The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols

104The Lost KeyOUGHT to mean. Therefore, the questions indicated above must bemet honestly and squarely.296. The identity of the Fellow Crafts is that of some of the moreadvanced qualities of the mind which, feeling the loss of something,report that loss to the Higher Self and are then sent insearch of the lost something. The murderers, Ignorance, Selfishnessand Sensuality gradually realize what they have done and seekto embark upon a ship, symbol of a mental vehicle in order thatthey may travel to Ethiopia or the higher plane of being. In otherwords, the vices which have killed the touch with the Divine arenow attempting to excuse themselves and to flee from the loweremotional world where they belong. They wish to do this by meansof a ship, a mental vehicle or a process of mentality and to reach asafe haven where the retribution for their conduct cannot overtakethem. But the ports are all guarded and they cannot escape. It isnot possible for the qualities of selfishness and sensuality andignorance to reach or exist in the atmosphere of the spiritualworld. Therefore their attempt co board a ship was unavailing.297. But the conscious touch with the spirit is finally raised from itssleep in the grave of dogmatism by the obedience to the DivineLaw of Love and Service as symbolized by the Lion’s Paw and asexercised by the Senior Grand Warden, who represents or symbolizesthe higher aspect of the Lower Self or the aspiring human soul.