The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols

114The Lost Key320. The Lost Word, then, was that final system of instructionwhich, following a life lived in accordance with the Laws ofMorality as taught by the symbolism of the three Degrees, wouldenable the aspirant to penetrate the higher and unseen worlds,there to work for the advancement and betterment of the humanrace and so earn the Wages of a real Master Mason, a MasterBuilder in the Temple of Humanity.321. In this and in the preceding chapters the writer has given whathe honestly believes to be the true interpretation of the MasonicSymbolism, at least the most important part of it. The active part,that which I have termed the Educational part, is of vital andabsorbing interest and importance. The morality taught in thelessons of open-mindedness, of honesty, of thought control, of selfcontroland self-criticism, of the development of self, of the gradualimprovement of the character by means of the Working Tools,these are surely of the very highest importance.322. The meanings of the “Great” Symbols, even if they clash withthe present religious beliefs of the reader, do not, as we havepointed out, have to be incorporated into his creed. But the writerhonestly believes they were the original meanings in the minds ofthe originators of the symbolism. At least they were the beliefsheld by the ancient philosophers, that much is fairly certain, andalso when considered without prejudice, they fit in with thesymbolism and form a compact and coherent whole with not onesingle false note or jangle of discord. They fully and honestly meetthe requirements of the symbolism as it has been handed down tous and surely we should be willing to consider them with as muchscientific honesty as the archeologist considers the ancientinscriptions written in praise of Ra or of Osiris or Isis or any of theancient divinities.323. We are told, in the New Testament, that when the Apostlesvisited Ephesus they were greeted by the shout, “Great is Diana of