The Legend of Hiran Abiff

8/13/2019 The Legend of Hiran Abiff

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THE LEGEND OF HIRAM ABIF

CHAPTER XLIII

This is the most important of all the leen!s of Freemasonr"# It $ill therefore

%e &onsi!ere! in respe&t to its oriin' its histor"' an! its meanin(

Before' ho$e)er' pro&ee!in to the !is&*ssion of these important s*%+e&ts'

an! the in)estiation of the tr*l" m"thi&al &hara&ter of Hiram A%if' it $ill %e

proper to in,*ire into the meanin of his name' or rather the meanin of the

epithet that a&&ompanies it#

In the pla&es in -&ript*re in $hi&h he is mentione! he is &alle! at one time .in

/ Chroni&les ii#' 012' %" the 3in of T"re' in the letter $ritten %" him to 3in

-olomon' Ch*ram A%i( in another pla&e .in / Chroni&les i)#' 042' $here the

$riter of the narrati)e is re&or!in the $or5 !one %" him for -olomon'

Ch*ram A%i)' or' as it miht %e prono*n&e! a&&or!in to the so*n! of the

He%re$ letters' A%i*# B*t L*ther' in his German translation of the Bi%le'

a!opte! the pron*n&iation A%if' e6&hanin the flat ) for the sharp f# In this

he $as follo$e! %" An!erson' $ho $as the first to present the f*ll name of

Hiram A%if to the Craft# This he !i! in the first e!ition of the Enlish %oo5 ofConstit*tions#

An! sin&e his time at least the appellation of Hiram A%if has %een a!opte! %"

an! %e&ome familiar to the Craft as the name of the &*nnin or s5illf*l artist

$ho $as sent %" Hiram' 3in of T"re' to assist 3in -olomon in the

&onstr*&tion of the Temple# In Chroni&les an! 3ins $e fin! Ch*ram or

H*ram' as $e ma" *se the initial letter as a *tt*ral or an aspirate' an!

Chiram or Hiram' the )o$el * or i %ein in!ifferentl" *se!# B*t the Masoni&

*sae has *ni)ersall" a!opte! the $or! Hiram#

No$' the A%i an! A%i)' *se! %" the 3in of T"re' in the %oo5 of Chroni&les

form no part of the name' %*t are simpl" infle&tions of the possessi)e

prono*ns m" an! his s*ffi6e! to the appellati)e A%#


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A% in He%re$ means father' i is m"' an! in' i)' or if is his# A%i is therefore m"

father' an! so he is &alle! %" the 3in of T"re $hen he is !es&ri%in him to

-olomon' 7 Hiram m" father(7 A%if is his father' an! he is so spo5en of %" the

historian $hen he re&o*nts the )ario*s 5in!s of $or5 $hi&h $ere !one for3in -olomon %" 7 Hiram his father#7

B*t the $or! A% in He%re$' tho*h primaril" sinif"in a male parent' has

other !eri)ati)e sinifi&ations# It is e)i!ent that in none of the passaes in

$hi&h he is mentione! is it inten!e! to intimate that he hel! s*&h relationship

to either the 3in of T"re or the 3in of Israel#

The $or! 7 father 7 $as applie! %" the He%re$s as a term of honor' or tosinif" a station of preeminen&e# B*6torf .02 sa"s it sometimes sinife!

Master' an! he &ites the fo*rth &hapter of Genesis' $here 8a%al is &alle! the

father of &attle an! 8*%al the father of m*si&ians#

Hiram A%if $as most pro%a%l" sele&te! %" the 3in of T"re to %e sent to

-olomon as a s5illf*l artifi&er of preeminent s5ill that he miht e6e&*te the

prin&ipal $or5s in the interior of the Temple an! fa%ri&ate the )ario*s *tensils

inten!e! for the sa&re! ser)i&es# He $as a master in his art or &allin' an!

properl" !inifie! $ith a title $hi&h anno*n&e! his !istin*ishe! &hara&ter#

The title of Father' $hi&h $as i)en to him' !enotes' sa"s -mith' ./2 the

respe&t an! esteem in $hi&h he $as hel!' a&&or!in to the similar &*stom of

the people of the East at the present !a"#

I am $ell please! $ith the s*estion of Dr# M&Clinto&5 that 7Hiram m" father

seems to mean Hiram m" &o*nsellor( that is to sa"' foreman or master

$or5man7 .12

Appl"in this meanin to the passaes in Chroni&les $hi&h refer to this artist'

$e shall see ho$ easil" e)er" !iffi&*lt" is remo)e! an! the Craftsman Hiram

pla&e! in his tr*e liht#


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.02 7Le6i&on Talm*!i&*m#7 ./2 7C"lopae!ia of Bi%li&al Literat*re#7 .12

7C"&lopea!ia of Bi%li&al' Theoloi&al' an! Classi&al Literat*re#7

9hen 3in Hiram' $ishin to ai! the 3in of Israel in his &ontemplate!

%*il!in' $rites him a letter in $hi&h he promises to &ompl" $ith the re,*est

of -olomon to sen! him tim%er from Le%anon an! $oo!:&*tters to he$ it' as

an a!!itional mar5 of his frien!ship an! his !esire to &ontri%*te his ai! in

%*il!in 7 a ho*se for 8eho)ah'7 he i)es him the ser)i&es of one of his most

s5illf*l artisans an! anno*n&es the ift in these $or!s ; 7An! no$ I ha)e sent

a s5illf*l man' en!*e! $ith *n!erstan!in' m" master $or5man Hiram#7

An! $hen the historian $ho $rote the Chroni&les of the 5in!om ha!

re&apit*late! all the $or5 that Hiram ha! a&&omplishe!' s*&h as the pillars of

the por&h' the la)ers an! the &an!lesti&5s' an! the sa&re! )essels' he

&on&l*!es %" sa"in that all these thins $ere ma!e for 3in -olomon %" his

master:$or5man Hiram' in the He%re$ nasah H*ram A%if Lammele&h

-&helomoh#

Hiram or H*ram $as his proper name# A%' father of his tra!e or master:

$or5man' his title' an! i or if' an" or his' the possessi)e pronominal s*ffi6'

*se! a&&or!in to &ir&*mstan&es# The 3in of T"re &alls him Hiram A%i' 7 m"

master:$or5man#7 9hen the &hroni&ler spea5s of him in his relation to 3in

-olomon' he &alls him Hiram A%if 7 his master:$or5man#7 An! as all his

Masoni& relations are $ith -olomon' this latter !esination has %een a!opte!'

from An!erson' %" the Craft#

Ha)in th*s !ispose! of the name an! title of the personae $ho &onstit*tes

the main point in this Masoni& Leen!' I pro&ee! to an e6amination of the

oriin an! proressi)e ro$th of the m"th#

7The Leen! of the Temple:B*il!er'7 as he is &ommonl" %*t improperl" &alle!'

is so intimatel" &onne&te! in the rit*al $ith the s"m%oli& histor" of the

Temple' that $e $o*l! )er" nat*rall" %e le! to s*ppose that the one has

al$a"s %een &ontemporar" an! &oe6istent $ith the other# The e)i!en&e on

this point is' ho$e)er' %" no means &on&l*si)e or satisfa&tor"' tho*h a

&riti&al e6amination of the ol! man*s&ripts $o*l! seem to sho$ that the

$riters of those !o&*ments' $hile &ompilin from tra!itional so*r&es the


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Leen! of the Craft' $ere not altoether inorant of the ran5 an! ser)i&es

that ha)e %een s*%se,*entl" attri%*te! %" the -pe&*lati)e Masons of the

present !a" to Hiram A%if# The" &ertainl" ha! some notion that in the %*il!in

of the Temple at 8er*salem 3in -olomon ha! the assistan&e of a s5illf*l artist

$ho ha! %een s*pplie! to him %" the 3in of T"re#

The oriin of the Leen! m*st %e loo5e! for in the -&ript*ral a&&o*nt of the

%*il!in of the Temple of 8er*salem' The stor"' as tol! in the %oo5s of 3ins

an! Chroni&les' is to this effe&t#

On the !eath of 3in Da)i!' his son an! s*&&essor' -olomon' resol)e! to

&arr" into e6e&*tion his father


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%oo5 an! &hapter' in the thirteenth an! fo*rteenth )erses' are the follo$in

$or!s;

7An! no$ I ha)e sent a &*nnin man' en!*e! $ith *n!erstan!in' of H*ram

m" father


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In the Coo5e M-#' $hi&h is a h*n!re! "ears later' $e meet $ith the first

all*sion to it an! the first error' $hi&h is repeate! in )ario*s forms in all the

s*%se,*ent man*s&ript &onstit*tions#

That man*s&ript sa"s; 7An! at the ma5"n of the temple in -alamonis t"me

as lit is se"! in the %i%*ll in the iii %o5e of Re*m in tertio Re*m &apit*lo

,*into' that -alomoii ha! iiii s&ore tho*san! masons at his $er5e# An! the

5"nis sone of T"r" $as his master mason#7

The referen&e here ma!e to the thir! %oo5 of 3ins is a&&or!in to the ol!

!istri%*tion of the He%re$ &anon' $here the t$o %oo5s of -am*el are &ae!

the mat an! se&on! %oo5s of 3ins# A&&or!in to o*r present &anon' thereferen&e $o*l! %e to the fifth &hapter of the first %oo5 of 3ins# In that

&hapter nothin is sai! of Hiram A%if' %*t it is re&or!e! there that 7 A!oniram

$as o)er the le)"#7 No$ the literal meanin of A!oniram is the lor! Hiram# As

the 3in of T"re ha! promise! to sen! his $or5men to Le%anon' an! as it is

state! that A!oniram s*perinten!e! the men $ho $ere there he$in the

trees' the ol! leen!ist' not ta5in into a&&o*nt that the le)" of thirt"

tho*san!' o)er $hom A!oniram presi!e!' $ere Israelites an! not

Phoeni&ians' %*t s*pposin that the" ha! %een sent to Le%anon %" Hiram'

3in of T"re' an! that he ha! sent A!oniram $ith them an! )ie$in the $or!

as meanin the lor! Hiram' hastil" &ame to the &on&l*sion that this Lor! orPrin&e Hiram $as the son of the 3in# An! hen&e he ma!e the mista5e of

sa"in that the son of the 3in of T"re $as the person sent to -olomon to %e

his' master:mason or master:%*il!er#

This error $as repeate! in nearl" all the s*&&ee!in man*s&ripts' for the" are

reall" onl" &opies of ea&h other' an! the $or! A!on' as meanin lor! or

prin&e' seems to ha)e %een al$a"s ass*me! in some one or other &orr*pte!

form as the name of the $or5man sent %" 3in Hiram to 3in -olomon' an!

$hom the Freemasons of the present !a" 5no$ as Hiram A%if#

Th*s in the Do$ele! M-#' &on+e&t*rall" !ate! at A#D# 0==>' it is sai!;

7 An! f*rthermore there $as a 3ine of another reion that men &alle! IRAM'


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an! he lo)e! $ell 3ine -olomon an! he a)e him t"m%er to his $or5e# An!

he ha! a sonn that heiht .$as &alle!2 A?NON' an! he $as a Master of

Geometrie an! $as &hief Master of all his Masons' an! $as Master of all his

ra)ins an! &ar)ins an! of all manner of Masonr"e that lone! to the

Temple#7

There &an %e no !o*%t that A"non is here a &orr*ption of A!on# In the

Lan!s!o$ne M-#' $hose !ate is A#D# 0=4>' the lan*ae is pre&isel" the

same' e6&ept that it sa"s 3in Iram 7 ha! a sonne that $as &alle! a man#7

It seems almost &ertain that the initial letter a in this name has %een' %"

&areless $ritin' !islo&ate! from the remainin letters' man' an! that the tr*e

rea!in is Aman' $hi&h is itself an error' instea! of Amon' an! this a manifest

&orr*ption of A!on# This is &onfirme! %" the ?or5 M-#' N*m%er 0 $hi&h is

a%o*t fort" "ears later .A#D#04>>2' $here the name is spelle! Amon# This is

also the name in the Lo!e of Hope M-#' !ate! A#D# 04@>#

In the Gran! Lo!e M-#' !ate of A#D# 041/' he is aain &alle! the son of the

3in of T"re' %*t his name is i)en as A"none' another &orr*pte! form of

A!on# In the -loane M-#' N*m%er 1'@@' A#D# 044' it is A"non' the final e

%ein omitte!# In the Harleian M-#' N*m%er 0/' !ate! A#D# 04>' %oth the

final e an! the me!ial " are omitte!' an! the name %e&omin Anon

appro6imates still nearer to the tr*e A!on#

In the Aln$i&5 M-#' of A#D# 0>0' the name is still f*rther &orr*pte! into

A+*on# In all of these man*s&ripts the Leen! &ontin*es to &all this artist the

son of the 3in of T"re' $hose name is sai! to %e Hiram or more *s*all" Iram(

an! hen&e the &orr*pte! orthoraph" of Amon' A"non' or Anon' %ein

restore! to the tr*e form of A!on' $ith $hi&h $or! the ol! Masons $ere

a&,*ainte!' as sinif"in Lor! or Prin&e' $e et' %" prefi6in it to his father


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that the artist $as the son of 3in Hiram# B*t it &hanes his name to that of

Benaim# This is pro%a%l" an in&orre&t infle&tion of the He%re$ $or! Boneh' a

%*il!er' an! sho$s that the $riter' in an attempt to &orre&t the error of the

pre&e!in leen!ists $ho ha! &orr*pte! A!on into Anon or Amon' or A+*on'

ha! in his smatterin of He%re$ &ommitte! a reater one#

The 3ra*se M-# is *tterl" $orthless as a*thorit"# It is a forer"' $ritten most

pro%a%l"' I thin5 I ma" sa" &ertainl"' after the p*%li&ation of the first e!ition

of An!erson


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In the se&on! or 01@ e!ition of the Constit*tions' An!erson &onsi!era%l"

enlare! the Leen!' for reasons that $ill %e a!)erte! to $hen I &ome' in the

ne6t part of this $or5' to treat of the oriin of the Thir! Deree' %*t on $hi&h

it is here *nne&essar" to !$ell#

In that se&on! e!ition' he asserts that the tra!ition is that 3in Hiram ha!

%een Gran! Master of all Masons' %*t that $hen the Temple $as finishe! he

s*rren!ere! the pre:eminen&e to 3in -olo# mon# No s*&h tra!ition' nor an"

all*sion to it' is to %e fo*n! in an" of the Ol! Re&or!s no$ e6tant' an! it is'

moreo)er' entirel" oppose! %" the &*rrent of opinion of all s*%se,*ent

Masoni& $riters#

From these s*estions of An!erson' an! from some others of a more

esoteri& &hara&ter' ma!e' it is s*ppose!' %" him an! %" Dr# Desa*liers a%o*t

the time of the Re)i)al' $e !eri)e that form of the Leen! of Hiram A%if

$hi&h has %een preser)e! to the present !a" $ith sin*lar *niformit" %" the

Freemasons of all &o*ntries#

The s*%stan&e of the Leen!' so far as it is &on&erne! in the present

in)estiation' is that at the %*il!in of the Temple there $ere three Gran!

Masters:-olomon' 3in of Israel( Hiram' 3in of T"re' an! Hiram A%if' an! that

the last $as the ar&hite&t or &hief %*il!er of the e!ifi&e#

As $hat relates to the fate of Hiram A%if is to %e e6plaine! in an altoether

alleori&al or s"m%oli&al sense' it $ill more appropriatel" &ome fin!er

&onsi!eration $hen $e are treatin' in a s*%se,*ent part of this $or5' of the

-"m%olism of Freemasonr"#

O*r present st*!" $ill %e the leen!ar" &hara&ter of Hiram A%if as the &hief

Master Mason of the Temple' an! o*r in)estiations $ill %e !ire&te! to theoriin an! meanin of the m"th $hi&h has no$' %" *ni)ersal &onsent of the

Craft' %een a!opte!' $hether &orre&tl" or not $e shall see hereafter#

The ,*estion %efore *s' let it %e *n!erstoo!' is not as to the histori& tr*th of

the Hirami& leen!' as set forth in the Thir! Deree of the Masoni& rit*al:not


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personae' his tr*e position amon the $or5men at the Temple' &an not

affe&t' in the slihtest !eree' the s"m%olism of $hi&h he forms so interal a

part' $hile it $ill rationall" a&&o*nt for the importan&e that has %een

attri%*te! to him in the ol! as $ell as in the ne$ Masoni& s"stem#

9hether $e ma5e Hiram A%if the &hief B*il!er an! the Operati)e Gran!

Master of -olomon


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instr*ment of oo! or of e)il' $as s*%se,*entl" personifie! %" the Gree5s;

the e!i& h"mns' referrin to the &ontin*al reno)ation of the flame' as it $as

fe! %" f*el' &alle! it the fire:o! Ani( also Ga)ishtha' that is' the e)er "o*n#

From this the Gree5s ot their Hephaest*s' the miht" $or5man' the

immortal smith $ho fore! the $eapons of the o!s' an!' at the pra"er of

Thetis' fa%ri&ate! the irresisti%le armor of A&hilles# The Romans $erein!e%te! to their Ar"an an&estors for the same i!ea of the poten&" of fire'

an! personifie! it in their *l&an' a name $hi&h is e)i!entl" !eri)e! from the

-ans&rit l5a' a fire%ran!' altho*h a similarit" of so*n! has le! man"

et"moloists to !e!*&e the Roman *l&an from the -emiti& T*%al Cain#

In!ee!' *ntil the mo!ern !is&o)eries in &omparati)e philolo"' this $as the

*ni)ersal opinion of the learne!#

Amon the Ba%"lonians an important o! $as Bil:&an# He $as the fire:o!'

an! the name seems to %e !eri)e! from Baal' or Bel' an! Cain' the o! ofsmiths' or the master smith# Geore -mith' in his Chal!aen A&&o*nt of

Genesis' thin5s that there is possi%l" some &onne&tion here $ith the Bi%li&al

T*%al Cain an! the &lassi&al *l&an#

From the framents of -an&honiathon $e learn that the Phoeni&ians ha! a

hero $hom he &alls Chr"sor# He $as $orshippe! after his !eath' in

&onse,*en&e of the man" in)entions that he %esto$e! on man' *n!er the

name of Diami&hi*s( that is' the reat in)entor# To him $as as&ri%e! the

in)ention of all those arts $hi&h the Gree5s attri%*te! to Hephaest*s' an! theRomans to *l&an# Bishop C*m%erlan! !eri)es the name of Chr"sor from the

He%re$ Charat' or the -har%ener' an appropriate !esination of one $ho

ta*ht the *se of iron tools# The a*thorie! )ersion of Genesis' $hi&h &alls

T*%al Cain 7 an instr*&tor of e)er" artifi&er in %rass an! iron'7 is %etter

ren!ere! in the -ept*aint an! the *late as a sharpener of e)er"

instr*ment in %rass an! iron#7

T*%al Cain has %een !eri)e!' in the Enlish le&t*res of Dr# Hemmin' an!' of

&o*rse' %" Dr# Oli)er' from a enerall" re&ei)e! et"molo" that Cain meant$orl!l" possessions' an! the tr*e s"m%olism of the name has %een th*s

per)erte!# The tr*e !eri)ation is from 5in' $hi&h' sa"s Geseni*s' has the

espe&ial meanin to fore iron' $hen&e &omes 3ain' a spear or lan&e' an

instr*ment of iron that has %een fore!# In the &onate Ara%i& it is 3a"in# 7

This $or!'7 sa"s Dr# Gol!iher in his $or5 on M"tholo" Amon the He%re$s7

$hi&h $ith other s"non"mo*s names of tra!es o&&*rs se)eral times on the


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so:&alle! Na%atean -inaiti& ins&riptions' sinifies -mith' ma5er of ari&*lt*ral

implements .02 an! has preser)e! this meanin in the Ara%i& 3a"in an! the

Aramai& 5ina"a' $hilst in the later He%re$ it $as lost altoether' %ein

pro%a%l" s*ppresse! thro*h the Bi%li&al attempt to !eri)e the proper name

Cain et"moloi&all" from 5ana' 7 to ain#7 Here it is that Hemmin an! Oli)er

ot their false s"m%olism of 7$orl!l" possessions#7

Gol!iher attempts to i!entif" m"tholoi&all" Cain the fratri&i!e $ith the son

of Lame&h# 9hether he %e &orre&t or not in his theor"' it is at least a &*rio*s

&oin&i!en&e that Cain' $hi&h I ha)e sho$n to mean a smith' sho*l! ha)e

%een the first %*il!er of a &it"' an! that the same name sho*l! ha)e %een

assine! to the first forer of metals' $hile the ol! Masoni& Leen! ma5es

the master smith' Hiram of T"re' also the &hief %*il!er of -olomon#

It $ill' I thin5' %e interestin to tra&e the proress of the m"th $hi&h has

i)en in e)er" ae an! e)er" &o*ntr" this prominent position amon artisans

to the smith#

Hephaest*s' or *l&an' 5in!lin his fores in the isle of Lemnos' an! $ith his

C"&lops +o*rne"men %eatin o*t an! shapin an! $el!in the re!:hot iron

into the forms of spears an! +a)elins an! helmets an! &oats of mail' $as the

so*thern !e)elopment of the Ar"an fire: o! Ani# 7 Hephaest*s' or *l&an'7

sa"s Dio!or*s -i&*l*s' 7 $as the first fo*n!er in iron' %rass' ol!' sil)er' an!

all f*si%le metals' an! he ta*ht the *ses to $hi&h fire miht %e applie! %"

artifi&ers#7 Hen&e he $as &alle! %" the an&ients the o! of %la&5smiths#

The -&an!ina)ians' or northern !es&en!ants of the Ar"an ra&e' %ro*ht $ith

them' in their emiration from Ca*&as*s' the same re)eren&e for fire an! for

the $or5in of metals %" its potent *se# The" !i! not' ho$e)er' %rin $ith

them s*&h re&olle&tions of Ani as $o*l! in)ent a o! of fire E5e the

Hephaest*s an! *l&an of the Gree5s an! Romans# The" ha!' in!ee!' Lo5i'

$ho !eri)e! his name' it is sai! %" some' from the I&elan!i& loi' or flame#

.02 He &onfines the e6pression to 7ari&*lt*ral7 to enfor&e a parti&*lar theor"

then *n!er &onsi!eration# He miht &orre&tl" ha)e %een more eneral an!

in&l*!e! all other 5in!s of implements' $arli5e an! me&hani&al as $ell as

ari&*lt*ral#


14/23

B*t he $as an e)il prin&iple' an! represente! rather the !estr*&ti)e than the

&reati)e po$ers of fire#

B*t the -&an!ina)ians' interpolatin' li5e all the northern nations' their fol5:

lore into their m"tholo"' in)ente! their leen!s of a s5illf*l smith' %eneath

$hose miht" %lo$s *pon the "iel!in iron s$or!s of mar)elo*s 5eenness

an! strenth $ere fore!' or %" $hose $on!erf*l artisti& s5ill !ia!ems an!

%ra&elets an! +e$els of s*rpassin %ea*t" $ere &onstr*&te!# Hen&e the m"th

of a $on!erf*ll" &*nnin artist $as fo*n! e)er"$here' an! the Leen! of the

-mith %e&ame the &ommon propert" of all the -&an!ina)ian an! Te*toni&

nations' an! $as of so impressi)e a &hara&ter that it &ontin*e! to e6ist !o$n

to me!iae)al times' an! tra&es of it ha)e e6: ten!e! to the s*perstitions of

the present !a"# Ma" $e not +*stl" loo5 to its infl*en&e for the prominen&ei)en %" the ol! Masoni& leen!ists to the Master -mith of 3in Hiram amon

the $or5men of -olomon

Amon the -&an!ina)ians $e ha)e the Leen! of ol*n!' $hose stor" is

re&ite! in the ol*n!!ar5)itha' or La" of ol*n!' &ontaine! in the E!!a of

-aem*n!# ol*n! .prono*n&e! as if spelle! 9a"lan!2 $as one of three

%rothers' sons of an Elf:5in ( that is to sa"' of a s*pernat*ral ra&e# The three

%rothers emirate! to lf!al' $here the" marrie! three al5"ries' or &hoosers

of the slain' mai!ens of &elestial oriin' the atten!ants of O!in' an! $hoseattri%*tes $ere similar to those of the Gree5 Par&ae' or Fates# After se)en

"ears the three $i)es fle! a$a" to p*rs*e their allotte! !*t" of )isitin %attle:

fiel!s# T$o of the %rothers $ent in sear&h of their errant $i)es( %*t ol*n!

remaine! in lf!al# He $as a s5illf*l $or5man at the fore' an! o&&*pie! his

time in fa%ri&atin $or5s in ol! an! steel' $hile patientl" a$aitin the

promise! ret*rn of his %elo)e! spo*se#

Ni!*th' the 5in of the &o*ntr"' ha)in hear! of the $on!erf*l s5ill of ol*n!

as a forer of metals' )isite! his home !*rin his a%sen&e an! s*rreptitio*sl"ot possession of some of the +e$els $hi&h he ha! ma!e' an! of the %ea*tif*l

s$or! $hi&h the smith ha! fa%ri&ate! for himself

ol*n!' on his ret*rn' $as seie! %" the $arriors of Ni!*th an! &on!*&te! to

the &astle# There the ,*een' terrifie! at his fier&e loo5s' or!ere! him to %e


15/23

hamstr*n# Th*s' maime! an! !epri)e! of the po$er of es&ape or resistan&e'

he $as &onfine! to a small islan! in the )i&init" of the ro"al resi!en&e an!

&ompelle! to fa%ri&ate +e$els for the ,*een an! her !a*hter' an! $eapons

of $ar for the 5in# .02

It $ere te!io*s to re&o*nt all the a!)ent*res of the smith $hile &onfine! in his

islan! prison# It is s*ffi&ient to sa" that' ha)in &onstr*&te! a pair of $ins %"

$hi&h he $as ena%le! to fl" .%" $hi&h $e are remin!e! of the Gree5 fa%le of

Dae!al*s2' he ma!e his es&ape' ha)in %" strataem first !ishonore! the

prin&ess an! slain her t$o %rothers#

This leen! of 7 a &*rio*s an! &*nnin $or5man 7 at the fore $as so pop*lar

in -&an!ina)ia that it e6ten!e! into other &o*ntries' $here the Leen! of the

-mith presents itself *n!er )ario*s' mo!ifi&ations

In the I&elan!i& leen! ol*n! is !es&ri%e! as a reat artist in the fa%ri&ation

of iron' ol! an! sil)er# It !oes not' ho$e)er' &onne&t him $ith s*pernat*ral

%eins' %*t attri%*tes to him reat s5ill in his art' in $hi&h he is assiste! %"

the po$er of mai

The Germans ha! the same leen! at a )er" earl" perio!# In the GermanLeen! the artifi&er is &alle! 9ielan!' an! he is represente! as the son of a

iant name! 9a!e# He a&,*ires the art of a smith from Minner' a s5illf*l

$or5man' an! is perfe&te! %" the D$arfs in all his operations at the fore as

an armorer an! ol!# smith# He oes of his o$n a&&or! to the 5in' $ho is

here &alle! Ni!*n' $here he fin!s another s5illf*l smith' name! Amilias' $ith

$hom he &onten!s in %attle' an! 5ills him $ith his s$or!' Mim*n# For this

offense he is maime! %" the 5in' an! then the rest of the stor" pro&ee!s

)er" m*&h li5e that of the -&an!ina)ian leen!#

Amon the Anlo:-a6ons the leen! is fo*n! not )ar"in m*&h from the

oriinal t"pe# The stor" $here the hero re&ei)es the name of 9elan! is

&ontaine! in an an&ient poem' of $hi&h framents' *nfort*natel"' onl"

remain# The leen! ha! %e&ome so familiar to the people that in the metri&al

roman&e of Beo$*lf the &oat of mail of the hero is !es&ri%e! as the $or5 of

9elan!( an! 3in Alfre! in his translation of the Consolation of Philosoph" %"

Boethi*s' $here the a*thor all*!e'' to the %ones of the Cons*l Fa%ri&i*s' in


16/23

the passae 7 *%i s*nt ossa Fa%ri&ie 7 .$here no$ are the %ones of Fa%ri&i*s

2' th*s paraphrases the ,*estion; 9here no$

.02 All these smiths of m"tholo" an! fol5:lore are represente! as %ein lame'

li5e Hephaest*s' $ho %ro5e his le in fallin from hea)en#

are the %ones of the $ise 9elan!' the ol!smith that $as formerl" so fame!

7 Geoffre" of Monmo*th after$ar!' in a Latin poem' spea5s of the ol!' an!

+e$els' an! &*ps that ha! %een s&*lpt*re! %" 9elan!' $hi&h name he

Latinies as G*eilan!*s#

In the ol! Fren&h &hroni&les $e repeate!l" en&o*nter the leen! of the s5illf*lsmith' tho*h' as miht %e e6pe&te!' the name *n!eroes man" &hanes#

Th*s' in a poem of the 4th &ent*r"' entitle! Ga*tier a la main forte' or 9alter

of the stron han!' it is sai! that in a &om%at of 9alter !e ar5astein he $as

prote&te! from the lan&e of Ran!olf %" a &*irass ma!e %" 9ielan!#

Another &hroni&le' of the 0/th &ent*r"' tells *s that a Co*nt of Ano*leme' in

a %attle $ith the Normans' &*t the &*irass an! the %o!" of the Norman 3in

in t$ain at a sinle stro5e' $ith his s$or! D*rissima' $hi&h ha! %een ma!e

%" the smith 9alan!er# A &hroni&le of the same perio!' $ritten %" the mon58ohn of Marmontier' !es&ri%es the manifi&ent ha%iliments of Geoffre"

Plantaenet' D*5e of Norman!"' amon $hi&h' sa"s the a*thor' $as 7 a

s$or! ta5en from the ro"al treas*r" an! lon sin&e reno$ne!# Galann*s' the

most s5illf*l of armorers' ha! emplo"e! m*&h la%or an! &are in ma5in it#7

Galans' for 9alans .the G %ein s*%stit*te! for the 9' as a letter *n5no$n in

the Fren&h alpha%et2' is the name %esto$e! in eneral on this s5illf*l smith'

an! the roman&es of the Tro*)eres an! Tro*%a!o*rs of northern an! so*thern

Fran&e' in the 0/th an! 01th &ent*ries' a%o*n! in referen&es to s$or!s of

$on!ro*s 5eenness an! strenth that $ere fore! %" him for the 5nihts an!

pala!ins#

9hether the name $as i)en as ol*n!' or 9ielan!' or 9elan!' or Galans' it

fo*n! its &ommon oriin in the I&elan!i& ol*n!' $hi&h sinifies a smith# It is

a eneri& term' from $hi&h the m"thi&al name has %een !eri)e!# -o the

Gree5s &alle! the s5illf*l $or5man' the smith of their fol5:lore' Dae!al*s'

%e&a*se there is a )er% in their lan*ae !ai!allo' $hi&h means to !o s5illf*l


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or ornamental $or5#

Here it ma" not %e irrele)ant to noti&e the &*rio*s fa&t that &on&*rrentl" $ith

these leen!s of a s5illf*l smith there ran in the Mi!!le Aes others' of $hi&h

3in -olomon $as the s*%+e&t# In man" of these ol! roman&es an! metri&al

tales' a s5ill $as attri%*te! to him $hi&h ma5es him the ri)al of the

s*%or!inate artisan# In!ee!' the artisti& rep*tation of -olomon $as so

pro)er%ial at the )er" time $hen these leen!s of the smith $ere pre)alent'

that in the poems of those !a"s $e meet $ith repeate! *ses of the

e6pression 7 l


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-imilar to this is the Enlish leen!' $hi&h tells *s that in a )ale of Ber5shire'

at the foot of 9hite Horse Hill' e)i!entl"' from the stones $hi&h la" s&attere!

aro*n!' the site of a Dr*i!i& mon*ment' formerl" !$elt a person name!

9a"lan! -mith# It is easil" *n!erstoo! that here the han!i&raft title has %een

.02 For man" of the !etails of these t$o leen!s' as $ell as for m*&h that has

alrea!" %een sai! of the m"tholoi&al smith of the Mi!!le Aes' I ha)e %een

in!e%te! to the learne! Dissertation of M#M# Deppin an! Mi&hel# It has %een

a%l" translate! from the Fren&h' $ith a!!itions %" Mr# -#9# -iner' Lon!on'

0@#

in&orporate! $ith the anli&ie! name' an! that it is the same as theme!iae)al 9elan! the -mith# No one e)er sa$ him' for the h*e stones

affor!e! him a hi!in:pla&e# He' too' $as a Hiller': for the $or! in the

pre&e!in leen! !oes not mean 7the man of the hill'7 %*t is from the

German h*llen' to &o)er or &on&eal' an! !enotes the man $ho &on&eals

himself# In this st*!io*s &on&ealment of their persons %" %oth of these smiths

$e !ete&t the &ommon oriin of the t$o leen!s# 9hen his ser)i&es $ere

re,*ire! to shoe a horse' the animal $as left amon the stones an! a pie&e of

mone" pla&e! on one of them# The o$ner then retire!' an! after some time

ha! elapse! he ret*rne!' $hen he fo*n! that the horse $as sho! an! the

mone" ha! !isappeare!# The Enlish rea!er o*ht to %e familiar $ith thisstor" from the *se ma!e of it %" -ir 9alter -&ott in his no)el of 3enil$orth#

It is )er" e)i!ent' from all that has %een here sai!' that the smith' as the

fa%ri&ator of $eapons for the %attle:fiel! an! +e$els for the %o*r!oir' as $ell

as implements of ari&*lt*re an! ho*sehol! *se' $as a most important

personae in the earliest times' !eifie! %" the an&ients' an! in)este! %" the

mo!erns $ith s*pernat*ral ifts# It is e,*all" e)i!ent that this respe&t for the

smith as an artifi&er $as pre)alent in the Mi!!le Aes# B*t in the )er" latest

leen!s' %" a &*stomar" pro&ess of !eeneration in all tra!itions' $hen thestream %e&omes m*!!le! as it pro&ee!s on$ar!' he !es&en!e! in &hara&ter

from a forer of s$or!s' his earliest o&&*pation' to %e a shoer of horses'

$hi&h $as his last#

It m*st %e %orne in min!' also' that in the :Mi!!le Aes the respe&t for the


19/23

smith as a 7 &*rio*s an! &*nnin 7 $or5man %ean %" the intro!*&tion of a

ne$ &lement' %ro*ht %" the Cr*sa!ers an! pilrims from the East to %e

share! $ith 3in -olomon' $ho $as s*ppose! to %e in)este! $ith e,*al s5ill#

It is not' therefore' strane that the i!ea sho*l! ha)e %een in&orporate! into

the rit*als of the )ario*s se&ret so&ieties of the Mi!!le 'Aes an! a!opte! %"

the Freemasonr" at first %" the Operati)e %ran&h an! after$ar!' in a more

enlare! form' %" the -pe&*lati)e Masons#

In all of the ol! man*s&ripts &onstit*tions of the Operati)e Masons $e fin! the

Leen!of the Craft' an! $ith it' e6&ept in one instan&e' an! that the earliest'

a referen&e to T*%al Cain as the one $ho 7 fo*n! that is' in)ente! the -mith

Craft of ol! an! sil)er' iron an! &opper an! steel#7

Nothin %*t the *ni)ersal pre)alen&e of the me!iae)al leen! of the smith'

ol*n! or 9elan!' &an' I thin5' a&&o*nt for this referen&e to the Father of

-mith Craft in a leen! $hi&h sho*l! ha)e %een e6&l*si)el" appropriate! to

-tone Craft# There is no &onne&tion %et$een the fore an! the tro$el $hi&h

a*thorie! on an" other ro*n! the honor pai! %" stone:masons to a forer

of metals:an honor so mar5e! that in time the )er" name of T*%al Cain &ame

to %e a!opte! as a sinifi&ant an! important $or! in the Masoni& rit*al' an!

the hihest pla&e in the tra!itional la%ors of the Temple $as assine! to a

$or5er in ol! an! %rass an! iron#

After$ar!' $hen the Operati)e Art $as s*perse!e! %" the -pe&*lati)e

-&ien&e' the latter s*pplemente! to the simple Leen! of the Craft the more

re&on!ite Leen! of the Temple# In this latter Leen!' the name of that Hiram

$hom the 3in of T"re ha! sent $ith all honor to the 3in of Israel' to i)e

him ai! in the &onstr*&tion of the Temple' is first intro!*&e! *n!er his %i%li&al

appellation# B*t this is not the first time that this personae is ma!e 5no$n to

the fraternit"# In the ol!er Leen!s he is mentione!' al$a"s $ith a !ifferent

name %*t al$a"s' also' as 7 3in -olomon


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ar&hite&t*ral a%ilities in e6aerate! terms# He &alls him in one pla&e 7the

most a&&omplishe! Mason on earth'7 an! in another 7the prin&e of

ar&hite&ts#7 This &hara&ter has a!here! to him in all s*%se,*ent times' an!

the *n$ritten Leen! of the present !a" represents him as the ' Chief B*il!er

of the Temple'7 the 7 Operati)e Gran! Master'7 an! the 7 -5illf*l Ar&hite&t 7 %"

$hose ela%orate !esins on his trestle:%oar! the Craft $ere *i!e! in theirla%ors an! the e!ifi&e $as &onstr*&te!#

No$' it $ill %e profita%le in the in)estiation of histori& tr*th to &ompare

these attri%*tes assine! to Hiram A%if I2" the ol!er an! more re&ent

leen!ists $ith the %i%li&al a&&o*nts of the same person $hi&h ha)e alrea!"

%een &ite!#

In the oriinal He%re$ te6t of the passae in the %oo5 of Chroni&les' the

$or!s $hi&h !esinate the profession of Hiram A%if are 3horesh ne5hoshet':

literall"' a $or5er in %rass# The *late' $hi&h $as the pop*lar )ersion in

those !a"s an! from $hi&h the ol! leen!ists m*st ha)e !eri)e! their

5no$le!e of %i%li&al histor"' th*s translates the letter of 3in Hiram to 3in

-olomon; 7 Therefore I ha)e sent to thee a $ise an! most s5illf*l man' Hiram

the $or5man or smith' m" father 7:Hiram fa%rem Patrem me*m#

In!ee!' in the &lose of the )erse in the A*thorie! ersion he is !es&ri%e! as

%ein 7 &*nnin to $or5 all $or5s in %rass#7 An! hen&e Dr# A!am Clar5e' in

his'' Commentaries' &alls him 7 a )er" intellient &oppersmith#7

The error into $hi&h the ol! leen!ists an! the mo!ern Masoni& $riters ha)e

fallen' in s*pposin him to ha)e %een a stone:mason or an ar&hite&t' has

arisen from the mistranslation in the A*thorie! ersion of the passae in

Chroni&les $here he is sai! to ha)e %een 7 s5illf*l to $or5 in ol! an! in

sil)er' in %rass' in iron' in stone' an! in tim%er#7 The $or!s in the oriinal are

Baa%anim )e%anelsim' in stones an! in $oo!s': that is' in# Pre&io*s stones

an! in $oo!s of )ario*s 5in!s# That is to sa"' %esi!es %ein a &oppersmith he

$as a lapi!ar" an! a &ar)er an! il!er# The $or!s in the oriinal He%re$ are

in the pl*ral' an! therefore the translation 7 in $oo! an! in tim%er 7 is not

&orre&t# Geseni*s sa"s:an! there is no %etter a*thorit" for a He%raism:that

the $or! e%en is *se! %" $a" of e6&ellen&e' to !enote a pre&io*s stone' an!

its pl*ral' a%anim' means' therefore' pre&io*s stones# In the same $a" net'

$hi&h in the sin*lar sinifies a tree' in the pl*ral !enotes materials of $oo!'


21/23

for an" p*rpose#

The $or5 that $as !one %" Hiram A%if in the Temple is f*ll" re&o*nte! in the

first %oo5 of 3ins' the se)enth &hapter' from the fifteenth to the fortieth

)erse' an! is %riefl" re&apit*late! in )erses fort":one to fift"# It is also

en*merate! in the thir! an! fo*rth &hapters of se&on! Chroni&les' an! in %oth

%oo5s &are is ta5en to sa" that $hen this $or5 $as !one the tas5 of Hiram

A%if $as &omplete!# In the first %oo5 of 3ins .)ii# >2 it is sai!; 7 -o Hiram

ma!e an en! of !*n all the $or5 that he ma!e 3in -olomon for the ho*se

of the Lor!#7 In the se&on! %oo5 of Chroni&les .i)# /2 the statement is

repeate! th*s; 7 An! Hiram finishe! the $or5 that he $as to ma5e for 3in

-olomon for the ho*se of Go!#7

The same a*thorit" lea)es *s in no !o*%t as to $hat that $or5 $as to $hi&h

the s5ill of Hiram A%if ha! %een !e)ote!# 7It $as'7sa"s the %oo5 of Chroni&les'

7 the t$o pillars' an! the pommels an! the &hapiters $hi&h $ere on the top of

the pillars ( an! fo*r h*n!re! pomeranates on the t$o $reaths( t$o ro$s of

pomeranates on ea&h $reath' to &o)er the t$o pommels of the &hapiters

$hi&h $ere *pon the pillars# He ma!e also %ases' an! la)ers ma!e he *pon

the %ases( one sea an! t$el)e o6en *n!er it# The pots also' an! the sho)els

an! the flesh hoo5s an! all their instr*ments' !i! H*ram his father .Hiram

A%if2 ma5e to 3in -olomon' for the ho*se of the Lor!' of %riht %rass#7

Eno*h has %een sai! to sho$ that the la%ors of Hiram A%if in the Temple

$ere those of a $or5er in %rass an! in pre&io*s stones' in &ar)in an! in

il!in' an! not those of a stonemason# He $as the !e&orator an! not the

%*il!er of the Temple# He o$es the position $hi&h he hol!s in the leen!s an!

in the rit*al of Freemasonr"' not to an" &onne&tion $hi&h he ha! $ith the art

of ar&hite&t*re' of $hi&h there is not the slihtest mention %" the %i%li&al

a*thorities' %*t' li5e T*%al Cain' to his s5ill in %rinin the poten&" of fire

*n!er his &ontrol an! appl"in it to the forin of metals#

The hih honor pai! to him is the res*lt of the infl*en&e of that Leen! of the

-mith' so *ni)ersall" sprea! in the Mi!!le Aes' $hi&h re&o*nte! the

$on!ro*s !ee!s of ol*n!' or 9ielan!' or 9a"lan!# The smith $as' in the

me!iae)al tra!itions' in the saas of the north an! in the roman&es of the

so*th of E*rope' the ma5er of s$or!s an! &oats of mail( in the Leen!s of

Freemasonr" he $as transm*te! into the fa%ri&ator of hol" )essels an!


22/23

sa&re! implements#

B*t the i!ea that of all han!i&rafts smith:&raft $as the reatest $as

*n$ittinl" retaine! %" the Masons $hen the" ele)ate! the s5illf*l smith of

T"re' the 7&*nnin7 $or5er in %rass' to the hihest pla&e as a %*il!er in their

Temple leen!#

The spirit of &riti&al i&ono&lasm' $hi&h strips the e6terior h*s5 from the

histori& erm of all m"ths an! leen!s' has %een !oin m*&h to !i)est the

histor" of Freemasonr" of all fa%*lo*s ass*mptions# This attempt to i)e to

Hiram A%if his tr*e position' an! to !efine his real profession' is in the spirit of

that i&ono&lasm#

B*t the !o&trine here a!)an&e! is not inten!e! to affe&t in the slihtest

!eree the part assine! to Hiram A%if in the s"m%olism of the Thir! Deree#

9hate)er ma" ha)e %een his profession' he m*st ha)e stoo! hih in the

&onfi!en&e of the t$o 5ins' of him $ho sent him an! him $ho re&ei)e! him'

as 7 a master $or5man( 7 an! he miht $ell %e s*ppose! to %e entitle! in an

alleor" to the e6alte! ran5 %esto$e! *pon him in the Lee ! of the Craft an!

in the mo!ern rit*al#

Alleories are permitte! to !i)ere at $ill from the fa&ts of histor" an! the

tea&hins of s&ien&e# Trees ma" %e ma!e to spea5' as the" !o in the most

an&ient fa%le e6tant' an! it is no infrinement of their &hara&ter that a $or5er

in %rass ma" %e transm*te! into a %*il!er in stone to s*it a s"m%oli&

p*rpose#

Hen&e this 7 &ele%rate! artist'7 as he is fairl" &alle!' $hether smith or mason'

is still the representati)e' in the s"m%olism of Freemasonr"' of the a%stra&t

i!ea of man la%orin in the temple of life' an! the s"m%oli& lesson of his trie!interit" an! his *nhapp" fate is still the same#

As Freemasons' $hen $e )ie$ the $hole Leen! as a m"th inten!e! to i)e

e6pression to a s"m%oli& i!ea' $e ma" %e &ontent to &all him an ar&hite&t'

the first of Masons' an! the &hief %*il!er of the Temple( %*t as st*!ents of


23/23

histor" $e &an 5no$ nothin of him an! a!mit nothin &on&ernin him that is

not s*pporte! %" a*thenti& an! *n!isp*te! a*thorit"#

9e m*st' therefore' loo5 *pon him as the inenio*s artist' $ho $or5e! in

metals an! in pre&io*s stones' $ho &ar)e! in &e!ar an! in oli)e:$oo!' an!

th*s ma!e the ornaments of the Temple#

He is onl" the ol*n! or 9ielan! of the ol!en leen!' &hane!' %" a mista5en

%*t a nat*ral pro&ess of transm*tin tra!itions' from a $or5er in %rass to a

$or5er in stone#

The Legend of Hiran Abiff

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Transcript of The Legend of Hiran Abiff