THE BUILDER JULY 1917

THE LODGE
BY BRO. A. W. TICHNOR, MICHIGAN

I SHOULD like to derive the word Lodge from the Anglo-Saxon
"lecgan," to "lay" or "lie." I like this derivation better than
that from the Greek "logos," as none of the other derivatives of
this word have the soft "g"; and I like it much more than that
which derives it from the German "Laub," and makes it cognate with
"lobby." Perhaps, however, some brother, more fortunate than
myself, has access to Skeat's New Etymological Dictionary of the
English Language, now being published in England, and probably the
last word in etymological definition.

If Lodge is derived from "lecgan," however, we may formulate three
definitions all containing the root meaning, and particularly
applicable to Free Masonry.

The first definition, then, that we can give to the word Lodge is
that it is a place where Free Masons "lie," or rest, during their
travels in foreign parts, and is undoubtedly taken from the name
given the huts that lay around the feet of the great Cathedrals on
which the Craft lavished their art and skill. It was in these that
the Craftsmen lay at night and spent the eight hours allotted to
refreshment and sleep.

Symbolically, let us remember that. as Masons, we are, on this
earth, traveling in foreign parts working at the erection of the
Temple in which, when it is completed and the ledger--or cope--
stone is laid, the Stone rejected by the builders, we expect to
possess the Word and to receive our due wages. The place of our
labors, however, is the Lodge; and this is symbolically represented
as the world wherein we rest until we receive the summons to travel
on to another country.

Now let us examine the symbolism that compares the Lodge to King
Solomon's Temple. This edifice, and particularly the Sanctum
Sanctorum or Holy of Holies, was that in which the Word of God lay,
and which, to the devout Jew, was the Lodge of God among men. But
the Temple was but a symbol of that House not made with hands,
eternal, in the heavens, and it is on this House, or Lodge, that we
as Masons are laboring, preparing, by means of our working tools,
the living stones. Let us notice, by the way, how the rough ashlar
is taken by the cable-tow and, after the application of the point
of a sharp instrument, made a perfect ashlar and set in the corner
of foundation. Then again, more firmly held by the cable-tow and,
having been tried by the square, it is passed to a more excellent
position and caused to stand before the eye of the Supreme
Architect. Finally, still more securely bound by the cable-tow,
according to the plans delineated by the Compasses, it is raised,
after many trials, from earth to heaven, where finally it will
contain the Word. Symbolism therefore teaches us that the Lodge is
where our Mysteries lie.

In the lodge of the master of the work our ancient operative
brethren gathered to transact such business as might properly come
before them, and to make, pass and raise Masons. So an assemblage
of Masons came to be called a Lodge. But here let us remember that
with such a Lodge lay the power of conferring the degrees and of
regulating the Craft, and so, authority having been deposited with
a proper number, they might be considered, in an especial sense,
the Lodge.

There is a striking similarity between Free Masonry and the
Catholic Church. Corresponding to the Worshipful Master is the
Bishop and to the brethren about the Lodge the Bishop's council of
presbyters. To these was committed the deposit of the faith-- which
is the Word of God--and the ministration of the Mysteries, by which
men are introduced, passed and raised--by means of the Sacraments--
into a position of unity with God. So with the Master, Wardens and
Brethren is lodged the "Landmarks"--of some of which we should not
speak too openly--and the power of ministering the Mysteries after
the true Masonic manner, with the result of making a man ultimately
the depository of the Masonic Word, which in itself is symbolic of
unity with the Grand Architect of the Universe. Thus a body of men
may be known as a Lodge, because of what "lies" with them.

There is another sense in which Masons use the word Lodge, and that
is in connection with a piece of furniture seen only, as a rule, at
the consecration of new lodges. It is used there as a symbol of the
Lodge, and it may also be taken to be a symbol of the Ark of the
Covenant--which was made, by the way, of the wood of the acacia--
which was the place of deposit of the Testimony of God (Ex. xxv.,
16). I think that the Ark of the Lodge should be that which
conceals what is revealed at the illumination of a Mason, the Word
of God, and the Urim and Thummim of Direction and Truth, the Great
Lights of Masonry. (cf. Hasting's "Dictionary of the Bible," and
Pike's "Morals and Dogma" sub voce.)

It must be remembered that the Ark of the Covenant was the primary
symbol of the Presence of God in the revelation of Religion under
the older order. It lay first in the Tabernacle and afterwards in
the Temple, and was that for which the Temple was built to contain.
At the destruction of the Temple it disappeared--"Arca Testamenti
nostri direpta est, 4 Esdras x. 22, ad Vulgatam--and it, and the
cavern in which it was hidden were objects of search to the pious
Jew. (cf. Jerem. iii. 16, and 2 Macc. ii. 4, et seq.) Some scholars
state that the Ark was destroyed; but certain traditions indicate
otherwise.

We may further notice that, according to the Old Testament, it was
not God's purpose to take Himself away absolutely from His people,
but only to retire from them for a while as a punishment for their
sins. It became necessary for Him to remove from them the abiding
presence of His Word, because the people had profaned it by their
misconduct, because they looked on the Mystery of godliness with
less than that reverential awe due it, and had made it common among
them. Therefore the Ark was taken from them, the Word was lost, but
not forever. And so the Lodge of Consecration could well remain as
the symbol of the resting place of the Word, and the abiding
principle of Free Masonry.

Now all of this may be taken as a study in etymology, and some of
the symbolism contained therein. And it is concerned here more with
the objective philosophy of Free Masonry than the subjective, which
seems to be the trend of Masonic study of today. But still we have
seen that the Lodge, in all senses of the word, represents the
Deposit of the Word of God, where it "lies," or is "lodged," for
the benefit of the Craft, to be given each one at the completion of
the Temple, if found worthy. Some of us, it is true, believe that
the Word is to be found in Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,
whom we call Emmanuel, God with us, the Tabernacle of God with men,
the Temple destroyed and rebuilt in three days. So we strive to
defend the Christian religion and spread the genuine cement of
brotherly love and friendship, that we all may be "builded together
for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephes. ii. 22.)

LABOURS

Nothing is worth doing 
That does not eventually send a man 
On a higher and wider quest. 
All labours that narrow, 
All toils that deaden, 
All pursuits that enslave, 
Are enemies to be fought 
With the sword of enterprise 
And the arrow of adventure. 
Therefore, at any moment 
Of this eventful or uneventful life, 
It behooves a man to ask himself 
What he is doing, 
And whither his work is leading him. 
If it is leading him to prison, 
To lethargy, or to mutilation, 
To dishonour, or to death, 
Let him arise and take ship 
To the furthest port he can reach, 
Or let him wander among the mountains 
Making new observations, 
And finding nobler labours.
--Elizabeth Gibson Cheyne.

