Celestial Lodge Above: The Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem as a Religious Symbol in Freemasonry.

Dr. Guy L. Beck, Tulane University

© Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions 4.1 (October 2000): 28-51

The hangings in the lodge room are blue, spread with golden stars. The Master and the brethren wear white robes as well as blue headbands with 12 golden stars on it, tied around their foreheads. The Master sits under a blue canopy on a throne, behind which is a transparent light that is sufficient to light the entire lodge. Facing is a painting or image of a square city, the Celestial Jerusalem, descending from heaven, to crush the remains of the present Jerusalem. A Serpent or hydra with 3 heads representing the wickedness of infidels remains there. This Celestial Jerusalem, elevated as on a cloud, has 12 gates, 3 on each side with a Tree in the middle that bears 12 different sorts of fruits. Under this is the ancient Jerusalem which is in ruins and overturned, along with the Serpent which is in chains and appearing crushed by the weight of the Celestial Jerusalem. There is a high mountain on one side toward which the candidate is directed by the Warden [the guide], who then retreats backwards to measure the size of the city with a surveyors chain, and then returns to tell the candidate, pointing toward the city, that the city is 1500 miles on each side. They both come down backwards, and after a moment of silence, the candidate takes 3 steps toward the three- headed Serpent and steps on each of the heads. He then advances in a special way toward the city and receives the secret sign, token, and password of the degree. He is also given a crimson sash with 12 golden stars to which hang a square jewel of gold from the right shoulder to the left hip, on one side the letter Alpha and on the other Omega.

The above is an initiation scenario taken from a valuable antique manuscript of Freemasonry, called the Francken Manuscript of 1783. This particular initiation is the 19th degree, known as Grand Pontiff, portrayed within a series of initiatory degrees (4th through 33rd) of Scottish Rite Masonry. Beneath these `higher' degrees lie the initial foundation of Freemasonry-- three degrees that symbolically take place within the chambers of the famous Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.

As part of an elusive history that reflects many dimensions of Western religion and civilization, Freemasonry and its association with the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem is the subject of this essay. After noting the written record of the actual appearance of Solomon's Temple within the masonic tradition, as well as the symbolism of the Temple in the first three degrees, we will explore the role of `New Jerusalem' in the 19th degree of Grand Pontiff with reference to existing manuscripts and published editions of the rite dating back to 1783. Current scholarship on issues related to fraternal movements will help us place Freemasonry within the context of early Enlightenment utopian thought, and also assist us in our attempt to illuminate some of the modifications of masonic ritual made during the 19th Century as Freemasons sought to retain connections to ancient religious and philosophical traditions. The historical city of Jerusalem has been at the center of biblical prophecy since its founding. Out of the 800 or so references to Jerusalem in the Bible, roughly 350 deal with future prophecies for the city, including the New Jerusalem descending from the heavens as described in the apocalyptic book of Revelation. While it is generally known that Jerusalem is a sacred site for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, its appearance within the ritual literature of other religious or quasi-religious organizations is seldom discussed. In both Judaism and Christianity, the city of Jerusalem is a focal point of messianic and eschatological events leading toward a millennial kingdom. For Jews the future city represents the restored Kingdom of David that will be ruled by the Messiah from Mt. Zion. For Christians, the descent from Heaven of the New Jerusalem at the climax of the 1000 year millennial reign of the returned Jesus Christ represents eternal salvation. And for Muslims, Jerusalem is the sacred space from where the Prophet Muhammad visited the heavens. For the fraternal organization known as Freemasonry, the Temple that was built within the earthly city of Jerusalem has been appropriated symbolically to illustrate the progressive moral development of mankind on earth and its fulfillment in a permanent state of `millennial' perfection in a New Jerusalem.

The significance of Jerusalem and the Temple of Solomon as central to Freemasonry was affirmed by one of its most important spokesmen: "Now almost all the symbolism of Freemasonry rests upon or is derived from the House of the Lord at Jerusalem. So closely are the two connected, that to attempt to separate the one from the other would be fatal to the further existence of Masonry. Each lodge is and must be a symbol of the Jewish Temple; each Master in the chair a representative of the Jewish King; and every Mason a personation of the Jewish workman."ii This connection is, however, virtually unknown outside the fraternity since there have been so few attempts to disseminate the content of its secret rituals and instructions. The well-known link between Jerusalem and European or Christian `fraternalism' of other varieties, however, goes back at least as far as the Knights Templar and the Crusades, but is positively identified with Freemasonry from written records of the early 15th century...Use the link below to read the rest of the article

The Influence of Pythagoras on Freemasonry, The Golden Verses of Pythagoras and The Life and Philosophy of Pythagoras

by Manly P. Hall, Albert G. Mackey

A small collection of three pieces exploring the impact and legacy that Pythagoras has left on both Freemasonry, as well as modern, esoteric, philosophical thought. Includes “The Influence of Pythagoras on Freemasonry” by Albert G. Mackey, “The Golden Verses of Pythagoras” which is traditionally attributed to Pythagoras himself and “The Life and Philosophy of Pythagoras” by Manly P. Hall. This is a nice primer for someone becoming interested in Pythagoras.

Welcome WB David Wetrosky as the new Office Manager for the Grand Lodge!

Please welcome WB David to the Grand Lodge office team as office Manager! Many of your are already familiar with WB David and know what a great job David will do for the Craft! For those of you that are meeting WB David for the first time, here is some background information.

David was born and raised in Akron, Iowa (a town 30 miles north of Sioux City on the South Dakota border). He attended Iowa State University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1980. He began work for Omaha Public Power District immediately after graduating from college. He held several positions at OPPD throughout his 37-year career for the company including Plant Engineer, Operations Superintendent, Manager – Operations Engineering and Plant Manager – North Omaha Power Station. Most of those years were at the power station located south of Nebraska City. David retired from OPPD in 2017. He then began his second career in the Meat Market at Fareway Grocery in Nebraska City on a full-time basis until he began work as the Grand Lodge Office Manager on June 1, 2022.

David and his wife Marsha live in Nebraska City. They have three grown children (Alex, Audra and Ava) and a six-month-old granddaughter Hazel.

David’s masonic career began in 1986 after being raised in Western Star Lodge No. 2 in Nebraska City. He was Worshipful Master of that lodge in 1993, 1995 and 2019 and was Secretary of the Lodge for many years. He has been a Deputy Grand Custodian since 2017. He is also a member of Tangier Shrine Temple in Omaha, York Rite bodies in Plattsmouth and Order of the Eastern Star where he recently completed his term as Worthy Grand Patron.

David enjoys watching all sports particularly his alma mater Iowa State Cyclones and Nebraska Cornhuskers. David also stays busy being Treasurer for his Church and being a member of the Board of Public Works in Nebraska City. In his spare time, he enjoys working on stained glass projects.

WB David starts June 1st, 2022 and will available to help you and your lodge with all of your Grand Lodge office needs!

James A. Tulleys, Grand Master
June 25, 1880 – July 7, 1881
Reported at the 24th Annual Communication

The Grand Master recommended that the custodian system be abolished because it had failed to accomplish its goals. He said the Grand Lecturer should be the sole custodian and responsible for work in the state. “While this might necessitate the incurring of some additional expense, yet the advantages to be derived from thoroughness and uniformity of work would more than compensate the additional outlay.” He added that few custodians qualified for the office, and those who performed their duties were even fewer.

A committee examining the Grand Master’s opinion of the custodian system proposed amendments to the constitution and bylaws that changed the system. The Grand Lecturer’s title was changed to Grand Custodian, and references to the Custodians were recommended struck.

In an attempt to get lodges to pay their annual dues on time, the Grand Lodge passed a motion that the Committee on Returns add 10 percent of the gross amount to each lodge’s dues and fees. Depending on the date dues were received, three-tenths to nine-tenths of the penalty was returned to lodges.

The Grand Secretary reported that with growth in membership and reducing office expenses, the Grand Lodge’s annual dues could be reduced from 75¢ to 60¢, and to 50¢ if the Grand Lodge kept operating as usual.

Past Grand Master George Lininger, who had returned from a year’s travels to Europe, Egypt, Palestine and Syria, described his travels in foreign countries and presented the Grand Lodge and each Past Grand Master an olive-wood gavel made in Jerusalem.

Responding to a question, the Jurisprudence Committee stated that the Master has the right to appoint a committee to examine a Mason from another lodge when he visits.

100th Annivsersary Plate Grand Lodge of Nebraska

1957

More pictures of this artifact and other museum pieces can be found by clicking on the button below.

Delegation

A word in which we all know what it means, but an action some of us (most) have a hard time carrying out though. The simplified definition of delegation is “the shifting of authority and responsibility for particular functions, tasks or decisions from one person to another.” So why do we as Masonic leaders have a hard time delegating our responsibilities to other members within our lodge? The reason for me is simple. I have a system of accomplishing tasks within the lodge that works, and I’m concerned that whoever I assign to take over that task will not execute it as efficiently as I believe that I do. I also have a hard time finding a person who shows interest in taking over those duties as well. This to me is crucially important because I don’t want to assign someone a duty within the lodge to only find out later on that it’s not being accomplished because they never wanted the task in the first place!

The hardest part of being a lodge leader is training your newer members because it’s always easier to just continue carrying out the execution of your duties the way you want them to be done. In addition, there is also the satisfaction of knowing that you are an integral part of the lodge and are instrumental in keeping it running on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this is not the way to establish a solid line of officers and leaders within the lodge. While it’s just easier to continue doing the task yourself, this does not train the newer members within your lodge. It also ensures that when you pass on, or cannot make it to lodge anymore, that those tasks will either get neglected, or inefficiently carried out, because you as a leader failed to train your replacement properly.

This why it is crucially important to delegate the responsibilities that are needed to maintain a lodge (i.e., trestle boards, mowing the lodge lawn, shoveling snow in the winter, setting up the lodge room, maintaining lodge plaques, maintaining lodge cleaning supplies, etc.) to other individuals within the lodge. By doing so, it not only provides you with a respite, but also helps to foster a form of mentorship between you and that individual as well. Just as you as a mentor passed on your knowledge of ritual to your new mentee during proficiency work, you as a lodge leader must carry out that same task when it comes to tasking your newer members with lodge responsibilities. We as lodge leaders need to learn that we will not be on this earth forever, and if we fail to train our relief, then our lodge will eventually fail in the future. So, find your replacement within your lodge, then train him. You’ll be glad that you did.