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How Gettysburg Cemetery Surveyed Using Hidden Freemasonic Imagery

by

Robert Kerson 6/9/2015

The Solders National Cemetery was designed after the battle of Gettysburg during the

American Civil War by William Saunders adjacent to the towns older civilian Evergreen

Cemetery. I will show how the boundary lines of this civilian cemetery, its gatehouse and the

two existing roads on either side of the available land for laying out the federal cemetery, was

all that was needed to lay out the design on the 1863 William Saunders drawing using the

compass and square on a paper scaled drawing of the site, and some simple tools such as a

cord with posts to match the compass and a square making tool to lay out the site on the

ground. Also, in this peaceful old cemetery are hidden images of a compass and square which is

an iconic image of the Freemasons. ( A photograph taken from an airplane over the site agrees

with the Saunders drawing.)

These hidden images have not been documented until the writing of this paper. Unlike

supposed hidden alignments in the city of Washington D.C. which can be created from

hundreds (or thousands) of points of major buildings and streets, these hidden alignments

require only five points. Also, a visual alignment of the central monument is seen through the

archway of the adjacent civilian cemetery gateway, and major features of the cemetery may

have been laid out or located by these hidden alignments.

This hidden twenty degree open compass above a right angle square (see. Fig. 2) includes the

elements of a central monument (see Fig. 3) inside a visible compass arc of graves, an iron

fence line between the civilian and federal cemeteries, an alignment with the original civilian

gatehouse, the iron fence and gate into the federal cemetery.

This cemetery must have had freemason connections with its original designer. This design

utilized major elements of the original site.

First I shall give a description of the site. The Gettysburg National Cemetery like civilian

Evergreen Cemetery, occupies the area between Baltimore Turnpike and Taney town Road.

The fence line separating the two cemeteries, changes direction at the preexisting boundary

line of the Everygreen Cemetery. The focal point of the federal cemetery is a number of grave

rows divided by states and a section of unknowns laid out in a semicircle, the center point of

which is occupied by a tall monument. A walkway runs between the old fence line and the

semicircle. There are two areas having curving paths to fill in the remaining area of the federal

cemetery. There was only one gateway into the cemetery which is on the Baltimore Turnpike.

The size of the semicircle was fixed by the location of the bend in the Evergreen Cemetery

fence lines. One end of the curving semicircle reaches the fence a short distance from the bend

(point B). A line from the point marking the end of the last row of graves is in a straight line to

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the bend in the fence (B). [The distance from (B) to the point on the fence at right angles with

the center of the semicircle (X), is marked point (Z)].

The center of the semicircle appears to have been found by the alignment of this point (X)

with a right angle line to the Baltimore Turnpike at point( P) surveyed from a wall of the

Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse. One could see the tall monument at (X), If the area were free

of trees. This placement of the center at (X), allowed for a perfect semicircle, with adjacent

path, and landscaping space to be fitted into the available area between the two existing roads.

The Evergreen Cemetery has a gatehouse building at right angles to the Baltimore Turnpike.

This gatehouse was existing at the time of the battle and thus was an existing feature before

the federal cemetery was laid out.

The line (X) to (P) crosses the fence (Z) to (Z) to (B) at point (O). The ratio of the two

segments at point (O) of line (X) to (P) is close to 1.6. This is the same ratio as the numbers 8 to

5. I have discovered a triangle of 8:8:5 was used in the design of the Jerusalem temple on the

temple mount, and at other sites such as at the cave of Machpela ,the Dome of the Rock

building, the Israelite temple at Tel Arad and a number of other sites in the middle east. (see

end of paper for details.) The angle (POZ) is close to 20 making this an approximate 20,70,90

degree right triangle. A 20 angle can make an 18 sided polygon.

If the distance O to P were extended a right angle along the road the same distance, you

would arrive at point (R ). [(O) to (P) = (P) to (R)]. Here the original gate way into the federal

cemetery was constructed. A line from (X) to (R ) passes through a very tall later addition

monument, and it defines very closely the spacing between the unknown grave rows and the

known state grave rows in the radiating semicircle of rows.

This triangle whose angle (PXR) is exactly 30 making this an exact 30.60,90 degree right

triangle. This fact alone shows this survey was done deliberately.

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Fig. 1.

B bend at boundary fence line with civilian cemetery.

B A terminus of semicircle at boundary fence line.

Xcenter of semicircle.

R-- 60 angle at Baltimore Turnpike.

ZTerminus of fence at Baltimore Turnpike.

ZPoint along fence at right angles point (X) .

Z-- inner radius around (X).

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Z Point along line [(P) to (s)].

Z-- Point on boundary fence line.

PRight angle from Baltimore Turnpike and right tower of civilian Gatehouse.

OIntersection of fence with line passing through gatehouse.

-- 20 angle. -- 30 angle.

(AApproximate Lincoln Address site. Not part of any masonic cemetery measurements.)

This is http://Hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/files/images/HD_SoldiersCemeteryGettysbu.preview.jpg

Now I shall discribe the hidden compass and square.

Fig. 2.

The Gatehouse photographed after the battle. It must have looked similarly without todays

additions when the federal cemetery was being designed. The center of the semicircle was surveyed

as a point along a right angle line running along side the right hand tower of the gatehouse and the

road in the fore front of this building. Old Gatehouse photograph. Images Wikipedia.

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Fig. 3.

A view of the Point (x) with its tall monument at the center of the semicircle.

Center monument National Cemetery. Images Wikipedia.

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Fig. 4. Top image is the Iconic Freemasonic design of compass over a square with an

additional 20 line added. Bottom image is of a hidden compass over a square from survey

described in this paper and seen in Fig. 1. Note the bottom image makes compass and

square sharing one line in common, which is not the case in the upper image.

Presumed Method For Laying Out The Cemetery

The following is what I presume was the method used to lay out the federal cemetery using

compass and a square on a scaled map of the site, and cords and a square to transfer the

drawing to the actual site.

The key starting location from which this design was worked out was the preexisting

Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse. This gatehouse, and the two boundary lines of the preexisting

civilian cemetery also was utilized. The design needed a compass and a square, but also the

actual design of a compass and square was hidden in the federal cemetery.

One thinks this cemetery was a simple undertaking of using a chain and a stake, but not so.

This was designed by brilliant master freemason(s) . The designer needed first only the

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preexisting gatehouse, the boundary lines between the two cemeteries which could have had a

fence erected at a later time, and the boundary lines of the two roads defined the limits of the

cemetery.

The newer annex section of the federal cemetery does not show any sign of being laid out by

the method disrobed in the paper. The annex appears to have been worked out paying homage

to the older original, and being an extension onto one original side.

The original cemetery puts the central monument at the central point of the semicircle

which connects the graves with the monument. This center point (X) is a major survey point, as

you can see from reading this paper. The annex cemetery does not put the central monument

at the central point of the semicircle which show a lack of knowledge concerning the original

cemeteries hidden design.

Although the federal gate may have been an early survey point, I assume the semicircle was

worked out first since it was the most important item to be laid out. (See Fig. 1 for the

following) The order was thus:

1. A line from the right tower of the gatehouse drawn at right angles to the Baltimore Turnpike

was first laid out to terminate at the Tawny Town Road [line (P) to (S)].

2. The right angle line drawn along the Baltimore Turnpike was drawn and terminated at the

boundary fence line of the civilian cemetery. [(P) to (Z)]. The triangle POZ made a 20 angle at

(O). This angle is labeled The lines [(P) to (O)] and [(O) to (Z)] make the design of a compass. 3. The compass (or cord) was set to the distance determined in step 2 and arced along the line

(P) to (S) until this arc reached the boundary fence line of the civilian cemetery. [ (Z) to ( Z)].

4. The radius of the line in step 3 set back along the line [(P) to (S)] determined point (X), the

center of the semicircle. Also, the same distance in steps 2 and 3 from point (B) would reach

point (Z).

5. One side of the outer edge of the semicircle was fixed so that the radius of the outermost

row graves would reach the fence very close to the bend in the fence Point (B). A straight line

from the outermost row of graves would reach the fence exactly at the bend in the fence Point

(B).

6. The line from [(P) to (S)] intersected the civilian boundary line at point (O). This distance from

[(P) to (O) was set on a compass (or cord), this same distance measured along the right angle

line along Baltimore Turnpike to reach point (R). This point located the original gate into the

federal cemetery. This was a 30, 60, 90 triangle. The 30 angle is labeled 60 equilateral triangle has freemasonic associations. Another compass created. The right angle of

equal sides [(X) to (P) to ( R) ] created a square associated with and drawn under the compass is

a major free masonic design hidden in this laying out of this cemetery. You can see this

compass and square in the top design of Fig. 4 with the addition of the 20 line. The design is

the bottom design of Fig. 4.

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The line [(X) to ( R )] is extremely close to laying out the path separating section 1 (unknown)

from 2 (Illinois), and section 14 (unknown) from 15 (Maine). This line also made one of two

innermost diagonal lines radiating from the center point (X).

7. The distance [(X) to (O)] laid out from point (S) reached point (T). This fixed the outer ring of

graves labeled 14 through 22. The path between sections 3 (Wet Virginia) and 4 (Delaware) is in

line with the north- south arrow of Fig. 5. Which shows the path is aligned to either magnetic or

true north

8. The remaining distance from [(T) to (Z)] fixed the inner ring of graves labeled 1 through 13.

(See Fig. 5. ) The path between sections 16 (Michigan) and 17 (New York) is in line with the

north- south arrow of Fig. 5. Which shows the path is aligned to either magnetic or true north

A compass or a cord of distance [(B to (K) ] where (K) is the point where the opposite arc of

the outer grave row reaches the boundary fence line, reached the Taney Town Road (F). A line

was established at terminating at a right angle on the Baltimore Turnpike (H). This completed

one part of the cemetery area whose boundary was the line [(B) to (F)].

9. The other section was laid out by a line from (B) laid out along the boundary line of the fence

set on a compass or a cord of distance [(X) to (R )], reaching point (W). Line - [B) to (W)].

10. A right angle was then set from point (W) to the Taney Town Road, terminating at point (V).

Line- [(W) to (V)]. This finished the surveying of the cemetery area.

11. Details such as symmetrical paths, monuments, plantings would then have been laid out

within the outer boundary lines.

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Fig. 5. Map of The Grounds and design for the interment The Solderss National Cemetery.

Gettysburg, PA. By William Saunders. 1863.

WRight angle of federal cemetery at boundary fence line with civilian cemetery.

V Right angle of federal cemetery at Tawny Town Road.

B bend at boundary fence line with civilian cemetery.

B A terminus of semicircle at boundary fence line.

KA terminus of semicircle at boundary fence line.

FBend in wall at Tawny Town Road.

HRight angle at Baltimore Turnpike.

R-- 60 angle at Baltimore Turnpike.

Xcenter of semicircle.

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Considerations On The Design

This cemetery appears to have been designed as a semicircle of graves around a central

monument, with a pathway running between the civilian cemetery and the semicircle on one

side, and another curving pathway at the outer perimeter of the semicircle.

Center of the semicircle with its central monument, appears to be close to where this federal

cemetery was first dedicated by President Abraham Lincoln standing on a platform within the

civilian cemetery grounds (see note below.). Remembrance of this dedication site, may have

influenced the idea for utilizing a semicircle of grave rows. Also such a semicircle would have

been a very logical arrangement for graves in state sections.

Someone while touring the site, must have been made aware of the location of the civilian

cemetery boundary lines. A fence need not have been erected on these lines, only the

surveyed locations had to be known. What must have really been noticeable was, the large

gatehouse standing with a few broken windows but otherwise intact , overlooking a road and

what was a major recent battlefield of death and destruction. Except for a crude buildings

nearby, the site did not even have a fence which may or may not have existed, or if it did exist,

then it had been destroyed in the battle. (See Fig. 2)

This singular gateway building having connotations of traveling from the house of the living

into the house of the dead, must have been attractive to someone touring the site, and made a

most important observation: that when he stood at right angles with the road, and looked

along a wall by the center of the gatehouse, he would be facing the perfect spot to construct

the center of the semicircle.

From this observation, all 12 steps could have been worked out. If these 11 steps were not

unitized, then how does one explain it being possible to lay out the design every wall and

feature of this cemetery without missing a single step?

The site was divided into two irregular trapezoids- the dividing line being from the bend in

the fence between the two cemeteries extending to the bend in the fence at the Tawny Town

Road [see fig. 5. Line (B) to (F)].

The semicircle appears to have been divided by state sections with three unknown sections

with the largest sections assigned to the states of New York and Pennsylvania. The fact that

some section lines were placed to follow surveyed lines, either questions this or else modifies

this assumption. We have seen that the dividing line of sections 2 and 3 and also sections 14

and 15 was on the line [(X)to ( R )] means these sections may not be determined by the number

of corpses, but by the geometry of the design. Also, the sections divided by the compass

orientation yields the same conclusion. Other section paths may be similarly worked out; the

most telling being the section line dividing the semicircle into exactly two halves at right angles

to the boundary fence. This line separates sections, 7 (Vermont) and 8 (New Jersey) and also 17

(New York) and 18 (Pennsylvania), the latter two being the largest of the sections. It is highly

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unlikely that the number of dead would fit the semicircle making a right angle and divide the

semicircle exactly in half.

Note:

Circle marked A in Fig. 1 is at or very near the spot where Abraham Lincoln give the

Gettysburg Address within the Evergreen Cemetery grounds. This was determined by

photographic evidence reconstructing the photographers location, the speakers platform,

and the relative angle and height of the gatehouse in old photographs.

Below is a Google Earth pro map of the cemetery with a few lines overlaying the jpg image.

Figs. 1,5 are taken from the original Saunders map. Any variation seen in Google Earth can be

because of changes made on the ground when the cemetery was actually being laid out, or over

the many years since the cemetery was first laid out, or do to errors in the transferring of the

design onto the ground, or do to distortions in the rectification of the image. This image does

not appear to have significant errors from the original maps.

Fig. 6.

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The central monument rests on a square base having two sides parallel to the boundary

fence line, and two sides at right angles to this fence. A stature at the top of the monument

faces the center line of the semicircle, hence, most people walk along the path behind the

monument. The monument is an octagon having four statures facing the corners of the

square. One statue faces the compass line [(X) to (P) ]. This line passes very close to a

corner of the square, but not through it since the size of the square base would have to be

made smaller. The square line [( X) to (R )] passes through the center of the base side ( the

NE side) leading to the octagon having no statue. Cornerstones seem to be laid on the NE

side of masonic structures, so very likely, the cornerstone may have been located here. This

is similar to what I have found in the Temple of Jerusalem, which you may read in my other

papers.

There are no Christian, but only pagan imageries at this cemetery.

You may read my detailed papers on the internet through my blog

1ofkersondiscoveries.wordpress.com or at academia.edu.