The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

Chapter 4 - Signs & Symbols 123
photo of simulated lodge room
at the Preußen-Museum in Wesel, June 2000
The three pillars thus figuratively are the "supports" of the lodge. They are
standing on the mosaic pavement or checkered floor, which with its black and
white squares represents good and evil in life. 337 On the altar lies the Master's
gavel to call the brethren to order, as well as the three Great Lights of Masonry,
viz. the Volume of Sacred Law, here the Bible, on which are placed square and
compass. In the left foreground of the illustration, there is the rough ashlar, the
Apprentice's symbol, on which he must work in order to improve it; it is a
symbol of his character. On the checkered floor lies the carpet.
Another picture of a lodge room (here the real lodge as preserved in the
Masonic Museum at Schloß Rosenau in Austria) shows "the East" more clearly:
the VSL on the Master's table, the rough ashlar on the left side and the perfect
ashlar on the right, and also the Masonic carpet.
337 According to DFM, the symbolism of the "mosaic pavement" stems from the doubtful tradition
that Moses used stones of alternating color when building the tabernacle. Cf. DFM, p. 183.