Symbols of Freemasonry

The Three Great Lights of Regular Freemasonry are the Volume of Sacred Law, the Square and the Compass. Taken together, they represent a symbol of Masonic life, because no regular Lodge can open the Craft without their presence.

The Volume of Sacred Law

The Volume of Sacred Law is a symbol of Tradition.

The Square and Compass

Basic symbols of Masonry are necessary for raising stable and straight buildings. By analogy, they become symbols of virtue and consciousness leading to spiritual perfection.

The Square inspire us justice in our thoughts and actions - it is a symbol of Moral Law.

The Compass, is a measurement and comparison tool, allowing us to appreciate the influence and consequences of our actions, which must be constantly brotherly to all our peers.

The Square symbolizes sincerity and justice in our intention, decision, and work; this is an obligation, an immutable rule, while Compass signifies determination, ability, genius.

The Level and Plumb

As the level insures evenness of a surface, the plumb insures perpendicularity and right angles to that surface.

The Level means the ability to build a reference system and thus spiritual enrichment, while representing the common destiny of Death.

A simple plumb is an instrument of amazing accuracy. From homes to cathedrals, this simple tool points the way upward and indicates the straightness needed to obtain perfection. The Plumb Line is the element of balance and suggests the idea of stable and linear ascension, drawing an infinite vertical line which leads to perfection.

The Hammer and Chisel

The Hammer is the force of will. The Chisels symbolizes discernment, ie the ability to distinguish relevant parts of the stone essential for the building of unnecessary ones. Combining the strength of will and the ability to discern cause gradual improvement of the work.

Thus, while the Hammer express willingness to obtain, the Chisels symbolizes the consciousness of what should be avoided. Taken together, the two instruments means the need to join the action with thought.

Raw stone and polished stone

In the metaphorical sense, Stone identifies with Mason. The Masonic work of measuring and polishing the stone corresponds with Mason's transformation to switch from profane's raw, unconscious and liabile state, to regular, creative and aware state of free mason.

Because Raw stone is not suitable for the construction of a cathedral producing instability and disharmony, Polished stone, regular, cubic, is similar in its uniqueness with other stones similarly crafted contributing to raising the Temple.

The Ruler with 24 divisions

The Ruler with 24 divisions, the symbol of perfection and order of the fair and balanced actions, is from ancient times the size comparison tool for measuring the harmony and proportions. Quoted in the Bible, was actually the tool used by Egyptian Deity Ptah to measure Nile's water level and mean the norm.

The Ruler with 24 divisions is the symbol of the 24-hour day, some of which would be dedicated to thought, some to work, some to rest and some to those in need of help.

The Trowel

Mason trowel is the tool that serves to straighten the rocky material, symbolizes kindness, and willingness to help those in need. Express active goodness, charity, and human will.

Brotherly love which creates cohesion between stones is like mortar - soft and able to take any form, strong without being rigid, when connecting the parts inside the building. The Trowel serves up for mixing the mortar to obtain a perfect amalgam, to remove excess - to spread the enlightened blessings and generous tolerance. For this reason, it is the preferred tool of Mason in his constant and positive action of active builder.

Acacia

Acacia, is an important symbol of Freemasonry, referring to the principle of Master Mason of immortality. The origin of this symbol is related to the myth of Hiram, the architect of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. After his death, his killers has hidden the body in the ground, but where he was buried has sprung an accacia thread that has revealed the presence of the body, while symbolizing the rebirth to a new life.

Acacia is a symbol of hope and the existence of the soul beyond physical death and conservation of indestructible energy of life.

The Sun and The Moon

The Sun is associated with a series of symbolic meanings, so the dynamics between the axial correspondence Sun-Fire-Spirit, that heat and truth, the purification, the bravery, the guide of the human heart. The Sun is identified with masculinity, with the active principle, it is the symbol of origin, of beginning, of the reason that illuminates the darkness and spirits. The Moon symbolizes feminity, obscure, intuition, changeable nature of forms. It signifies also the human deprivation and the lost of dignity. Also, it means the mediator image between the celestial forces, because it reflects the sunlight.

In the Masonic sense, the Sun and Moon is alternation and balance between day and night, between black and white, between activity and rest, the dialectic of opposites.