THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

BLACK. Pythagoras called this color the symbol of the evil principle in
nature. It was equivalent to darkness, which is the antagonist of
light.
But in masonic symbolism the interpretation is different. There, black
is
a symbol of grief, and always refers to the fate of the temple-builder.
BRAHMA. In the mythology of the Hindoos there is a trimurti, or
trinity,
the Supreme Being exhibiting himself in three manifestations; as,
Brahma
the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Siva the Destroyer,--the united
godhead being a symbol of the sun.
Brahma was a symbol of the rising sun, Siva of the sun at meridian, and
Vishnu of the setting sun.
BRUCE. The introduction of Freemasonry into Scotland has been
attributed
by some writers to King Robert Bruce, who is said to have established
in
1314 the Order of Herodom, for the reception of those Knights Templars
who
had taken refuge in his dominions from the persecutions of the Pope and
the King of France. Lawrie, who is excellent authority for Scottish
Masonry, does not appear, however, to give any credit to the narrative.
Whatever Bruce may have done for the higher degrees, there is no doubt
that Ancient Craft Masonry was introduced into Scotland at an earlier
period. See _Kilwinning_. Yet the text is right in making Bruce one of
the
patrons and encouragers of Scottish Freemasonry.
BRYANT. Jacob Bryant, frequently quoted in this work, was a
distinguished
English antiquary, born in the year 1715, and deceased in 1804. His
most
celebrated work is "A New System of Ancient Mythology," which appeared
in
1773-76. Although objectionable on account of its too conjectural
character, it contains a fund of details on the subject of symbolism,
and
may be consulted with advantage by the masonic student.
BUILDER. The chief architect of the temple of Solomon is often called
"the
Builder." But the word is also applied generally to the craft; for
every
Speculative Mason is as much a builder as was his operative
predecessor.
An American writer (F.S. Wood, of Arkansas) thus alludes to this
symbolic
idea. "Masons are called moral builders. In their rituals, they declare
that a more noble and glorious purpose than squaring stones and hewing
timbers is theirs, fitting immortal nature for that spiritual building
not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens." And he adds, "The builder