The number three (3) is one of the most used numbers in the HolyBible, and it is in this vein the we seek the deepest meanings of the three(3)Pillars of the Outer Porch of King Solomon's Temple. While strictlyMasonic in character, meaning they are not found in the scriptures, there aredeeper meanings when coupling the Masonic teachings with the Holy Bible, and onewill find food for thought in the readings.
ARCHITECTURE
InFreemasonry, we find five (5) Orders of Architecture with symbolic meanings of:
Three (3) Principal Officers in a Lodge.
Three (3) Stages of Life of Youth, Manhood and Old Age.
Three Attributes of the God-head, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Three Great Lights in a Lodge.
Two (2) Orders that don't mean a thing in Freemasonry.
The Orders are: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian andComposite, which are representative of the five human senses, which everycandidate for the degrees must have, but, only three are needed to be known as aMason and they are called the Three Pillars of Freemasonry.
TUSCAN (A Roman Column)
A Pillar of plainness, one given its name from the Tuscans andthe pillar is simple but massive. Many a member of the Masonic Lodge isthere as a bench member, as in church, does not do anything outstanding, is onno board or committee, does not serve as an officer. Yet, without him,there would not be the numbers in the Lodge, so we must keep him.
DORIC (A Greek Column)
The second Pillar is different from the first even though it isMassive, for it is more massive or robust that the first and has a differentchapiter at the top, a circle which represent the oneness of God (Isaiah 40:22)and its massiveness represents the awesome power of God Himself. It is thefirst of the Greek Columns and represents Strength, the Pillar of the SeniorWarden in the Lodge, one of Support for the Master in the opening and closing ofhis Lodge. He is the keeper of the wages of the craft and is to pay themout on the orders of the Master of the Lodge.
This pillar is emblematical of the West in direct contact withand for the Worshipful Master, both representing the sun as it travels from Eastto the West. It is a journey of life, rising and setting, doing so on thejust as well as the unjust. It tells of the times as morning, noon,afternoon, evening and night, five (5) stations or areas of time. It isman in his infancy as well as in his seniority or his death.
This Pillar is strength as it pays the wages of those that maybecome dissatisfied and become disruptive in the Lodge. Those wages areequal and are given to all members that work in the quarries of the Lodge. It was Friendship that got you in the Lodge, Morality was the Lodge's teachingsand Brotherly Love (Filios) is the highest from of Love found on earth. Weare to love one another as Christ has loved us. A mighty symbol ofStrength, a mighty emblem of the man in control, a Mason of parade!
IONIC (A Greek Column)
The third Pillar is massive with a scroll or book at thetop. It is a fluted column and it has a very important sport in the Lodge,for it represent Wisdom, the wisdom of Solomon. Yet, it is simple in itsbeholding. Solomon was the wisest man known to man until Jesus came on thescene. However, Solomon was also the most foolish and that made himfoolish in his beholding, for who needs 700 wives and 300 concubines?
The Pillar is fluted, showing the many attributes of a goodMaster as well as the authority and powers of the office of to which he has beenelected. Even if one flute or one authority is lost, those that are leftwould be sufficient for the remainder of his term. Yet, the Master must bediligent in all aspects of his administration so as not to bring disgrace andridicule upon the Lodge, remembering that he represents Solomon, King of Israel.
In his wisdom, the temple was built, and in his wisdom thereputation of Jerusalem was spread around the known world. In hisfoolishness, he became week for women, but, that is not why God did not blesshim. It was because he built temples and altars to the strange gods of hiswomen. The Worshipful Master is supposed to display wisdom for the Lodgeand make plans for the successful programs of the Lodge. Still, he is notto be foolish so as to bring ridicule on the Lodge and must stand and act as anupright man should. He is emblematical of the book of wisdom that isdisplayed at the top of the column and is to keep his hand in the Master's hand.
He is to be a standout in his home, his church and hiscommunity, so that others may say, here is a man and here is a Mason! Helooks like a Master, and he is. This Pillar shows a thinking man, one thatis worth to be called Rabboni (Master).
CORINITHIAN (A Greek Column)
Behold, a thing of Beauty, this Corinthian Column, fluted, witha spray of God's creation of beauty, flowers. The fern that grace thechapiters of these columns gives the beauty of Ancient Greece, Corinth fromwhich it gets its name. It is representative of the Junior Warden in theLodge, an observer of Time, watching it as it rise from the East, superintendsit as it travels in a Southern direction towards the West. The JuniorWarden represents Hiram Abif, the Widow's Son, sitting in the South. Healso observes the craft when they are at refreshments. Seeing that they donot fall prey to the wiles of the evil one, one that may devour their soul, forhe comes to kill, steal and destroy. The Pillar of Beauty is the finalresult when Wisdom and Strength work together. It is the summationof what to expect when you have Wisdom to contrive and Strength to support, thenyou will have Beauty to adorn. Strength cannot support and build withoutthe planning of Wisdom, and Beauty cannot paint, carve or beautify if there isnothing. In the Lodge, the Master puts plans on the Trestleboard. The Lodge, under the direction of the Senior Warden, supports the Master's plansand the Beauty of it all spells success.
When all components work together, when these different partscome together as one, when like the Father, Son and Holy Ghost work together,success will be the byword and all will be at peace in the tranquility of goodworks.
One day, the Great Junior Warden of the heavens will call us allfrom refreshment back to labor so that judgment will take place with the GrandMaster of the Universe in charge. As the Junior Warden is the prosecutorin the Lodge in case of a trial, it will be Jesus, the Great Junior Warden thatwill be at the Judgment Bar to decide whether he will be our prosecutor ordefense counsel. As we will be wearing no more than lambskin, we will haveto face the Lamb himself who will say whether we have been true to the word as aman and as a Mason. If we pass the test, it will be a thing of Beauty!
COMPOSITE (A Roman Column)
Like the very first column, the last one, the Composite columnis useless in the Masonic order. As the first one represents Taste, thelast column represents Smell. We need the three Pillars for they representWisdom, Strength and Beauty, or Seeing (to see the sign), Hearing (to hear theWord) and Feeling (to feel the grip, whereby one Mason may know another in thedark as well as in the light). You need these three (3) to be a Mason, butyou can neither taste or smell Freemasonry.
You can smell a Mason if he does not have good hygiene habits,but if you are found tasting a Mason, you will be brought up on charges ofunMasonic conduct!
Thank you and have a good day and may God bless each and everyone of you!
聯(lián)系客服
