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From the East

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The Cable Tow

The length of the cable tow is the length of the cord of love that binds the heart of a Mason to his lodge.

From the East

 

MOSAIC

 

Alternating Square of White and Black in Every flooring of Masonic Lodges is usually made of a mosaic pavement. A mosaic pavement consists of several stones of mixed colors joined together in a pattern to imitate a painting. Italians call this musaico while the French people called it mosaique. In English, it is called mosaics. The black and white checkered floor has existed in temples since the times of ancient Egypt. More than simply decorative, the mosaic pavement bears a profound esoteric meaning. Today it is one of Freemasonry’s most recognizable symbols and is the ritualistic floor of all Masonic lodges. The pavement is the area on which initiations occur and is “emblematic of human life, checkered with GOOD and EVIL.”

The checkerboard floor upon which the modern Freemasonic lodge stands is the old tracing board of the Dionysiac Architects, and while the modern organization is no longer limited to workmen’s guilds it still preserves in its symbols the metaphysical doctrines of the ancient society of which it is presumably the outgrowth.” In the Entered Apprentice Degree, the mosaic pavement represents the ground floor of King Solomon’s Temple. In the account of King Solomon’s Temple in the Bible, the ground floor is said to be made of pine or fir, depending on the Bible translation The mosaic pavement is a esoterically-charged space on which stands the ceremonial altar, the center of most rituals. The ceremony for the Apprentice Degree symbolically takes place in that location. According to the Third Degree Ritual, the Square Pavement is for the High Priest to walk upon.

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Early sources refer to these symbols as lodge “furniture” or as the floor itself, eventually they would be standardized as the “internal or- naments” of the lodge. As one might expect, the ear- liest references bear only the faintest trace of the esoteric meanings that have been associated with these three intimately connected symbols. It would be a mistake, however, to imagine their meaning is simple or easily exhausted. It can be argued that they hold valuable secrets and profound implications especially for the Masons of today. Greetings 

 

Ronan Galarita

Worshipful Master

© 2021 by Trinity Justice Unity No. 79 

Address: 63 Zion Road, Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234

        Tel. No: 609-927-7979

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