encylopedia of freemasonry vol 1-a mackey33dg-w hughan32dg-e hawkins30dg-1916-ctd-474pgs-sec soc

7/27/2019 Encylopedia of Freemasonry Vol 1-A Mackey33Dg-W Hughan32Dg-E Hawkins30Dg-1916-CTD-474pgs-SEC SOC

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ANEW AND REVISED EDITIONAN ENCYCLOPADIA

OFFREEMASONRYAND

ITS KINDRED SCIENCESCOMPRISING

THE WHOLE RANGE OF ARTS, SCIENCES AND LITERATUREAS CONNECTED WITH THE INSTITUTIONBY

ALBERT G. MACKEY, M.D . , 3 3 AUTHOR OF "THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY," "LEXICON OF FREEMASONRY," "A TEXT-BOOK OFMASONIC JURISPRUDENCE," "SYMBOLISM OF FREEMASONRY," ETC., ETC .THIS NEW AND REVISED EDITION

PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION, AND WITHTHE ASSISTANCE, OF THE LATEWILLIAM J. HUGHAN, 32

PAST GRAND DEACON (ENGLAND), PAST GRAND WARDEN (EGYPT), PAST GRAND WARDEN (IOWA), PASTASSISTANT GRAND SOJOURNER (ENGLAND), ONE OF THE FOUNDERS QUATUOR CORONATILODGE (LONDON) ; AUTHOR OF "ENGLISH MASONIC RITE," "OLD CHARGES," ETC .

BYEDWARD L. HAWKINS, M.A . , 3 0 PROV. S . G . W . (SUSSEX), P. PROP . S . G . W . (OXFORDSHIRE), MEMBER QUATUOR CORONATILODGE (LONDON), AUTHOR OF "CONCISE CYCLOPMDIA OF FREEMASONRY"PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME IPUBLISHED BY

THE MASONIC HISTORY COMPANYNEW YORK AND LONDON1914 .


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COPYRIGHT, 1873 AND 1878, BY MOSS & CO. AND A. G. MACKEYREVISED EDITION, WITH ADDENDUM, COPYRIGHT, 1884, BY L . H. EVERTB & CO .

PRONOUNCING DICTIONARY, COPYRIGHT, 1896, BY L . H . EVERTSCOPYRIGHT, 1906, BY LOUIS H. EVERTS & CO.

COPYRIGHT, 1 909 . BY THE MASONIC HISTORY COMPANYCOPYRIGHT, 1912, BY THE MASONIC HISTORY COMPANY


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PREFACEI ONCE d e l i v e r e d a n a d d r e s s b e f o r e a L o d g e o n t h e s u b j e c t o f t h e e x t e r n a l

c h a n g e s w h i c h F r e e m a s o n r y h a d u n d e r g o n e s i n c e t h e p e r i o d o f i t s r e v i v a l i n

the commencement of the eighteenth century . T h e p r o p e r t r e a t m e n t o f t h e

t o p i c r e q u i r e d a r e f e r e n c e t o G e r m a n , t o F r e n c h , a n d t o E n g l i s h a u t h o r i t i e s ,

w i t h s o m e o f w h i c h I a m a f r a i d t h a t m a n y o f m y a u d i t o r s w e r e n o t f a m i l i a r .

A t t h e c l o s e o f t h e a d d r e s s , a y o u n g a n d i n t e l l i g e n t b r o t h e r i n q u i r e d o f m e h o w

h e c o u l d o b t a i n a c c e s s t o t h e w o r k s w h i c h I h a d c i t e d , a n d o f m a n y o f w h i c h h e

c o n f e s s e d , a s w e l l a s o f t h e f a c t s t h a t t h e y d e t a i l e d , h e n o w h e a r d f o r t h e

f i r s t t i m e . I t i s p r o b a b l e t h a t m y r e p l y w a s n o t a l t o g e t h e r s a t i s f a c t o r y ; f o r

I t o l d h i m t h a t I k n e w o f n o c o u r s e t h a t h e c o u l d a d o p t t o a t t a i n t h a t k n o w l -

e d g e e x c e p t t h e o n e t h a t h a d b e e n p u r s u e d b y m y s e l f , n a m e l y , t o s p e n d h i s

m e a n s i n t h e p u r c h a s e o f M a s o n i c b o o k s a n d h i s t i m e i n r e a d i n g t h e m .

B u t t h e r e a r e f e w m e n w h o h a v e t h e m e a n s , t h e t i m e , a n d t h e i n c l i n a t i o n

f o r t h e p u r c h a s e o f n u m e r o u s b o o k s , s o m e o f t h e m c o s t l y a n d d i f f i c u l t t o b e o b -

t a i n e d , a n d f o r t h e c l o s e a n d a t t e n t i v e r e a d i n g o f t h e m w h i c h i s n e c e s s a r y t o

m a s t e r a n y g i v e n s u b j e c t .

I t w a s t h i s t h o u g h t t h a t , y e a r s a g o , s u g g e s t e d t o m e t h e t a s k o f c o l l e c t i n g

m a t e r i a l s f o r a w o r k w h i c h w o u l d f u r n i s h e v e r y F r e e m a s o n w h o m i g h t c o n s u l t

i t s p a g e s t h e m e a n s o f a c q u i r i n g a k n o w l e d g e o f a l l m a t t e r s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e

s c i e n c e , t h e p h i l o s o p h y , a n d t h e h i s t o r y o f h i s O r d e r .

B u t I w a s a l s o l e d t o t h e p r o s e c u t i o n o f t h i s w o r k b y a h i g h e r c o n s i d e r a -

t i o n . I h a d m y s e l f l e a r n e d , f r o m t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f m y e a r l y M a s o n i c l i f e ,

t h a t t h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e I n s t i t u t i o n w a s e l e v a t ed i n e v e r y o n e ' s o p i n i o n j u s t i n

p r o p o r t i o n t o t h e a m o u n t o f k n o w l e d g e t h a t h e h a d a c q u i r e d o f i t s s y m b o l i s m ,

p h i l o s o p h y , a n d h i s t o r y .

I f F r e e m a s o n r y w a s n o t a t o n e t i m e p a t r o n i z e d b y t h e l e a r n e d , i t w a s

b e c a u s e t h e d e p t h s o f i t s s y m b o l i c s c i e n c e a n d p h i l o s o p h y h a d n o t b e e n s o u n d e d .

I f i t i s n o w b e c o m i n g e l e v a t e d a n d p o p u l a r i n t h e e s t i m a t i o n o f s c h o l a r s , i t

o w e s t h a t e l e v a t i o n a n d t h a t p o p u l a r i t y t o t h e l a b o r s o f t h o s e w h o h a v e s t u d i e d

i t s i n t e l l e c t u a l s y s t e m a n d g i v e n t h e r e s u l t o f t h e i r s t u d i e s t o t h e w o r l d .

T h e s c h o l a r w i l l r i s e f r o m t h e p e r u s a l o f W e b b ' s M o n i t o r , o r t h e Hi e r o g l y p h i c

Chart o f C r o s s , w i t h n o v e r y e x a l t e d a p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e l i t e r a r y c h a r a c t e r o f

1


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f PREFACEt h e I n s t i t u t i o n o f w h i c h s u c h w o r k s p r o f e s s t o b e a n e x p o n e n t . B u t s h o u l d he

have met with even Hutchinson's Sp i r i t o f M a s o n r y , or Town's Speculative

M a s o n r y , w h i c h a r e a m o n g t h e e a r l i e r p r o d u c t s o f M a s o n i c l i t e r a t u r e , h e w i l l

b e c o n s c i o u s t h a t t h e s y s t e m w h i c h c o u l d a f f o r d m a t e r i a l f o r s u c h w o r k s m u s t

b e w o r t h y o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n .

O l i v e r i s n o t a l o n e i n t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e h i g h e r e l e v a t i o n o f t h e O r d e r i s

t o b e a t t r i b u t e d " a l m o s t s o l e l y t o t h e j u d i c i o u s p u b l i c a t i o n s o n t h e s u b j e c t o f

Freemasonry which have appeared during the present and the end of the

l a s t c e n t u r y . " I t i s t h e p r e s s t h a t i s e l e v a t i n g t h e O r d e r ; i t i s t h e l a b o r o f

i t s s c h o l a r s t h a t i s p l a c i n g i t i n t h e r a n k o f s c i e n c e s. T h e m o r e t h a t i s p u b -

l i s h e d b y s c h o l a r l y p e n s o n i t s p r i n c i p l e s , t h e m o r e w i l l o t h e r s c h o l a r s b e a t -

t r a c t e d t o i t s i n v e s t i g a t i o n .

A t n o t i m e , i n d e e d , h a s i t s i n t e l l e c t u a l c h a r a c t e r b e e n m o r e j u s t l y a p p r e -

c i a t e d t h a n a t t h e p r e s e n t d a y . A t n o t i m e h a v e i t s m e m b e r s g e n e r a l l y c u l t i -

v a t e d i t s s c i e n c e w i t h m o r e a s s i d u i t y . A t n o t i m e h a v e t h e y b e e n m o r e z e a l o u s

i n t h e e n d e a v o r t o o b t a i n a d u e e n l i g h t e n m e n t o n a l l t h e t o p i c s w h i c h i t s s y s t e m

comprehends .

I t w a s t h e d e s i r e t o g i v e m y c o n t r i b u t i o n t o w a r d t h e e l e v a t i o n o f t h e

O r d e r , b y a i d i n g i n t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n o f s o m e o f t h a t l i g h t a n d k n o w l e d g e

w h i c h a r e n o t s o e a s y o f a c c e s s , t h a t i m p e l l e d m e y e a r s a g o t o c o m m e n c e t h e

p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h i s w o r k - a t a s k w h i c h I h a v e s t e a d i l y t o i l e d t o a c c o m p l i s h ,

a n d a t w h i c h , f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s , I h a v e w r o u g h t w i t h u n i n t e r m i t t e d l a b o r

t h a t h a s p e r m i t t e d b u t l i t t l e t i m e f o r o t h e r o c c u p a t i o n , a n d n o n e f o r r e c r e a t i o n .

A n d n o w I p r e s e n t t o m y b r e t h r e n t h e r e s u l t n o t o n l y o f t h o s e y e a r s o f t o i l ,

but of more than thirty years of study and research-a work - w h i c h w i l l , I

t r u s t , o r a t l e a s t I h o p e , s u p p l y t h e m w i t h t h e m a t e r i a l s f o r a c q u i r i n g a k n o w l -

e d g e o f m u c h t h a t i s r e q u i r e d t o m a k e a M a s o n i c s c h o l a r . E n c y c l o p e d i c l e a r n -

i n g i s n o t u s u a l l y c o n s i d e r e d a s m o r e t h a n e l e m e n t a r y . But knowing that but

f e w F r e e m a s o n s c a n a f f o r d t i m e t o b e c o m e l e a r n e d s c h o l a r s i n o u r a r t b y a n

e n t i r e d e v o t i o n t o i t s s t u d y , I h a v e i n i m p o r t a n t a r t i c l e s e n d e a v o r e d t o t r e a t t h e

s u b j e c t e x h a u s t i v e l y , a n d i n a l l t o g i v e t h a t a m o u n t o f i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t m u s t

m a k e f u t u r e i g n o r a n c e a l t o g e t h e r t h e r e s u l t o f d i s i n c l i n a t i on t o l e a r n .

I d o n o t p r e s e n t t h i s w o r k a s p e r f e c t , f o r I w e l l k n o w t h a t t h e c u l m i n a t i n g

p o i n t o f p e r f e c t i o n c a n n e v e r b e a t t a i n e d b y h u m a n e f f o r t . But, under many

a d v e r s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , I h a v e s o u g h t t o m a k e i t a s p e r f e c t a s I c o u l d . Ency-

c l o p e d i a s a r e , f o r t h e m o s t p a r t , t h e r e s u l t o f t h e c o n j o i n e d l a b o r o f m a n y

w r i t e r s . In thi s work I have h ad no he lp . E v e r y a r t i c l e w a s w r i t t e n b y

m y s e l f . I s a y t h i s n o t t o e x c u s e m y e r r o r s - f o r I h o l d t h a t n o a u t h o r s h o u l d

w i l f u l l y p e r m i t an e r r o r t o p o l l u t e h i s p a g e s - b u t r a t h e r t o a c c o u n t f o r t h o s e


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PREFACE vthat may exist . I h a v e e n d e a v o r e d t o c o m m i t n o n e . Do u b t le s s t he r e a r e so m e .

If I k n e w t h e m , I w o u l d c o r r e c t t h e m ; b u t l e t h i m w h o d i s c o v e r s t h e m r e m e m -

b e r t h a t t h e y h a v e b e e n u n w i t t i n g l y c o m m i t t e d i n t h e c o u r s e o f a n e x h a u s t i v e

a n d u n a i d e d t a s k .

F o r t w e lv e m o n t h s , t o o , o f t h e t i m e i n w h i c h I h a v e b e e n o c c u p i e d u p o n

this work, I suffere d from an affe ction of t he sight, which f orbade all use of

t h e e y e s f o r pu r po s e s o f s t u dy . D u r i n g t h a t p e r i o d , n o w h a p pil y p a s s e d , a l l

a uthorities w ere cons ulted under my direction by the w illing eyes of my da ugh-

t e r s - a ll w r i t i n g w a s d o n e u n d e r m y d i c t a t i o n b y t h e i r h a n d s . I realized for

a t i m e t h e p i c t u r e s o o f t e n p a i n t e d o f t h e b l i n d b a r d d i c t a t i n g h i s s u b l i m e

v ers es to his da ughters . It was a time of sor row for th e student wh o could

n o t l a b o r w i t h h i s o w n o r g a n s i n h i s v o c a t i o n ; b ut i t w a s a t i m e o f gla d n e ss

to the fa ther w ho felt tha t he ha d thos e w ho , w ith w illing hea rts, could come

t o h i s a s s i s t a n c e . To the w or ld this is of no i mport ; but I could not co nscie n-

tiously clos e this prefa tory a ddres s w ithout referring to this circums ta nce s o

gratifying to a parent's heart. W e r e I t o d e d i c a t e t h i s w o r k a t a l l, m y d e d i -

c a t i o n s h ou l d b e - T o FILIAL AFFECTIONALBERT G. MACKEY, M. D .


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REVISER'S PREFACE

THE r e v i s i o n o f t h i s m o s t c o m p r e h e n s i v e E n c y c l o p e d i a h a s b e e n a m o s ta n x i o u s a n d l a b o r i o u s t a s k . I h a v e e n d e a v o r e d t o p r e s e r v e a s m u c h a s p o s s i b l e

of Dr . M a c k e y ' s w o r k u n t o u c h e d , b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e t o c o r r e c t s t a t e m e n t s

w h i c h l a t e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n s h a v e s h o w n t o b e u n f o u n d e d ; t h u s I h a v e l e f t a l l o f

Dr . M a c k e y ' s o p i n i o n s a n d t h e o r i e s u n a l t e r e d .

A l l c o m p l e t e l y n e w a r t i c l e s , o r o l d o n e s w i t h m a n y a l t e r a t i o n s , I h a v e

m a r k e d w i t h m y i n i t i a l s a n d I m u s t t a k e a l l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e m , t h o u g h

a s f a r a s p o s s i b l e t h e y w e r e s u b mi t t e d t o B r o . H u g h a n f o r h i s a p p r o v a l .

I h a v e t o r e t u r n h e a r t y t h a n k s f o r k i n d a i d t o t h e l a t e B r o . H e n r y S a d l e r ,

L i b r a r i a n o f t h e G r a n d L o d g e o f E n g l a n d ; t o B r o . W . J . S o n g h u r s t , S e c r e t a r y

o f t h e Q u a t u o r C o r o n a t i L o d g e , N o . 2 0 7 6 , L o n d o n , E n g l a n d , f o r v a l u a b l e a d -

v i c e a n d a s s i s t a n c e o n m a n y p o i n t s ; t o Br o . t h e R e v . M . R o s e n b a u m , P . P r o v . G .

Chaplain of Nort humb erland, for help with Hebre w words ; t o B r o . John

Y a r k e r , P . G . W a r d e n o f G r e e c e , f o r i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e A n t i e n t a n d P r i m i -

t i v e R i t e ; a n d t o B r o . A . C . P o w e l l , P . P r o v . G . S u p . o f W o r k s o f B r i s t o l , f o r

t h e a r t i c l e o n t h e B a l d w y n E n c a m p m e n t .

EDWARD L. HAWKING, M. A .S t . L e o n a r d s - o n - S e a , E n g l a n d , 1 9 1 2 .


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PUBLISHERS' NOTEIN p r e s e n t i n g t o t h e F r a t e r n i t y t h i s n e w a n d r e v i s e d e d i t i o n o f The En-

c y c l o p e d i a o f F r e e m a s o n r y , w e , a l s o , w i s h t o r e t u r n h e a r t y t h a n k s t o B r o . E d -

w a rd E . C a u t h o r n e , A . B . , A . M . , B r o o k l y n , N . Y . , f o r h i s a r t i c l e s o n A i t c h i -

son's -Haven Lodge , Cataco mbs, Comacin e Master s, Como, etc . , a n d t o B r o .

A. G . P i t t s , P . M . D e t r o i t , Mi c h i g a n ; B r o . R o b e r t A . S h i r r i f s , 3 3 , o f El i z a b e t h ,N J . ; B r o . Wm . J . A l l e n , G . H . G . L. of New York ; B r o . C h a r l e s A . B r o c k a -way, P . M . N e w Y o r k C i t y , f o r t h e i r a r t i c l e s o n F r e e m a s o n r y i n t h e U n i t e d

S t a t e s a n d M e x i c o ; a n d t o B r o . W i l l H . W h y t e , 3 3 , P . G . M . o f C a n a d a , f o r

h i s a r t i c l e s o n F r e e m a s o n r y i n C a n a d a . T. M . H . C o .


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AA. ( k , Aleph . ) In t he Accadi an, Greek

E t r u s c a n , P e l a s g i a n , G a l l i c , S a m a r i t a n , a n d

E g y p t i a n o r C o p t i c , o f n e a r l y t h e s a m e f o r m a -

tion as the English letter . I t o r i g i n a l l y

meant with o r t o g e t h e r , b u t a t p r e s e n t s i g n i f i e s

o n e . I n m o s t l a n g u a g e s i t i s t h e i n i t i a l l e t t e r

o f t h e a l p h a b e t ; n o t s o , h o w e v e r , i n t h e E t h i -

o p i a n , w h e r e i t i s t h e t h i r t e e n t h . The sacred

A l e p h h a s t h e n u m e r i c a l v a l u e o f o n e , a n d i s

c o m p o s e d o f t w o Y o d s , o n e o n e i t h e r s i d e o f

an inc lined Van . I t i s s a i d t o t y p i f y t h e

T r i n i t y i n U n i t y . The word Aleph s i g n i f i e s

" o x , " f r o m t h e r e s e m b l a n c e t o t h e h e a d a n d

h o r n s o f t h a t a n i m a l . T h e Di v i n e n a m e i n

H e b r e w c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h i s l e t t e r i sAHIHAa r o n . He b r e w I V I N , A h a r o n , a w o r d o f

d o u b t f u l e t y m o l o g y , b u t g e n e r a l l y s u p p o s e d t o

s i g n i f y a m o u n t a i n e e r . H e w a s t h e b r o t h e r o f

M o s e s , a n d t h e f i r s t h i g h p r i e s t u n d e r t h e M o -

s a i c d i s p e n s a t i o n , w h e n c e t h e p r i e s t h o o d e s -

tablished by that lawgiver is known as the

" Aaronic . " H e i s a l l u d e d t o i n t h e E n g l i s h

l e c t u r e s o f t h e s e c o n d d e g r e e , i n r e f e r e n c e t o a

c e r t a i n s i g n w h i c h i s s a i d t o h a v e t a k e n i t s

o r i g i n f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t A a r o n a n d H u r w e r e

p r e s e n t o n t h e h i l l f r o m w h i c h M o s e s s u r v e y e d

t h e b a t t l e w h i c h J o s h u a w a s w a g i n g w i t h t h e

Amalekites, when th ese two supported t he

weary arms of Moses in an upright posture,

b e c a u s e u p o n h i s u p l i f t e d h a n d s t h e f a t e o f t h e

battle depended . See Exod us xvi i . 10-12 .A a r o n i s a l s o r e f e r r e d t o i n t h e l a t t e r s e c t i o n

o f t h e R o y a l A r c h d e g r e e i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h

t h e m e m o r i a l s t h a t w e r e d e p o s i t e d i n t h e a r k

o f t he c o v en a n t . I n t h e d e g r e e o f " C h i e f o f

t h e T a b e r n a c l e , " w h i c h i s t h e 2 3 d o f t h e A n -

c i e n t a n d A c c e p t e d R i t e , t h e p r e s i d i n g o f f i c e r

r e p r e s e n t s A a r o n , a n d i s s t y l e d " Most Excel-

l e n t H i g h P r i e s t . " I n t h e 2 4 t h d e g re e o f t h e

A ABs a m e R i t e , o r " P r i n c e o f t h e T a b e r n a c l e , " t h e

s e c o n d o f f i c e r o r S e n i o r W a r d e n a l s o p e r s o n -

ates Aaron .

Aa r o n ' s B a n d . A d e g r e e i n s t i t u t e d i n 1 8 2 4 ,

i n N e w Y o r k C i t y , m a i n l y f o r s o c i a l p u r p o s e s ,

and conferred in an independent body . Its

ceremonies were not dissimilar to those of

High Priesthoo d, which cause d the Grand

R o y a l A r c h C h a p t e r o f t h e S t a t e t o t a k e u m -

b r a g e , a n d t h e s m a l l g a t h e r i n g d i s p e r s e d .

Aaro n's Rod . The method by whi ch Moses

caused a miraculous judgment as to which

t r i b e s h o u l d b e i n v e s t e d w i t h t h e p r i e s t h o o d , i s

detailed in the Book o f Numbers (ch . x v i i . ) .

H e d i r e c t e d t h a t t w e l v e r o d s s h o u l d b e l a i d u p

i n t h e H o l y o f H o l i e s o f t h e T a b e r n a c l e , o n e

f o r e a c h t r i b e ; t h a t o f A a r o n , o f c o u r s e , r e p r e -

s e n t e d t h e t r i b e o f L e v i . On th e nex t da y

t h e s e r o d s w e r e b r o u g h t o u t a n d e x h i b i t e d t o

t h e p e o p l e , a n d w h i l e a l l t h e r e s t r e m a i n e d d r y

a n d w i t h e r e d , t h a t o f A a r o n a l o n e b u d d e d a n d

blossomed and yielded fruit . There is no

m e n t i o n i n t h e P e n t a t e u c h o f t h i s r o d h a v i n g

b e e n p l a c e d i n t h e a r k , b u t o n l y t h a t i t w a s

p u t b e f o r e i t . But as St . P a u l , o r t h e a u t h o r

o f t h e E p i s t l e t o t h e H e b r e w s ( H e b r e w s i x . 4 ) ,

a s s e r t s t h a t t h e r o d a n d t h e p o t o f m a n n a w e r e

b o t h w i t h i n t h e a r k , R o y a l A r c h M a s o n s h a v e

f o l l o w e d t h i s l a t e r a u t h o r i t y . Hence t he rod

o f A a r o n i s f o u n d i n t h e a r k ; b u t i ts i mp o r t i s

o n l y h i s t o r i c a l , a s i f t o i d e n t i f y t h e s u b s t i t u t e

a r k a s a t r u e c o p y o f t h e o r i g i n a l , w h i c h h a d

b e e n l o s t . N o s y m b o l i c a l i n s t r u c t i o n a c c o m -

p a n i e s i t s d i s c o v e r y .

Ab . :X . 1 . The 11th month of t he He-

brew civil year and corresponding to the

months July and August, beginni ng with the

new moon of the former . 2 . I t i s a l s o a H e -b r e w w o r d , s i g n i f y i n g f a t h e r , a n d w i l l b e r e a d -

ily recognized by e very Mason as a compo-

1


11/473

2 ABACISCUSn e n t p a r t o f t h e n a m e H i r a m A b i f , w h i c h

l i t e r a l l y m e a n s H i r a m h i s f a t h e r . ( S e e A b i f . )

A b a c i s c u s . T h e d i m i n u t i v e o f A b a c u s ,

a n d , i n a r c h i t e c t u r e , r e f e r s t o t h e s q u a r e s o f

t h e t e s s e l l a t e d p a v e m e n t o r c h e c k e r e d f l o o r i n g

o f t h e g r o u n d f l o o r o f t h e S o l o m o n i a n T e m pl e .

Abacu s . A t e r m w h i c h h a s b e e n e r r o n e -o u s l y u s e d t o d e s i g n a t e t h e o f f i c i a l s t a f f o f t h e

G r a n d M a s t e r o f t h e T e mp l a r s . T h e w o r d h a s

n o s u c h m e a n i n g; f o r a n a b a c u s i s e i t h e r a

t a b l e u s e d f o r f a c i l i t a t i n g a r i t h m e t i c a l c a l c u -

l a t i o n s , o r i s i n a r c h i t e c t u r e t h e c r o w n i n g p l a t e

o f a c o l u m n a n d i t s c a p i t a l . T h e G r a n d M a s -

t e r ' s s t a f f w a s a b a c u l u s , w h i c h s e e .

Aba dd o n . A H e b r e w w o r d 1 1 ` 1 Z 9 , s i g n i f y -

i n g d e s t r u c t i o n . B y t h e R a b b i s i t i s i n t e r p r e t e d

a s t h e p l a c e o f d e s t r u c t i o n , a n d i s t h e s e c o n d o f

t h e s e v e n n a m e s g i v e n b y t h e m t o t h e r e g i o n

o f th e d ea d . I n t h e A p o c a l y p s e ( i x . 1 1 ) i t i s

r e n d e r e d b y t h e G r e e k w o r d ' A w o x w m r , A p o l l -

y o n , a n d m e a n s t h e d e s t r o y e r. I n t h i s s e n s e i t

i s u s e d a s a s i g n i f i c a n t w o r d i n t h e h i g h d e -

g r e e s.

A b a z a r . T h e t i t l e g i v e n t o t h e M a s t e r o f

C e r e m o n i e s i n t h e S i x t h D e g r e e o f t h e M o d e r n

F r e n c h R i t e .

A b b r e v i a t i o n s . A b b r e v i a t i o n s o f t e c h n i c a l

t e r m s o r o f o f f i c i a l t i t l e s a r e o f v e r y e x t e n s i v e

u s e i n M a s o n r y . T h e y w e r e , h o w e v e r , b u t

r a r e l y e m p l o y e d i n t h e e a r l i e r M a s o n i c p u b l i -

c a t i o n s . F o r i n s t a n c e , n o t o n e i s t o b e f o u n d

i n t h e f i r s t e d i t i o n o f A n d e r s o n ' s C o n s t i t u -

t i o n s . W i t h i n a c o m p a r a t i v e l y r e c e n t p e r i o d

t h e y h a v e g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d , e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g

F r e n c h w r i t e r s , a n d a f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h t h e m i s

t h e r e f o r e e s s e n t i a l l y n e c e s s a r y t o t h e M a s o n i c

s t u d e n t . F r e q u e n t l y , a m o n g E n g l i s h a n d a l -

w a y s a m o n g F r e n c h a u t h o r s , a M a s o n i c a b -

b r e v i a t i o n i s d i s t i n g u i s h e d b y t h r e e p o i n t s , . ' . ,

i n a t r i a n g u l a r f o r m f o l l o w i n g t h e l e t t e r , w h i c h

p e c u l i a r m a r k w a s f i r s t u s e d , a c c o r d i n g t o

R a g o n , o n t h e 1 2 t h o f A u g u s t , 1 7 7 4 , b y t h e

G r a n d O r i e n t o f F r a n c e , i n a n a d d r e s s t o i t s

s u b o r d i n a t e s . N o a u t h o r i t a t i v e e x p l a n a t i o n

o f t h e m e a n i n g o f t h e s e p o i n t s h a s b e e n g i v e n ,

b u t t h e y m a y b e s u p p o s e d t o r e f e r t o t h e t h r e e

l i g h t s a r o u n d t h e a l t a r , o r p e r h a p s m o r e g e n -

e r a l l y t o t h e n u m b e r t h r e e , a n d t o t h e t r i a n g l e ,

b o t h i m p o r t a n t s y m b o l s i n t h e M a s o n i c s y s -

t e m .

B e f o r e p r o c e e d i n g t o g i v e a l i s t o f t h e p r i n -

c i p a l a b b r e v i a t i o n s , i t m a y b e o b s e r v e d t h a t

t h e d o u b l i n g o f a l e t t e r i s i n t e n d e d t o e x p r e s s

t h e p l u r a l o f t h a t w o r d o f w h i c h t h e s i n g l e l e t -

t e r i s t h e a b b r e v i a t i o n . T h u s , i n F r e n c h F . .

s i g n i f i e s " F r e r e , " o r " B r o t h e r " a n d ~ ' F . ' ." F r e r e s , " o r " B r o t h e r s

. " A n d i n E n g l i s h

L . .a n d L L . - . t o d e n o t e " L o d g e s . " T h i s r e m a r k i s

m a d e o n c e f o r a l l , b e c a u s e I h a v e n o t d e e m e d

i t n e c e s s a r y t o a u g m e n t t h e s i z e o f t h e l i s t o f

a b b r e v i a t i o n s b y i n s e r t i n g t h e s e p l u r a l s . I f

t h e r e a d e r f i n d s S . ' . G . . . .

e i g n G r a n d I n s p e c t o r , " h e w i l l b e a t n o l o s s t o

k n o w t h a t S S . - . G G . ' . I L ' . m u s t d e n o t e " S o v -

e r e i g n G r a n d I n s p e c t o r s . "

A . ' . D e p . ' . A n n o D e P o s i t i o n i s . I n t h e Y e a ro f t h e D e po s it . T h e d a t e u s e d b y R o y a l a n d

S e l e c t M a s t e r s .

ABBREVIATIONSA. ' % a n d A . ' . A n c i e n t a n d A c c e p t e d .A . ' . a n d A . ' . S . % R . ' . A n c i e n t a n d A c -

c e p t e d S c o t t i s h R i t e .

A . ' . a n d A . % R . ' . A n c i e n t a n d A c c e p t e d R i t e

a s u s e d i n E n g l a n d .

A . ' . F . - . M . - . A n c i e n t F r e e m a s o n s .

A . ' . F . ' . a n d A . ' . M . ' . A n c i e n t F r e e a n d

A c c e p t e d M a s o n s .

A . ' . I n v . - . A n n o I n v e n t i o n i s . I n t h e Y e a ro f t h e D i s c o v e r y . T h e d a t e u s e d b y R o y a l

A r c h M a s o n s .

A . ' . L . ' . A n n o L u c i s . I n t h e Y e a r o f L i g h t .T h e d a t e u s e d b y A n c i e n t C r a f t M a s o n s .

A . ' . L . . . ' . D . ' . G . . . ' . D . ' . L ' U . .G l o i r e d u G r a n d A r c h i t e c t e d e l ' U n i v e r s . Tot h e G l o r y o f t h e Gr a n d A r c h i t e c t o f t h e

U n i v e r s e . ( F r e n c h . ) T h e u s u a l c a p t i o n o f

F r e n c h M a s o n i c d o c u m e n t s .

A . - . LO . - . A l ' O r i e n t . At th e East .

( F r e n c h . ) T h e s e a t o f t h e L o d g e .

A . ' . M . ' . A n n o M u n d i . I n t h e Y e a r o f t h eW o r l d . T h e d a t e u s e d i n t h e A n c i e n t a n d

A c c e p t e d R i t e .

A . - . O . - . A n n o O r d i n i s . I n t h e Y e a r o ft h e O r d e r . The date used by KnightsT e m p l a r s .

A . ' . Y . ' . M . - . A n c i e n t Y o r k M a s o n .B . ' . A . % B u i s s o n A r d e n t e . B u r n i n g B u s h .B . ' . B r u d e r . ( G e r m a n f o r B r o t h e r . )B . ' . B . - . B u r n i n g B u s h .B ' n . . . ( G e r m a n f o r B r e t h r e n . )

C . . . - . C e l e s t i a l C a n o p y .C . ' . H . ' . C a p t a i n o f t h e H o s t .D . - . D e p u t y .D . ' . G . - . G . - . H . ' . P . ' . D e p u t y G e n e r a l

G r a n d H i g h P r i e s t .D . . . ' . H . . . ' . Deputy Grand HighP r i e s t .D . - . G . - . M . - . D e p u t y G r a n d M a s t e r .D . - . P r o v . - . G . - . M . - . D e p u t y . G r a n dM a s t e r .

D i s . - . D . - . G . - . M . ' . D i s t r i c t D e p u t y G r a n d

M a s t e r . ( E n g l a n d . )D . D . G . M . ( A m e r i c a . )E . ' . E m i n e n t ; E x c e l l e n t .E . ' . A . - . E n t e r e d A p p r e n t i c e o r E . ' . A . - . P . - .E . ' . C . - . E x c e l l e n t C o m p a n i o n .E c . ' . E c o s s a i s e . ( F r e n c h . ) S c o t t i s h

; b e -

l o n g i n g t o t h e S c o t t i s h R i t e .

E . . . - . C . - . E m i n e n t G r a n d C o m m a n d e r .E . . . . . ( F r e n c h . ) Vu l g a r

E r a ; Y e a r o f t h e L o r d .

F . . . B r o t h e r . ( F r e n c h . )F . ' . C . . .F . ' . M . - . F r e e ma s o n . O l d S t yl e .G. ' . G r a n d .G. ' . A . . . ' . G r a n d A n n u a l S o j o u r n e r .G. ' . A . ' . O . ' . T . ' . U . ' . G r e a t A r c h i t e c t o f t h e

U n i v e r s e .G. ' . C . ' . G r a n d C h a p t e r ; G r a n d C o u n c i l .G. ' . Com . - . Grand Com mande ry ; Gran dCommander .G. ' . D . - . G r a n d D e a c o n .G. ' . D . ' . C . ' . G r a n d D i r e c t o r o f C e r e -

m o n i e s .G. - . E . ' . G r a n d E n c a m p m e n t ; G r a n d E a s t .G. ' . G . - . C . ' . G e n e r a l G r a n d C h a p t e r .G. ' . G . - . H . ' . P . ' . G e n e r a l G r a n d H i g hP r i e s t .


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ABBREVIATIONSG: . H . . P . - . G r a n d H i g h P r i e s t .G - . L . - . Gran d Lodge .G . M. - . Grand Master .G - . N - . Grand Nehem iah .G - . O - . Grand Orien t ; Grand Organ ist .G - . P - . Gra n d Pu r s u i v a n t .G - . P - . S . - . Gran d Past Sojourne r .G - . R - . Grand Regist rar .G. - . R - . A . C . - . Grand Royal Arch Chap-

t e r .G . - . S - . Grand Scrib e ; Grand Secret ary .G. . S - . B . - . Grand Sword Be arer ; Gran dSt a n d a r d B e a r e r .G ' . T . - . Grand Treas urer .H . - . A . . B . - . Hira m Abif .H . - . E . - . Holy Empi re .H . - . K . - . T . - . Hiram, King of Tyre .H . . R:. D . . M . ' . Heredo m .

I l l . - . I l l u s t r i o u s .L . N . . R: . I : . Iesu s Nazare nus , RexIu d x o r u m . ( L a t i n . ) J e s u s o f N a za r e t h , K i ng

o f t h e J e w s .

I . - . P . - . M. . Immed iate Past Master .( E n g l i s h . )

I : . T . - . N . O . . T: . G. - . A - . O . . T - . U . - .In t h e Na m e o f t h e Gr e a t A r c h i t e c t o f t h e

U n i v e r s e . Of t e n f o r m i n g t h e c a p t i o n o f

Masonic docume nts .

J . '. W. - . Junior Warden .K . - . King .K-H . . Kadosh, Knight of Kadosh .K . - . H. - . S . ' . Knight of th e Holy Sepulcher .K . - . M . - . Knight of Malta .K . - . S . - . King Solomo n .K . - . T . - . Knights T empla r .L . . Lodg e .LL - . Lodg es .L . - . R - . Lond on Rank . A distincti on in-troduced in England in 1908 .M- . Maso n .M- . C . - . Middle Chambe r .M- . E . - . Most Emin ent ; Most Exce llent .M . E . - . G . H . - . P - . Most Exce llent Gran dHigh Priest .M- . E . . G. - . M . . Most Eminent GrandMaster (of K nigh ts Templar) .M . L . M e r e L o g e . (Frenc h .) Moth erLodg e .M- . M . - . Mast er Mason .M. . M. % M o i s M a c o n n i . q u e . (Frenc h . )Ma s o n i c Mo n t h . March is the first Masonic

m o n t h a m o n g F r e n c h Ma s o n s .M. . W- . Most Worshipful .M. ' . W . - . S . . Mo s t W i s e So v e r e i g n .O - . Orient .OB . ' . Obligati on .P ' . P a s t .P - . G . ' . M . - . Past Grand Maste r .P . M . Past Maste r .Prov : . P r o v i n c i a l .

Pr o : . G . - . M . ' . Pro-Grand Mast er .

Prov : . G . - . M . - . Provin cial Grand Master .P . - . S . ' . Principal Sojourn er .R - . A . . R o y a l A r c h .R- . C. . or R : . t . ' . Rose Cro ix . Appende dt o t h e s i g n a t u r e o f o n e h a v i n g t h a t d e g r e e .R ' . E . . Right Eminent .R. - . F - . R e s p e c t a b l e F r e r e . (French .) Wor-shipful Brother .

ABDIEL 3R - . L . . o r R . ' . O Respecta ble Loge .

(French .) Worshi pful Lodge .R - . S . ' . Y . ' . C . ' . S . - . Rosy Cro ss (in theRoyal Order of Scotland) .

R . W' . Ri g h t W o r s h i p f u l .S . ' . S c r i b e .S . ' . C . ' . Supreme Coun cil .S - . G. ' . I . ' . G . ' . Sover eign Grand Inspect or

Gener al .S - . P . ' . R . . S. - . Sublime Prince o f the RoyalSecre t .S - . S. . Sanct um Sanc tor um or Holy ofH o l i e s .

S . - . S - . S . - . Trois f o i s Salut . (Frenc h . ) ,T h r i c e g r e e t i n g . A common caption toFrench Masonic ci rculars or letters .S ' . W . . Senior Warden .T - . C. - . F . - . T r e s s C h e r e F r e r e . (Frenc h . )Very Dear Bro ther .T . G. . A . ' . O . ' . T . ' . U - . The Great Archi-tect of the Universe .V ' . or Ven : . Vener able . (French .) Wor-s h i p f u l .V ' . D . . B% Very Dear Brother .V' . D . ' . S . - . A - . Veut Die u Sain t Amou r,o r Vul t D e i Sa n c t u s An i m u s . A f o r m u l a

u s e d b y K n i g h t s T e m pl a r .V - . L . ' . Vraie l u m i e r e . (Frenc h.) Truel i g h t .V - . W. - . Very Wors hipful .W' . Worsh ipful .W . M. - . Worshipful Master .O . Lodg e .E!p . . Lodg es .

Prefixed to the signature o f a Knights

Templar or a member of the A. and A .

Scottish Rite below the Thirt y-third Degree .

Prefixed to the signatur e of a Grandor Past Grand Commander ofK n i g h t s T e m pl a r o r a M a s o n o f t h e

Thirty-third Degree in the Scottish Rite .

Prefixed to the signat ure of a Grand

or Past Grand Master of Kni ghtsTemplar and the Grand Com-mander o f the Supreme Council of the Ancient

and Accepted Scottish Rite .

Abda. A word used in som e of the hig hdegrees . He w a s t h e f a t h e r o f A d o n i r a m .

(See 1 Kings iv . 6 .) Lenning is wrong in say-

i n g t h a t h e i s r e p r e s e n t e d b y o n e o f t h e o f f i c e r s

i n t h e d e g r e e o f M a s t e r i n I s r a e l . He has con-

f o u n d e d A b d a w i t h h i s s o n . (Ency c . der

Freimaur . )Abdamon. The name of the orator in theF o u r t e e n t h D e g r e e o f t h e R i t e o f P e r f e c t i o n , o r

the Sacred Vault of Ja mes VI . It means a ser-

v a n t , f r o m a b a d , " to serve," although so me-

what corrupted in its transmission into the

r i t u a l s . Lennin g says it is the Hebrew Hab-

damon, " a s e r v a n t ' ; b u t t h e r e i s n o s u c h

word in Hebrew .Abdie l . (Heb., Serva nt o f God .) The

name of an angel mentioned by the Jewish

Kabbalists . He is re presente d in Milton's

Paradise Lost, Book V., as one of the sera-phim, who, when Satan tried to stir up a re-

volt among the angels subordinate to his

a u t h o r i t y , a l o n e a n d b o l d ly w i t h s t o o d h i s

traitorous designs :


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4 ABDITORIUM ABIFA m o n g t h e f a i t h l e s s , f a i t h f u l o n l y h e ; i s t o b e c o n s i d e r e d s i m p l y a s a n a p p e l l a t i v e o rA m o n g i n n u m e r a b l e f a l s e , u n m o v e d ,

surname, he preserves th e Hebrew fo rm, hisU n s h a k e n , u n r e d u c e d , u n t e r r i f i e d ,

t r a n s l a t i o n b e i n g a s f o l l o w s : " Machte HuramH i s l o y a l t y h e k e p t , h i s l o v e , h i s z e a l . (894- 7

.) Abif dem Konig e Salomo ." The Swedish ver-

a n a m e

f a i t h f u l n e s s .

b e c a m e t h e s y n o n y m o fh i s

f a t h e r , " g i v e s u s "

a H y r a i n s t e a d o f

m Abiv . "

"

I n t h ehonor e

Abdit orlum . A s e c r e t p l a c e f o r t h e d e p o s i t L a t i n V u l g a t e , a s i n t h e E n g l i s h v e r s i o n , t h e

of reco rds-a Tabularium . w ords are rendered " Hiram pater e jus . I

Abelite s . A s e c r e t O r d e r w h i c h e x i s t e d h a v e l i t t l e d o u b t t h a t L u t h e r a n d t h e S w e d i s h

a b o u t t h e m i d d l e o f t h e 1 8 t h c e n t u r y i n G e r - t r a n s l a t o r w e r e c o r r e c t i n t r e a t i n g t h e w o r d

m a ny , c a l le d a l s o " t h e O r de r o f A be l ." TheAbi f a s a n a p p e l l a t i v e . In Hebrew, the word

organizatio n was in possession of peculiara b , or " f a t h e r , i s o f t e n u s e d , h o n o r i s c a u s a ,

s i g n s , w o r d s , a n d c e r e m o n i e s o f i n i t i a t i o n , a s a t i t l e o f r e s p e c t , a n d m a y t h e n s i g n i f y

b u t , a c c o r d i n g t o G a d i c k e(Freimaurer Lexi- fri end, counselor wis e man, o r s o m e t h i n g e l s e

c o n ) , i t h a d n o c o n n e c t i o n w i t h F r e e m a s o n r y. o f e q u i v a l e n t c f , a r a c t e r . Thus, Dr . C l a r k e ,

According to Clavel the order was founded at commenting on the word a b r e c h , in Genesis

G r i e f s w a l d i n 1 7 4 5 .x l i . 4 3 , s a y s : " Father seems to have bee n a

Aberc orn, Earl of . J a m e s H a m i l t o n , L o r d n a m e o f o f f i c e , a n d p r o b a b l y f a t h e r o f t h e k i n g

Paisley, was named Grand Master of Egland or f a t h e r o f P h a r a o h m i g h t s i g n i f y t h e s a m e a s

b y t h e r e t i r i n g G . M a s t e r , t h e D u k e o f R i c h - t h ek i n g ' s m i n i s t e r a mong us . And on t he

m o n d i n 1 7 2 5 . He was at that time the very passagei n w h i c h t h i s w o r d A b i f i s u s e d ,

Master of a Lodge, and had served on the h e says : " : X , f a t h e r , i s often used in He-

Committee of Charity durin g t h a t y e a r. He brew t o signi fy m a s t e r , i n v e n t o r , c h i e f o p e r a t o r . "

succeeded his father as Earl of Abercorn in Gsenius, the distinguished Hebrew lexi-

1734 . c o g r a p h e r , g i v e s t o t h i s w o r d s i m i l a r s i g n i f i -

Aberc orn, Duke of . Grand Master of Ire- c ation, such as b e n e f a c t o r , m a s t e r , t e a c h e r ,

land 1874-85 . a n d s a y s t h a t i n t h e A r a b i c a n d t h e E t h i o p i c

Aber dour , Lord . Grand Master of Scot- it is spoken of on e who e xcels in any thing .

l a n d , 1 7 5 5 - 6 . Also of Eng land 1757-61 .This idiomatic custo m was pursued by the

Abi b . T h e o r i g i n a l n a m e o f t h e H e b r e w l a t e r H e b r e w s , f o r B u x t o r f t e l l s u s , i n h i s " T a l -

month Nisan, nearly corr esponding to the mudic Lexicon, that amon g the Talmudists

m o n t h o f M a r c h , t h e f i r s t o f t h e e c c l e s i a s t i c a la b b a , f a t h e r , w a s a l w a y s a t i t l e o f h o n o r , "

year . Abib is fr equently mentioned in the and he quotes the f ollowing remarks from 'a

S a c r e d S c r i p t u r e s , a n d s i g n i f i e s g r e e n e a r s o f t r e a t i s e o f t h e c e l e b r a t e d M a i m o n i d e s , w h o ,

c o r n o r f r e s h f r u i t s .when speaking of the grades or ranks into

Abib ale . T h e n a m e o f t h e f i r s t A s s a s s i n i n w h i c h t h e R a b b i n i c a l d o c t o r s w e r e d i v i d e d ,

t h e E l u o f t h e M o d e r n F r e n c h R i t e .says : " T h e f i r s t c l a s s c o n s i s t s o f t h o s e e a c h

Derived most probably from the Hebrew of ,whom bears his own nam e, without anyt i t l e o f h o n o r ; t h e s e c o n d , o f t h o s e w h o a r e

a b i and b a l a h , " :X and y~ :, which mean f a t h e rc a l l e d Rabba n im a n d t h e h i r d , o f t h o s e w h o

o f d e s t r u c t i o n , t h o u g h i t i s s a i d t o m e a n " l ea r e c a l l e d Rabb i, a n d t h e m e n o f t h i s c l a s s a l s o

meurtrier du Pire"r e c e i v e t h e c o g n o m e n o f Abba , Father . "

Ab i d e b y . See S t a n d t o a n d a b i d e b y .A g a i n , i n 2 C h r o n i c l e s i i . 13, Hira m, th e

Abif ( o r A b i f f , or perhaps more correctlyK i n g o f T y r e , r e f e r r i n g t o t h e s a m e H i r a m ,

Ablv). An epithet which has been applied in the widow's son, who is spoken of subse-

S c r i p t u r e t o t h a t c e l e b r a t e d b u i l d e r w h o w a s q u e n t l y i n r e f e r e n c e t o K i n g S o l o m o n a s

" h i ss e n t t o J e r u s a l e m b y K i n g H i r a m , o f T y r e, t o f a t h e r , " o r

Abi f i n t h e p a s s a g e a l r e a d y c i t e d ,s u p e r i n t e n d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e T e m p l e

. w r i t e s t o S o l o m o n : " And now I have sent aThe word, which in the orig inal Hebrew is cun ning man, endued wit h understan ding, of) " : N , a n d w h i c h m a y b e p r o n o u n c e d Abiv

or Huram my fat her's . " T h e o n l y d i f f i c u l t y i nA b i f , i s

c o m p o u n d e d o f t h e n o u n i n t h e c o n - t h i s s e n t e n c e i s t o b e f o u n d i n t h e p r e f i x i n g o f

s t r u c t - s t a t e I :X, Abi, m e a n i n g "f a t h e r , " t h e l e t t e r lamed b e f o r e Huram which hasa n d t h e p r o n o m i n a l s u f f i x 1 , w h i c h , w i t h t h e >

p r e c e d i n g v o w e l s o u n d i s t o b e s o u n d e d a s i v c a u s e d o u r t r a n s l a t o r s , b y a s t r a n g e b l u n d e r ,

or i f , and which means!`h i s " ;

s o t h a t t h e w o r d t o r e n d e r t h e w o r d s l Huram abi, as meaning

t h u s c o m p o u n de d Abif l i t e r a l l y a n d g r a m - " of Huram my fath er's," * instead of

m a t i c a l l y s i g n i f i e s " h i s f a t h e r ." The wor d is "Huram my fa the r . " L u t h e r h a s a g a i n t a k e n

f o u n d i n 2 C h r o n i c l e s i v . 1 6 , i n t h e f o l l o w i n g t h e c o r r e c t v i e w o f t h i s s u b j e c t , a n d t r a n s l a t e s

s e n t e n c e : " The pots also, and the sho vels, the word as an appellative : So sende ich

a n d t h e f l e s h h o o k s , a n d a l l t h e i r i n s t r u m e n t s n u n e i n e n w e i s e n M a n n , d e r B e r s t a n d h a t ,

did Huram hi s fathr m ake to King Solomon . ' Huram Abif" that is, " So now I send y ou a

T h e l a t t e r p a r t o f t h i s v e r s e i s i n t h e o r i g i n a l w i s e m a n w h o h a s u n d e r s t a n d i n g , H u r a m

a s f o l l o w s :Abif . " T h e t r u t h , I s u s p e c t , i s , a l t h o u g h i t h a s .

e s c a p e d a l l t h e c o m m e n t a t o r s , t h a t t h e lamednn5ln `15r~5 1 ' :X a 7 in' I V Y ) i n t h i s p a s s a g e i s a C h a l d a i s m w h i c h i s s o m e -

S h elo m o h lamelech Abif Huram g n a s a h t i m e s u s e d b y t h e l a t e r H e b r e w w r i t e r s , w h oL u t h e r h a s b e e n m o r e l i t e r a l i n h i s v e r s i o n

* I t m a y b e r e m a r k e d t h a t t h i s c o u l d n o t b eo f t h i s p a s s a g e t h a n t h e E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t o r s , t h e t r u e m e a n i n g , f o r t h e f a t h e r o f K i n g H i r a m

a n d a p p e a r i n g t o s u p p o s e t h a t t h e w o r d Abifw a s n o t a n o t h e r H i r a m , b u t A b i b a l .


14/473

ABIRAMincorre ctly employ 5 , the sign of the dative

f o r t h e a c c u s a t i v e a f t e r t r a n s i t i v e v e r b s .

Thus, in Jerem iah (xl. 2), we have such a c on-

struction : v a y i k a c h r a b t a b a c h i m l ' Y r e m y a h u ;

that is, literally, " a n d t h e c a p t a i n o f t h e

guards took f o r J e r e m i a h ," w h e r e t h e 5 , 1 , o r

f o r , i s a C h a ld a i s m a n d r e d u n d a n t , t h e t r u e

r en de ri ng b ei ng , " a n d t h e c a p t a i n o f t h e

g u a r d s t o o k J e r e m i a h . " Ot h e r s i m i l a r pa s -

sages are to be found in Lamentations iv . 5,

Job v . 2 , e t c . In like ma nne r I suppose t he 5

before Huram, which the English translators

have rendered by the preposition " of," to be

red undant and a Chaldaic form, the sentence

should be read thus : "I have s ent a c unnin g

m a n , e n d u e d w i t h u n d e r s t a n d i n g , Hu r a m m y

father" ; or, if considere d as an appellative ,

as it should be, " Huram Abi . "From all this I conclude that th e word Ab ,with its different suffixes, is always used in the

Books of Kings and Chronicles, in reference to

Hiram the B uilder, as a title of respect . WhenK i n g Hi r a m spe a k s o f h i m h e c alls h i m " myf a t h e r Hi r a m , " Hira m Abi ; and when thewriter of the Book of Chronicles is speaking of

h i m a n d K i n g S olo m o n i n t h e s a m e p a s s a g e ,he c a l l s him " So l o m o n ' s f a t h e r ' - ""father," Hiram Abif . The only difference is

made by the di fferent appellation of th e pro-

n o u n s my and h i s in Hebrew. To both thekings of Tyre and of Judah he bore the honor-

able relation of Ab, o r " fathe r," equiv alent to

m e n d , c o u n s e l o r , or m i n i s t e r . He w a s "Fa t h e rdram." The Mason s are ther efore perf ectlycorrect in refusing to adopt the tr a n s lation of

the English version, and in preserving, after

the example of Luther, the word Abif a s a n

appellative, surname, or title of hono r and dis-

tinction bestowed upon the chief b uilder of

t h e T e m pl e , a s D r . J a m e s An d e r s o n s u g g e s t s

in his note on the subject in the fi rst edi-

tion (1723) of t he C o n s t i t u t i o n s o f t h e F r e e -

ma s ons . [E. L. H . 1Abiram . One of the traitorous craft smen,whose act of perfidy forms so important a part

of the Third Degree, receives in some of th e

h i g h d e g r e e s t h e n a m e o f Abir a m Akir op .

T h e s e w o r d s c e r t a i n l y h a v e a H e b r e w l o o k ;

but the significan t words of Masonry have, in

the lapse of time and in the ir transmission

t h r o u g h i g n o r a n t t e a c h e r s , b e c o m e s o c o r -

rupted in form that it is almost impossible to

trace them to any intelligent root . They mayb e He b r e w o r t h e y m a y b e a n a g r a m m a t i z e d

(see Anag ram) ; but it is only chance that can

give us the true meaning which they undoubt-

e d l y h a v e . The word "Abiram" means" f a t h e r o f l o f t i n e s s , " a n d m a y h a v e b e e n

chosen as the name of the traitorous crafts-

m a n w i t h a llu s i o n t o t h e B i b l i c al s t o r y o fKorah, Dathan and Abiram who conspiredagainst Moses and Aaron . (Numb ers xvi .) In

the French ritual of th e Second Elu it is saidto mean murderer or a s s a s s i n , but this wouldnot seem to be cor rect etymologically .Able There is an archaic use of the wordable to signify s u i t a b l e . T h u s, Ch a u c e r s a y s

of a monk that "he was able to ben an abbot,"

ABORIGINES 5 -that is, suitable to be an abbot . In this sense

t h e o l d m a n u s c r i p t C o n s t i t u t i o n s constan tly

e m pl o y t h e w o r d , a s w h e n t h e y s a y t h a t t h e

a ppr e n ti c e s h o uld be " able of Birth that is

ffree borne . " (Lans dow ne MS . )Ablution. A ceremon ial purifica tion bywashing, much used i n the Ancient Mysteries

a n d u n d e r t h e M o s a i c d i s p e n s a t i o n . It i s

also employed in some o f the high degre es ofMasonry. The better tech nical term for thisceremony is l u s t r a t i o n , which see .Abnet . T h e b a n d o r ap r o n , m a d e o f f i n el i n e n , v a r i o u s ly w r o u g h t , a n d w o r n b y t h e

J e w i s h p r i e s t h o o d. It seems to have been

b o r r o w e d d i r e c t l y f r o m t h e E g y pt i a n s u p o n

the representati ons of all of whose gods is to

be found a sim ilar girdle . Like the sennaar,

or sacred cord of the Brahmans , and the white

shield of the Scandinavi ans, it is the analogue

of the Masonic apron .Aborigines. A secret society which existedin England about the year 1783, and of whose

ceremony of initiati on the following account is

contained in the B r i t i s h M a g a z i n e of that date .

The presiding officer , who was styled the Orig-

inal, thus addressed the candidate :

O r i g i n a l . Have you faith enough to bemad e an Original?

C a n d i d a t e . I have .O r i g i n a l . Will you be conformable to all

honest rules which may support stead ily the

honor, reputation, welfare, and dignity of our

ancient und ertaking?

Candidate . I w i l l .

O r i g i n a l . T h e n , f r i e n d , pr o m i s e m e t h a t

you will never stray from the paths of Honor,

Freedom, Honest y, Sincer ity, Prudence , Mod-

esty , Reputati on, Sobri ety, and True Friend-

ship .

Candidate . I doW h i c h d o n e , t h e c r i e r o f t h e c o u r t c o m -

m a n d e d s i l e n c e a n d t h e n e w m e m b e r , b e i n g

u n c o v e r e d , a n d d r o ppi n g o n h i s r i g h t k n e e ,

had the following oath adminis tered to him by

the servant, the new member laying his righ t

hand on t he Cap of Honor, and Nimrod hold-

ing a staff over his head :

" Yo u s w e a r b y t h e C a p o f Ho n o r , b y t h e

Collar of Freedom, by the Coat of Honesty, by

the Jacket of Sincerity, by th e Shirt of Pru-

d e n c e , b y t h e B r e e c h e s o f M o d e s t y , b y t h e

Garter s of Reputation , by the Stocki ngs of

Sobriety, an d by th e Steps of True Friendship,

never to depart from these laws . "

Then rising, with the staff resting on his

head, he received a copy of the laws from the

hands of the Grand Original, with thes e words,

" Enjoy the benefits hereof . "

He then delivere d the copy of the laws to

the care of the servant , after which the word

w a s g i v e n b y t h e s e c r e t a r y t o t h e n e w m e m -

ber, viz . : Eden, signifying the gard en where

Arms, the great aboriginal, was formed .

T h e n t h e s e c r e t a r y i n v e s t e d h i m w i t h t h e

sign, viz . : resting his right hand on his left

side, signifying the first conjunction of har-mony .It h a d n o c o n n e c t i o n w i t h F r e e m a s o n r y ,

but was simply one of those numerous imit a-


15/473

6 ABRACt i v e s o c i e t i e s t o w h i c h t h a t I n s t i t u t i o n has

g i v e n r i s e .

Abr ac . I n the Leland MS . i t i s s a i d t h a t

t h e M a s o n s c o n c e a l " the wey of wynninge

t h e f a c u l t y e o f A b r a c ." Mr . L o c k e ( i f i t w a s

he who wrote a commentary on the manu-

s c r i p t ) s a y s , " H e r e I a m u t t e r l y i n t h e d a r k . "

I t m e a n s s i m p l y t h e w a y o f a c q u i r i n g t h e

s c i e n c e o f A b r a c . " T h e s c i e n c e o f A b r a c i s

t h e k n o w l e d g e o f t h e p o w e r a n d u s e o f t h e

m y s t i c a l a b r a x a s , which see ; o r v e r y l i k e l y

"Abr ac " i s m e r e l y a n a b b r e v i a t i o n o f A b r a c -

adabra .

Abracadabr a . A t e r m o f i n c a n t a t i o n w h i c h

w a s f o r m e r l y w o r n a b o u t t h e n e c k a s a n a m u -

l e t a g a i n s t s e v e r a l d i s e a s e s , e s pe c i a l l y t h e t e r -

t i a n a g u e . I t w a s t o b e w r i t t e n o n a t r i a n g u -

l a r p i e c e o f p a r c h m e n t i n t h e f o l l o w i n g f o r m :ABRACADABRAABRACADABRABRACADABABRACADAABRACADABRACAABRACABRAABRABAI t i s s a i d t h a t i t f i r s t o c c u r s i n t h e C a r m e n

de Morbis et Remediic o f Q . S e r e n u s S a m m o n -

i c u s , a f a v o r i t e o f t h e E m p e r o r S e v e r u s i n t h e

2 d a n d 3 d c e n t u r i e s , a n d i s g e n e r a l l y s u p p o s e d

t o b e d e r i v e d f r o m t h e w o r d abraxas .Abraham T h e f o u n d e r o f t h e H e b r e w n a -t i o n . T h e p a t r i a r c h A b r a h a m i s p e r s o n a t e d

i n t h e d e g r e e o r O r d e r o f H i g h P r i e s t h o o d ,

w h i c h r e f e r s i n s o m e o f i t s c e r e m o n i e s t o a n

i n t e r e s t i n g i n c i d e n t i n h i s l i f e . A f t e r t h e

amicab le separation of Lot and Abraham ,

w h e n t h e f o r m e r w a s d w e l l i n g i n t h e p l a i n i n

w h i c h S o d o m a n d i t s n e i g h b o r i n g t o w n s w e r e

s i t u a t e d , a n d t h e l a t t e r i n t h e v a l l e y o f M a m r e

near Hebron, a king from beyond the Eu-

p h r a t e s , w h o s e n a m e w a s C h e d o r l a o m e r , i n -

v a d e d l o w e r P a l e s t i n e , a n d b r o u g h t s e v e r a l o f

t h e s m a l l e r s t a t e s i n t o a t r i b u t a r y c o n d i t i o n .

A m o n g t h e s e w e r e t h e f i v e c i t i e s o f t h e p l a i n ,

t o w h i c h L o t h a d r e t i r e d . A s t h e y o k e w a s

b o r n e w i t h i m p a t i e n c e b y t h e s e c i t i e s , C h e d -

o r l a o m e r , a c c o m p a n i e d b y f o u r o t h e r k i n g s

w h o w e r e p r o b a b l y h i s t r i b u t a r i e s , a t t a c k e d

a n d d e f e a t e d t h e k i n g s o f t h e p l a i n , p l u n d e r e d

t h e i r t o w n s , a n d c a r r i e d t h e i r p e o p l e a w a y a s

s l a v e s . Among those who suffered on this

occasion was Lot . As soon as Abrah amh e a r d o f t h e s e e v e n t s , h e a r m e d t h r e e h u n d r e d

a n d e i g h t e e n o f h i s s l a v e s , a n d , wi t h t h e a s s i s t -

ance o f Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, thr ee

A m o r i t i s h c h i e f s , h e p u r s u e d t h e r e t i r i n g i n -

v a d e r s , a n d h a v i n g a t t a c k e d t h e m n e a r t h e

J o r d a n , p u t t h e m t o f l i g h t , a n d t h e n r e t u r n e d

w i t h a l l t h e m e n a n d g o o d s t h a t h a d b e e n r e -

c o v e r e d f r o m t h e e n e m y . O n h i s w a y b a c k h e

w a s m e t b y t h e K i n g o f S o d o m , a n d a l s o b y

M e l c h i z e d e k , K i n g o f S a l e m , w h o w a s , l i k e

Ab r a h a m a worshi er of t he true God .M e l c h i z e c e k r e f r e s h A b r a h a m a n d h i s p e o -

ABRAXASp l e w i t h b r e a d a n d w i n e , a n d b l e s s e d h i m . TheK i n g o f S o d o m w i s h e d A b r a h a m t o g i v e u p t h e

p e r s o n s , b u t r e t a i n t h e g o o d s t h a t h e h a d r e -

c o v e r e d ; h o w e v e r , A b r a h a m p o s i t i v e l y r e f u s e d

t o r e t a i n a n y o f t h e s p o i l s , a l t h o u g h , b y t h e

c u s t o m s o f t h e a g e , h e w a s e n t i t l e d t o t h e m ,

a n d d e c l a r e d t h a t h e h a d s w o r n t h a t h e w o u l d

n o t t a k e " from a thread even to a shoe-

l a t c h e t . " ( G e n e s i s x i v . ) A l t h o u g h t h e c o n d u c t

o f A b r a h a m i n t h i s w h o l e t r a n s a c t i o n w a s o f

t h e m o s t h o n o r a b l e a n d c o n s c i e n t i o u s c h a r a c -

t e r , t h e i n c i d e n t s d o n o t a p p e a r t o h a v e b e e n

i n t r o d u c e d i n t o t h e r i t u a l o f t h e H i g h P r i e s t -

h o o d f o r a n y o t h e r r e a s o n e x c e p t t h a t o f t h e i r

connection with Melchizedek, who was the

f o u n d e r o f a n O r d e r o f P r i e s t h o o d .

Abra h a m, Antoi n e Firmin . A Mas onw h o m a d e h i m s e l f n o t o r i o u s a t P a r i s , i n t h e b e -

g i n n i n g o f t h e p r e s e n t c e n t u r y , b y t h e m a n u -

f a c t u r e a n d s a l e o f f a l s e M a s o n i c d i p l o m a s a n d

b y t r a d i n g i n t h e h i g h e r d e g r e e s , f r o m w h i c h

t r a f f i c h e r e a p e d f o r s o m e t i m e a p l e n t i f u l h a r -

v e s t . The Supreme Coun cil of France de-

c l a r e d , i n 1 8 1 1 , a l l h i s d i p l o m a s a n d c h a r t e r s

v o i d a n d d e c e p t i v e . He is the author of

L'Art du Tuileur, dedi e a tour les Masonsdes deux hemispheres, a s m a l l v o l u m e o f 2 0p a g e s , 8 v o , p r i n t e d a t P a r i s i n 1 8 0 3 , a n d h e

p u b l i s h ed f r o m 1 8 0 0 t o 1 8 0 8 a p e r i o d i c a l w o r k

e n t i t l e d L e M i r o i r d e l a v e r i t e , d e d i e a t o u s l e s

Masons, 3 v o l s . , 8 v o . This contains many

i n t e r e s t i n g d e t a i l s c o n c e r n i n g t h e h i s t o r y o f

M a s o n r y i n F r a n c e . I n 1 8 1 1 t h e r e w a s p u b -

l i s h e d a t P a r i s a Circulair e du Supreme Con-

s e i l d u 3 3 e d e g r e , e t c . , r e l a t i v e a l a v e n t e , p a r

le Sieur Abraham de grades et cahie rs Magon-

niques ( 8 v o , 1 5 pp . ) , f r o m w h i c h i t i s e v i d e n t

t h a t A b r a h a m w a s n o t h i n g e l s e b u t a M a s o n i c

c h a r l a t a n .

Abra xas . B a s i l i d e s , t h e h e a d o f t h e E g y p -

t i a n s e c t o f G n o s t i c s , t a u g h t t h a t t h e r e w e r e

s e v e n e m a n a t i o n s , o r a e o n s , f r o m t h e S u p r e m e

Go d ; t h a t t h e s e e m a n a t i o n s e n g e n d e r e d t h ea n g e l s o f t h e h i g h e s t o r d e r ; t h a t t h e s e a n g e l s

f o r m e d a h e a v e n f o r t h e i r h a b i t a t i o n , andb r o u g h t f o r t h o t h e r a n g e l s o f a n a t u r e i n f e r i o r

t o t he i r ow n ; t ha t i n t i m e o t h e r h e a v e n s w e r e

f o r m e d a n d o t h e r a n g e l s c r e a t e d , u n t i l t h e

w h o l e n u m b e r o f a n g e l s a n d t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e

heavens amounted to 365, which were thus

e q u a l t o t h e n u m b e r o f d a y s i n a y e a r ; a n d ,

f i n a l l y , t h a t o v e r a l l t h e s e a n o m n i p o t e n t L o r d -

i n f e r i o r , h o w e v e r , t o t h e S u p r e m e G o d - p r e -

sided, whose na me was Abraxas . Now th isw o r d A b r a x a s , i n t h e n u m e r i c a l f o r c e o f i t s

l e t t e r s w h e n w r i t t e n i n G r e e k , ABPABBA: X ,a m o u n t s t o 3 6 5 , t h e n u m b e r o f w o r l d s i n t h e

B a s i l i d e a n s y s t e m , a s w e l l a s t h e n u m b e r o f

d a y s i n t h e y e a r , t h u s : A, 1 . . , B, 2 . . , P, 1 0 0 . . ,

A , 1 . . , B , 60 . . , A, 1 . ., 2 200 = 36 5 . The god

A b r a x a s w a s t h e r e f o r e a t y p e o r s y m b o l o f t h e

y e a r , o r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n o f t h e e a r t h a r o u n d

t h e s u n . T h i s m y s t i c a l r e f e r e n c e o f t h e n a m e

o f a g o d t o t h e a n n u a l p e r i o d w a s f a m i l i a r t o

t h e a n c i e n t s , a n d i s t o b e f o u n d i n a t l e a s t t w o

o t h e r i n s t a n c e s . T h u s , a m o n g t h e P e r s i a n s

t h e l e t t e r s o f t h e n a m e o f t h e g o d M i t h r a s ,

a n d o f B e l e n u s a m o n g t h e G a u l s , a m o u n t e d

e a c h t o 3 6 5 .


16/473

The word A b r a x a s , t h e r e f o r e , f r o m t h i s

m y s t i c a l v a l u e o f t h e l e t t e r s o f w h i c h i t w a s

c o m p o s e d , b e c a m e t a l i s m a n i c , a n d w a s f r e -

q u e n t l y i n s c r i b e d , s o m e t i m e s w i t h a n d s o m e -

t i m e s w i t h o u t o t h e r s u p e r s t i t i o u s i n s c r i p t i o n s ,

o n s t o n e s o r g e m s a s a m u l e t s , m a n y o f w h i c h

h a v e b e e n p r e s e r v e d o r a r e c o n t i n u a l l y b e i n g

d i s c o v e r e d , a n d a r e t o b e f o u n d i n t h e c a b i n e t s

o f t h e c u r i o u s .

There have been many conjectures among

t h e l e a r n e d a s t o t h e d e r i v a t i o n o f t h e w o r d

A b r a x a s . Beausobre ( H i s t o i r e du Maniche-

i s m e , v o l . i i . ) d e r i v e s i t f r o m t h e G r e e k ,

` A , B g o s l a w, s i g n i f y i n g " t h e m a g n i f i c e n t S a v -

i o u r , h e w h o h e a l s a n d p r e s e r v e s . " B e l l e r m a n n

( E s sa y o n t he G e ms o f t h e A n c ie n t s) supposed

i t t o b e c o m p o u n d e d o f t h r e e C o p t i c w o r d s

s i g n i f y i n g " t h e h o l y w o r d o f b l i s s . " P i g n o r i u s

a n d V a n d e l i n t h i n k i t i s c o m p o s e d o f f o u r

H e b r e w a n d t h r e e G r e e k l e t t e r s , w h o s e n u m e r -

i c a l v a l u e i s 3 6 5 , a n d w h i c h a r e t h e i n i t i a l s o f

t h e s e n t e n c e : " s a v i n g m e n b y w o o d , i . e . t h e

c r o s s . "

Abraxa s Ston es . Stones on wh ich the

w o r d A b r a x a s a n d o t h e r d e v i c e s a r e e n g r a v e d ,

a n d w h i c h w e r e u s e d b y t h e E g y p t i a n G n o s -

t i c s a s a m u l e t s .

Absen ce . A t t e n d a n c e o n t h e c o m m u n i c a -

t i o n s o f h i s L o d g e , o n a l l c o n v e n i e n t o c c a s i o n s ,

i s c o n s i d e r e d a s o n e o f t h e d u t i e s o f e v e r y

M a s o n , a n d h e n c e t h e o l d c h a r g e s o f 1 7 2 2 ( c h .

i i i . ) s a y t h a t " i n a n c i e n t T i m e s n o M a s t e r o r

F e l l o w c o u l d b e a b s e n t f r o m i t [ t h e L o d g e ]

e s p e c i a l l y w h e n w a r n ' d t o a p p e a r a t i t , w i t h -

o u t i n c u r r i n g a s e v e r e c e n s u r e , u n t i l i t a p -

p e ~ a r ' d t o t h e M a s t e r a n d W a r d e n s t h a t p u r e

N e c e s s i t y h i n d e r ' d h i m . " A t o n e t i m e i t w a s

u s u a l t o e n f o r c e a t t e n d a n c e b y f i n e s , a n d t h e

B y - L a w s o f t h e e a r l y L o d g e s c o n t a i n l i s t s o f

f i n e s t o b e i m p o s e d f o r a b s e n c e , s w e a r i n g a n d

d r u n k e n n e s s , b u t t h a t u s a g e i s n o w d i s c o n -

t i n u e d , s o t h a t a t t e n d a n c e o n o r d i n a r y c o m -

m u n i c a t i o n s i s n o l o n g e r e n f o r c e d b y a n y s a n c -

t i o n o f l a w . I t i s a d u t y t h e d i s c h a r g e o f

w h i c h m u s t b e l e f t t o t h e c o n s c i e n t i o u s c o n -

v i c t i o n s o f e a c h M a s o n . I n t h e c a s e , h o w -

e v e r , o f a p o s i t i v e s u m m o n s f o r a n y e x p r e s s

p u r p o s e , s u c h a s t o s t a n d t r i a l , t o s h o w c a u s e ,

e t c . , t h e n e g l e c t o r r e f u s a l t o a t t e n d m i g h t b e

c o n s t r u e d i n t o a c o n t e m p t , t o b e d e a l t w i t h

a c c o r d i n g t o i t s m a g n i t u d e o r c h a r a c t e r i n

e a c h p a r t i c u l a r c a s e .

Acaci a . An intere sting and important

s y m b o l i n F r e e m a s o n r y . B o t a n i c a l l y, i t i s t h e

a c a c i a v e r a o f T o u r n e f o r t , a n d t h e mimosa

n i l o t i c a o f Tinne us , c al le d b a b u l t r e e i n I n d i a .I t g r e w a b u n d a n t l y i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f J e r u s a -

l e m, wh e r e i t i s s t i l l t o b e f o u n d , a n d i s f a mi l -

i a r i n i t s m o d e r n u s e a s t h e t r e e f r o m w h i c h t h e

g u m a r a b i c o f c o m m e r c e i s d e r i v e d .

O l i v e r , i t i s t r u e , s a y s t h a t " t h e r e i s n o t t h e

ACACIA 7s m a l l e s t t r a c e o f a n y t r e e o f t h e k i n d g r o w i n g

s o f a r n o r t h a s J e r u s a l e m " ( Land m . , i i . , 1 4 9 ) ;b u t t h i s s t a t e m e n t i s r e f u t e d

b y t h e a u t h o r i t y o f L i e u t e n a n t

L y n c h , w h o s a w i t g r o w i n g i n

great abundance i n J e r i c h o ,

a n d s t i l l f a r t h e r n o r t h . (Ex-

ped . t o D e a d S e a , p . 2 6 2 . ) Th e

Rabbi Jose ph Schwa rz, who

i s e x c e l l e n t a u t h o r i t y, s a y s :

" T h e A c a c i a ( S h i t t i m ) t r e e ,

A l B u n t , i s f o u n d i n P a l e s t i n e

o f d i f f e r e n t v a r i e t i e s ; i t l o o k s

l i k e t h e M u l b e r r y t r e e , a t t a i n s

a g r e a t h e i g h t , a n d h a s a h a r d

w ood . T h e g u m w h i c h i s o b -

tained from it is the gum

a r a b i c . " ( D e s c r i p t i v e G e o g r a p h y a n d H i s t o r i -

c a l S k e t c h o f P a l e s t i n e , p308, L e e s e r ' s t r a n s -

l a t i o n . P h i l a . , 1 8 5 0 . ) S c h w a r z w a s f o r s i x t e e n

y e a r s a r e s i d e n t o f P a l e s t i n e , a n d w r o t e f r o m

p e r s o n a l o b s e r v a t i o n . T h e t e s t i m o n y o f L y n c h

a n d S c h w a r z s h o u l d , t h e r e f o r e , f o r e v e r s e t t l e

t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e a c a c i a i n

P a l e s t i n e .

T h e a c a c i a i s c a l l e d i n t h e B i b l e S h i t t i m ,

w h i c h i s r e a l l y t h e p l u r a l o f S h i t t a h , whichl a s t f o r m o c c u r s o n c e o n l y i n I s a i a h x l i .

1 9 . It was esteemed a sacred wood amo ng

the Hebrews, and of it Moses was order ed

to make the tabernacle, the ark of the

c o v e n a n t , t h e t a b l e f o r t h e s h e w b r e a d , a n d t h e

r e s t o f t h e s a c r e d f u r n i t u r e . (Exodus xxv . -

x x v i i . ) I s a i a h ( 1 . c . ) i n r e c o u n t i n g t h e p r o m i s e s

o f G o d ' s m e r c y t o t h e I s r a e l i t e s o n t h e i r r e t u r n

f r o m t h e c a p t i v i t y , t e l l s t h e m t h a t , a m o n g

o t h e r t h i n g s , h e w i l l p l a n t i n t h e w i l d e r n e s s ,

f o r . t h e i r r e l i e f a n d r e f r e s h me n t , t h e c e d a r , t h e

a c a c i a ( o r , a s i t i s r e n d e r e d i n o u r c o m m o n

v e r s i o n , t h e s h i t t a h ) , t h e f i r , a n d o t h e r t r e e s .

T h e f i r s t t h i n g , t h e n , t h a t w e n o t i c e i n t h i s

s y m b o l o f t h e a c a c i a , i s t h a t i t h a d b e e n a l w a y s

c o n s e c r a t e d f r o m a m o n g t h e o t h e r t r e e s o f t h e

f o r e s t b y t h e s a c r e d p u r p o s e s t o w h i c h i t w a s

devoted . B y t h e J e w , t h e t r e e f r o m w h o s e

w o o d t h e s a n c t u a r y o f t h e t a b e r n a c l e a n d t h e

h o l y a r k h a d b e e n c o n s t r u c t e d w o u l d e v e r b e

v i e w e d a s m o r e s a c r e d t h a n o r d i n a r y t r e e s .

T h e e a r l y M a s o n s , t h e r e f o r e , v e r y n a t u r a l l y

a p p r o p r i a t e d t h i s h a l l o w e d p l a n t t o t h e e q u a l l y

s a c r e d p u r p o s e o f a s y m b o l , w h i c h w a s t o t e a c h

a n i m p o r t a n t d i v i n e t r u t h i n a l l a g e s t o c o m e .

H a v i n g t h u s b r i e f l y d i s p o s e d o f t h e n a t u r a l

h i s t o r y o f t h i s p l a n t , w e m a y n o w p r o c e e d t o

e x a m i n e i t i n i t s s y m b o l i c r e l a t i o n s .

F i r s t . T h e a c a c i a , i n t h e m y t h i c s y s t e m o f

F r e e m a s o n r y , i s p r e e m i n e n t l y t h e s y m b o l o f

t h e IMMORTALITY OF THE souL-that impo r -t a n t d o c t r i n e wh i c h i t i s t h e g r e a t d e s i g n o f t h e

I n s t i t u t i o n t o t e a c h . A s t h e e v a n e s c e n t n a t u r e

o f t h e f l o w e r , w h i c h " c o m e t h f o r t h a n d i s

c u t d o w n , " r e m i n d s u s o f t h e t r a n s i t o r y n a -

t u r e o f h u m a n l i f e , s o t h e p e r p e t u a l r e n o v a t i o n

o f t h e e v e r g r e e n p l a n t , w h i c h u n i n t e r r u p t e d l y

p r e s e n t s t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f y o u t h a n d v i g o r : i s

a p t l y c o m p a r e d t o t h a t s p i r i t u a l l i f e i n w h i c h

t h e s o u l , f r e e d f r o m t h e c o r r u p t i b l e c o m p a n -

i o n s h i p o f t h e b o d y , s h a l l e n j o y a n e t e r n a l

s p r i n g a n d an immortal Fence . i s

ABRAXASM = 40 B = 2E 5 H = 8I = 1 0 A = 3 00 = 9 E = 5P = 1 0 0 N = 5 0A = 1 0 = 7 0Z = 200 = 3 6 5 Z = 200 = 365


17/473

8 ACACIAt h e i m p r e s s i v e f u n e r a l s e r v i c e o f o u r O r d e r , i t

i s s a i d t h a t " t h i s e v e r g r e e n i s a n e m b l e m o f

o u r f a i t h i n t h e i m m o r t a l i t y o f t h e s o u l . B y

this we are reminded that we have an im-

m o r t a l p a r t w i t h i n u s , w h i c h s h a l l s u r v i v e t h e

grave, and which shall never, never, never

d i e . " A n d a g a i n , i n t h e c l o s i n g s e n t e n ce s o f

t h e m o n i t o r i a l l e c t u r e o f t h e T h i r d D e g r e e , t h e

s a m e s e n t i m e n t i s r e p e a t e d , a n d w e a r e t o l d

t h a t b y " the ever-green and ever-living

s p r i g " t h e M a s o n i s s t r e n g t h e n e d " w i t h c o n -

fidence and composure to look forward to a

b l e s s e d i m m o r t a l i t y . " S u c h a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n

o f t h e s y m b o l i s a n e a s y a n d a n a t u r a l o n e ;

i t s u g g e s t s i t s e l f a t o n c e t o t h e l e a s t r e f l e c t i v e

m i nd ; a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y , i n s o m e o n e f o r m o r

a n o t h e r , i s t o b e f o u n d e x i s t i n g i n a l l a g e s a n d

n a t i o n s . It w a s a n a n c i e n t c u s t o m - w h i c h

is not, even now, altogeth er disused-fo r

m o u r n e r s t o c a r r y i n t h e i r h a n d s a t f u n e r a l s a

s p r i g o f s o m e e v e r g r e e n , g e n e r a l l y t h e c e d a r o r

t h e c y p r e s s , a n d t o d e p o s i t i t i n t h e g r a v e o f

the deceased . Accor ding t o Dalcho,* the

H e b r e w s a l w a y s p l a n t e d a s p r i g o f t h e a c a c i a

a t t h e h e a d o f t h e g r a v e o f a d e p a r t e d f r i e n d .

P o t t e r t e l l s u s t h a t t h e a n c i e n t G r e e k s " h a d a

custom of bedecking tombs with herbs and

f l o w e r s . " t A l l s o r t s o f p u r pl e a n d w h i t e f l o w -

e r s w e r e a c c e p t a b l e t o t h e d e a d , b u t p r i n c i -

p a l l y t h e a m a r a n t h a n d t h e m y r t l e . The very

n a m e o f t h e f o r m e r o f t h e s e p l a n t s , w h i c h s i g -

n i f i e s " n e v e r f a d i n g , " w o u l d s e e m t o i n d i c a t e

t h e t r u e s y m b o l i c m e a n i n g o f t h e u s a g e , a l -

t h o u g h a r c h e o l o g i s t s h a v e g e n e r a l l y s u p p o s e d

i t t o b e s i m p l y a n e x h i b i t i o n o f l o v e o n t h e p a r t

o f t h e s u r v i v o r s . R a g o n s a y s t h a t t h e a n c i e n t s

s u b s t i t u t e d t h e a c a c i a f o r a l l o t h e r p l a n t s b e -

c a u s e t h e y b e l i e v e d i t t o b e i n c o r r u p t i b l e , a n d

n o t l i a b l e t o i n j u r y f r o m t h e a t t a c k s o f a n y

kind of insect or other animal-thus symbo-

l i z i n g t h e i n c o r r u p t i b l e n a t u r e o f t h e s o u l .

H e n c e w e s e e t h e p r o p r i e t y o f p l a c i n g t h e

s p r i g o f a c a c i a , a s a n e m b l e m o f i m m o r t a l i t y ,

a m o n g t h e s y m b o l s o f t h a t d e g r e e , a l l o f w h o s e

c e r e m o n i e s a r e i n t e n d e d t o t e a c h u s t h e g r e a t

t r u t h t h a t " t h e l i f e o f m a n , r e g u l a t e d b y m o -

r a l i t y , f a i t h , a n d j u s t i c e , w i l l b e r e w a r d e d a t i t s

* "This custom among t he Hebrews arose

f r o m t h i s c i r c u m s t a n c e . Agree ably to theirl a w s , n o d e a d b o d i e s w e r e a l l o w e d t o b e i n t e r r e d

w i t h i n t h e w a l l s o f t h e C i t y ; a n d a s t h e C o h e n s ,

o r P r i e s t s , w e r e p r o h i b i t e d f r o m c r o s s i n g a g r a v e ,

i t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o p l a c e m a r k s t h e r e o n , t h a t

t h e y m i g h t a v o i d t h e m . F o r t h i s p u r p o s e t h e

A c a s i a wa s u s e d . " ( D a l c h o , $nd Oration, p . 2 3 ,

note . ) I o b j e c t t o t h e r e a s o n a s s i g n e d b y D a l c h o ,

b u t o f t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e c u s t o m t h e r e c a n b e n o

q u e s t i o n , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e d e n i a l o r d o u b t

of Dr . O l i v e r . Blount (Trave ls in the Levan t,

p . 1 9 7 ) s a y s , s p e a k i n g o f t h e J e w i s h b u r i a l c u s -t o m s , " t h o s e w h o b e s t o w a m a r b l e s t o n e o v e r

a n y [ g r a v e l h a v e a h o l e a y a r d l o n g a n d a f o o t

b r o a d , i n w h i c h they plant an evergreen, which

s e e m s t o g r o w f r o m t h e b o d y a n d i s c a r e f u l l y

watched . " H a s s e l q u i s t (Trave ls, p . 2 8 ) c o n f i r m s

h i s t e s t i m o n y . I borrow the citations from

Brown (Antiquit ies of t he Jews, vol . i i . , p . 3 5 6 ) ,b u t h a v e v e r i f i e d t h e r e f e r e n c e t o H a s s e l q u i s t .

T h e w o r k o f B l o u n t I h a v e n o t b e e n e n a b l e d t o

o o n s u l t .

t Antiquities o f Greece, p . 569 .

ACACIAclosing hour by the prospect of Eternal

B l i s s . " * S o , t h e r e f o r e , s a y s D r . O l i v e r , w h e n

t h e M a s t e r M a s o n e x c l a i m s "m y n a m e i s

A c a c i a , " i t i s e q u i v a l e n t t o s a y i n g , " I ha ve

been in the grave-I have triumed over it

by rising from the dead-and being regener-

a t e d i n t h e p r o c e s s , I h a v e a c l a i m t o l i f e e v e r -

l a s t i n g . " ( S e e Landmark s, ii .,151, not e 2 7 . )

T h e s p r i g o f a c a c i a , t h e n , i n i t s m o s t o r d i -

n a r y s i g n i f i c a t i o n , p r e s e n t s i t s e l f t o t h e M a s t e r

M a s o n a s a s y m b o l o f t h e i m m o r t a l i t y o f t h e

soul, being int ended to remind him , by its

ever-green and unchanging nature, of that

b e t t e r a n d s p i r i t u a l p a r t w i t h i n u s , w h i c h , a s

a n e m a n a t i o n f r o m t h e G r e a t A r c h i t e c t o f t h e

U n i v e r s e , c a n n e v e r d i e . A n d a s t h i s i s t h e

most ordinar y, the most generally accepted

s i g n i f i c a t i o n , s o a l s o i s i t t h e m o s t i m p or t a n t ;

f o r t h u s , a s t h e p e c u l i a r s y m b o l o f i m m o r t a l -

ity, it become s the most appropriate to an

O r d e r a l l o f w h o s e t e a c h i n g s a r e i n t e n d e d t o

i n c u l c a t e t h e g r e a t l e s s o n t h a t " l i f e r i s e s o u t

o f t h e g r a v e . " B u t i n c i d e n t a l t o t h i s t h e a c a c i a

h a s t w o o t h e r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s w h i c h a r e w e l l

w o r t h y o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n .

S e c o n d l y , t h e n , t h e a c a c i a i s a s y m b o l o fINNoCENCE. T h e s y m b o l i s m h e r e i s o f a p e -c u l i a r a n d u n u s u a l c h a r a c t e r , d e p e n d i n g n o t

o n a n y r e a l a n a l o g y i n t h e f o r m o r u s e o f t h e

s y m b o l t o t h e i d e a s y m b o l i z e d , b u t s i m p l y o n

a double or compound meaning of the word .

Fo r acaKla in the Greek language , si e sb o t h t h e p a n t i n q u e s t i o n a n d t h e m o r a l u a l -

i t y o f i n no c e n c e o r pu r i t y o f li f e . I n t h i s s e n s e

the symbo l refers, primarily, to him over

w h o s e s o l i t a r y g r a v e t h e a c a c i a w a s p l a n t e d ,

a n d w h o s e v i r t u o u s c o n d u c t , w h o s e i n t e g r i t y

o f l i f e a n d f i d e l i t y t o h i s t r u s t s h a v e e v e r b e e n

p r e s e n t e d a s p a t t e r n s t o t h e c r a f t , a n d c o n s e -

quently to all Master Masons, who, by th is

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e s y m b o l , a r e i n v i t e d t o

e m u l a t e h i s e x a m p l e .

Hutchin son t i n d u l g i n g i n h i s f a v o r i t e t h e o r y

o f C h r i s t i a n i z i n g M a s o n r y , w h e n h e c o m e s t o

t h i s s i g n i f i c a t i o n o f t h e s y m b o l , t h u s e n l a r g e s

o n t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n : " We Masons, describ-

i n g t h e d e p l o r a b l e e s t a t e o f r e l i g i o n u n d e r t h e

J e w i s h l a w , s p e a k i n f i g u r e s :-'Her to mb was

i n t h e r u b b i s h a n d f i l t h c a s t f o r t h o f t h e t e m -

p l e , a n d ACACIA wove its branches over herm o n u m e n t ; ' a K a K t a b e i n g t h e Gr e e k w o r d

f o r i n n o c e n c e , o r b e i n g f r e e f r o m s i n ; i m p l y i n g

t h a t t h e s i n s a n d c o r r u p t i o n s o f t h e o l d l a w ,

a n d d e v o t e e s o f t h e J e w i s h a l t a r , h a d h i d r e l i g -

ion from those who sought her, and she was

o n l y t o b e f o u n d w h e r e INNOCENCE s u r v i v e d ,and under the banne r of the divine Lamb ;

a n d a s t o o u r s e l v e s p r o f e s s i n g t h a t w e w e r e

t o b e d i s t i n g u i s h e d b y o u r ACACY, , o r a s t r u eACACIANs i n o u r r e l i g i o u s f a i t h a n d t e n e t s . " t

B u t , l a s t l y , t h e a c a c i a i s t o b e c o n s i d e r e d a s

t h e s y m b o l o f INITIATION . T h i s i s b y f a r t h e

m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g o f i t s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s , a n d w a s ,

w e h a v e e v e r y r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e , t h e p r i m a r y

a n d o r i g i n a l ; t h e o t h e r s b e i n g b u t i n c i d e n t a l .

* D r . C r u c e f i x , M S . q u o t e d b y O l i v e r . Land-marks, ii . , 2 .

t H u t c h i n s o n ' s S pi ri t o f Masonr y, Loot . IX . ;

p . 1 6 0 , e d . 1 7 7 5 .


18/473

ACACIANIt leads us at once to the inve stigati on of the

significant fact that in all the ancient initia-

tions and religious mysteries there was some

plant peculiar to each, which was consecrated

by its own esoteric meaning, and which occu-

pied an important position in the celebration

of the rites, so tha t the plant, whatever it

might be, from its constant and prominent use

in the ceremonies of initiation, came at length

to be adopted as the symbol of that initiation .

Thus, the l e t t u c e was the sacred plant which

assumed the place of the acacia in the mys-

teries of Adonis . (See L e t t u c e . ) The lotus wasthat of the Brahmanical rites of India, and

f r o m t h e m a d o p t e d b y t h e E g y p t i a n s . (Se e

Lotu s . ) The Egyptians also revered the e r i c a

o r h e a t h ; a n d t h e m i s t le t o e w a s a m y s t i c al

plant amon g the Druids . (See Erica a n d M i s -

t l e t o e . ) And, lastly the myrt le performed the

same office of symbolism in the mysteries of

Greece tha t the lotus did in Egypt or the mis-

tletoe among the Druids . (See Myrtle . )

In all of these ancie nt mysteries, while the

sacred plant was a symbol of initiation, the

initiation itself was symbolic of the resur-

rection to a future life, and of the immortality

o f t h e s o u l . In this view, Freemasonry is to u s

now in the place of the ancient initiations, and

t h e a c a c i a i s s u b s t i t u t e d f o r t h e l o t u s , t h e e r i c a ,

the ivy, the mistletoe, and the myrtle. Thel e s s o n o f w i s d o m i s t h e s a m e - t h e m e d i u m

of imparting it is all that has been c hanged .

Returning, then, to the acaci a, we find that

it is ca pable of thr ee explanations . I t i s a s y m -

bol of immortality, of innocence, and of initi-

ation . But these three signif ication are closely

c o n n e c t e d , a n d t h a t c o n n e c t i o n m u s t b e o b -

served, if we desire to obtain a just interpre-

tation of the symbol. Thus, in this one s -

bol, we are taught that in the initiation of e,

of which the initiation in the Third Degree is

s i m p ly e m b l e m a t i c , i n n o c e n c e m u s t f o r a

time lie in the grave, at length, however, to be

called, by the word of the Great Master of the

Universe, to a blissful immortality . Combinewith this the recollection of the place wherethe sprig of acacia was planted-MountC al v a r y - t h e pl a c e o f s e p u l t u r e o f h i m w h o

"brough t life and imm ortality to light," and

who, in Christian Masonry, is designa ted, as

he is in Scripture, as " the lion of the tribe ofJudah" ; and remember, too, that in the

encylopedia of freemasonry vol 1-a mackey33dg-w hughan32dg-e hawkins30dg-1916-ctd-474pgs-sec soc

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