The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols
The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols
The Lost Key: An Explanation of Masonic Symbols
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Chapter VIII. 87but be struck with the systematic way in which the symbolic dramateaches the candidate in ever progressing and developing lessonsand symbols the scientific manner <strong>of</strong> complying with the demands<strong>of</strong> the great Laws <strong>of</strong> the Universe. <strong>An</strong>d now he has come, in thelast and highest Degree, overcome with awe at the near approachto that final, great enlightenment which will soon be his andprepared by the life which he has been living in close conformity tothe teachings already given, to form, symbolically but truly, uponthe floor which typifies the little world in which he lives, thatperfect square, no longer distorted nor oblong, which shows thewonderful result <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Masonic</strong> Teachings and <strong>of</strong> the Light whichMasonry throws upon the dark and winding paths <strong>of</strong> life.261. It is true that in the beautiful rituals and symbolisms <strong>of</strong>Masonry sometimes the little things contain lessons no lessimportant and no less necessary for us to know than those held bythe more prominent and more emphatic symbols. So it is with theApron in the Third Degree. In a few short phrases the candidate istold the manner in which a Master Mason should wear his Apronand then there is added the statement, apparently a casualstatement, that this custom has become obsolete and never again isany mention made <strong>of</strong> this really most important thing.262. For in this Degree the lower corner <strong>of</strong> the Apron is turned up,but only for a moment and, when we remember that the square <strong>of</strong>the Apron symbolizes the personality, the more material part <strong>of</strong>man and that the triangle represents the spirit which has comedown into the material nature there to wage its battle against theforces <strong>of</strong> the carnal in man and against the lusts and passions <strong>of</strong> thelower natures, so we can easily see that the turning up <strong>of</strong> thecorner is to denote the partial success <strong>of</strong> the spirit in its work,which is an earnest <strong>of</strong> the glorious future. But, alas! <strong>The</strong> lessons <strong>of</strong>Masonry are no longer understood and the symbolism and theallegories and the rituals are but so many words <strong>of</strong> a curious and
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