Duncan's Ritual of Freemasonry.pdf - FatimaMovement

tomb was in the rubbish and filth cast forth from
the Temple, and acacia waved its branches over
her monument. In this state of darkness and
despair she lay until the Saviour came, instituted
the five points of Christian fellowship, and raised
her from the dust, in which she had been
indecently interred, to a more glorious
inheritance."--Theo. Phil., p. 309.
This interpretation is borne out in the higher
Degrees of sublime Masonry. Thus, in the thirtysecond,
or Degree of Prince of the Royal Secret,
according to the Continental nomenclature, the
following analogies are p. 147 explained: "The
symbolical mystery of the death of (Hiram Abiff)
represents that of the Messiah; for the three
(blows) which were given to him at the three
gates of (the Temple) allude to the three points of
condemnation against Christ at three separate
places, viz.: before Caiaphas. Herod, and Pilate.
It was from the last that he was led to that most
violent and excruciating death. The three (blows)
were given with the three (tools, i.e., gauge,
square, and gavel). These are symbols of the
blow on the cheek of Christ, the flagellation, and
the blow with the spear. Some substitute for the
latter, but with less propriety, the crown of
thorns. The brethren assembled around the grave
of (Hiram Abiff) is a representation of the
disciples lamenting the death of Christ. The
Word, which was said to be lost, was pronounced
upon the cross, which the Jews could not
comprehend. The false brethren are represented
by Judas, who proved false to his Master; and the
sprig of cassia represented the cross, of which
wood it is said to have been composed."--
Historical Landmarks, vol. ii. p. 176.
I am decidedly of opinion that our tradition is
merely allegorical; for there can be no doubt but