Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Masonic incision

Lawrence monument with fallen obelisk
JAMES LAWRENCE
Born to spirit life
SEPT. 28, 1880.
AGED 88 YRS.
Sacred to the Memory of
SARAH. WIFE OF
JAMES LAWRENCE.
Who passed into spirit life.
AUG, 1842. AGED 52 YS.
There is no death.
The first photograph was taken on a sunny morning, the incisions on the pillar are not very distinct. The third photograph was taken on a misty, cloud filled morning, and rotated 90°. What one sees is an eye, with rays descending and a book and a square and compass superimposed. This is a masonic sign.

Now, first, masonic lore is open to interpretation. Accretions were made for many years (mostly during the 19th century), and were vague enough to both allow, and encourage different readings. And it is semi-philosophical fiction. Secondly, in part because the main ritual of freemasonry is a re-enactment of a resurrection of a fictive master mason, Hiram Abiff, it is considered a blasphemy to many Christians, and membership is not permitted for many Christians. When one finishes this third degree of masonry, he marks this as the date of his raising. Funeral orations, and references to death, and dying, are common speeches in meetings; and masonic burials have their own rituals. Masonic markings are found on many gravestones of Masons. Some are borrowings from Christianity, or Judaism, or other religious systems.

The square and compass are measurement tools of the trade for ancient stone masons. The book can be of belief, or knowledge. The eye (sun), may be a representation of the eye of Horus (Egyptian sky god), which also represented fractions the 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, and 1/64. Some masonic writers added elements to suggest affinity to Egyptian mystery religions. Rays of illumination emanate from the eye/sun. The eye may also be seen as the Eye of God, or the eye of Providence.

'...Spirit life' is a rare phrase. My understanding, is that this, is a 19th century 'spiritualist' phrase, and a rather rare one.
_____________
nota bene: there is some speculation in this essay

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