The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols

Chapter III. 39112. Since everything in the Masonic Rituals is symbolic we mayreasonably and logically look for the Altar to have some symbolicmeaning. And since the Lodge itself symbolizes the inner man, theunseen part of each individual, it is not unreasonable to look forthat symbolic meaning in the great within. What is there withineach of us which could possibly correspond to the Altar on thefloor of the Masonic Lodge Room?113. We gave the key to this in Section 109. There comes a time inthe life of every man when he reaches the decision that thisphysical life is not all there is and he greatly desires to prepare forsomething higher. He realizes that he is full of faults andimperfections and he wants help in overcoming and eradicatingthem. In other words he has set up a sort of ideal, a desire forsomething better and higher. It is on this ideal, if the man behonest and, of course, we are supposing that he is, it is on this idealthat he is willing to sacrifice the passions and faults and weaknessesof his being for we all recognize that, when we striye to attain tosomething; higher, it must be along the path of labor and sacrifice.114. Suppose that a young man wishes to become a doctor. Willthat wish make him a doctor? Assuredly not. He knows perfectlywell that there must be hours and days and weeks and months andyears of hard study, of toil and self-denial before he can attain thatcoveted diploma. That means sacrifice. No one can study hardand yet spend all his time in amusement and dissipation. If a manwishes to study he must give up something, he must sacrificesomething. We use the expression all the time in our common,everyday speech. If you pick up a book and in it read the following,“John sacrificed his love for tennis and other sports upon the altarof his great desire to become a doctor,” you would know exactlywhat it means for there is nothing mysterious about it. The greatdesire to become a doctor was the “Altar” on which John sacrificedcertain pleasures which his lower or carnal nature craved—namely