Epsilon Chai Iota TauEpsilon Chai Iota Tau

When When finished, finished, come this come this

way.way.

When When finished, finished, come this come this

way.way.

When When finished, finished, come this come this

way.way.

When When finished, finished, come this come this

way.way.

When When finished, finished, come this come this

way.way.

When When finished, finished, come this come this

way.way.

When When finished, finished, come this come this

way.way.

When When finished, finished, come this come this

way.way.

EXITEXIT

Masonry isMasonry isMasonry isMasonry isa beautiful system of morality,a beautiful system of morality,veiled in allegory veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. and illustrated by symbols.

Have you heard that before?Have you heard that before?

a beautiful system of morality,a beautiful system of morality,veiled in allegory veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. and illustrated by symbols.

Have you heard that before?Have you heard that before?

What is a symbol?What is a symbol?Main Entry: 1sym·bolPronunciation: 'sim-b&lFunction: nounEtymology: in sense 1, from Late Latin

symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, tokentoken, , signsign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of token of identityidentity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from synballein to throw.

Date: 15th century

• 1: an authoritative summary of faith or doctrine: CREED1: an authoritative summary of faith or doctrine: CREED• 2: something that stands for or suggests something 2: something that stands for or suggests something

else by reason of relationship, association, convention, else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance; especially: a visible sign of or accidental resemblance; especially: a visible sign of something invisible <the lion is a symbol of courage>something invisible <the lion is a symbol of courage>

• 3: an arbitrary or conventional sign used in writing or 3: an arbitrary or conventional sign used in writing or printing relating to a particular field to represent printing relating to a particular field to represent operations, quantities, elements, relations, or qualitiesoperations, quantities, elements, relations, or qualities

• 4: an object or act representing something in the 4: an object or act representing something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed <phallic unconscious mind that has been repressed <phallic symbols>symbols>

• 5: an act, sound, or object having cultural significance 5: an act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to excite or objectify a responseand the capacity to excite or objectify a response

What is a symbol?What is a symbol?

• 2: something that stands for or suggests 2: something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance; especially: a accidental resemblance; especially: a visible sign of something invisible <the visible sign of something invisible <the lion is a symbol of courage>lion is a symbol of courage>

• 5: an act, sound, or object having 5: an act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to cultural significance and the capacity to excite or objectify a responseexcite or objectify a response

What is a symbol?What is a symbol?

• Something that stands for something Something that stands for something elseelse

• Excites or inspiresExcites or inspires• DescriptionDescription• Something we all sense, that Something we all sense, that

reminds us of a moral principlereminds us of a moral principle

What is a symbol?What is a symbol?

Literal vs. SymbolicLiteral vs. Symbolic

• We pay respects to what the “G” We pay respects to what the “G” representsrepresents

• In ritual, it would make no difference In ritual, it would make no difference if it is “G” or notif it is “G” or not

• In law, it must be “G”In law, it must be “G”

GGGG

VoSLVoSL

• Candidate is obligated onCandidate is obligated on HISHIS Holy BookHoly Book• Ritual saysRitual says “The Holy Bible”“The Holy Bible”

Cherry TreeCherry Tree  • Fiction?Fiction?• Fact?Fact?

• Does it matter?Does it matter?

• Fiction?Fiction?• Fact?Fact?

• Does it matter?Does it matter?

Legend

• Hyram could have lived to old age.Hyram could have lived to old age.• No one killed in KST – would have been recordedNo one killed in KST – would have been recorded• No Cremation – no urn, no ashesNo Cremation – no urn, no ashes

• No one could have been buried near Temple,No one could have been buried near Temple, much less much less Sanctom SanctorumSanctom Sanctorum

Sharp distinction in ritualSharp distinction in ritual

• ““Sacred History”Sacred History”• ““Great Jewish Historian, Josephus”Great Jewish Historian, Josephus”

Probably factualProbably factual

• “ “Masonic Masonic Tradition”Tradition”

Undoubtedly Undoubtedly allegoryallegory

Personal meaningPersonal meaning• Vague, so individual can develop Vague, so individual can develop

individual interpretation and individual interpretation and application.application.

• ““It is not so important that we It is not so important that we agree on the answers. What is agree on the answers. What is important is that we agree on what important is that we agree on what questions need to be asked.”questions need to be asked.”

Masonry uses symbolsMasonry uses symbols

Rainbow

• Light wavesLight waves• CovenantCovenant• PromisePromise• BeautyBeauty• WealthWealth• ArtArt• SunshineSunshine

Red Light

•Do Not EnterDo Not Enter•Look this wayLook this way•StopStop•DangerDanger•For a good time…For a good time…•Horray!Horray!

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Operative, Operative, Speculative,Speculative, Applied    Applied    

•HistoryHistory•InterpretationInterpretation•ApplicationApplication

Veiled in Allegory and Illustrated by Veiled in Allegory and Illustrated by SymbolsSymbols

Blind men and the ElephantSix Men Of IndostanSix Men Of Indostan

Blind men and the ElephantSix Men Of IndostanSix Men Of Indostan

Blind men and the ElephantSix Men Of IndostanSix Men Of Indostan

Blind men and the ElephantSix Men Of IndostanSix Men Of Indostan

Blind men and the ElephantSix Men Of IndostanSix Men Of Indostan

Blind men and the ElephantSix Men Of IndostanSix Men Of Indostan

Blind men and the ElephantSix Men Of IndostanSix Men Of Indostan

Blind men and the ElephantSix Men Of IndostanSix Men Of Indostan

SymbolsSymbolsSymbolsSymbols

Eugene “Brother Gene” Goldman, p.m.Eugene “Brother Gene” Goldman, p.m.22Eugene “Brother Gene” Goldman, p.m.Eugene “Brother Gene” Goldman, p.m.22

• Officers Management Officers Management WorkshopsWorkshops

• Masonic Education Masonic Education Committee Committee

• Grand Lodge of Grand Lodge of CaliforniaCalifornia