7-54 Behind The Symbol"
Archaeologists have discovered many old cities, built on the ruins of still older cities, which in turn were erected upon the remains of cities still older. These several cities were built, existed for a time, were destroyed and forgotten and new cities built above. The artifacts found at the top are totally different from those found at the bottom of the complete excavations, as in natural, since the several cities may have been thousands of years in building, life, destruction and rebuilding.
Many common words in English must be read in context if they are to be understood, which is one of the reasons those who speak other languages from birth find English so difficult. The "good" man may be either the moral man or the physically strong man. The "good" earth is that which grows crops well, while "good" credit is trustworthiness of him who possesses it; a "good" game may be either one which men like to play, or so well played that men like to watch it.
Masonic symbols are like the many buried cities of Ur of the Chaldees; similar to the many words which mean different things at different times to different people when used in different ways. It may be too much to say that all Masonic symbols have more than one meaning, but it is certainly true that most of those objects or ideas or practices which we call symbols have at least two and most of them many meanings.
As a rule only one - and that the simplest-- is described in the ritual. The rest, the individual brother is supposed to hunt out for himself.
A large book would be required to list all Masonic symbols and even suggest the several meanings of each. All that may be attempted here is a suggestion of the "symbol behind the symbol" in a few of Masonry's pictures. The word "pictures" here refers to the oft quoted definition of Masonry. "A beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols".
The symbol, then, is a picture. But it is not a mirror, which shows only what stands before it. It is an illustration which has more than one meaning.
The first, and among the most impressive symbols of Masonry to confront the candidate, to most initiates, is the apron. The candidate is told that it is "an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason".
What is "innocence", as the word here is used? Surely not ignorance! The lamb, the baby, the lily are "innocent", in the sense that they know nothing, especially nothing of evil. but a man grown - and no male less than a man grown may be a Mason - must know evil to distinguish the good.
Therefore, "innocence", as taught by the apron must be other than ignorance.
Originally, the Masonic apron was a skin, worn to protect both the clothing of the workman and the body beneath the clothing from injury, and perhaps to provide a pocket in which to carry tools.
The operative apron was not necessarily white. When it gave way to the smaller and "token" apron of lambskin (because that is a soft and pliable material), white, the color of "innocence", became associated with the apron., It is still associated, but the innocence is that of intent not to do evil, not of knowledge of evil. The Mason is "innocent" when his heart is gently towards weakness, chivalrous towards those dependent upon him, tolerate of his fellows' weaknesses, forgiving of his brethrens' mistakes.
Beneath this is the really great meaning of the apron; that of the dignity and worth of labor, the honor of being a workman, the glory of being a contributor to life and living. Perhaps this attitude toward labor and the laborer which in the early middle ages were considered mean and of no account, is Masonry's greatest contribution to a modern philosophy of life. That Mason who reads into his newly acquired lambskin the thought that it is a badge signifying that it is an honor to do constructive work, has hold of the symbol behind the symbol" of innocence and the real value of that which is "more ancient than the Golden Fleece".
In the Entered Apprentice Degree, an initiate learns the importance of the cornerstone, but so little stress is laid upon it ritualistically that many remain in ignorance of its principal significance - the "symbol behind the symbol" which is the necessity of sacrifice in any well ordered life.
The whole subject of cornerstones, cornerstone layings, cornerstone ceremonies, is bound up in the dreadful "foundation sacrifice" rites of the dark Ages when superstition ran rife and it was believed that buildings would fall if not protected by "good spirits" in the Other World. To provide these "good spirits", human beings were buried al
THE SHORT TALK BULLETIN
The Masonic Service Association of the United States
VOL. 32 JULY 1954 NO. 7