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

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Chapter 4 - Signs & Symbols
cipher. But even in the middle of the 19 th century, Rob Morris from Kentucky
was ostracized by the Masons for his printing the ritual in a code called
"mnemonics." At the present time, many Grand Lodges in the United States
authorize printed cipher rituals (a list of which is given in Section 4.4.2),
whereas in Scotland, whole rituals are published in plain English, with only
some keywords left out. Section 4.4.2 illustrates the comparison of such
ritualistic ciphers.
Secret cipher writing was not used much in the first three degrees of
Freemasonry, but it was common in the higher degrees. However, for the
purpose of concealment, the cipher soon lost its practical use due to the greatly
developed art of deciphering. According to the EOF, "there is no cipher so
complicated as to bid defiance for many hours to the penetrating skill of the
experienced decipherer." 489
4.4.1 Old Builders' Marks
Although they do not comprise a complete "sign language," operative
stonemasons' marks play an important role in a part of Masonry and thus will be
dealt with briefly. Just as members of other trades had their hall marks, operative
stonemasons marked the stones shaped by them for the purpose of recognition
and payment of individual work, and often handed down their marks from father
to son. The marks of various members of one family were distinguishable due to
minor alterations or additional symbols. 490 Being easier to inscribe, marks were
preferable to names, and they were usually simple in design and seldom
resembled a particular object. Generally, they consisted of two to six straight
lines and a corresponding number of angles. Sometimes, curves and more
intricate patterns are found. As Coil puts it, these marks "do not appear to have
had any symbolical or hieroglyphical significance." 491
The earliest mentioning of marks as a distinctive sign of a lodge member is
preserved in the minutes of the Lodge of Edinburgh from the year 1600, which
contain signatures by operative Masons and also by the Laird of Auchinleck,
who all affixed their marks. In 1670, 49 members signed the by-laws of
Aberdeen Lodge, and the majority affixed their marks, although most of the
signers were non-operative, that is, "accepted" members.
489 EOF, p. 151.
490 Cf. Stillson and Hughan, p. 568.
491 Cf. CME, p. 402.