
CORN, WINE AND OIL

By Rabbi Isaac Marcusson

(From "Leaves From Georgia Masonry" published by the Educational and
   Historical Commission of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. &A.M.)

    Among all early peoples, we find life divided into three aspects -
physical, mental, spiritual.  The fully developed man was the man who considered
all these aspects of life and did not develop one at the expense of the other.
The gladiator or the athlete stood at the lowest of the ladder of life and the
proverb, "A strong mind in a strong body," was the ideal towards which man
strove.

    It is not to be wondered at that throughout its whole history Masonry
endeavored to keep alive this three-fold aspect of life.  It was clearly
understood by the founders of our order that the fully developed man was he who
took heed of every aspect of his nature and body; mind and soul were to be
equally guarded.

CORN

    This has always been the symbol of the physical life.  It represents
orderIiness and brotherhood.  While each grain of corn stands separate and
alone, yet it has its place in the line and is firmly imbedded with all the rest
in one central unifying mass.  Should a single grain, even for a moment lose its
hold, it falls out unless supported and sustained by its neighboring grain.  So
man in his social life must finally realize that if he lets go of the central
purpose of life, if he steps out of his place in the great march onward, "his
place will know him no more;" he falls out of the orderly procession of life.
But like the ear of corn there are sustaining forces which for a little while
can keep him in his place if he will but cling to them until he can once more
take hold of life and its deeper purposes.  So while corn to the Master Mason is
symbolic of the physical life, it also has for us a lesson of great and lasting
value.  It represents the deeper lesson for which Masonry stands - social order
and a helpful brotherhood.  It is the nourishing, sustaining food on which we
are dependent to make ourselves felt in the higher walks of life.  But it is
none-the-less essential.  It is the foundation stone on which the higher life
must be buiIded if we are to erect a structure that shall be a real temple
wherein man shall rise to his better self.

WINE

    The cluster of grapes symbolic of the mental life of man likewise teaches
us a higher lesson.  As wine stimulates the physical body so learning stimulates
the mind.  It is the divine fire brought from Heaven to enable man to rise from
the lowliest in life to the highest.  It is to be used in cultivating the arts
as well as providing the physical needs of man.  But it, too, is symbolic - each
grape holds its place in the cluster but all grow out of one central stem.  A
delicate weak tendril holds it to the parent vine.  So man is held to the finer
things in life by faith.  He realizes that the pbyusical life is but a means and
not the end and purpose of existence.  Material things are good only in so far
as they are used for the cultural and mental advancement of man.  And as from
the bunch of grapes there comes the invigorating and joy-giving wine so from a
full and rounded mental life there comes the happiness of a developed intellect,
of a broadened vision into life, of higher values of existence.  And as the wine
improves with age, gaining in aroma and flavor, so the mind of man grows richer
through wisdom and each added learning gives it a new flavor.

OIL

    Oil is the symbol of the spirit.  It was oil that kept alive the perpetual
flame which burnt before the Holy of Holies in the Temple of King Solomon.  It
was especially prepared oil representing the toil and care which man spent upon
it.  It was pure oil from which all that was low and base was removed,
representative of the highest spiritual truth to which man could lift himself.
It was the oil extracted from the olive - good for food, it is true, but its
material benefits to be sacrificed so that there might be extracted from it the
precious oil to keep alive the eternal flame.  So man too is taught through
Masonry to give up if necessary the material gains and the physical advantages,
if he can bring in place thereof the spiritual values which enrich and enoble
life.  But more than that, the oil was symbolic of royalty.  Upon the head of
king and priest it was poured as a sign of power.  The king and priest were
representative of the higher virtues.  This is the lesson which the Bible
teaches us.  King Saul, a mighty man of valor, a true soldier, rising head and
shoulders above his comrades - he was symbolic of the physical, and then King
David, the builder, the sweet singer, the Psalmist, representative of the
mental.  But he was not to build the Temple of God.  King Solomon in whom were
united the three qualities erected the Temple unto God.

    To the Mason today this complete life should be the aim and goal.  Upon his
head is poured the anointing oil of service.  To him comes the opportunity to
erect a spiritual temple to which men can turn when seeking the higher things in
life.  He must be sure that the foundation symbolized by the physical is strong
and clean; be must see to it that the superstructure representative of the
mental is carefully planned and thoughtfully built but he must be sure that
within this Temple there burns the oil of truth and from this light there shall
stream forth a ray which shall guide man in his darkest hours up to the altar of
faith.

CORN AND WINE AND OIL

    These shall be the symbols by which the Master Mason shall become the
well-rounded man and attain that perfection towards which we should strive.


