BEAVER LODGE 885 GC
BACKGROUND AND LODGE JEWEL HISTORY
When the founders of Beaver Lodge decided what the lodge crest should look like they chose a combination of Masonic and non-Masonic symbols.
The colour 'silver' represents the night and the moon, which is often depicted on the tracing boards in German speaking lodges. Silver is regarded as female and also stands for our close link to the rhythm of nature and the changing and bearing life.
Since 1745 blue is the main colour in Craft masonry. It is the colour of immortality, eternity fidelity and chastity. As WBro Mendoza explains that pale blue in particular represents prudence and goodness and is an emblem of brotherhood and friendship. We find the blue in aprons, officer’s collars, ribbons for jewels. Many lodge rooms are painted in blue including the ceiling which might then also show little silver stars. According to WBro Mendoza, the dark blue, which is not used in German speaking Craft masonry, is derived from the colour of the ribbon of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
For the Egyptians blue was a symbol of immortality, too. In the Jewish world blue was the colour of God and all holy vessels etc. were wrapped up in blue fabric. For Christians it is most important as well. In the beginning it was regarded as the colour of Jesus to become the colour of God Father and Son in the 9th century. Maria is often depicted with a dark blue coat standing on a silver crescent moon.
No doubt the maple-leaf, forming the centre piece of the Canadian national flag. had been taken always to remind us of our roots. Whether the Beaver had been placed in the centre for the same reason or purely to depict the name of the lodge I'm not sure.
One might even think the name "Beaver Lodge" had been chosen not only because this animal is an 'architect' and builder but also because it is the only one which can improve its environment and living conditions according to its needs by its building activities and actually does so.
Square and compasses have their peculiar significance and meaning for each and every mason all over the world and are therefore appropriate parts of the lodge crest. Being also shown in public, e.g. on rings, lapel pins etc. or to mark Masonic halls, they are known as Masonic to most of the people who have no actual link to masonry, too.
The six-pointed star or hexagram being the main feature of our jewel and enclosing all the aforementioned symbols especially merits our attention as it is a symbol with Masonic and non-Masonic meaning alike.
Masonic aspects:
The hexagram has been and is still used in various degrees - German-speaking lodges at least in the 3rd degree, as well as in RA, as the RA-Jewel shows. Sometimes it is also depicted as a 'Blazing Star', i.e. with flames or rays in its angles. The letter 'G' is often found in the centre and can have various meanings depending on the Masonic system and degree in which it is shown. In some old ones we find the Hebrew character 'Yod', which is the initial of the name of God, or a point right in the centre.
According to the Masonic authors Lemihoff and Posner the hexagram is supposed to be a relict of the 'alchemical period' of freemasonry. A number of alchemical symbols were introduced to some Masonic systems in the early days and some are still in use in certain degrees (triangle of water + triangle of fire).
In alt forms it represents transcendence or Deity. It may also be regarded as a symbol for the divine will (triangle, point downwards) and human efforts (triangle, point upwards). Sometimes another polarity is seen by referring to the unification of the male and female principle.
To mention the whole lot of Masonic meanings and interpretations, based e.g. on the six points or on polar figures, and to go into to many a detail might be regarded as violations of the respective obligation. Therefore the rest of the text will refer to the 'profane history and development of this symbol.
The Jewish historian Josephus Flavius (37 - 100 AD.) also mentions this ring and its use. He refers to reports about Solomon the Magician, written during the Greek- Roman period and based on the proverbial wisdom of King Solomon (1 Ku. 3. 12).
On the wall of a synagogue at Capernaum the hexagram appears for the first time within Jewry (2ndor3ai century).
According to a coin (AD. 132) it adorned the Main Gate of the temple at Jerusalem.
In a -scripture written in the 13th century the name 'Magen David' = David's Shield
was mentioned for the first time to mark the hexagram .
It has been found e.g. on magic bowls made in the 2nd or 31d century and used to
protect an unborn child. It was also use4on various kinds of amulets w1 were at lead
tolerated by the rabbis, esp. in the Middle Ages, although amulets originated from the
Jewish world. (However the Prophet Isaiah mentions that esp. women and children were wearing amulets and other signs to protect themselves.) On such Jewish amulets the hexagram often was formed of or combined with the various names of God and the names of angels.
From the end of antiquity till the middle of the. 16111 century the hexagram was regarded as a symbol to protect the mystics on their way through the planetary spheres towards heaven.
Since that time it is also an ornament in Bible manuscripts like the Pentateuch written by Samuel Ben Jacob in Egypt about 1009 or In a German one by Solomon ha-Cohen. dated 1295
Some historians regard the hexagram purely as an ornament in all these manuscripts while others say it must have been used as a specific Jewish symbol, too, loosing more and more of its magic meaning.
Since the 18tb century it becomes mate and more popular to use it as a symbol and ornament when building synagogue, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Then is also the beginning of using the hexagram to embellish ritualistic objects. - The non Jewish world:
In antiquity it is a symbol known and used by various other nations than the Jewish. Again it appears as a magic symbol to protect against demons but also as an ornament in scriptures.
Especially Islamic artists used and still use. it a lot in books as welt as in architecture and on all kinds of objects for various purposes.
Obviously from these sources the hexagram found Its way into European or Christian books. Eg; as an ornament in Bides but also as a magic symbol especially since alchemy became a subject of interest many people; not only scientists. (A great deal of alchemic knowledge was based on -and derived from Islamic or Arab sources.) - The political meaning.
We all know the hexagram as a political symbol being the centre piece of the national flag of Israel.
During the 19th Century. The period of political and social emancipation - the hexagram did not loose its religious meaning, but a growing number of Jews and Jewish communities understood it as an emancipating symbol too. So the Zionistic Movement made it its symbol of hope and fight when the 1st congress took place in Basel in 1897 and finally its official emblem in 1933.
Consequently it was proclaimed as the Jewish National Symbol when the new state was formed in 1948.
Long before that it had the same emancipating meaning at least for a while, when about 1350 - the Emperor Karl IV granted the privilege that the Jews in Prague should' have a red flag with a golden hexagram.
In Vienna some three hundred years later it is engraved on a boundary stone together with a Christian cross to mark the boundary between the Jewish and the Christian quarter. Since then it could also be found in many other places be it on buildings, engraved in seals etc.
We must not forget the darkest chapter in the history of the hexagram or Star of David - its misuse during the Third Reich to brand Jews as being subhuman creatures and anything Jewish as inferior. (To make it more effective the National Socialists combined it with the colour yellow, which used to be the colour to mark criminals, prostitutes (and Jews) during the Middle Ages; in the Western world certain shades of this colour are associated with negative aspects in general - in American English "yellow" is used as a synonym for ' cowardly. For the same purpose and to mock the Jews the characters of the word "Jude" (_ Jew) in its centre had been shaped to look like Hebrew characters.)
In 1962 the Reverend William Sargent founded an association named The Yellow Star'. The name was chosen to remind people of this misuse the aim of this organization being to fight against racism and 'Neo Fascim'.
To round this off I'd like to mention two more items -
From about 1400 onwards we find the hexagram as an emblem of brewers and wine¬growers especially in the Southern parts of Germany. It was and sometimes still is used as a pub sign or part of it. In these cases it has no link to Jewry at all.
The hexagram or Magen David is also the emblem of the Magen David Adorn the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross. In contrast to the Red Crescent Moon of the Islamic countries it is not recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross as an emblem to distinguish e.g. medical personal within the forces or hospitals etc. in wartime
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The colour 'silver' represents the night and the moon, which is often depicted on the tracing boards in German speaking lodges. Silver is regarded as female and also stands for our close link to the rhythm of nature and the changing and bearing life.
Since 1745 blue is the main colour in Craft masonry. It is the colour of immortality, eternity fidelity and chastity. As WBro Mendoza explains that pale blue in particular represents prudence and goodness and is an emblem of brotherhood and friendship. We find the blue in aprons, officer’s collars, ribbons for jewels. Many lodge rooms are painted in blue including the ceiling which might then also show little silver stars. According to WBro Mendoza, the dark blue, which is not used in German speaking Craft masonry, is derived from the colour of the ribbon of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
For the Egyptians blue was a symbol of immortality, too. In the Jewish world blue was the colour of God and all holy vessels etc. were wrapped up in blue fabric. For Christians it is most important as well. In the beginning it was regarded as the colour of Jesus to become the colour of God Father and Son in the 9th century. Maria is often depicted with a dark blue coat standing on a silver crescent moon.
No doubt the maple-leaf, forming the centre piece of the Canadian national flag. had been taken always to remind us of our roots. Whether the Beaver had been placed in the centre for the same reason or purely to depict the name of the lodge I'm not sure.
One might even think the name "Beaver Lodge" had been chosen not only because this animal is an 'architect' and builder but also because it is the only one which can improve its environment and living conditions according to its needs by its building activities and actually does so.
Square and compasses have their peculiar significance and meaning for each and every mason all over the world and are therefore appropriate parts of the lodge crest. Being also shown in public, e.g. on rings, lapel pins etc. or to mark Masonic halls, they are known as Masonic to most of the people who have no actual link to masonry, too.
The six-pointed star or hexagram being the main feature of our jewel and enclosing all the aforementioned symbols especially merits our attention as it is a symbol with Masonic and non-Masonic meaning alike.
Masonic aspects:
The hexagram has been and is still used in various degrees - German-speaking lodges at least in the 3rd degree, as well as in RA, as the RA-Jewel shows. Sometimes it is also depicted as a 'Blazing Star', i.e. with flames or rays in its angles. The letter 'G' is often found in the centre and can have various meanings depending on the Masonic system and degree in which it is shown. In some old ones we find the Hebrew character 'Yod', which is the initial of the name of God, or a point right in the centre.
According to the Masonic authors Lemihoff and Posner the hexagram is supposed to be a relict of the 'alchemical period' of freemasonry. A number of alchemical symbols were introduced to some Masonic systems in the early days and some are still in use in certain degrees (triangle of water + triangle of fire).
In alt forms it represents transcendence or Deity. It may also be regarded as a symbol for the divine will (triangle, point downwards) and human efforts (triangle, point upwards). Sometimes another polarity is seen by referring to the unification of the male and female principle.
To mention the whole lot of Masonic meanings and interpretations, based e.g. on the six points or on polar figures, and to go into to many a detail might be regarded as violations of the respective obligation. Therefore the rest of the text will refer to the 'profane history and development of this symbol.
- Biblical and Jewish sources and traditions till the Middle Ages:
The Jewish historian Josephus Flavius (37 - 100 AD.) also mentions this ring and its use. He refers to reports about Solomon the Magician, written during the Greek- Roman period and based on the proverbial wisdom of King Solomon (1 Ku. 3. 12).
On the wall of a synagogue at Capernaum the hexagram appears for the first time within Jewry (2ndor3ai century).
According to a coin (AD. 132) it adorned the Main Gate of the temple at Jerusalem.
In a -scripture written in the 13th century the name 'Magen David' = David's Shield
was mentioned for the first time to mark the hexagram .
It has been found e.g. on magic bowls made in the 2nd or 31d century and used to
protect an unborn child. It was also use4on various kinds of amulets w1 were at lead
tolerated by the rabbis, esp. in the Middle Ages, although amulets originated from the
Jewish world. (However the Prophet Isaiah mentions that esp. women and children were wearing amulets and other signs to protect themselves.) On such Jewish amulets the hexagram often was formed of or combined with the various names of God and the names of angels.
From the end of antiquity till the middle of the. 16111 century the hexagram was regarded as a symbol to protect the mystics on their way through the planetary spheres towards heaven.
Since that time it is also an ornament in Bible manuscripts like the Pentateuch written by Samuel Ben Jacob in Egypt about 1009 or In a German one by Solomon ha-Cohen. dated 1295
Some historians regard the hexagram purely as an ornament in all these manuscripts while others say it must have been used as a specific Jewish symbol, too, loosing more and more of its magic meaning.
Since the 18tb century it becomes mate and more popular to use it as a symbol and ornament when building synagogue, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Then is also the beginning of using the hexagram to embellish ritualistic objects. - The non Jewish world:
In antiquity it is a symbol known and used by various other nations than the Jewish. Again it appears as a magic symbol to protect against demons but also as an ornament in scriptures.
Especially Islamic artists used and still use. it a lot in books as welt as in architecture and on all kinds of objects for various purposes.
Obviously from these sources the hexagram found Its way into European or Christian books. Eg; as an ornament in Bides but also as a magic symbol especially since alchemy became a subject of interest many people; not only scientists. (A great deal of alchemic knowledge was based on -and derived from Islamic or Arab sources.) - The political meaning.
We all know the hexagram as a political symbol being the centre piece of the national flag of Israel.
During the 19th Century. The period of political and social emancipation - the hexagram did not loose its religious meaning, but a growing number of Jews and Jewish communities understood it as an emancipating symbol too. So the Zionistic Movement made it its symbol of hope and fight when the 1st congress took place in Basel in 1897 and finally its official emblem in 1933.
Consequently it was proclaimed as the Jewish National Symbol when the new state was formed in 1948.
Long before that it had the same emancipating meaning at least for a while, when about 1350 - the Emperor Karl IV granted the privilege that the Jews in Prague should' have a red flag with a golden hexagram.
In Vienna some three hundred years later it is engraved on a boundary stone together with a Christian cross to mark the boundary between the Jewish and the Christian quarter. Since then it could also be found in many other places be it on buildings, engraved in seals etc.
We must not forget the darkest chapter in the history of the hexagram or Star of David - its misuse during the Third Reich to brand Jews as being subhuman creatures and anything Jewish as inferior. (To make it more effective the National Socialists combined it with the colour yellow, which used to be the colour to mark criminals, prostitutes (and Jews) during the Middle Ages; in the Western world certain shades of this colour are associated with negative aspects in general - in American English "yellow" is used as a synonym for ' cowardly. For the same purpose and to mock the Jews the characters of the word "Jude" (_ Jew) in its centre had been shaped to look like Hebrew characters.)
In 1962 the Reverend William Sargent founded an association named The Yellow Star'. The name was chosen to remind people of this misuse the aim of this organization being to fight against racism and 'Neo Fascim'.
To round this off I'd like to mention two more items -
From about 1400 onwards we find the hexagram as an emblem of brewers and wine¬growers especially in the Southern parts of Germany. It was and sometimes still is used as a pub sign or part of it. In these cases it has no link to Jewry at all.
The hexagram or Magen David is also the emblem of the Magen David Adorn the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross. In contrast to the Red Crescent Moon of the Islamic countries it is not recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross as an emblem to distinguish e.g. medical personal within the forces or hospitals etc. in wartime
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OF BRITISH ROYAL ARCH MASON
IN GERMANY
IN GERMANY
German speaking lodge
Written by
WBro Robert R Grundmann GAoM Pkm PGChap
WBro Robert R Grundmann GAoM Pkm PGChap
