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

Chapter 4 - Signs & Symbols 187
seals." 514 As a further reason, the GHCDF states that in the days of King
Solomon, an obligation "was sealed seven times." 515 The entire hieroglyphic,
consisting of a linear and an angular triad, and of a quadrangular diagram, was
said to represent the "Tentragrammaton," or Sacred Name, that allegedly was
written upon the ancient monuments of Jerusalem. As such, it was used in the
Continental degree of Secret Master. 516
"Tentragrammaton" or Sacred Name, represented by pillars
In order to encode their rituals, Masons have developed different ciphers. An
early ritual cipher was invented by John Browne of London in 1798, and
published in The Master Key through all the Degrees of a Freemason's Lodge to
which is added, Eullogiums and illustrations upon Freemasonry 517 , as well as in
a second edition in 1802. The inventor used his own name for coding: the letters
of his name indicated the six vowels, and the six vowels representing six other
letters thus:
b r o w n e a e i o u y
a e i o u y k c o l n u
The letter "o" appears in the same order in "browne" as well as in the final
"kcolnu," and thus remains unchanged. All consonants in the alphabet except
three retain their original significance. The consonant "n" means "u," and vice
versa; thus, the "n" comes through unchanged, too. This was probably a trick to
deceive the profane reader. Other tricks consisted in ignoring initial capital
letters and dividing up words irregularly. However, this cipher "was probably as
great a puzzle for those who were expected to use it as it was for the uninitiated,
and consequently died for lack of exercise." 518
In the beginning of the 19 th century, another attempt to publish concealed
ritualistic secrets was made by William Finch, a tailor from Canterbury,
England, who turned charlatan after having been expelled from Freemasonry. 519
He used some variations of a simple substitution cipher, one of these being
514
Cf. GHCDF, p. 633. Illustration: ibid.
515
Ibid.
516
Cf. GHCDF, p. 633.
517
Cf. CME, p. 131.
518
CME, p. 131; 251. Illustration of "mnemonics": CME, p. 131.
519 Ibid.