The best-known Masonic symbol, “The Square and the Compasses”, represents a builder's square held together by a compass. It is an important symbol in Freemasonry and is believed to represent innocence, since the Greek root of Acacia relates to innocence and the purity of the soul. The All-Seeing Eye, also known as the Masonic Eye or Eye of Providence, is one of the most recognized Masonic symbols. This is especially true considering that it appears on nothing less than the U.
S. one-dollar bill. It has existed since 1797, when it was featured in a publication of the Freemasons Monitor. It represents the eye of God and serves as a reminder to Masons that God is always watching, seeing all of their actions and thoughts.
While Masons cannot claim an entire letter of the alphabet as their own, they use the letter G in their symbolism quite often. The problem is that there is a bit of controversy surrounding what it really means. Some say it's as simple as representing “God” and “Geometry”. Others believe it represents the word “Gnosis”, which means the knowledge of spiritual mysteries, which is a big component of Freemasonry.
Still others believe that the letter G in ancient Hebrew had a numerical value of 3, which is often referenced throughout history when talking about God. Coffins usually represent mortality, but within the world of Freemasonry, the meaning behind them can be a bit confusing. Sometimes, the caskets are represented with an acacia twig, which would represent immortality. Other times it has an associated 5-pointed star.
The meaning behind the coffin, then, seems to be interchangeable with any context in which it is provided. Things get a bit geometric here, so bear with us. Euclid's 47th problem, also known as the Pythagorean theorem, symbolizes the need to “square your square”. In daily practice, this means keeping life in order, and in infrastructure construction, it is the method that Masons follow when it comes to laying the foundations.
George H Lilley specializes in Masonic and Fraternal Badges, and provides impeccable quality services and products to customers across Australia. The sun, moon, and stars are common Masonic symbols that encourage leaders to exercise their power with fairness and coherence. Without a doubt, the most recognized symbol of Masons is the “All-Seeing Eye”. Also known as the Masonic Eye of Providence, this eye is well known around the world as a symbol used by secret organizations such as the Masons or the Illuminati.
The Eye is a symbolic representation of one of the fundamental beliefs of Freemasonry: that God observes all of humanity's thoughts and actions and will hold us accountable for it. One of the most recent Masonic symbols added to the canon illustrates the weakening of the state or the fall of a high-level supporter of Freemasonry: The anchor is used a lot in Christian symbolism and has been adopted by Masons to have a similar meaning. It is an important symbol in Freemasonry and is also believed to represent innocence, since the Greek root of Acacia relates to innocence and the purity of the soul. The Broken Column is considered the symbol of Solomon's unfinished Temple, as well as the death of a very important Mason leader.
Now, the Masonic shoe, also known as Blue Slipper, is a symbolic confirmation that what has been said will be done. Hollywood blockbusters like National Treasure and bestsellers like The Da Vinci Code and The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown have done much to sensationalize these symbols of Freemasonry. The square and compasses (or more correctly, a square and a set of compasses joined together) are undoubtedly one of the most recognizable symbols associated with Freemasonry. It's understandable that geometry is an intrinsic part of masonry, and this symbolism has been incorporated into modern Masonry in the shape of a “G”.
Like historic masons, stonemasons, and artisans who built up Freemasonry's foundations, most Masonic symbolism is defined by elements of geometry - from classical literature to architectural elements to one-member twins - Masonic symbols are an incredibly important part of this historic fraternal order.
