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

WEARY SOJOURNERS. The legend of the "three weary sojourners" in the
Royal
Arch degree is undoubtedly a philosophical myth, symbolizing the search
after truth.
WHITE. A symbol of innocence and purity.
Among the Pythagoreans it was a symbol of the good principle in nature,
equivalent to light.
WIDOW'S SON. An epithet bestowed upon the chief architect of the
temple,
because he was "a widow's son of the tribe of Naphthali." 1 Kings vii.
14.
WINDING STAIRS, LEGEND OF. A legend in the Fellow Craft's degree having
no
historical truth, but being simply a philosophical myth or legendary
symbol intended to communicate a masonic dogma.
It is the symbol of an ascent from a lower to a higher sphere.
It commences at the porch of the temple, which is a symbol of the
entrance
into life.
The number of steps are always odd, because odd numbers are a symbol of
perfection.
But the fifteen steps in the American system are a symbol of the name
of
God, _Jah_.
WINE. An element of masonic consecration, and, as a symbol of the
inward
refreshment of a good conscience, is intended under the name of the
"wine
of refreshment," to remind us of the eternal refreshments which the
good
are to receive in the future life for the faithful performance of duty
in
the present.
WORD. In Freemasonry this is a technical and symbolic term, and
signifies
divine truth. The search after this word constitutes the whole system
of
speculative masonry.
WORD, LOST. See _Lost Word_.
WORD, SUBSTITUTE. See _Substitute Word_.
WORK. In Freemasonry the initiation of a candidate is called _work_. It
is