Masonic symbols

THE BRACKET AND THE COMPASS

The compass and square has been gathered oldest and the most common representation of the Masonic Institution. Both performed this symbol compass-square, it is readily recognized, even by profane (people not initiated into Freemasonry). It is the distinguishing mark of the Worshipful Master (President of Store) since esoterically represents "Fair Measure".

A Just Measure mean ultimately Righteousness. Reminds Masons in general and each moment that all your actions should be planted with serenity, wisdom and sense of justice. Recalls the solemn undertaking given by the initiate, to always act within a school of perfect honesty and uprightness.

The COMPASS - The compass is considered a symbol of spirituality and of human knowledge. Being seen as a symbol of spirituality, its position on the book of the law varies by grade. In the Entered Apprentice Degree, he is under the square, indicating that there is, as yet, the predominance of matter over spirit. The gap indicates the level of human knowledge, which is limited to a maximum of 90 °, ie ¼ of knowledge. Its Symbology is still much more varied, and can be understood as symbol of justice, which should be measured human acts. Symbolizes the accuracy of the survey and can still be seen as a symbol of impartiality and infallibility of the Almighty.

The SQUARE - The first passive tool and companion par excellence of Compass is the Square. Its design allows us to draw the right angle and, therefore, esquadrejar all forms. Thus, it is seen as symbol par excellence of righteousness. It is also the first calls of a Jewelry Store Furniture, becoming the jewel of Venerable therefore of all, this must be the most fair and equitable Masons. The Square, unlike Compass, represents matter, so is that in Shop Apprentice, he performs on the compass. Predominance of matter over spirit.

LETTER 'G': It is the symbol of God, the Divine Geometrician. One reason is taken as a sacred symbol of the Deity, that is, to her, the word God, begins in multiple languages. GAS, in Syriac; GADA in Persian; GUD, in Swedish; GOTT, in German; GOD, English, etc..

The trowel

The trowel - or trowel. This is a kind of flat paddle with which Bricklayers based mortar and smooth. Being a neutral instrument, should be seen as a symbol of tolerance with the Mason must accept the possible faults and defects of the other brothers. It can be seen also as a symbol of brotherly love that will then be the only cement that would unite all of Freemasonry. Thus, passing the trowel, means forgive, forgive, forget differences. Understood in this way, can be seen as a symbol of peace that should reign among brothers.

APRON

It is the job of the symbol. It is the main part of the Masonic clothing, becoming one of the most important symbols of Freemasonry. It has the shape of a rectangle surmounted by a triangle, the first two degrees are simple, no frills or adornments, and white fabric. The aprons of other degrees, has various designs and color as the degrees that represents the rite and as adopted. The background but is always white.

STONE GROSS

Symbolizes intelligence apprentice mason, even rude, because with the vestiges of World Profane, is just starting his apprenticeship in the Mysteries of Freemasonry. The edges of this stone rests with the learner Gross chop disciplining, educating instructing his personality, aiming to overcome their passions and subordinating his will to do good. Thus the main task of the Apprentice is to work and study to acquire knowledge of the symbolism of its degree and its philosophical interpretation.

The mallet and chisel

These two tools used to chip away the rough stone.

The first is our spiritual resolutions: chisel and steel, which applies on the stone with the left hand side passive, and corresponds to the receptivity, discernment speculative

The second is the executive will, mallet, insignia of command, vibrated with the right hand, active side, active and energy-related coma moral determination DINAMA where the practical realization.

STONE CUBIC

Having worked in the Apprentice Stone Gross as Mallet and Chisel, transforming it into a cube imperfect fit to partner (Grade 2), polishing this cube with the aid of the square, the level and plumb, making it finally cubic stone. Trimmed the rough edges of personality, even as Apprentice, it is now partner to discipline their actions through knowledge gained by performing delicate contours and nuances in their psyches, making then your "I", a perfect cube, so that the polished stone will be able to be used in the construction of the building of the Temple, that is, humanity Perfect.

The gavel

It is the working tool of the Worshipful Master and Wardens (both positions in the hierarchy below the Worshipful Master and that he runs along with the work of the shop)

Is nothing more than a kind of mallet, and as such is a symbol of the will, the strength, the work and determination. A key aspect in using this instrument is that of discernment and logic that will lead to. Using the case only with force, it will become an instrument of destruction, incompatible with Freemasonry.

The DELTA LIGHT

Also called Blazing Triangle, in Masonry represents the Supreme Creator of all things, whose bright eye is the Eye of Wisdom and Providence, which watches everything he sees and provides. It also symbolizes the attributes of Divinity: Omnipresence, Omniscience Onividência and that the true Freemason is to divine reminder of his supreme relevance to your life.

Not actually being a religion, Freemasonry understands and reveres all beliefs and every believer can have Mason in Delta Luminoso representation of all feelings of religiosity.

He's like a souvenir for a permanent warning and solemn, translated by fraternal understanding, which does not seek to override the importance of any particular religion, other professions of faith.

Spiritualists in principle, know the Masons, the interpretation of the Blazing Triangle, there is a God who sees everything and therefore understand that an opportunity of doing good to miss, is an eternity that awaits them.

NOTE: There are many other symbols in Freemasonry. We present only the most widely known and the people in general.

The Freemasons and the Knights Templar

Public domain

A Knight Templar

The Masons were also connected to a mysterious order known as the Knights Templar. These knights were monks who, in 1118, took up arms in order to protect Christian pilgrims traveling from Jaffa (a port city in Israel (in English)) to Jerusalem. According to legend, the Knights Templar discovered the greatest treasure in history, buried under the ruins of the temple of King Solomon. The Knights became so rich that became the envy and suspicion. In 1307, King Philip 4th of France ordered the arrest of all Templars, so that he could take possession of his immense wealth. What happened to the Templars after his arrest remains a mystery, but some say they went into hiding and do their work in secret, resurfacing in Europe in the 18th century as the modern Freemasons. There is even a theory that the Templars, in his desire for revenge against King Philip 4th, influenced the onset of the French Revolution.

Stories like these tend to lend a dramatic history of the Freemasons, but the most plausible explanation for the origin of brotherhood can be found in the Middle Ages. At the time, the kings and churches of England, Scotland and France hired masons to build great castles and cathedrals. At the time, there were two types of masons. Those who worked with ordinary stones were known as "ordinary masons," and that more complex forms carved in stones less harsh, were known as free masons, or "free masons", two words that have combined in the term "freemason" designating English Freemasonry. Masons enjoyed a kind of monopoly, due to their specialized capabilities, and wanted to preserve this situation. Established trade guilds to discuss their profession and fair payment for their work, and established stores in which they could eat (in English) and store their tools. And developed secret handshakes, code words and other signs that they might be distinguished from ordinary masons.

The disaster of the Templars

 "NEKAN, ADONAI!! CHOL-BEGOAL!! ... POPE CLEMENT WILLIAM KNIGHT OF KING PHILIP ... Nogaret: INTIMO THEM TO ATTEND THE COURT OF GOD WITHIN ONE YEAR TO RECEIVE THE JUST PUNISHMENT. DAMN! DAMN! DAMN ALL TO THE THIRTEENTH GENERATION OF YOUR RACES! "

Those were the last words that Jacques de Monay, the 22nd and last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, delivered before the flames will bring to life. Lit the fire in the pillory in the back of the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, there he atoned at nightfall on March 18, 1314, against cursing the Pope, the Guard seals king of France and the sovereign himself. And he had every reason to throw the anathema against all three. Seven years earlier, a sordid collusion between King Philip IV, the beautiful, and Pope Clement V, being faithful Nogaret as executor, had sealed his fate.

Until then the order of warrior monks robe of white and red cross was a military and financial colossus. On the night of 12 to 13 October 1307, its facilities, for all parts of the kingdom, they were raided by officers of Philip IV. Even their buildings in Paris called Ville Neuve du Temple.

For supreme infamy knights imprisoned, his final ruling, and have lost everything, were dragged to court for alleged real Nogaret, the lawyer of the king, by the practices of heresy and sodomy.

In a forging process, in which the inquisitorial procedures were applied with the maximum possible cruelty, accused us of being evil pagan worshipers of Baphomet, the spitting on the cross, to deny the sacraments and surrender allowances sex with each other. They tore them the terrible confessions through torture and other torments, when, amid the howls of pain, with the meat butchered and burnt by the wide use of the inquisitors did strappado and the brazier, agreed to tell her what supliciadores they wanted to hear.

Philip the beautiful, fanned by the intrigues of a traitor, a former knight named Esquiseu of Floyran, the Judas of the Templars, not resigned to dismantle them the facilities and confiscate them values, would also dishonor them forever. Therefore, accused them of sodomites. In the extended complaint Monay and other 140 riders put in irons (54 of them expire by fire).

The Knights Templar, the militia of Christ

"Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon", and was originally named the Templars, Military Order founded in 1119 in Jerusalem to protect pilgrims and holy places of the Holy Land. The brave warriors had their base afincada right in the heart of the enemy of Islam, since its headquarters, a grant from King Baldwin II, was located in a building adjacent to the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, occupying a top of what remained Solomon's Temple.

Composing a synthesis between the sincere faith of the monks and the fearlessness of elite soldiers, confirmed to be the most powerful and valiant military organization of the Crusades: a riot of God. Prestigio who earned them, after relocating to Europe in 1291, being the faithful custodians of the assets of wealthy Christians. By the same token, the greed that sparked is that perished at the hands of the king of France in 1307.