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

Chapter 4 - Signs & Symbols 205
einer existenziellen Verinnerlichung an die Grundfragen unseres Seins
heranführt. 579
The two following textual examples illustrate how resplendent the symbols of
the Masonic language are. The first one contains nine Masonic metaphors and is
a short address by the Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 22 to George
Washington from April 1 st , 1797, at the occasion of his retiring from the
Presidency:
MOST RESPECTED BROTHER: The Ancient York Masons of Lodge
No. 22 offer you their warmest congratulations on your retirement from
your useful labors. Under the Supreme Architect of the Universe, you
have been the Master Workman in erecting the Temple of Liberty in
the West, on the broad basis of equal rights. In your wise administration
of the government of the United States for the space of eight years, you
have kept within the compass of our happy Constitution, and acted
upon the square with foreign nations, and thereby preserved your
country in peace, and promoted the prosperity and happiness of your
fellow-citizens. And now, that you have returned from the labors of
public life to the refreshment of domestic tranquility, they ardently
pray that you may long enjoy all the happiness which the Terrestrial
Lodge can afford, and finally be received to a Celestial Lodge, where
love, peace, and harmony forever reign, and Cherubim and Seraphim
shall hail you Brother. 580
Although this address is short, it contains several Masonic metaphors, plus a
number of Masonic tenets, such as "equal rights," "love," etc.. Transcribing the
Masonic metaphors into "profane" language, one will see that 1. "Supreme
Architect of the Universe" stands for God; 2. "Master Workman" for something
like "efficient politician;" 3. "erecting the Temple of Liberty" for "creating a
realm of liberty," or for the White House itself; 4. "within the compass of our
happy Constitution" for "within the reach of our Constitution;" 5. "acted on the
square" for "dealt justly and rightly with;" 6. and 7. "from the labors to the
refreshment" for "from work to retirement;" 8. "Terrestrial Lodge" for "world;"
and 9. "Celestial Lodge" for "heaven."
The second textual example contains twenty Masonic metaphors and stems
from a letter to the editor published in The Masonic Review from 1869, titled
"Unfit for the Temple." It deals with a candidate unqualified to be initiated into
Freemasonry because of his moral defects, and the damage that can result from
admitting him in spite of them. The author intends to show that it is better to
exclude such a candidate right from the beginning, instead of initiating him and
then trying to heal his defects, a task he thinks impossible. This short fable uses
579 Reinalter, p. 33.
580 Brockett, F. L. (compiler), p. 54/55. Bold print added.