The Freemasonry is probably the world’s oldest Gentlemen secret society. The movement acts covertly and uses a lot of signs and allegory. Freemasonry evolved from the guilds of the bricklayers building the cathedral in medieval Europe. Some argue that the history dates back to the construction of Solomon’s temple, but documented meetings only took place in the 17th century. Freemasonry is certainly the largest closed society that exists in different forms around the world.
As Freemasonry evolved from the builders’ guilds, its symbols were related to building and bricklaying; When the cathedrals were completed, others were accepted to the lodges to increase the number of members. The signs took shape, then are more associated with monks and crusaders.
The sun is the embodiment of masculine energy, light and heat.
The all-seeing eye, surrounded by the rays of light, is sometimes considered to be an almighty god observing humanity.
Jacob’s ladder connects the sky and the earth. Its three main regiments are faith, hope and mercy.
The key is the key to truth, which can only be turned by the dignified.
Untouched stone block means shaping, but the trimmed block is perfection.
The moon symbolizes mystery and creation.
The three pillars are in the style of Dori, Ionian, and Corinth. They symbolize the trio of power, wisdom, and beauty that once appeared in the Solomon temple building.
The black-and-white chessboard symbolizes the power of darkness and light, and of good and evil, and their struggle.
The four weather arc on the edges of the drawing board mean orientation and earth force.
First level drawing board – The new members were introduced to the mystery of the Masonic with a drawing board depicting many of the organisation’s symbols.
Nowadays it’s trending that the members want to show off their belonging to the secret society and are wearing masonic rings.
Although there may still be a bricklayers who are freemasons, freemasonry does not teach bricklayer skills, but uses the work of medieval masons as an allegory of moral development. That’s why the freemasonry symbols are the tools used by bricklayers in the Middle Ages, such as apron made of sheep skin, hammer, ladder and sounding lead.
The spirit-level symbolizes equality and justice. In rituals, the sounding lead and the spirit-level are almost always used together. it is said that the freemasonry meet on the spirit-level, which means that, regardless of their profession or income, they are all brothers.
The hammer is a shaping masculine force that symbolizes justice and authority. Usually, the Masonic hammer is made of beech wood, which indicates prosperity and durability.
The trowel cements metaphorically brotherhood and shared brother love, being the symbol of unity and fellowship.
Angle iron, which is the emblem of the master of the lodge, shows the members the right paths and symbolizes moral standards. The angle iron is the instrument that divides the divergent ends.
Builders use the spirit level and the sounding lead to align the verticality. For freemasonry, these tools mean moral straightness and fair behaviour. The spirit level is also the emblem of the junior supervisor of the great lodge.
The ladder is the bond between heaven and earth. Some freemasonry climb that ladder, look oriented at the top, but most masonries see only one or two rungs and don’t bother themselves to conquer the top. The stronger the freemason’s character becomes, the more rungs he reaches.
Pair of compasses, which is an important emblem of Masonic, symbolizes God’s plans with the world. In the squares, up and down triangles can symbolize male and female fertility.
All freemasons have their own distinctive signs, because in the Medieval times in Europe, the freemasons marked the building stones with symbols or letters. Swastika is an old and universal sign that symbolizes the sun and the cycle of rebirth. Especially popular was the Swastika symbol of peace in India long before the Nazis stole it.
Freemasonry is often associated with handshakes and passwords used as secret signs. There are many of them, and trough the handshake freemasons know each other. The secret is not revealed to others. It can only be said that according to the degree of the freemason’s sanctification, the greeting sign is different.
Esoteric handshakes Boaz means apprentice handshake. This means a freemason pushes its thumb against others masons first finger.
Tubal Cain (also Tubalcain) is the masters approved handshake.
Lion Paw is a true handshake of the masters.
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America’s first president, George Washington, was, like many signators of the Constitution, a freemason. The values of the American Republics, such as the high appreciation of civic duty, knowledge and progress, are derived from the values of freemasonry. The Masonic symbols were taken as national emblems for example the eye and pyramid that appeared on a one-dollar banknote. Read more: Freemasonry and politics
