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

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First Degree (Apprentice)
Chapter 7 - Rituals
The decoration of the Hall and adjacent rooms differs in each of the three
degrees. In the first degree, that of Apprentice (cf. p. 7-9), the colors are very
important. The Hall is hung with sky-blue drapery, reminiscent of the "clouded
canopy" of Craft Masonry. The chairs in Asia have red drapery, and a crimson
canopy over them. The table of the officials in Asia is also covered with crimson,
the one in Europe with green. The chairs of the officials in Europe are green as
well. A little to the East of the center of the Hall stands the altar, which is
covered with a light blue cloth, on it evergreens and flowers.
The seating of the officers and members is submitted to rules: The Sisters sit
in the front rows and the Brethren in the back rows. Visitors are to be seated at
the head of the column of America. Sisters of the highest degrees according to
Pike's system, those of Écossoise or Sublime Écossoise, are placed in Asia, on
either hand of the Venerable Master and the Admirable Mistress, together with
the Brethren of the 18 th and higher Masonic degrees (I., p. 12), because the East
is a place of honor.
In the middle of each side of the Hall there are two columns of the Composite
order, who have a statue or a figure in relief. In Asia, this figure represents
Wisdom on the right and Silence on the left. In Europe, the statues are
Devotedness on the right and Sanctity on the left, whereas in America, there is
Modesty on the right and Candor on the left. Finally, in Africa, there is the figure
of Loving-Kindness or Charity on the right and Generosity on the left. The ritual
suggests that Wisdom may be represented by Athene, Silence by the "mysterious
and inexplicable Sphynx" (I., p. 55), Devotedness by Joan of Arc and Sanctity by
Saint Cecilia.
As to the equipment, there is a transparency which represents a five-pointed
star placed below the table in front of the officials in Asia. 1415 The main Masonic
symbol, the square, can be observed hanging above and in front of these officers;
but it is a square with four sides of gilt bars. In the center of it, instead of the
Craft symbol G, there is the letter "I :: "(I., p. 8). We will later see that this refers
to Isis. There are other transparencies placed on the table of the officials; thus, in
Asia there is one representing the sun, in America there is a transparency
representing the crescent of the moon, and on the table of the officers of the
column of Africa, there is one representing the five planets Mercury, Venus,
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
Between the two tables in Asia, there is a painting or transparency which
represents on one side the Ark resting on Mount Ararat, and on the other side, a
pyramid of seven stories, the stages being painted, from the bottom upward,
green, blue, white, violet, orange, scarlet, and black. Between the two there is a
ladder which has seven steps. The Ark, the pyramid, and the numerical
symbolism of seven are thus explained in the lecture at the end of the initiation
ceremony:
1415
This five-pointed star is the first symbol that Masonry of Adoption has in common with the
Eastern Star and the Amaranth.