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

Chapter 4 - Signs & Symbols 239
The scene below represents the sleeping Jacob seeing in his dream a ladder
from which angels are descending. They stand on the three principal staves of
Jacob's Ladder, namely Faith, Hope, and Charity. These three "theological
virtues" are also represented by the two beautiful female angels holding children,
and one child holding a sprig of acacia (for Faith).
Furthermore, this Masonic record represents the columns Jachin and Boaz
carrying the celestial and terrestrial globe. The Masonic symbol of square and
compass occurs on each column and on the grave stone. Evergreen, white lilies,
red roses, and ears of corn decorate the banner in the upper center. All in all, this
large record of Charles Mitchell, measuring approx. 60 x 80 cm, contains about
46 different Masonic symbols.
4.6.18 Egyptian & Hebrew Motifs
Not so much in the three Craft degrees as in the Higher Degrees appears a
high percentage of Egyptian and Hebrew symbols and motifs on certificates,
medals, architectural parts, paintings, etc. They manifest themselves in richly
decorated columns with Egyptian figures (cf. illustrations below, Jachin and
Boaz), Hebrew letters, and ancient mysterious symbols, like the sphinx and the
All-Seeing Eye. This partly results from imaginative Masonic historians who
saw the roots of Freemasonry in Egypt: "[...] some persons were possibly led into
this error by assuming that the picture writing of the Egyptians and the symbols
of Freemasonry were analogous or identical. The two are entirely separate in
principle and in use." 677 In the following, two illustrations are given, the English
and the Latin certificates of a Mason initiated into the 32° of the A.&.A.S.R.:
677 CME, p. 225.