The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols

Chapter X. 103within himself and recognize the ruffians, the rubbish and thegrave. Also it will define the meaning of the Lion’s Paw and givethe clue to the identity of Hiram Abif and the Craftsmen.294. There are some problems which must be met by those whoseek to engraft upon this Drama certain dogmatic religiousmeanings which the Drama was never intended to hold. If theLion of the Tribe of Judah be the meaning of the Lion’s Paw how isit that we find the sculptured Lion in the very act of raising thedead body of Osiris as it was graven upon the monuments of Egyptlong before Moses was heard of. Also, if the raising of the body issupposed to have been an actual, physical resurrection or a symbolof such a resurrection then why was not the Lost Word recovered?If the Word was merely a sort of diploma permitting the MasterMason to travel in countries adjacent to the domains of Solomonand there ply his trade, why could not Solomon alone have givensuch a certificate? Why was the presence of the three GrandMasters necessary? It would be well for all students of Masonry toask themselves, before they begin to form theories concerning themeaning of the Drama, just what it is that they are looking for.This would seem to be a superfluous question, yet a perusal of someof the wild ideas and deliberate attempts to bolster up some dogmaby a perversion of the Hiramic Legend shows that it is a verynecessary one.295. The real student is looking for the meaning of the Drama, theoriginal meaning held in the minds of the great philosophers whooriginated the Drama or, if it was not originated at one particulartime, the teaching which it was intended to convey. We shouldnot attempt to prove the Drama to be something which it is not.Hence we should remember the lessons of the clothing in therituals and divest ourselves of all prejudice and preconceived opinionssince our purpose, if we are honest students, is to find outwhat the Drama was intended to mean, not what we think that it