Mackey A G - Encylopedia of Freemasonry - The Grand Masonic ...

302 GOETHE
GON1 ALGN
Goethe, John Wolfgang von. This
illustrous German poet was much attached
to Freemasonry. He was initiated on the
eve of the festival of St . John the Baptist,
in 1780 ; and on the eve of the same festival
in 1830, the Masons of Weimar celebrate
the semi-centennial anniversary of his admission
into the Order, of which, in a letter
to the musical composer, Zeeter, who had
been, like himself, initiated on the same day
fifty years before, he speaks with great
gratification as his "Masonic jubilee." He
says, "The gentlemen have treated this
epoch with the greatest courtesy . I responded
to it in the most friendly manner on the
following day." Goethe's writings contain
many favorable allusions to the Institution.
Goetla. A contradistinctive term to
Theurgia, the first signifying black magic
the latter white magic . The demons oi
darkness were invoked and no crime or
horror stayed the power. Alchemy and
chemistry were the powerful arms relied on .
Golden Candlestick . The golden candlestick
which was made by Moses for the
service of the tabernacle, and was afterward
deposited in the holy place of the
temple to throw light upon the altar of
incense, and the table of shewbread, was
made wholly of pure gold, and had seven
branches ; that is, three on each side, and
one in the center . These branches were at
equal distances, and each one was adorned
with flowers like lilies, gold knobs after the
form of an apple, and similar ones resembling
an almond . Upon the extremities of the
branches were seven golden lamps, which
were fed with pure olive-oil, and lighted
every evening by the priests on duty . Its
seven branches are explained in the Ineffable
degrees as symbolising the seven planets .
It is also used as a decoration in Chapters of
the Royal Arch, but apparently without any
positive symbolic signification .
Golden Fleece. In the lecture of the
First Degree, it is said of the Mason's apron,
that it is "more ancient than the Golden
Fleece or Roman Eagle, more honorable
than the Star and Garter ." The reference
is here evidently not to the Argonautic
expedition in search of the golden fleece,
nor to the deluge, of which that event is
supposed to have been a figure, as Dr . Oliver
incorrectly supposes (Symb . Dict .), but to
certain decorations of honor with which
the apron is compared. The eagle was to
the Romans the ensign of imperial power ;
the Order of the Golden Fleece was of high
repute as an Order of Knighthood. It was
established in Flanders, in 1429, by the
Duke of Burgundy, who selected the fleece
for its badge because wool was the staple
production of the country . It has ever
been considered, says Clark one of the
most illustrious Orders in Europe. The
Order of the Garter was, and is still considered,
the highest decoration that can be
bestowed upon a subject by a sovereign of
Great Britain . Thus, the apron is proudly
compared with the noblest decorations of
ancient Rome and of modem Europe . But
the Masons may have been also influenced
in their selection of a reference to the Golden
Fleece, by the fact that in the Middle Ages
it was one of the most important symbols
of the Hermetic philosophers .
Golden Key, Knight of the . See
Knight of the Golden Key .
Golden Lion of Hesse-Cassel, Order
of the. Instituted by Frederick II ., 14th
of August, 1770, under a decree of 6th July,
to recompense virtue and merit. The
Grand Master is the reigning sovereign of
Hesse-Cassel. Motto, "Virtute et Fidelitate.
"
Golden Stole of Venice . (Cavaliers
delta Stola d'Oro .) An ancient order of
knighthood conferred by the republic of
Venice . The number of knights was unlimited
. The decoration, wom over the
left shoulder, was richly embroidered with
flowers of gold, and being in width a handbreadth,
fell behind and before to the knee .
An ambassador, for some distinctive service,
was deemed worthy . The ducal robe was
of red material .
Gold Thaler, or Gold Giilden, we are
informed in Kenning's Cyclopcedia of Freemasonry,
is the St . John's offering, as it
was called under the strict observance in
Germany, and which amounted to one ducat,
or, at the least, one and two-thirds of a
thaler, which was paid by every member
on St . John's Day . This practise is still
kept up in many German Lodges for the
benefit of the poor fund .
Golgotha . Greek, roxyoSa, from the
Hebrew, r*~, Gulgoleth, "a skull ." The
name given by the Jews to Calvary, the
place of Christ's crucifixion and burial .
It is a significant word in Templar Masonry .
(See Calvary .)
Gomel. (Heb., 7Y`a, L., retribuens .)
Irregularly given as Gomer and Gomez. A
word found in the Twenty-sixth Degree A .
A . Scottish Rite, signifying reward.
Gonfalon . (Ital ., Gonfalon, O . German,
Gundfano .) An ecclesiastical war flag or
banner, a standard ; used in several of the
chivalric degrees of Masonry . The chief
magistrates in Italian cities when bearing
this ensign are known as Gonfaloniers. The
banner is triune, of white silk, trimmed and
mounted with gold .