Before the door of all lodges stands a Tiler (Tyler) “with a drawn sword in his hand.”
Customarily it is a straight blade; such a shining shaft of steel as was carried by Knights of olden times. According to Mackey it should have a snake-like shape. Formerly such swords were the badge of office of the Tiler, so made in allusion to the “Flaming Sword which was placed at the East of the Garden of Eden which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life.”
https://www.masonicworld.com/education/files/artnov01/The%20Sword%20in%20the%20Craft.htm