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

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Blue
Chapter 4 - Signs & Symbols
This is emphatically the color of Masonry. It is the appropriate tincture
of the Ancient Craft degrees. It is to the Mason a symbol of universal
friendship and benevolence, because, as it is the color of the vault of
heaven, which embraces and covers the whole globe, we are thus
reminded that in the breast of every brother these virtues should be
equally as extensive. It is therefore the only color, except white, which
should be used in a Master's Lodge. Decorations of any other color
would be highly inappropriate. 556
According to TRMC, the color blue was adopted as the favorite color of the
Craft after the initiation of William III., and is not in any way a "landmark." As
the color of the first three degrees, it morally inculcates "that the mind of a
Mason should be as expansive, and his heart as universal, as the blue arch of
heaven itself." 557 The color blue, as explained in Section 4.1.1 on the lodge room,
alludes to the blue canopy or starry-decked heaven which covers the lodge, and
is a symbol of the universality of Freemasonry. Hence, the first three degrees are
called "Blue Degrees," 558 or "Blue Masonry," in contrast to the "Red Degree" of
the Holy Royal Arch: "The degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow-Craft, and
Master Mason are called Blue Masonry." 559 Correspondingly, a Symbolic Lodge,
i.e. one that confers only the first three degrees, is called "Blue Lodge." 560 In
some of the high degrees, there exists the term "Blue Master," designating a
Master Mason. 561 However, the term "Blue Lodge" seems to be not universally
adopted. In a publication from 1892, a Scottish Mason states that "[t]he name
Blue lodges is not known in Scotland; there every lodge has a color of its own
adoption. My mother lodge of Glenkindie in Aberdeenshire, formerly No. 333,
was bright yellow [...]." 562
In several high degrees of the Scottish Rite, the color blue receives different
interpretations. For example, in the 19 th degree, that of Grand Pontiff, blue is the
predominate color, and said to be a symbol of mildness, fidelity, and gentleness,
that ought to be the characteristics of every brother. In the degree of Grand
Master of all Symbolic Lodges, blue and yellow are the appropriate colors. They
allegedly refer to the appearance of Jehovah to Moses on Mount Sinai in clouds
of azure and gold. In the 24 th degree, that of Prince of the Tabernacle, the blue
color of the tunic and apron alludes to the whole symbolic character of the
degree, which teaches the removal of man from this "tabernacle of clay" to "that
556 Ibid, p. 108.
557 TRMC, p. 76.
558 Cf. EOF, p. 109.
559 Ibid, p. 110.
560 Cf. EOF, p. 109.
561 Cf. ibid, p. 110.
562 Quoted from Moore in Stillson (ed.), p. 757.