The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols

80The Lost Keythe present day and our work is to find out their meaning so thatour presentation of the rituals will be intelligent.240. This regular and systematic teaching proves itself. If you havefonowed closely the explanations so far given and if you have supplementedthem with any independent study of your own, youmust be entirely satisfied in your own mind that they constitute thecorrect explanation of the meaning of the Masonic Rituals, thatmeaning which has, up to the present time, been looked upon asan unsolved and perhaps unsolvable enigma. But the meaning ofthe clothing, for instance, is simple and plain. Is it not the samemeaning as that used in the Scriptures when speaking of the“Armor of God?” Armor is that which surrounds the body just asclothing does. Armor has a more aggressive allusion than has merecIothing, but when we are told to put on the armor of God no oneis so stupid as to think that real, physical armor is meant. No, weare to put around the mind a something which will protect it fromthe harmful vibrations of evil thoughts just as armor protects thebody from weapons.241. What is the “breastplate of righteousness,” the “helmet ofsalvation,” if not something in the nature of prejudice which is tobe placed around the mind? Remember that there may be a prejudicein favor of truth just as there is a prejudice against truth.When we speak of the “Breastplate of righteousness” as being aform of prejudice we mean just that very thing, only the prejudiceis in favor of righteousness and truth.THE WINDING STAIRS242. One of the most beautiful and impressive symbols used in theSecond Degree is that of the Winding Stairs with its three, five andseven steps and the payment of the Wages in the room correspondingto the Middle Chamber and the question has often arisenin the minds of candidate and lecturer alike as to the meaning of