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

ANANIAH
ANCIENT 55
under an anagrammatic form, they made
many words to designate their friends or,
principally,theirenemiesof the opposite party .
Most of these words it has now become impoasible
to restore to their original form,
but several are readily decipherable . Thus,
among the Assassins of the Third Degree, who
symbolized, with them, the foes of the monarchy,
we recognize Romvel as Cromwell, and
Hoben as Bohun, Earl of Essex. It is only
thus that we can ever hope to trace the origin
of such words in the high degrees as Tercy,
Stolkin, Morphey, etc . To look for them in
any Hebrew root would be a fruitless task .
The derivation of many of them, on account
of the obscurity of the persons to whom they
refer, is, perhaps, forever lost ; but of others
the research for their meaning may be more
successful .
Ananiah . The name of a learned Egyptian,
who is said to have introduced the Order
of Mizraim from Egypt into Italy . Dr .
Oliver (Landm., ii., 75) states the tradition,
but doubts its authenticity . It is in all probability
apocryphal . (See Mizraim, Rite of.)
Anchor and Ark. The anchor, as a symbol
of hope, does not appear to have belonged
to the ancient and classic system of symbolism .
The Goddess Spes, or Hope, was among the
ancients represented in the form of an erect
woman, holding the skirts of her garments in
her left hand, and in her right a flower-shaped
cup. As an emblem of hope, the anchor is
peculiarly a Christian and thence a Masonic,
symbol . It is first found inscribed on the
tombs in the catacombs of Rome, and the
idea of using it is probably derived from the
language of St. Paul (Heb. vi. 19), " which
hope we have as an anchor
of the soul both sure and
steadfast ." The primitive
Christians " looked upon
life as a stormy voyage, and
glad were the voyagers
when it was done, and they
had arrived safe in port .
Of this the anchor was a
symbol, and when their brethren carved it
over the tomb, it was to them an expression
of confidence that he who slept beneath had
reached the haven of eternal rest ." (Kip,
Catacombs of Rome, p . 112 .) The strict identity
between this and the Masonic idea of the
symbol will be at once observed .
" The anchor " says Mrs. Jameson (Sac.
andLegend, Art. I. 34), " is the Christian symbol
of immovable firmness, hope, and patience ;
and we find it very frequently in the catacombs,
and on the ancient Christian gems ."
It is the peculiar attribute of St . Clement,
and is often inscribed on churches dedicated
to him.
But there is a necessary connection between
an anchor and a ship, and hence, the latter
image has also been adopted as a symbol of
the voyage of life ; but, unlike the anchor, it
was not confined to Christians, but was with
the heathens also a favorite emblem of the
close of life. Kip thinks the idea may have
been derived from them by the Christian
Fathers, who gave it a more elevated m
The ship is in Masonry substituted b ty the
Mrs . Jameson says (ut supra) that ` the Ark
of Noah floating safe amid the deluge, in which
all things else were overwhelmed, was an
obvious symbol of the Church of Christ . . . .
The bark of St. Peter tossed in the storm, and
by the Redeemer guided safe to land, was also
considered as symbolical ."
These symbolical views have been introduced
into Masonry, with, however, the more
extended application which the universal
character of the Masonic religious faith required
. Hence, in the Third D , whose
teachings all relate to life and deat , " the ark
and anchor are emblems of a well-grounded
hope and a well-spent life. They are emblematical
of that Divine ark which safely
wafts us over this tempestuous sea of troubles,
and that anchor which shall safely moor us in a
peaceful harbor where the wicked cease from
troubling and the weary shall find rest ." Such
is the language of the lecture of the Third
Degree, and it gives all the information that
is required on the esoteric meaning of these
symbols . The history I have added of their
probable origin will no doubt be interesting to
the Masonic student .
Anchor, Knight of the . See Knight of
the Anchor.
Anchor, Order of Knights and Ladles
of the. A system of androgynous Masonry
which arose in France in the year 1745. It
was a schism which sprang out of the Order of
Felicity, from which it differed only in being
somewhat more refined . Its existence was
not more durable than that of its predecessor .
(Clavel, Hist. pitt. de la F. M., p. 111 .) (See
Felicity, Order of.)
Ancient and Accepted Rite. See Scottish
Rite.
Ancient Craft Masonry . This is the
name given to the three symbolic degrees of
Entered Apprentice, Fellow-Craft, and Master
Mason . The degree of Royal Arch is not
generally included under this appellation ; although,
when considered (as it really is) a complement
of the Third Degree, it must of course
constitute a part of Ancient Craft Masonry .
In the articles of union between the two Grand
Lodges of England, adopted in 1813, it is declared
that " pure Antient Masonry consists
of three degrees and no more, viz . : those of the
Entered Apprentice the Fellow Craft, and the
Master Mason, including the Supreme Order
of the Holy Royal Arch ."
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons .
The title most generally assumed by the English
and American Grand Lodges . (See Titles
of Grand Lodges .)
Ancient or Antlent or Atholl Masons .
In 1751 some Irish Masons in London established
a body which they called the " Grand
Lodge of England according to the Old Institutions,"
and they styled themselves " Ancients
" and the members of the regular
Grand Lodge, established in 1717 " Moderns."
Thus Dermott, in his Ahiman 1'tezon, divide@