May 2, 2012May 2, 2012
InvocationInvocation
Pledge of Pledge of AllegianceAllegiance
Honor the Texas flag; Honor the Texas flag;
I pledge allegiance to thee, I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas,Texas,
one state under God, one state under God,
one and indivisible.one and indivisible.
Masonry'sMasonry'sMysteriousMysterious
WordsWords
...mysterious words......mysterious words...
AbifAbifCompassesCompassesHeleHeleProfaneProfaneTokenToken
Due GuardDue GuardCowanCowanObligationObligationLibertineLibertineSo Mote It BeSo Mote It Be
ProfaneProfane
The common meaning has The common meaning has changedchanged
Anciently: uninitiatedAnciently: uninitiated
Today: uses God's name in vainToday: uses God's name in vain
Masonically it Masonically it has nothas not changed changed
Profane = not initiated Profane = not initiated
LibertineLibertine
The common meaning has The common meaning has changedchanged
Anciently: not of church doctrineAnciently: not of church doctrine
Today: a man of promiscuous habitsToday: a man of promiscuous habits
Masonically it Masonically it has nothas not changed changed
Libertine = an agnostic or atheistLibertine = an agnostic or atheist
TokenToken
The common meaning has The common meaning has changedchanged
Anciently: a gesture or a signAnciently: a gesture or a sign
Today: an offeringToday: an offering
Masonically it Masonically it has nothas not changed changed
A token is always an actA token is always an act
CompassCompassesesCompass or Compasses?Compass or Compasses? Compass: a magnetic direction finderCompass: a magnetic direction finder Compasses: dividers - have legs like pantsCompasses: dividers - have legs like pantsSix US jurisdictions say “Compass”Six US jurisdictions say “Compass”In Texas it is always “Compasses”In Texas it is always “Compasses”MeasureMeasureCircumscribe Circumscribe
HeleHelePronounced like “Hail”Pronounced like “Hail”Anglo-Saxon (English): hele = concealAnglo-Saxon (English): hele = concealNorman (French): conceal = hideNorman (French): conceal = hide...hele, ...conceal, and never reveal...hele, ...conceal, and never revealRedundant Redundant andand repetitious repetitious...free will and accord; ...duly and truly...free will and accord; ...duly and trulyRepetition avoids misunderstandingRepetition avoids misunderstanding
CowanCowanA term of contemptA term of contemptA Masonic wordA Masonic wordScottish slang:Scottish slang: one who builds walls without morterone who builds walls without morter a self taught builder, not of the tradea self taught builder, not of the tradeGreek: “Kuon” meaning “dog”Greek: “Kuon” meaning “dog”Today - not of the Masonic fraternityToday - not of the Masonic fraternity
Due GuardDue Guard
Two words used as oneTwo words used as oneMackey: a contraction of “duly guard”Mackey: a contraction of “duly guard”Others: from the French ”Dieu Garde”Others: from the French ”Dieu Garde”
(meaning “God Guard”)(meaning “God Guard”)
It It isis a sign a sign(but not according to all rituals)(but not according to all rituals)
Abif (as in Hiram Abif)Abif (as in Hiram Abif)
““Abif” does not appear in the BibleAbif” does not appear in the BibleAn honorific meaning “father”An honorific meaning “father”
(respectfully, not parentally)(respectfully, not parentally)The honorific adds to Masonic loreThe honorific adds to Masonic loreFound first in a writing from 1550Found first in a writing from 1550Gained common usage in early 1600'sGained common usage in early 1600's
ObligationObligation
a tiea tiea bonda bondan agreementan agreementan intentionan intentiona responsibilitya responsibility
a dutya dutya constrainta constrainta pledgea pledgeacknowledgementacknowledgementnotnot an “oath” an “oath”
So Mote It BeSo Mote It Be
Amen. So mote it be.Amen. So mote it be.““So may it be”So may it be”Chaucer (~1380) used those exact wordsChaucer (~1380) used those exact wordsIt appears in the Regius Poem (~1390)It appears in the Regius Poem (~1390)A Super AmenA Super Amen
The Will The Will of God of God
Be DoneBe Done
DiscussionDiscussion
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