Sometimes coffins are represented with a Sprig of Acacia, which would depict immortality.

CoffinsĬoffins usually represent mortality, but within the world of Freemasonry, the meaning behind them can get a bit murky. Some believe that there is a deeper, more complex meaning behind it, but generally, this is the idea represented wherever The Beehive is present. The BeehiveĪnother hotly contested symbol, it’s widely accepted that The Beehive symbolizes the need for Masons to work together to keep the world operating. Now the Masonic Shoe, also known as Blue Slipper, is a symbolic confirmation that what has been said will be done. Masonic ShoeĪ long time ago, people would confirm a verbal contract by taking off their shoe and giving it to the other person. That’s why the length of the cable tow rope is so important it measures how capable the Brother is in terms of being able to assist his fellow Freemason. Cable TowĪ cable tow is attached to a Freemason’s robe and represents a promise that he will help his Brother however much he can - as long as it’s within the length of his tow rope. It’s where the Holy Book(s) are stored, as well. Like many religious entities, the Masonic Altar represents a place where communion can take place with God. Freemasons draw significance and symbolism from it as today, it represents God’s continued forgiveness of their transgressions. The Ark of the Covenant can be found in the Bible as God’s promise to David. The Hebrew people used to mark their graves with a sprig of Acacia for this very reason.Īligning with the Masonry belief in the afterlife, the Acacia Tree represents their enduring, immortal souls. The Acacia tree is an incredibly hardy, durable tree, and as such has been used to depict immortality throughout ancient history. These days it’s used during dedication ceremonies, mainly, and sometimes to represent charitable giving to the less fortunate. Masonic Sheaf of Cornīack in the days of King Solomon, Mason’s gave corn as part of their earnings, kind of like a tax. Used in this way, the Masonic Gavel can be a reminder for Freemasons to chip off certain vices and maintain a pure, moral and spiritual heart. Secondly, it’s a tool used to break off the rough edges of a stone. Firstly, it represents the authority of the Freemason yielding it, who might use his gavel to punctuate his ideas and command order like a judge in court does. In Masonry, a man tries to use knowledge to guide him, much like a star that is blazing against a dark night sky. The Masonic Blazing Star is said to be the pinnacle of a Freemason’s journey. Basically, it represents hope, as well as peace against stormy weather.Īn anchor is used, quite literally, as a way of grounding a ship, and in the same way this symbol talks about living a life that is grounded in hope and peace. The anchor is used a lot in Christian symbolism and has been adopted by Freemasons to have a similar meaning. In other words, together the Square and Compasses remind Freemasons to explore their desires and passions without stepping outside the realms of moral behaviour. The compass then measures the ability to wisely conduct actions within certain boundaries. The meaning behind it is quite literal, with the square representing morality in that Freemasons need to ‘square actions by the square of virtue with all mankind’. Others still devise that the letter G in ancient Hebrew had a numerical value of 3, which is highly referenced throughout history when talking about God.Īs well-represented as the All Seeing Eye is, the Square and Compasses are really the most well known or recognized Freemason symbol. Others believe it represents the word ‘Gnosis’, meaning the knowledge of spiritual mysteries, which is a big component of Masonry. Some say it’s as simple as standing for ‘God’ and ‘Geometry’. The problem is, there’s a bit of contention around what it actually means. While Freemasons can’t claim an entire letter of the alphabet as their own, they do use the letter G within their symbolism quite frequently. It represents the eye of God and serves as a reminder to Freemasons that God is always watching, seeing all of their actions and thoughts. It’s been around since way back in 1797 when it was introduced in a publication of the Freemasons Monitor. This is especially so considering it features on none other than the American dollar bill. The All Seeing Eye, also known as the Masonic Eye or Eye of Providence, is up there as one of the most recognized Freemason symbols.

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