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

Chapter 6 - Peculiarities of Masonic Language 367
Grand Master, to translate us from this imperfect to that all-perfect, glorious,
and celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the universe
presides. 1160 A further variation is "Great Grand Master": "May the Great
Grand Master deal tenderly with him." 1161 The Warden also lent his name to
God: "[...] with a firm reliance on Divine Providence, shall we gain ready
admission into that Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Grand Warden
forever presides - forever reigns." 1162 In Royal Arch Masonry, corresponding to
the there prevalent phraseology, God is called "Supreme High Priest of heaven
and earth." 1163
6.13.2 Death, Heaven & Last Judgement Day
Freemasonry has a rich and metaphorical funeral vocabulary. Masons do not
simply die, they "are called from labor to refreshment," "travel to foreign
countries" or are summoned to the "Grand Orient." They are not rewarded with a
happy stay in paradise but receive their "wages": "See to it, my brother, that you
are a Master in fact as well as in name; so shall you learn the real meaning of the
Word by which some day you will travel in a far, far country, where there is
neither gold nor silver, and where, indeed, the only coins which can be used are
those you here fit yourself to receive .... a Master's Wages." 1164
Masonic literature is resplendent with metaphors for heaven: "While the
Scythe of Time, all-devouring, cuts us down, it gathers us into [...] the splendor
and glory of the Greater Mysteries [...]." 1165 One of the four points of the
compass, the East - which is the Worshipful Master's seat in the lodge - is used to
denote the siege of God. We have learned that the Orient is the most important
direction in Freemasonry. There, the sun rises and wisdom and truth prevails.
This is so in all languages of Masonry; thus, the German Masonic lexicon talks
about "den in den ewigen Osten eingegangenen (= toten) Meister." 1166 It also
defines the "eternal Orient" as heaven: "Ewiger Orient = das Jenseits, die
geistige Welt hinter der Pforte des Todes und zwischen zwei Erdenleben. 1167
Likewise, an American Masonic manual employs the image that "[...] all the
profane and initiated will stand before His judgment-seat in the Grand Orient of
the Universe, to render unto Him their dread account." 1168 And thus says brother
D'Dougall before the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1841, "[...] those who can meet
1160
Ibid, p. 147. Bold print added.
1161
Melish, Masonic Review, N° 50, p. 44. Bold print added.
1162
Duncan, p. 132.
1163
Cf. Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of California, Ritual of the Grand Chapter
of Royal Arch Masons of the State of California, p. 119.
1164
Ibid, p. 117.
1165 Simons, p. 146; bold print added.
1166 Binder, p. 347; bold print added.
1167 Martens, p. 124; bold print added.
1168 Simons, p. 124; bold print added.