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

h t f y bt - illustrates and ensures Can
copies - than improperly disclose the
Scts entrusted to you.
Chapter 7 - Rituals 453
rather have his h t f his bt - illustrates
and ensures Can copies - than
improperly disclose the secrets
entrusted to him.
The unabbreviated penalty would be read "your heart torn from your breast."
Here, it is explained to the candidate in a friendly way that the sign is in allusion
to the traditional penalty referred to in his Obligation, and that "a Fellowcraft
Freemason would rather...," which is written in the passive voice, thus creating a
distance to the candidate. Likewise, in the Third Degree when the Worshipful
Master explains to the candidate the Sign of a Master Mason (p. 186), we can
observe with regard to the penalty, to be "severed in twain," that the Worshipful
Master says "as a man of honour, a Master Mason would rather" instead of the
traditional "you would rather:"
Traditional Form Permissive Alternative Form
This is in allusion to the p of your Obl,
implying that as a man of honour and a
MM, you would rather be s i t -
illustrates with recovery and ensures
Can copies - than improperly disclose
the secrets entrusted to you.
As far as symbolism is concerned, an interesting action can be observed
which only exists in the Emulation Working, with regard to the two pillars, one
topped with a terrestrial, the other one with a celestial sphere:
In Emulation Working, these spheres are placed on top of the small
pillars, similar to those of the temple, placed on the Wardens' tables.
When the lodge begins its work, the earth colonnette is laid flat and the
sky colonnette upright. At the end of the work, it is necessary to "come
back down to earth", so the order is reversed. 1396
Here, the flat-laid terrestrial pillar and the upright celestial one denote that
the brethren are up to something higher, their mystical work in the kingdom of
thought to the honor of the Great Architect of the Universe. Hence, the "coming
back down to earth," symbolized by the reversion, means that the spiritual work
is over and that the brethren can return to their daily occupations.
1396 Béresniak, p. 46.
This is in allusion to the traditional p
referred to in your Obl, implying
that as a man of honour, a MM
would rather be s i t - illustrates with
recovery and ensures Can copies -
than improperly disclose the secrets
entrusted to him.