>>2335031

The Keystone

THE SYMBOL OF THE KEYSTONE

Probably the most beautiful symbol of Freemasonry is that of the Keystone!

It does not appear in the symbolism of the Lodge, but is reserved for those degrees dealing with the Chapter and, its symbolism, where it is found in all but one of the degrees of that system. The reason for its absence in lodge symbolism is that the lodge deals with preparation for eternal life, whereas the Chapter deals with the completion.

Keystone SymbolThe Keystone is the symbol of completion.

For all practical purposes the Keystone is the last stone placed in the arch, and as such represents completion. The placing of the Keystone in the symbolic arch of the Chapter, represents the completion of the individual Temple which each craftsman is erecting.

True, the Temple material was destroyed, but it was only the symbol of the Spiritual Temple which can never be destroyed. Royal Arch Masonry efforts are towards building spiritual Temples and its ceremonies, its legends, and its teachings, while beautiful in themselves, are there for the sole purpose of teaching great spiritual truths.

Our spiritual Temple can be completed only by death, the great leveller, but if that Temple be built by plumb line, by level, and by square, we are taught that its foundations shall never crumble nor decay, and that when we have reached “that bourne from which no traveller returns” we may enjoy the fruits of our labours here on earth throughout the endless eons of time.

And we may add again, the Keystone, the emblem of completion, is the outstanding symbol of Masonic teaching!

The Freemason Oct 1996. Page 24

Page 25:

It has also been commented that there are differences between English working and that used Stateside so I’ll give a brief description of the lodge layout as well.

First thing you would notice is that under English practice we do not have a central altar, the VSL is placed either on the Master’s pedestal OR on a small pedestal at the Eastern end of the floor area.

We place the Master and Wardens as usual in the East, South and West, Deacons at the right of Master and S. Warden.

The Overseers are seated in the central area, each at a pedestal and facing their respective seniors, that is the M. O. facing W. Master, S. O. facing S.W. and J. O. facing J.W.

Secretary is seated in the S.E. with the Register of Marks seated beside him,

Inner Guard seated inside the door and the Tyler placed outside.

Order of Ceremony is: Entry, Obligation, Enactment, Entrustment, Charge.

Now to the board, I am working from memory here and so do not claim this to be exact but taken with the Lecture will give the sense.

In the top left corner is placed the emblem of the Mallet and Chisel

Top Right has the Square and Compasses.

Bottom Left has the Hourglass.

Bottom Right has the Rope and Anchor.

Depicted in the centre of the board is an arched doorway with a stair leading up to it.

At the foot of the stair lie the three stones, the Oblong, the Square and the Keystone. Engraven on the face of the Keystone is the Equilateral Triangle while the Level and the Plumb are lying on the other stones, the 24-inch Gauge and the Trowel are also here depicted.

On the head of the stairway in front of the doorway stand the S.W.’s pedestal and wicket. Standing to their left is depicted the J.W. carrying the Axe, the emblem of his office.

There is also depicted here the VSL in the form of a Scroll.

Through the doorway are the Pictorial Representations, in the foreground are the Clay grounds, the Precipitous Shores and the Forest while in the background can be seen the Temple itself.

Over the doorway is Jacobs Ladder with Three Major Rungs marked and also an All-Seeing Eye.

The 4 pictographs of the Masonic Cypher are placed at the head of the doorway and at the head of the representation on the board is the inscription.

This is frequently shown using Hebrew Characters rather than in a Roman alphabet

This lecture is normally delivered to the lodge as a whole and not to just the candidates, it is in fact generally given instead of an advancement, I in fact used to go round with the late DC of my lodge as guests to other lodges where he would deliver the Lecture of the Degree itself and I would deliver that on the Tracing Board.

===

Freemason homes have an arch and Keystone, often in unusual places or seemingly misplaced.

Always cleverly obvious.

Check your neighbourhood.

===

Symbolism to be your downfall.

The Keystone locks the treasure.

Find the Keystone.

Find the Server - of Evil.

Freemasonry use of T or t at Tau.

THE TAU AND TRIPLE TAU SYMBOL IN ROYAL ARCH MASONRY

The Tau is one of the most important Symbols in Royal Arch Masonry. It is the Greek Letter “T” a letter that takes the same form in many alphabets - Including the English.

It is an extremely early form of Cross - often called St. Anthony’s cross because the Saint was martyred on a cross of similar form.

The Tau has been used throughout History by many civilizations as a Symbol:

Hebrews who were illiterate used it for signing their name to a document.

• Pagans used the Tau as an attachment to the names of those who survived a battle.

• The Egyptians used it as the sign of life - and as a result considered the Scarab Beetle sacred because it had the “T” on its Thorax. Peasantry in some parts of England call this Battle the TOR or DOR Battle.

• Indians who participate in the Snake Dance sometimes put on Head - Dresses which have incisions in the shape of the Letter “T”. Black-Feet Indians also arranged Boulders in the form of a cross Symbolizing, “Old Man in the sun who Rules the Winds.”.

Masonic Historians refer to original Hebrew Writings.

The mark referred to is generally acknowledged to be the TAU - Not the Triple TAU.

It has been said that three Taus came together to form the Triple Tau. but this extraordinary device was NOT originally produced by the conjunction of Three Taus- it was developed from

“T” over “H” and originally meant Templum Hieroslymoe - “The Temple of Jerusalem,”

The early symbol has been given other meanings:

Clavis Ad Thesaurum= A key to the treasure.

Res Ipsa Pretiosa = The precious Thing Itself (Sacred Name ).

Theca Ubi Res Pretiosa Deponitur = The Depository in which the sacred thing is hidden.

T T T. 20. 20. 20. = 6

>>2336034

Love the Plane Fags.

Thanks for your continued superior efforts

WHY is it Relevant?

Welcome to the United Nations

What do THEY know?

July 30.

United Nations WORLD DAY

Against Trafficking in Persons.

https://www.un.org/en/events/humantrafficking/index.shtml

Ezekiel 9:4-6 New International Version

4 and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.”

5 As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.

A mark - literally, "Tau," the name of the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The old form of the letter was that of a cross. The Jews have interpreted this sign variously, some considering that "Tau," being the last of the Hebrew letters, and so closing the alphabet, denoted completeness, and thus the mark indicated the completeness of the sorrow for sin in those upon whom it was placed. Others again observed that "Tau" was the first letter of Torah ("the Law") and that the foreheads were marked as of men obedient to the Law. Christians, noting the resemblance of this letter in its most ancient form to a cross, have seen herein a reference to the cross with which Christians were signed. The custom for pagan gods and their votaries to bear certain marks furnishes instances, in which God was pleased to employ symbolism, generally in use, to express higher and more divine truth. The sign of the cross in baptism is an outward sign of the designation of God's elect, who at the last day shall be exempted from the destruction of the ungodly

Letters on the Freemason KEYSTONE.

HTWSSTKS is an acronym with connections to the Masonic Temple, specifically Royal Arch Masons. The letters stand for, “Hiram, Tyrian, Widow’s Son, Sent to King Solomon.” Of course, now we’re left wondering who the heck Hiram is!

As it turns out, all third degree Freemasons study the story of a man named Hiram Abiff (a.k.a. Hiram the Widow’s Son.) According to legend, Hiram was chief architect for the Temple of King Solomon. When bad guys tried to squeeze the secret masonic passwords out of Hiram, he valiantly refused to tell them. As a result, the bad guys killed poor Hiram. In Masonic teachings, Hiram’s story is held up as an example of loyalty.

So, when you see HTWWTKS on someone’s headstone, you know that not only were they a Royal Arch Mason, but that they made it at least as far as the third degree in that fraternal order!