The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols

CHAPTER THREEThe Lodge of the Holy Saints John at Jerusalcm85. The candidate is supposed to have come from a Lodge of theHoly Saints John at Jerusalem, and this phrase has long puzzledMasons who have been at great pains to discover some historicalmention of a Lodge at Jerusalem but have been unable to do so.When taken literally the phrase is meaningless, the laboredattempts to hang some sort of historical instruction on it beinghardly worth notice. But when this phrase is taken symbolically itis full of meaning and instruction though it may well make most ofus feel a sense of shame at the other motives which actuallyprompted us to join the Order.86. Jerusalem has, when taken symbolically, the meaning of peace,rest, contentment. The name means “City of Peace.” Weconsidered this statement in its symbolic aspect in Section 52-55but it is so prominent an item in the Masonic Symbolism and hascaused so much speculation and wonder as to why it should bementioned at all that it is well to make the matter as clear aspossible.87. At about the age of fourteen the human animal experiencesan entire alteration in its outlook upon life. Then starts thatperiod which is referred to by Shakespeare as “Flaming Youth” inwhich the natural exhuberance and enthusiasm of youth isenhanced by these newly awakened natural forces. During thisperiod the young person of either sex is very difficult to manage,they usually considering it to be an obvious fact that their wisdom31