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

338
Sayings
Chapter 6 - Peculiarities of Masonic Language
Masonic letters and certificates look different from ordinary writing because
of the strange addresses and greetings that sometimes appear in abbreviated
form. For example, an English speaking Mason would address a fellow Mason
with "V.D.B.," meaning "Very dear Brother." 1041 German Masons use the
expression "I∴d∴u∴h∴Z∴," meaning "In der uns heiligen Zahl" 1042 at the end
of a letter. Correspondingly, French Masons employ the phrase
"N∴V∴S∴P∴T∴L∴N∴Q∴V∴S∴C∴," which is "Nous vous saluons par
tous les Nombres qui vous sont connus." 1043 A variation of this is "J∴V
∴S∴P∴L∴N∴M∴Q∴N∴S∴C∴," which translates "Je vous salue par les
noms Maçonniques que nous seul connoissons [sic]." (I salute you by the
Masonic names which we only know.) 1044 On warrants and certificates written in
English, we will sometimes come across the following initials:
"I∴T∴N∴O∴T∴G∴A∴O∴T∴U∴," which denotes "In the name of the
Grand Architect of the Universe." 1045 A peculiar French greeting looks like this:
"S∴S∴S∴," meaning "trois fois salut" (thrice greeting). 1046 Instead of the
profane "best regards," the English speaking Mason writes "Y∴I∴F∴," which is
"Yours in Fraternity," 1047 or "F∴Y∴", meaning "Fraternally yours." 1048 French
Masons used the following abbreviation at the left-hand corner of their
summons: "N'o∴P∴V∴D∴M∴," which means "N'oubliez pas vos décorations
Maçonniques," in English "Do not forget your Masonic regalia." 1049
To sum up, abbreviations seem to belong to the culture of secretive societies.
They are also found in Christianity, for example I.N.R.I., and generally they
have something mythical and attractive about them. This is evident because they
render the society more interesting, since they seem to conceal something, even
if it is no great "secret," e.g., "V.I.T.R.I.O.L." (cf. Section 4.1.2 on the Chamber
of Reflection). Sometimes, Biblical abbreviations were used, some of which
were interpreted differently by the secret societies. The Christian abbreviation
I∴N∴R∴I∴ (Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudæorum) is the motto of the Knights of
Malta, of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine, and also of the Rosicrucian
Society. 1050 In the Philosophical Lodge, the letters I.N.R.I. represented fire, salt,
sulphur, and mercury, whereas the Rosicrucians interpreted them as "Igne Natura
1041 Ibid, p. 9.
1042 Cf. IFL, p. 6. Martens, on p. 118, claims that these abbreviations mean "In den uns heiligen
Zeichen." The French abbreviation can also mean both "par tous les nombres" or "tous les noms qui
vous sont connus."
1043 Diericks, p. 138.
1044 TRMC, p. 6.
1045 Ibid.
1046 Cf. ibid, p. 8.
1047 TRMC, p. 9.
1048 Ibid, p. 2.
1049 Ibid, p. 7.
1050 Cf. ibid, p. 6.