The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols

Chapter I. 912. The Effectual symbolism comes from the fact that, when usedin the proper manner and by proper authority, it actuallyrepresents the power of this country and when it is mistreated insome foreign country the affront, directed really at the country,may easily involve the two nations in war in which many lives maybe lost and countless millions in property destroyed.13. The first two symbolisms of the Flag are the only reallynecessary ones. The others are beautiful and instructive but arenot absolutely essential for few national flags have any suchsymbolisms.14. Before you can understand the Historical and the Representativesymbolisms of the Flag you must study American History.You must know about the Thirteen Original Colonies, their origin,the causes which led up to the Revolution, the formation of thecountry, etc. This takes time to learn, but the lessons are reveatedin a flash every time that you see a Flag. To understand theRepresentative Symbolism you must know something of the compositionof the country. This, also, takes time to learn, but thislesson as well is repeated every time you see a Flag.15. After you have studied these things and have been told whatthe other symbolic meanings of the Flag are, then, whenever yousee the Flag, all these meanings are repeated on your mind in thetwinkling of an eye. Hence one of the greatest uses of a symbol isto repeat some lesson which has been previously learned and toimpress it again upon the mind and to do this instantaneously anddramatically.16. Suppose that, instead of the Flag in a procession, we hired aman with a loud voice whose duty would be to ride in advance andshout out the lessons in history and other things which the Flagteaches silently. What a farce that would be!