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

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Chapter 9 - Masonic and Anti-Masonic Literature
behind the images. Among others, the following Masonic symbols are
illustrated:
The patch on the left on the page before
shows King Solomon with Hiram Abiff to his
right and King Hiram of Tyre to his left,
standing between the two Masonic columns
Jachin and Boaz. This group is depicted within a
Masonic triangle (the symbol of a lodge), with a
shining in its upper half. We have learned that a
triangle emitting rays is a symbol of God
(corresponding to the all-seeing eye). The
columns are decorated with lily-work and
pomgranates that also have their meanings in
Masonry. Behind the group we can see the tiled
walls of King Solomon's temple.
The illustration on the right shows King
Solomon kneeling before the Ark of the
Covenant and making his promise to erect a
temple to the honor of his God. The ark is
surmounted with two winged cherubs. The
carpet on which King Solomon kneels may be
allusive to the Masonic carpet. Three steps are
leading to the ark. We have already heard about
the symbolism of the different Masonic steps.
The illustration on the left shows how
Hiram Abiff selects the place where
King Solomon's temple is going to be
built - it is the spot where Jacob once has
erected an altar that resembles the future
lodge, being situated "due east and
west."
The patch on the following page
shows how Hiram draws his plans to
erect the temple. He wears an apron and
the symbol of the "point within a circle."
The Masonic tools, the square and the
compass, as well as the tracing-board are
displayed in the foreground. We can see
the floor plan of the temple in the
middle. The three divisions of Ulam,
Hekhal, and Devir (the portico, the Holy,
and the Holy of Holies) correspond to
the three parts of a human body - body,
soul, and spirit -, to the three elements,