This section explains the manner of constituting and the proper
authority for holding a Lodge. Here, also, we learn where lodges were
anciently held, their Form, Support, Covering, Furniture, Ornaments,
Lights and Jewels, how situated, and to whom dedicated, as well in
former times as at present.
A Lodge.
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A Lodge is an assemblage of Masons, duly congregated, having Holy Bible,
Square and Compasses, and a dispensation or charter, authorizing them to
work.
Ancient Lodges--Where Held.
Our ancient brethren held their Lodges on high hills or in low vales,
the better to observe the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers,
ascending or descending.
Lodge meetings at the present day are usually held in upper
chambers--probably for the security which such places afford. This
custom may have had its origin in a practice observed by the ancient
Jews of building their temples, schools and synagogues on high hills, a
practice which seems to have met the approbation of the Almighty, who
said unto the Prophet Ezekiel, "Upon the top of the mountain, the whole
limit thereof round about shall be most holy."
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Form and Dimension.
Its form is * * * Its dimension, from east to west, embracing every
clime between north and south. Its universal chain of friendship
encircles every portion of the human family and beams wherever
civilization extends.
A Lodge is said to be thus extensive to denote the universality of
Freemasonry, and teaches that a Mason's charity should be equally
extensive.
[Illustration: W. S. B.]
The Supports of a Lodge.
A Lodge is supported by three great pillars, denominated Wisdom,
Strength and Beauty; because there should be wisdom to contrive,
strength to support, and beauty to adorn all great and important
undertakings. They are represented by the three principal officers of
the Lodge: The pillar Wisdom, by the W. M. in the East, who is presumed
to have wisdom to open and govern the Lodge; the pillar Strength, by the
Senior Warden in the West, whose duty it is to assist the W. M. in the
discharge of his arduous labors; and the pillar Beauty, by the Junior
Warden in the South, whose duty it is to call the craft from labor to
refreshment, superintend them during the hours thereof, carefully to
observe that the means of refreshment are not perverted to intemperance
or excess, and see that they return to their labor in due season.
Its covering is no less than the clouded canopy or starry-decked heaven,
where all good Masons hope at last to arrive, by the aid of that
theological ladder which Jacob, in his vision, saw extending from earth
to heaven; the three principal rounds of which are denominated Faith,
Hope and Charity; which admonish us to have faith in God, hope of
immortality and charity to all mankind. The greatest of these is
Charity; for Faith may be lost in sight, Hope ends in fruition, but
Charity extends beyond the grave through the boundless realms of
eternity.
Furniture.
The furniture of a lodge consists of the Holy Bible, Square and
Compasses.
The Holy Bible is dedicated to God; because it is the inestimable gift
of God to man. The Square to the Master, because it is the proper
Masonic emblem of his office; and the Compasses to the craft, because,
by a due attention to their use, they are taught to circumscribe their
desires, and keep their passions within due bounds.
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Ornaments.
The Ornaments of a Lodge are the Mosaic Pavement, the Indented Tessel
and the Blazing Star.
The Mosaic Pavement is a representation of the ground floor of King
Solomon's Temple; the Indented Tessel, of that beautiful tessellated
border or skirting which surrounded it. The Mosaic Pavement is
emblematical of human life, checkered with good and evil; the Indented
Tessel, or tessellated border, of the manifold blessings and comforts
which constantly surround us, and which we hope to enjoy by a firm
reliance on Divine Providence, which is hieroglyphically represented by
the Blazing Star in the centre.
Lights.
A Lodge has three symbolic lights; one in the East, one in the West and
one in the South, represented by the W. M., S. W. and J. W. There is no
light in the north, because King Solomon's Temple, of which every lodge
is a representation, was so far north of the elliptic that the sun could
dart no rays into the northern part thereof. The north, therefore, we
Masonically call a place of darkness.
Jewels.
A Lodge has six jewels; three of these are immovable and three movable.
The Immovable Jewels are the Square, Level and Plumb. The Square
inculcates morality; the Level, equality, and the Plumb, rectitude of
conduct. They are called immovable jewels, because they are always to be
found in the East, West and South parts of the Lodge, being worn by the
officers in their respective stations.
The Movable Jewels are the Rough Ashlar, the Perfect Ashlar and the
Trestle-Board.
The Rough Ashlar is a stone, as taken from the quarry, in its rude and
natural state. By it we are reminded of our rude and imperfect state by
nature.
The Perfect Ashlar is a stone made ready by the hands of the workmen, to
be adjusted by the working tools of the fellow craft; and reminds us of
that state of perfection at which we hope to arrive by a virtuous
education, our own endeavors and the blessing of God.
The Trestle-Board is for the master workman to draw his designs upon. By
it we are reminded that, as the operative workman erects his temporal
building agreeably to the rules and designs laid down by the master on
his trestle-board, so should we, both operative and speculative,
endeavor to erect our spiritual building agreeably to the rules and
designs laid down by the Supreme Architect of the Universe, in the great
books of nature and revelation, which are our spiritual, moral and
Masonic trestle-boards.
How Situated.
A Lodge is situated due east and west, because King Solomon's Temple was
so situated; and also because, when Moses crossed the Red Sea, being
pursued by Pharaoh and his hosts, he erected a Tabernacle by Divine
command, and placed it due east and west to receive the first rays of
the rising sun, and to commemorate that mighty east wind by which the
miraculous deliverance of Israel was effected.
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Dedication of Lodges.
Our ancient brethren dedicated their lodges to King Solomon because he
was our first most excellent Grand Master, but Masons of the present
day, professing Christianity, dedicate theirs to St. John the Baptist
and St. John the Evangelist, who were two eminent patrons of Masonry;
and since their time there is represented in every regular and well
govern lodge a certain point within a circle embordered by two
perpendicular parallel lines, representing St. John the Baptist and St.
John the Evangelist; and upon the top rests the Holy Scriptures. The
point represents the individual brother; the circle, the boundary-line
of his duty beyond which he is never to suffer his passions, interests
or prejudices to betray him. In going around this circle we necessarily
touch on the two parallel lines, as well as the Holy Scriptures, and
while a Mason keeps himself circumscribed within these due bounds, it is
impossible that he should materially err.
Tenets.
The three great tenets of a Mason's profession inculcate the practice of
those commendable virtues, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
Brotherly Love.--By the exercise of brotherly love we are taught to
regard the whole human species as one family--the high and low, the rich
and poor--who, created by one Almighty Parent and inhabitants of the
same planet, are to aid and protect each other. On this principle
Masonry unites men of every country, sect and opinion, and conciliates
true friendship among those who might otherwise have remained at a
perpetual distance.
Relief.--To relieve the distressed is a duty incumbent on all men, but
particularly on Masons who profess to be linked together by an
indissoluble chain of sincere affection. To soothe the unhappy, to
sympathize with their misfortunes, to compassionate their miseries and
to restore peace to their troubled minds, is the great aim we have in
view. On this basis we form our friendships and establish our
connections.
Truth is a divine attribute, and the foundation of every virtue. To be
good and true is the first lesson we are taught in Masonry. On this
theme we contemplate, and by its dictates endeavor to regulate our
conduct; hence, while influenced by this principle, hypocrisy and deceit
are unknown among us; sincerity and plain-dealing distinguish us, and
the heart and tongue join in promoting each other's welfare and
rejoicing in each other's prosperity.