Images Of Mortality
Are an important part of our Ancient Craft
Images of mortality have always been an important part of Freemasonry. More subdued in American style Craft Masonry, and partly taken in by our Scottish and York Rites, but nevertheless these symbols and themes remain a part of our Blue Lodges.
This is because they are important symbols that serve to teach vitally important lessons. They remind us of how fleeting time truly is, that our own passing from this world is nigh, that what we do while we are on this earth is important and should make a positive impact on the lives around us.
In other places, other styles of Freemasonry are practiced. Styles of Craft Masonry in which these images of mortality play a much more prominent role.
Likewise, some of our Lodges and our Masons recognize the importance of these images and have sought to slowly reclaim for them prominence within our Lodges. Perhaps the most visible manifestation of these efforts is the construction and use of Chambers of Reflection within some Masonic Temples. In the Jurisdiction of Washington anyway, this is becoming more common with each passing year.
This is vitally important to the future of our Craft because today’s younger Masons have made it quite clear that they expect to receive esoteric Masonic education within their Lodge. These symbols, along with all other Masonic symbolism play a vital role in that education, for at its core Freemasonic knowledge is communicated through symbol and allegory.
Yet sometimes there is pushback against these images of mortality.
A ladies organization that utilizes our Temple for their own meetings might run across these images and misunderstand both them and their purpose. Masons who have not done the work required to learn about Freemasonry may do likewise. Complaints couched as concerns might be made.
Quite likely it was just this kind of thing that pushed images of mortality into a more subdued existence in our Craft Lodges long ago. This is probably the reason they retained their original prominence largely only in the Rites.
But giving in to complaints or concerns about the symbols, images, and lessons of Freemasonry, voiced by those who do not understand Freemasonry, and indeed are in most cases not even Freemasons is a profound error.
Freemasonry is the most noble, most sacred, organized body of men to have ever existed on the face of this earth. Freemasonry has vastly improved our world, and improved the lives of countless millions over the course of centuries.
“Attracted only by favorable report, teeming thousands, ignorant of its internal workings, continually seek admission ‘unsolicited by friends and unbiased by mercenary motives.’ Mighty Legions march forward under its banners, succoring the widow, the orphan and the destitute, practicing charity, loyal to country and worshiping God.”1
Freemasonry need not apologize for anything.
I would like to take a moment to say Thank You for your support of Emeth. Without you, it would not be possible.
If you enjoyed this essay, will you consider forwarding it along to your Masonic friends or sharing it on Social Media?
Official Ritual, MW York Grand Lodge of Mexico F&AM, MW Brother John I. Newell, 1930 AD.
What follows is just my opinion, I am not attempting to speak for anyone else. The Chamber of Reflection is, in my opinion, one of our most important elements and it is right and proper that we re-institute it, universally. The last century, or so, has seen a slow divorce of society from the spiritual, note I did not say religion. By spiritual, I mean a personal experience or relationship with the numinous. Prior to the modern world it seems human beings had a close relationship with the spiritual world that was at times very personal. Death, being in a sense our final initiation, was a portal to eternity, and as we passed that portal the sum total of our life’s actions crossed over with us, for some type of judgement, whether divine judgement or karmic balance. The COR is the Masonic recognition of that fact, and it brings into our consciousness this fact as a concrete reality. Any man who approaches the COR with zeal and discernment could expect to be affected.
We are initiates, and part of initiation is to gain access to symbols and rites that require preparation to integrate into our consciousness, in short to understand. Our symbols are NOT meant for non-initiates. Allowing non-initiates to affect our rites, symbols, and structures is to in effect to undo our initiation. We can’t be Initiates/Masons and limit ourselves to what the cowan world finds comfortable. What is called for is a Tyled Lodge. A locked door, only accessible to initiates.
Again, this is just my opinion.
Well said. A lot of people's misconceptions about such imagery stems right out of hollywood. In addition, symbols have been co-opted by other groups for their own purposes. The most famous example is the swastika, stolen by the Nazis for their own use. WW2 vets bought motorcycles and adopted the Iron Cross as a biker symbol, mainly for it's shock value. I could point to the OES inverted pentagram and note it's occult usage. The Church of Satan borrowed Baphomet as their symbol.
But all of that doesn't mean that a person's interpretation of a symbol is the correct one in it's context. The swastika isn't evil. The Iron Cross doesn't equal Nazism (the iron cross has been an award since 1865) anymore than the OES pentagram means devil worship.
In our country homes were built with parlors that not only were sitting rooms, but also where the recently deceased were displayed for three days before burial. Death was a normal part of life. But at some point, death became a taboo subject. Not only that, but confronting the fact that you will die triggers emotional defenses of denial. But it's something we all need to face. Thinking that life will go on forever also allows people to waste their life they have been given.
The brothers that have experienced the COR with one exception felt it was a transformative experience that placed them in the proper frame of mind for the degree they were about to go through. But, of course, ignorance and fear wins in the end.