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

FREEMASONS, TRAVELLING. The travelling Freemasons were a society
existing
in the middle ages, and consisting of learned men and prelates, under
whom
were operative masons. The operative masons performed the labors of the
craft, and travelling from country to country, were engaged in the
construction of cathedrals, monasteries, and castles. "There are few
points in the history of the middle ages," says Godwin, "more pleasing
to
look back upon than the existence of the associated masons; they are
the
bright spot in the general darkness of that period; the patch of
verdure
when all around is barren." _The Builder_, ix. 463
G
G. The use of the letter G in the Fellow Craft's degree is an
anachronism.
It is really a corruption of, or perhaps rather a substitution for, the
Hebrew letter (yod), which is the initial of the ineffable name. As
such,
it is a symbol of the life-giving and life-sustaining power of God.
G.A.O.T.U. A masonic abbreviation used as a symbol of the name of God,
and
signifying the _Grand Architect of the Universe_. It was adopted by the
Freemasons in accordance with a similar practice among all the nations
of
antiquity of noting the Divine Name by a symbol.
GAVEL. What is called in Masonry a common gavel is a stone-cutter's
hammer; it is one of the working tools of an Entered Apprentice, and is
a
symbol of the purification of the heart.
GLOVES. On the continent of Europe they are given to candidates at the
same time that they are invested with the apron; the same custom
formerly
prevailed in England; but although the investiture of the gloves is
abandoned as a ceremony both there and in America, they are worn as a
part
of masonic clothing.
They are a symbol of purification of life.
In the middle ages gloves were worn by operative masons.
GOD, UNITY OF. See _Unity of God_.
GOD, NAME OF. See _Name_.
GOLGOTHA. In Hebrew and Syriac it means _a skull_; a name of Mount
Calvary, and so called, probably, because it was the place of public