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

Chapter 4 - Signs & Symbols 195
the light. In the ancient mysteries, "the candidate passed, during his initiation,
through scenes of utter darkness, and at length terminated his trials by an
admission to the splendidly illuminated sacellum, where he was said to have
attained pure and perfect light." 535 In Freemasonry, a candidate for the First
Degree of Masonry is announced as somebody "who has long been in darkness,
and now seeks to be brought to light." 536 When asked what he desires most, this
candidate answers: "Light." 537 In the Second Degree, he answers, "[m]ore light in
Masonry," 538 and in the Third Degree, "[f]urther light in Masonry." 539
The blindfolded candidate is given the light physically by removing the
blindfold and letting him look into candles, fire, or a well-lightened room. Only
then, he is able to perceive the other symbols in the lodge room, as well as the
symbolic costumes and emblems of the other members. In some forms of
historical Freemasonry, there even existed the "shock of enlightenment," that is
the removal of the blinders in connection with loud noises. In Mackey's Ritualist,
this scene in allusion to the primal illumination at the creation of the world is
explained as follows:
In Masonry, by the shock of enlightenment we seek humbly, indeed,
and at an inconceivable distance, to preserve the recollection and to
embody the idea of the birth of material light by the representation of
the circumstances that accompanied it, and their reference to the birth of
intellectual or Masonic light. The one is the type of the other; and hence
the illumination of the candidate is attended with a ceremony that may
be supposed to imitate the primal illumination of the universe. 540
535 Ibid, p. 447.
536 Duncan, p. 43.
537 Ibid, p. 44.
538 Ibid, p. 81.
539 Ibid, p. 135.
540 Cited from Mackey in Ezra A. Cook (publ.), Standard Freemasonry Illustrated, p. 110.