Just an opinion, but when I see the "point within the circle" depicted, it usually comes with the Saints John on either side, acting like guard posts. Point within the circle is all about circumscribing one's desires and so forth, and the Saints John prevent getting too far outside of the circle. So in the past I've taken this (the lodge) to be a metaphorical reference to the circle, or the point within the circle. When this phrase is used, the very next response about what you're here to do reinforces this for me.
Well, any mention of trying to connect the St Johns to masonry is dubious at best. No one challenges the line in the EA lecture about how they were "eminent patrons of masonry" because, well, they weren't. The wonderful thing about symbols (and that's all they are, symbols) is that their interpretation can be "fitted for the builders use". In addition, having their celebrations on pagan holidays allows their symbolism to extend further. Summer and Winter, Life and Death, Conviction and Compassion, etc.
UK lodges would dedicate their temples to various Saints, including the two Johns (most commonly) and extending this practice into speculative masonry is a natural progression. Tying it to a place like Jerusalem simply draws it to one of the most ancient cities in the world that connects the three major religions (Jew, Islam and Christianity).
So, the big question is, why? Why is the words "from a lodge of the holy Saints John at Jerusalem" used as an answer? I think it's simply that we are Masons (lodge) that are bound by Christian values (Saints John) yet respect all religions (as known at that time in Europe) that reference a supreme being. I think it's nothing more than that.
The Grand Lodge of England was formed on June 24, 1717, on the feast day of St. John the Baptist which corresponds closely with the summer solstice and ancient celebrations marking the longest day of the year. It is most fitting to begin a light-seeking Grand Lodge during one of the longest days of light. The observance of the feast of St John the Evangelist is held on December 27th just after the winter solstice. This is the time that the world begins moving from darkness to greater light, and it became one of the more important days in the Masonic calendar.
St. John the Baptist is said to be from the Holy Bloodline from Seth, and cousin of Jesus. The Book of Luke states John is the greatest of men born from a woman. John the Baptist is seen as the forerunner of Christ and John the Evangelist as the inner order, pertaining to the Christ consciousness. Together, they can represent the inner and outer teaching or the pillars on the Tree of Life. The Holy Saints John are metaphoric pillars of our Lodge, for Saint John the Baptist is implied as the pillar beneath the earth and Saint John the Evangelist as the pillar beneath the heavens. St. John the Baptist and the Evangelist are Mason’s own patron Saints, history and legacy. Masons, in some instances were referred to as St. John’s Men, as a guide to personal transformation. Side note: This Rite of baptism passage has been written in a Book titled: The Book of Jue (a.k.a the Bruce Codex, 1769), that has been given and handed down by a Scottish Mason, James “the traveler”. Other recovered Books by James Bruce include “The Book of Enoch” and the “Kebra Nagast” (the Glory of Kings). Initiated candidates in this ceremonial Rite of repentance and water baptism, was used by the Essenes and Gnostics. It has been inferred that the St. Johns, launched a covert spiritual operation to overcome corruption in the Temple of Jerusalem.
The Temple of Jerusalem:
In 1772 Jean-Baptiste Willermoz, a Mason and who also created the chapter of the Black Eagle Rose-Croix, came into contact with the German Masonic Order "The Strict Observance Templar Rite" (SOT) of Baron von Hund. In 1773, at the request of Willermoz, he was given the permission to create the "Ordre Ecossais des Chevaliers du Saint Temple de Jérusalem" (Scottish Order of the Knights of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem).
From a German Christian esoteric order called the fraternity of the Rose Cross, an illustration was made in “The Mirror of Wisdom of the Rosicrucians” book (1618) of the ‘New Temple’. In this book, the author re-minds the truth seekers that the Temple and its mystical brethren are ever near unto the wise man, who discovers them only by perceiving inwardly the mysteries of the spirit. The Temple is on wheels to signify that it can go to any place, and it is suspended from Heaven by a rope because it is moved by the Will of God. The rose is over one of its windows and the cross is over the other (representing an astrological alignment called the Fiery Trigon: with the supernova of 1604 on the heel of the serpent bearer (Ophiuchus), opposing the Northern Cross (Cygnus)). With this preamble, the author then proceeds to explain that the Invisible College of the Fraternity is no place but is everywhere; that all men have seen it but have not recognized it; and that it is to be truly discovered only by those of pure heart and upright life, who have meditated deeply upon the mysteries of God and Spirit. The first Temple of Eden was the original Holy Temple, then represented through King Solomon’s Temple. These Temples of God are not just a physical building, nor is Eden or Jerusalem just a place on the Earth, but a state of consciousness; an inward realization. He who attains to this realization enters the holy place which is guarded from the profane by the keepers of the gate, the testers or initiators.
One of the oldest surviving manuscripts of Scottish Rite Freemasonry; the Francken Manuscript of 1783 (The Rite of Perfection): “The hanging in the lodge room are blue, spread with golden stars. The Master and all the brothers wear a white robe as well as a blue headband with twelve golden stars on it, tied around their foreheads. The Master sits under a blue canopy on a throne, behind which a transparent light that is sufficient to illuminate the whole lodge. Facing is a painting or image of a square city, or the celestial Jerusalem, descending from heaven, to crush the remains of the present Jerusalem. A serpent or hydra with three heads representing the badness of the infidels remain there. This Celestial Jerusalem, elevated as on a cloud, has twelve gates, three on each side with a tree in the middle that bears twelve different 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 towards which the candidate (for initiation) is directed by the warden (the guide), who then retreats backwards, and after a moment of silence, the candidate takes three steps toward the three headed Serpent and steps on each of the heads. He then advances in a certain way toward the city and receives the secret sign, token, and password of the degree. He is also given a crimson sash with twelve golden stars on which hang a square jewel of gold from the right shoulder to the left hip, on one side the letter Alpha and the other Omega.”
Just an opinion, but when I see the "point within the circle" depicted, it usually comes with the Saints John on either side, acting like guard posts. Point within the circle is all about circumscribing one's desires and so forth, and the Saints John prevent getting too far outside of the circle. So in the past I've taken this (the lodge) to be a metaphorical reference to the circle, or the point within the circle. When this phrase is used, the very next response about what you're here to do reinforces this for me.
But there are lots of different takes that also connect these two people back to early history and origins of the church. I thought this was pretty good: http://www.skirret.com/archive/new_age/symbolism_of_the_holy_saints_john_at_jerusalem.html
Well, any mention of trying to connect the St Johns to masonry is dubious at best. No one challenges the line in the EA lecture about how they were "eminent patrons of masonry" because, well, they weren't. The wonderful thing about symbols (and that's all they are, symbols) is that their interpretation can be "fitted for the builders use". In addition, having their celebrations on pagan holidays allows their symbolism to extend further. Summer and Winter, Life and Death, Conviction and Compassion, etc.
UK lodges would dedicate their temples to various Saints, including the two Johns (most commonly) and extending this practice into speculative masonry is a natural progression. Tying it to a place like Jerusalem simply draws it to one of the most ancient cities in the world that connects the three major religions (Jew, Islam and Christianity).
So, the big question is, why? Why is the words "from a lodge of the holy Saints John at Jerusalem" used as an answer? I think it's simply that we are Masons (lodge) that are bound by Christian values (Saints John) yet respect all religions (as known at that time in Europe) that reference a supreme being. I think it's nothing more than that.
The Holy Saints John:
The Grand Lodge of England was formed on June 24, 1717, on the feast day of St. John the Baptist which corresponds closely with the summer solstice and ancient celebrations marking the longest day of the year. It is most fitting to begin a light-seeking Grand Lodge during one of the longest days of light. The observance of the feast of St John the Evangelist is held on December 27th just after the winter solstice. This is the time that the world begins moving from darkness to greater light, and it became one of the more important days in the Masonic calendar.
St. John the Baptist is said to be from the Holy Bloodline from Seth, and cousin of Jesus. The Book of Luke states John is the greatest of men born from a woman. John the Baptist is seen as the forerunner of Christ and John the Evangelist as the inner order, pertaining to the Christ consciousness. Together, they can represent the inner and outer teaching or the pillars on the Tree of Life. The Holy Saints John are metaphoric pillars of our Lodge, for Saint John the Baptist is implied as the pillar beneath the earth and Saint John the Evangelist as the pillar beneath the heavens. St. John the Baptist and the Evangelist are Mason’s own patron Saints, history and legacy. Masons, in some instances were referred to as St. John’s Men, as a guide to personal transformation. Side note: This Rite of baptism passage has been written in a Book titled: The Book of Jue (a.k.a the Bruce Codex, 1769), that has been given and handed down by a Scottish Mason, James “the traveler”. Other recovered Books by James Bruce include “The Book of Enoch” and the “Kebra Nagast” (the Glory of Kings). Initiated candidates in this ceremonial Rite of repentance and water baptism, was used by the Essenes and Gnostics. It has been inferred that the St. Johns, launched a covert spiritual operation to overcome corruption in the Temple of Jerusalem.
The Temple of Jerusalem:
In 1772 Jean-Baptiste Willermoz, a Mason and who also created the chapter of the Black Eagle Rose-Croix, came into contact with the German Masonic Order "The Strict Observance Templar Rite" (SOT) of Baron von Hund. In 1773, at the request of Willermoz, he was given the permission to create the "Ordre Ecossais des Chevaliers du Saint Temple de Jérusalem" (Scottish Order of the Knights of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem).
From a German Christian esoteric order called the fraternity of the Rose Cross, an illustration was made in “The Mirror of Wisdom of the Rosicrucians” book (1618) of the ‘New Temple’. In this book, the author re-minds the truth seekers that the Temple and its mystical brethren are ever near unto the wise man, who discovers them only by perceiving inwardly the mysteries of the spirit. The Temple is on wheels to signify that it can go to any place, and it is suspended from Heaven by a rope because it is moved by the Will of God. The rose is over one of its windows and the cross is over the other (representing an astrological alignment called the Fiery Trigon: with the supernova of 1604 on the heel of the serpent bearer (Ophiuchus), opposing the Northern Cross (Cygnus)). With this preamble, the author then proceeds to explain that the Invisible College of the Fraternity is no place but is everywhere; that all men have seen it but have not recognized it; and that it is to be truly discovered only by those of pure heart and upright life, who have meditated deeply upon the mysteries of God and Spirit. The first Temple of Eden was the original Holy Temple, then represented through King Solomon’s Temple. These Temples of God are not just a physical building, nor is Eden or Jerusalem just a place on the Earth, but a state of consciousness; an inward realization. He who attains to this realization enters the holy place which is guarded from the profane by the keepers of the gate, the testers or initiators.
One of the oldest surviving manuscripts of Scottish Rite Freemasonry; the Francken Manuscript of 1783 (The Rite of Perfection): “The hanging in the lodge room are blue, spread with golden stars. The Master and all the brothers wear a white robe as well as a blue headband with twelve golden stars on it, tied around their foreheads. The Master sits under a blue canopy on a throne, behind which a transparent light that is sufficient to illuminate the whole lodge. Facing is a painting or image of a square city, or the celestial Jerusalem, descending from heaven, to crush the remains of the present Jerusalem. A serpent or hydra with three heads representing the badness of the infidels remain there. This Celestial Jerusalem, elevated as on a cloud, has twelve gates, three on each side with a tree in the middle that bears twelve different 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 towards which the candidate (for initiation) is directed by the warden (the guide), who then retreats backwards, and after a moment of silence, the candidate takes three steps toward the three headed Serpent and steps on each of the heads. He then advances in a certain way toward the city and receives the secret sign, token, and password of the degree. He is also given a crimson sash with twelve golden stars on which hang a square jewel of gold from the right shoulder to the left hip, on one side the letter Alpha and the other Omega.”