Page 33 - MergedFile

N A L G
I O
G E RAND LODGE
The Ashlar R Vol. XIV Issue II
MASONIC TRIVIA AND FACTS

TIMES 3' - In ancient times the Entered he earliest known appearance of the letter "G"
3Apprentice Degree was alone prevalent Tinside the interlaced square and compasses is
amongst the generality of our Lodges; for no on a photo of an etching in "Freemasonry A
Brothers could be passed and raised except in the Journey Through Ritual and Symbol" by Kirk
Grand Lodge, and few availed themselves of the MacNulty. The date shown on the etching is
privilege. Hence they had only one sign, one "5776" which we Masons know to be 1776 in
token, and one word, and these three constituted standard dating form. Another very early
the honors. But the members of the Grand Lodge appearance is on a cast bronze plate made by Paul
had three signs, three tokens, and three words, and Revere in 1796. By the year 1800 the combined
therefore, three times three were appropriately symbol had appeared in England on embroidered
termed the Grand Honors." aprons and upon a "Master's Tracing Board. In the
language of some countries, the letter "G" does not
From the September 1974 Bulletin of the Masonic
Relief Association of the U.S. and Canada (5) stand for either "God" or "Geometry" so it is not a
part of their basic symbol of Freemasonry.

o man ever took the oaths and subscribed to
Nthe obligations with greater watchfulness and
care than I exercised in receiving the various rites
of Masonry, and I say with due deliberation and
without fear of breaking the faith. I have never
encountered a lesson, never witnessed an example,
never heard an obligation uttered which could not
be openly proclaimed to the world. The words of a
Mason who was also a President of the United
States, Warren G. Harding.

32