The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols

26The Lost Keytreatise, he will be surprised at the degree of ignorance concerningsuch matters which characterizes the average member of the Craft.69. The Higher Mind or “Abstract Mind” as it is frequently calledbecause it designates those mental powers which we use when weconsider some “abstracf” matter such as higher mathematics, Philosophy,etc., is closely allied to the spirit while the Lower Mind or“Concrete Mind” is so called because it is the mental power whichdeals with “concrete” or definite matters, such as affairs of business,such things which have shape and form and it is more closelyallied to the physical. When we say that two and two make fourwe are not specifying any particular things. The numbers areabstract. But when we say that two apples added to two applesmake four apples then we are dealing with concrete and definiteobjects and so we divide the mind or mental powers into two greatdivisions, “Concrete” and “Abstract.”70. Referring to this diagram you will see at once the sharpdistinction which is made between “Personality” and “Individuality.”The word “Personality” comes from the Latin “Persona,”which meant the mask that the ancient actors used when portrayinga part upon the stage. They wore a mask which was paintedand shaped to correspond to the character which they were supposedto represent. “Per” means through and “sona” means sound,so it was the thing through which the voice of the actor sounded.PERSONALITY71. Hence the Personality is the mask through which the Spirit,that great immortal and eternal part of us, speaks out its little partupon the stage of human life.72. If you will refer again to the diagram you will see that thePersonality includes the lower mind, the emotional nature, thepsychic nature and the physical body or physical nature. These