THE BUILDER OCTOBER 1915

SYMBOLISM OF THE FIRST DEGREE

BY BRO. ASAHEL W. GAGE, ILLINOIS

IN the beginning, the seeker for truth must be duly and truly
prepared. In the usually accepted sense, this talk is unprepared.
And yet, I spent five years in the "line" of the lodge observing,
thinking about and studying Masonry. It is this study and my later
contemplations that are my preparation to speak on the symbolism of
the first degree.

It seems to me that the essence of every Masonic lesson is
presented in the symbolism of the first degree. An entered
apprentice is a Mason. The second, third, and so-called higher
degrees are elaborations. All Masonic business was formerly
transacted in a lodge opened only on the first degree.

The Masonic lessons are practical lessons. They have a dollar and
cents value. The Senior Warden tells us that he became a Mason in
order that he might receive master's, or larger wages. That there
may be no misunderstanding as to his meaning monetary wages, he
further says, in order to "better support himself and family." If
we will look honestly into our own hearts, we will see that we paid
the price for the Masonic degrees because we hoped to receive the
equivalent or a greater return. If we have not received a return
equal to our original and annual investment, it is because we have
not applied ourselves to the study of Masonry with freedom,
fervency and zeal.

But let us understand each other. There is little chance of our
making much headway unless we agree on a clear and definite meaning
of the terms we use. It is not only good and pleasant, but it is
necessary for us to dwell together in unity of thought, if we would
arrive at a harmonious conclusion. We should therefore endeavor to
clearly define our subject.

The word "symbol" is derived from the Greek, meaning "to compare."
A symbol is the expression of an idea by comparison. Often, an
abstract idea may be best conveyed by a comparison with a concrete
object. A dictionary definition of a symbol would be, a sign or
representation which suggests something else.

Symbolism, therefore, is the science of symbols or signs, the
philosophy or art of representing abstract truths and ideas by
concrete things. Symbolism is suggestion; in sculpture and painting
by form and color, in language by words, in music by sounds. What
allegory and parable are in literature; what figurative speaking is
in language; the same is symbolism.

The symbolism of the first degree is for the apprentice. An
apprentice Mason is one who has begun the study of Masonry. Certain
qualifications are necessary for every apprentice. The
qualifications of a Masonic apprentice are a belief in a God, a
desire for knowledge, and a sincere wish to be of service to his
fellow creatures. Possessing these qualifications, the candidate
must follow a course of ancient hieroglyphic moral instruction,
taught agreeably to ancient usages, by types, emblems and
allegorical figures. This is symbolism, and symbolism is universal
language. It is the language in which God reveals himself to man.
The manifestations of nature are only symbolic expressions of God.

Children learn best from symbols. Blocks and toys are crude
symbolic representations of the more complicated things of life.
Most of us learned our alphabet and almost everything else by the
relationship or correspondence to things with which we were
familiar. We are only children after all. Older children call
themselves scientists and make their experiments in their
laboratories. Each experiment is a symbol of what is taking place
in the real world outside.

The apprentice in the moral science should give up the rags of his
own righteousness and also all precious metals, symbolical of
worldly wealth and distinction, and all baser metals, symbolical of
offense and defense, in order that he may realize his dependence
upon moral forces only. He should be clad in a garment signifying
that he comes with pure intentions to learn the noble art and
profit by its lessons, not to proselyte among others, but to
develop and improve himself. He is carefully examined to ascertain
whether he is worthy and well qualified to receive and use the
rights and benefits of Masonry. Being satisfied that he is worthy
and well qualified, he is admitted and is immediately impressed
with the fact that he must undergo sacrifice and suffering if he
would attain the end he seeks. Realizing that the good intentions
of the candidate, his own righteousness or even the lodge
organization, are not sufficient, we invoke the blessing and aid of
God upon our search for knowledge and truth.

We follow the system of symbolism. When we would know the truth in
regard to things too great for our minds to comprehend, we take as
a symbol that which is within our mental grasp. We know that the
truth about the things we cannot comprehend, is identical with the
truth in relation to the symbol which we do comprehend.

The apprentice in his search for Light must start from the North
with the Easter Sun in the East, and travel by way of the South to
the West, and back into darkness. He again comes out of the North
in the East and passes through the same course again and again in
his development. Obstacles are met by the apprentice in his
progress, so similar that they seem identical. The little
occurrences-of life may seem unimportant but they determine whether
we will be permitted to advance. The apprentice must ever be worthy
and well qualified.

The apprentice must advance on the square by regular upright steps.
The symbolism is so common and universal that it is used in the
slang of the street. Obligations are duties assumed. We must assume
them if we would advance and having assumed them we are bound by
them whether we will or not. Then the light breaks and we begin to
see. We find that others, even the most learned, stand like the
beginners. The Master is on a level with the apprentice, and
extends a hand which is grasped fraternally, and the candidate is
raised. There is the key to the Masters Word--an open book, but he
may never find the word itself.

Then, as before, the apprentice must follow the course of the Sun.
As is the greatest, so is the smallest. In the drop of water are
all the laws of the universe. If we study carefully, we will find
in the dew drop the particles revolving and whirling in their
little circles the same as we find the heavenly bodies revolving
and turning in their great orbits, circle within circle and circle
upon circle. The seeker after Light always emerges from the North
in the East and passes by way of the South to the West and again
into darkness, with full faith and perfect confidence that day will
follow night. He is continually subjected to tests and trials and
always held responsible for what he has learned and for that which
has gone before.

God's Holy Book, His revelation to us, is the guide in our search
for light. To the Jew this Holy Book is the history of Israel,
substantially the Old Testament. To the Christian, it is the Old
and New Testament. To the Mohammedan, it is the Koran; to the
Hindu, the Veda. But whatever book it is, it is the Holy Book of
the seeker for Light and that which he believes to be the word of
God. The Holy Book together with the square and the compasses are
the great lights of Masonry.

The lesser lights are the Sun, Moon and Master of the Lodge. The
Sun symbolizes the great active principle, the Moon the great
passive principle. This symbolism is so commonly accepted that even
the uninitiated refer to the Sun as masculine and the Moon as
feminine. The Master is symbolical of the offspring of the great
Active and Passive Principles. He is the mediator, the child of the
two great forces. He sets the craft to work upon their symbolic
studies, which is no light responsibility to be assumed by the
uninformed. Only chaos and disaster can overtake him who attempts
the work he is not qualified to perform. When the apprentice has
received his degree he is given his working tools and the primary
or elementary instructions as to how to go to work.

The working tools of an apprentice are the 24 inch gauge and the
common gavel. The gavel symbolizes strength or force. Force
undirected is the flood devastating all in its path or the idle
puff of the unconfined powder which accomplishes nothing.
Undirected force is the gavel without the rule. But intelligently
controlled, and directed along a proper line by the rule of
intellect, the force of the torrent grinds the grain and does the
work of many men. The force of the exploding powder prys the rock
loose so that the work of months is accomplished in a moment.

The operation of universal laws in the moral world is just as
ascertainable and understandable as in the physical world. Morals
are as susceptible of scientific study as physics.

The lambskin apron, a most ancient symbol, signifies that it is
only by honest conscientious toil that the moral laws can be
learned and applied, and that this toil must be done in purity and
innocence.

In the lectures which follow the ceremony of the first degree, the
apprentice is given preliminary information. It would be too
tedious to analyze these lectures at this time. Suffice it to say
they are very superficial and of little worth in themselves. They
must be understood and felt, if they are to be of any value.
Briefly we may describe a Lodge as a place to work, a place to
study, analyze, and master the moral science so that we may make
use of the moral laws and principles in our every-day life.
Symbolically, it is representative of the world, our daily working
place.

The foundation of the Lodge and its teaching is squareness. It is,
however, supported by three pillars; Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.
From which we may learn that in every undertaking, when
intelligence or wisdom directs, and strength or power works, then
beauty and harmony result.

The Lodge is covered with the blue vault of Heaven. Blue is the
symbol of equality, it is a proper mingling of all colors, it is
perfect concord. It is also symbolical of the universality of that
charity, which should be as expansive as the blue vault of Heaven
itself. Charity is not the giving of money alone. It is also
necessary to have charity toward the weaknesses and mistakes of
others.

This life is a checkered pavement of good and evil, but in the
center is the blazing star which is the seed and the source of all
life and eternal life.

The parallel lines have a symbolism analogous to that of the two
pillars, Jachin and Boaz, which is more fully developed in other
degrees. The point in the center of the circle between the
parallels is sometimes compared to the individual member and
sometimes to God who is the center of all things. The circumference
may suggest the boundary of man's conduct, or God's creatures, all
equally distant and all equally near to Him. Sometimes the
circumference is used to depict the endless course of God's power,
and His existence without end. This is all speculation, it is
symbolism, the contemplation of which will develop the individual.

If the apprentice pursues his studies in the moral art with
freedom, fervency and zeal, he will receive Master's, or larger
wages, and be thereby the better enabled to support himself and
family and to contribute the relief of the distressed.


