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

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4.5 Light Symbolism
Chapter 4 - Signs & Symbols
Q: On gaining your admission into the Lodge was there anything
differing in its form from its usual character?
A: There was; all was darkness, save a glimmering light in the
East.
Q: To what does that darkness allude?
A: Even to the darkness of death.
Q: Am I then to consider that Death is the peculiar subject of this
Third Degree?
A: It is, indeed. 530
The above-quoted test questions of the Third Degree, taken from a Masonic
textbook dating 1881, show that the physical darkness on entering a lodge
opened in the Master Mason's Degree for initiation alludes to the symbolic
darkness of death. Here, it is the death of the Grand Master Hiram Abiff, and,
respectively, of the candidate himself who is to represent him. Darkness and
light are two components indispensable for initiation ceremonies in both ancient
and modern secretive societies. They symbolize death and resurrection.
As stated in the IFL, "[a]lle Mysterienkulte sind Lichtkulte." 531 Thus, in
ancient Egypt, the hare was the hieroglyphic of eyes that are open, since that
animal was supposed to have its eyes always open. The Egyptian priests adopted
the hare as a symbol of moral illumination revealed to the neophyte. It was also
the symbol of Osiris, their principal divinity. In the Hebrew language, the word
for "hare" is "arnebet," seemingly a compound of "aur," light, and "nabat," to
see. As concluded in the EOF, "the word which among the Egyptians was used
to designate an initiation, among the Hebrews meant to see the light." 532
Likewise, the dogma of Zoroaster symbolized the two principles of light and
darkness, and the Jewish Cabalists believed that, before the creation of the
universe, space was filled with the Infinite Intellectual Light: "The first
emanation of this surrounding light into the abyss of darkness produced what
they called the 'Adam Kadmon,' the first man, or the first production of the
Divine energy." 533 One of the religious books of the Brahmans, the Bhagvat
Geeta, says that "[l]ight and darkness are esteemed the world's eternal ways; he
who walketh in the former path returneth not - that is, he goeth immediately to
bliss; whilst he who walketh in the latter cometh back again upon the earth." 534
In all ancient mysteries, there existed a reverence for light as emblematic of the
Eternal Principle, or God.
Each secret society or mystery cult is convinced that the profanes, the noninitiates,
are walking in darkness, and that only the members of the cult can see
530 Anonymous ("Compiled by a member of the Craft."), The Text Book of Freemasonry, p. 176.
531 IFL, p. 934.
532 EOF, p. 446/447.
533 Ibid, p. 447.
534 Cited in EOF, p. 447.