almost anything else, it would be the feeling of everyone on all sides that, lacking any real evidence whatsoever, no one would have the right to make such condemnations of events and beliefs about which they know nothing other than "I read/saw it on the internet."

And BTW, what should make anyone think that that video of alleged Satan worship is actually of a Masonic gathering?

 

[Simpleman25]

So many people rely on the internet for their 'knowledge' on a given subject. The whole satanic issue is derived from misinformation.

It's easier to say it's satanic because we are secret.

 

[circuitrider]

And BTW, what should make anyone think that that video of alleged Satan worship is actually of a Masonic gathering?

The same is true of ritual exposures. I had someone once bring me a ritual that he claimed was a Royal Arch Ritual (for non-masons, one of the York Rite related degrees) and showed it to me. The supposed ritual was full of Satanic wording. The problem was that it wasn't a real Royal Arch ritual.

I'm a Royal Arch Mason and have headed a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and I know what is in the ritual in more than one jurisdiction for Royal Arch and none of them look anything like the piece of trash this person was showing me.

But simply because it was on paper he believed it to be true. My only recourse was to suggest that if he became a Royal Arch Mason he'd know the real ritual. But of course, since I had to be (in his mind) lying to him (since I'm a Mason) he wouldn't believe me.

As Albion has said, I know of no other organization that gets this kind of treatment and in particular from Christians.

 

[circuitrider]

So many people rely on the internet for their 'knowledge' on a given subject. The whole satanic issue is derived from misinformation.

It's easier to say it's satanic because we are secret.

It isn't even just "misinformation." Sometimes people posts to the net out and out lies. Sometimes it is to sell books or get some kind of fame. But if you aren't going to accept information from the members of an organization then all you are going to know about are the falsehoods published by non-members.

 

[Albion]

And it's so ironic. If you have a Barnes and Noble store nearby, you have every Masonic secret at your fingertips, BUT who knows the first thing about what is said or done in, say, a meeting of the Knights of Columbus, or the Daughters of the American Revolution, or even a local of some labor union? I don't even know where most of these hold their meetings.

That's not to say anything evil is going on, but neither does anyone get worried about it, either.

 

[circuitrider]

And it's so ironic. If you have a Barnes and Noble store nearby, you have every Masonic secret at your fingertips, BUT who knows the first thing about what is said or done in, say, a meeting of the Knights of Columbus, or the Daughters of the American Revolution, or even a local of some labor union? I don't even know where most of these hold their meetings.

That's not to say anything evil is going on, but neither does anyone get worried about it, either.

I didn't know what happened at a Kiwanis meeting before I joined the club but no one ever had a fit because they didn't know what Kiwanians did in their meetings.

 

[circuitrider]

To get back to Masonic symbols, many of them are from architecture as the building arts are one of the most common set of metaphors for Freemasonry. That is most true for Craft Freemasonry also called Blue Lodge Freemasonry, the part of Freemasonry that deals with the original three Masonic degrees.

One of the reasons for the use of symbolism is that it is an ancient way to help people learn and understand.

 

[SeraphimsCherub]

33% Masons worship Lucifer{Satan} and believe he's GOD,and not CHRIST. So you in the lower ranks have been deceived. And are partakers in a Satanic occult of Albert Pike:
"“Lucifer, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darkness! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light, and with its splendors intolerable, blinds feeble, sensual, or selfish souls? Doubt it not!”"

Repent of this great evil you have partaken in against YESHUA THE MESSIAH. I pray that HE will have mercy on such whom have sworn oaths and bound themselves unto Lucifer{SATAN} unawares. That HE may give REPENTANCE by HIS HOLY SPIRIT...and the POWER OF GOD IN CHRIST THE ETERNAL ONE, to set you free from the power of satan in death. That HE MAY BAPTIZE you WITH AND INTO HIS SPIRIT OF TRUTH,WHO SHALL LEAD you INTO ALL TRUTH. In YESHUA HA~MASHIACH THE ONLY MESSIAH i PRAY THIS AMEN.

 

[americanvet]

33% Masons worship Lucifer{Satan} and believe he's GOD,and not CHRIST. So you in the lower ranks have been deceived. And are partakers in a Satanic occult of Albert Pike:
"“Lucifer, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darkness! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light, and with its splendors intolerable, blinds feeble, sensual, or selfish souls? Doubt it not!”"

Repent of this great evil you have partaken in against YESHUA THE MESSIAH. I pray that HE will have mercy on such whom have sworn oaths and bound themselves unto Lucifer{SATAN} unawares. That HE may give REPENTANCE by HIS HOLY SPIRIT...and the POWER OF GOD IN CHRIST THE ETERNAL ONE, to set you free from the power of satan in death. That HE MAY BAPTIZE you WITH AND INTO HIS SPIRIT OF TRUTH,WHO SHALL LEAD you INTO ALL TRUTH. In YESHUA HA~MASHIACH THE ONLY MESSIAH i PRAY THIS AMEN.

33% of Masons worship Satan? Could you describe the "lower ranks" to me?

 

[Simpleman25]

With all the information available, why do people still make these baseless claims? It's utterly ridiculous.

 

[Albion]

33% Masons worship Lucifer{Satan} and believe he's GOD,and not CHRIST.

Thank you for your interest in the faith of Freemasons. Your claims here are completely untrue.

However, we understand that you're merely repeating something you have been told, and would have no way of knowing what's the truth of the matter anyway, not being a 33 degree Mason--or Mason of any sort--yourself.

If you would like to ask specific questions about Masonry, please go ahead.

 

[ChristianMasonJim]

33% Masons worship Lucifer{Satan} and believe he's GOD,and not CHRIST. So you in the lower ranks have been deceived. And are partakers in a Satanic occult of Albert Pike:
"“Lucifer, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darkness! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light, and with its splendors intolerable, blinds feeble, sensual, or selfish souls? Doubt it not!”"

The point of my starting this thread was to discuss the idea that symbols are often misunderstood and misrepresented, particularly when taken out of context. @SeraphimsCherub illustrates this point beautifully.

To this I make the following comments:

1. Etymology
Anyone who bothers to pick up a dictionary or do a quick Google search will discover that "Lucifer" simply means "light-bringer". Its association with Satan is only seen in more contemporary writings. Look it up.

2. Context
The "Lucifer quote" is almost always taken out of context. An honest read of the ENTIRE paragraph, which comments on the Apocalypse, aka the Book of Revelation, reveals a completely different take:

The Apocalypse is, to those who receive the nineteenth Degree, the Apothesis of that Sublime Faith which aspires to God alone, and despises all the pomps and works of Lucifer. LUCIFER, the Light-bearer! Strange and mysterious name to give to the Spirit of Darknesss! Lucifer, the Son of the Morning! Is it he who bears the Light, and with its splendors intolerable blinds feeble, sensual or selfish Souls ? Doubt it not! for traditions are full of Divine Revelations and Inspirations: and Inspiration is not of one Age nor of one Creed. Plato and Philo, also, were inspired. The Apocalypse, indeed, is a book as obscure as the Sohar. It is written hieroglyphically with numbers and images; and the Apostle often appeals to the intelligence of the Initiated. "Let him who hath knowledge, understand! let him who understands, calculate !" he often says, after an allegory or the mention of a number. Saint John, the favorite Apostle, and the Depositary of all the Secrets of the Saviour, therefore did not write to be understood by the multitude.

3. Comprehension
Do @SeraphimsCherub, and anti-Masonic proponents, even comprehend what he wrote? Read the quote. Read it word for word. Read in context. Pike is clearly stating that all the alluring false splendor that Lucifer brings, blinds those who are open to his draw. It is actually an excellent statement that describes how Lucifer deceives and how, as Christians, we should be on our guard against such deceit.

4. Association
Albert Pike is clearly associated with Freemasonry, but he certainly does not speak for Freemasonry, or even the Scottish Rite. Albert Pike's writings, while very influential in the Scottish Rite, exemplify his obsession with comparative religion. He was a broad thinker for his time, and his works illustrate that. Yet Morals and Dogma is NOT required reading for ANY Freemason, Scottish Rite or otherwise. In fact, the Scottish Rite pretty much dismisses the work as being useful for knowledge, but not representing Freemasonry. Try reading the "Introduction" to Morals and Dogma, and you will see what I mean.

This is, of course, MY interpretation. I am open to any correction or education .

 

[Simpleman25]

The point of my starting this thread was to discuss the idea that symbols are often misunderstood and misrepresented, particularly when taken out of context. @SeraphimsCherub illustrates this point beautifully.

To this I make the following comments:

1. Etymology
Anyone who bothers to pick up a dictionary or do a quick Google search will discover that "Lucifer" simply means "light-bringer". Its association with Satan is only seen in more contemporary writings. Look it up.

2. Context
The "Lucifer quote" is almost always taken out of context. An honest read of the ENTIRE paragraph, which comments on the Apocalypse, aka the Book of Revelation, reveals a completely different take:


3. Comprehension
Do @SeraphimsCherub, and anti-Masonic proponents, even comprehend what he wrote? Read the quote. Read it word for word. Read in context. Pike is clearly stating that all the alluring false splendor that Lucifer brings, blinds those who are open to his draw. It is actually an excellent statement that describes how Lucifer deceives and how, as Christians, we should be on our guard against such deceit.

4. Association
Albert Pike is clearly associated with Freemasonry, but he certainly does not speak for Freemasonry, or even the Scottish Rite. Albert Pike's writings, while very influential in the Scottish Rite, exemplify his obsession with comparative religion. He was a broad thinker for his time, and his works illustrate that. Yet Morals and Dogma is NOT required reading for ANY Freemason, Scottish Rite or otherwise. In fact, the Scottish Rite pretty much dismisses the work as being useful for knowledge, but not representing Freemasonry. Try reading the "Introdution" to Morals and Dogma, and you will see what I mean.

This is, of course, MY interpretation. I am open to any correction or education .

While no one man speaks for all of masonry, Brother Jim here nailed it.

Fine breakdown sir.