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These verses are an amalgamation of various scriptures. While it is pieced together, it flows and conveys the same message found throughout Abrahamic scriptures, namely, the Old Testament. Simply stated, life is hard and people die, but though Deity, we will live again. Let’s go through it in phrases:

Thou, O God! knowest our down-sitting and our
up-rising, and understandest our thoughts afar off;

Psalms 139:2: God’s perfect understanding of us.

shield and defend us from the evil intentions of our
enemies, and support us under die trials and afflictions
we are destined to endure while traveling through this
vale of tears.

Isaiah 25: 8 & Psalms 126:5: The strife of this life causes tears, but afterwards, our tears will be wiped away and we shall find joy.

NOTE: The next section of verses comes from Job 14, with some verses from that chapter omitted.

Man that is born of woman is of few
days and full of trouble. He cometh forth as a flower,
and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and
continueth not.

Moral mankind has but a limited time on this planet. Even when life is at its fullest, the bloomed flower, it can be cut down. Once passed, the person’s actions and effects on mankind continue, but the body no longer remains.

Seeing his days are determined the
number of his months is with thee; Thou hast
appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;

Deity, knowing all, knows when our last day will be. In the sense that Deity is omniscient, we cannot change our ultimate future or when it will arrive.

tum from
him that he may rest, till he shall accomplish his day.

Notice that Job has not been speaking of, or asking for, himself. The phrasing concerns another, or all others. As mortals, we are constantly engaged in industry. We look to complete a task before the end of our work day, or before the sun goes down, or before our life ends. We accept our trials and tribulations yet here Job asks for mankind to also be able to experience rest. That leads to an important question: How will this rest come?

For there is hope of a tree if it be cut down, that it
will sprout again; and that the tender branch thereof
will not cease.

If you have never heard of coppicing, I encourage you to look it up along with the rest of these scripture verses. If you have ever seen a clear-cut piece of land perhaps you’ve witnessed coppicing – where a tree, cut to a stump, puts off new sprouts and continues to grow.

But man dieth and wasteth away; yea,
man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

Job recognizes that our physical bodies do cease to function. Yet a part of what we understand to be a person seems gone. We have their body, but where is the spirit that moved it – that spirit that made that person who they were?

As the
waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and
drieth up, so man lieth down and riseth not up,

While I cannot speak to how much of science was understood in Job’s day, today we clearly understand how water does not actually go away. Large bodies of water can turn to salt flats and what was a flood soon again becomes dry land – it was visible, but then not. Job ponders if it is the same for mankind.

till
the heavens shall be no more.

This is part of the previous verse and shows Job’s acknowledgement that there will be a change – a time where the situation changes.While not a part of the verses cited here, see also Job 14:14.

Yet, O Lord! have
compassion on the children of Thy creation,
administer them comfort in time of trouble, and save
them with an everlasting salvation.” Amen

While the message of an everlasting salvation can be found in numerous places in scripture, I suggest you review Isaiah 45:11-18 and Isaiah 26:19. For me, personally, the message is clear: Even in root Abrahamic scriptures, the concept of resurrection was taught, but only a few mentions, in comparison to the New Testament, of a bodily resurrection exist.
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At the 201st Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi, I served, pro tempore, as the Grand Orator. The speech I gave was called “In This Sign”.

In This Sign

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Grand Lodge Officers, Distinguished Guests, and Brethren All: I am humbled to stand before you today to act, pro tempore, as your Grand Orator. While Right Worshipful Brother Jordan Downs is unable to address us today, I am sure that you will join me in recognizing him and expressing our gratitude and appreciation to the Great Architect of the Universe for this inestimable Brother still being among us.

Brethren: From Ptolemy’s recording of the ancient constellations, including Cygnus or the Northern Cross, to the eventual adoption of the Crux or Southern Cross, humanity has sought in the sacred pages of the celestial hemisphere an understanding of the sign of the cross. As ancient and enduring as the stars are, nearly every human culture and numerous faiths have also used variants of this symbol for their own purposes. Of the multitude of Christian related crosses in use today, four form the basis of these variants: Crux Quadrata or the Greek Cross, Crux Decussata, commonly known as Saint Andrew’s Cross, Crux Commissa, or the Tau Cross, and Crux Immissa, or the Latin Cross. However, before Christianity adopted these crosses, there were two other forms of crosses that humanity widely used.

Perhaps the most ancient cross-type symbol is the Crux Grammata, or Swastika. Variants of this symbol can be found throughout ancient history in the Ukraine, England, Bulgaria, Iran, India, Africa, and more locations into recent history. While individual cultures use the symbol for more specific iconography, its most ancient use appears to be to symbolize the rotation of the Earth, as well as the Sun, other astronomical objects, or the absolute God or His emanations. Seen as being composed of four Greek capitals of the letter Gamma, it is marked on many early Christian tombs as a veiled symbol of the cross.

The other ancient cross is the Crux Ansata, or Ankh, which is generally accepted to be representative of life. This symbol, used since approximately 3,000 BC, was probably derived from an even earlier symbol, the Tyet, which symbolized protection. As such, the Ankh was depicted in several forms, including the Egyptian gods feeding the Ankh, or life, into the Pharaohs. It was adopted, in a slight variation, by the Coptic Christians of Africa.

In ancient Babylonia, predating the Latin cross, a variant of the Greek cross was used to symbolize the sun-god Shamash, with equilateral arms pointing to each of the cardinal compass directions, and was the first cross used by the early Christian Church. It is believed to have represented the Church, as opposed to the sacrifice of the Christ. It too can be found used in conjunction with the Ankh. The equilateral nature of the 4 arms has numerous esoteric applications which are much worth the effort to research.

Equally simplistic in its design is the Saltire, or Saint Andrew’s Cross, named such for its association with the tradition of the martyrdom of that Apostle. As such, it bears all of the characteristics that have been associated with Andrew the Apostle. It has been adopted as a heraldic symbol by many groups and countries and can be found represented in flags, such as the flag of the Great State of Mississippi, and is used in symbology throughout the world.

Thanks to its design, the Tau Cross is sometimes linked to numerous symbols used throughout antiquity from a vast array of cultures, including the Druids, Egyptians, and more. Potentially the cross form more appropriate to the actual crucifixion of the Christ, the Tau is traditionally connected to the Father of all Monks, Saint Anthony. The Tau is particularly familiar to Freemasons for its use in the Triple Tau. However, understanding the Tau, or T, as the final letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Tav, and how its written symbol is reminiscent of a gate, the adept may draw out many further meanings.

The Latin Cross, perhaps the symbol we are most familiar with, takes on many deep meanings as well. From representing the redeeming act of the Christ, to the characteristics of patience and humility which He displayed while in the mortal flesh. While these symbolisms are more than satisfactory, a deeper learning can be had by considering the earthly horizontal bar with the heavenly vertical one, their intersection, and so much more. From the Latin cross, many other adaptations have been made, such as the Cross of Salem, the Patriarchal Cross, and the Jerusalem Cross, just to name a few.

In all, the cross, in whatever form, has always been used to represent that which brings light and life, and to symbolize the most honorable and venerable characteristics of mankind. How will you conquer through this sign? Will you adopt those same venerable characteristics? Will you be the light that is not hidden under a bushel? My Brethren, whatever your understanding may be, I assure you, when you seek to apply it well, in this sign, thou shalt conquer.

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Lodges are big, small, co-located, named after their county, city, or town, but why do they have specific numbers?

How do masonic lodges get their numbers?

The process might sound simple, where you live, but is actually quite different all around the world. Let’s discuss some of the ways lodges have, or don’t have, numbers!

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Master Mason’s have a song, traditionally known as a Dirge – or a funeral song, that is used in our rituals.

The Master Masons’ Dirge may be one of numerous songs, not the least of which are:

Hark from the Tomb
Pleyel’s Hymn
Amazing Grace
Mozart’s Magic Flute
Abide With Me / I Need Thee Every Hour
The Sun Died

And, to top it off and make it more confusing, different songs may be sung to different tunes!

What Masonic Dirge is used in your jurisdiction?

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How do masonic lodges get their names? It isn’t complicated, but it might not be as easy as you think either. Whether it’s the name of the town it is based in, or the name of someone from the towns past, or the name of someone from the lodges past, or a prominent Freemason, or something inanimate, like a symbol from our lessons – there are simply many, many, things a lodge could be named after – and why!

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It is rather typical for the various individuals, clubs, groups, lodges, bodies, events, and more, in Freemasonry to be commemorated with a specialty lapel pin. This pin is the official pin for “What is a Mason?”, the popular YouTube Channel, Podcast and Website committed to spreading the truth about what Freemasonry is across the Internet.

In contemplating the design of such a pin I reached out to my viewers through Facebook, asking them what symbolism would best fit “What is a Mason?”. The results, as you can see below, varied widely, and rightly so. I have indeed expressed my enjoyment of the symbolism of the Beehive, spoke at length about the symbolism I see in the 47th Problem of Euclid, and more. What’s more is that since the channel speaks on the Symbolic Lodge as well as many other appendant bodies and concordant orders – the whole pantheon of Masonic Symbolism seemed to be applicable.

However, one brother, Randy Sanders out of Missouri, provided an interesting suggestion – essentially: Keep it Simple.

This suggestion really resonated with me. After all, even in the highest degrees of Freemasonry the lessons taught are, at their base, a mere emphasis on the lessons of the first three degrees. As such, the pin was designed to be a simple Square and Compasses, recognizable globally in Freemasonry, with a jewel/gem in the center.

This is a GREAT pin to wear to lodge, work, church, or just when out-and-about. It is subdued, almost letting it blend right into your wardrobe. It doesn’t stick out and demand attention, or have such small detail that people need to squint closely to see what it is about, but when someone does notice it and they ask “What is a Mason?”, you can confidently say, “I am”.

But is it really as simple as it looks?

Symbolism
No hate mail, please. I know (truly, I do) that every man, lodge, or jurisdiction is going to have different interpretations, histories, traditions, or even rules that might fly in the face of the symbolism explained here. That’s okay. Don’t panic. Take what follows as little more than my explanation on why the pin was designed this way. If you disagree with any of the reasons, that’s great! It means you are observing and being contemplative, so it is a win-win.

What is in a name?
While this pin will likely be known as the “What is a Mason?” pin, I, personally, call it Observation, Contemplation & Transformation. Why? Because, at the root, I think that is what Speculative Freemasonry is all about. It also shows that a simple pin can, in fact, demonstrate some very complex concepts. Keeping the pin simple, but the name complex, felt like a good balance – something every Freemason should appreciate.

Metals
In a world bereft of costs, the pin would be made of specific materials that would better capture the intent, but alas, symbolism will have to suffice.

The Square
The square of a stonemason can be seen depicted in many different forms, and made of various materials, even in operational stone masonry. But we are Speculative Freemasons and as such the square used in this pin is used for the symbolism it embodies.

The square is, without argument, very important in Freemasonry. The square is an angle of 90°, which it hasn’t always been in so many depictions of the square over the ages. To reinforce the correctness of the square, one leg/arm of the square, the handle/tongue, is 3 units in length, while the other, the blade, is 4 units in length – which brings to mind the 3-4-5 Pythagorean Triples, which far predate the 47th Problem of Euclid. I encourage you to measure it – it doesn’t just LOOK right, but really is a 3-4-5 square. By measurement, this square is showing us the way in which to mathematically find a square. You can hear more about the importance of the symbol in this video, where I explained it as a guest on The Masonic Roundtable.

I will leave it to you to contemplate on the numerous ways in which the Square is implemented, demonstrated, alluded to, or taught in Freemasonry.

The square is plated in a grey metal, representing lead, a simple base metal in want of being put to use and improved upon.

The square also symbolizes creation – this planet, yes, but most importantly – YOU.

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Mississippi considers the vast majority of the Second Section Lecture SECRET – but here is what I can tell you…

The Second Section recites the historical traditions of the Institution and exemplifies an instance of virtue, fortitude, and integrity seldom equaled and never excelled in the history of man.

What does integrity mean to a Freemason?
Are Freemasons honest?
What is virtue?
What are the characteristics of a Master Mason?

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How Freemasonry spreads globally.

Joining Freemasonry can be challenging in an area where lodges are sparse, or don’t exist at all. So how did Freemasonry spread elsewhere?

How do you establish Freemasonry where it doesn’t exist?

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