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This paper is dedicated to my Lodge Brethren and Officers of The Belfast Masonic Lodge No.651.

“Masonry is a march and a struggle toward the Light. For the individual as well as the nation, light is

virtue, Manliness, Intelligence.” (Albert Pike Morals and Dogma)

How did the tracing boards within a Masonic Lodge Originate?

“A tracing board (or trestle board) originates from the operative Mason, during each brothers time in

apprenticeship, each brother was taught to draw in the lodge. These drawings were the blueprint of the operative

workings of the building or work that the company of masons were working on at the current time.”

From the Ruapehu Lodge of Research – ‘A daily advancement of Masonic knowledge’

“While the tracing board today is looked upon as an ornament in the Lodgeroom, which has various degrees for

the brethren to moralise upon, the main aim of a tracing board as used by operatives was to lay out the plan and

design for the building to be constructed.

We find that they were used in the middle east, countries long before King Solomon’s Temple was planned and

constructed. For example, when called upon to erect a building Persian craftsmen worked out their scheme for

the building, on a sectional lined tracing board, divided into squares by horizontal and vertical lines, each square

representing either one or four blocks.

The Persians tracing board was laid on a floor of their workroom so that it was possible to erect a workable

model before the construction on the main building commenced.”1

Tracing Board or Trestle board

These two terms are generally used as meaning the same thing – the board that contains a collection

of esoteric symbols used to illustrate the moral messages illustrated within the rituals of the various

degrees.

However the Trestle – board is the design board for the Master craftsman (or Architect) to draw out

his plans and designs to give the Fellowcraft an outline of the work to be performed. This could be

seen as a blueprint, it was a framework consisting of 3 vertical, slanted legs, with one or more

horizontal crosspieces on which to hang or display an item.2

There is no real information as to when the term Tracing board came from, it’s first published use

came from Samuel Pritchard’s Masonry Dissected in October 1730 (after formation of Grand Lodge).

Within it the Candidate for initiation is asked:

Q: What are the immovable Jewels?

A: Trasel Board, Rough Ashlar, and Broach’d Thurnel.

1 ‘A daily advancement into masonic knowledge no.26’, The Ruapheu lodge of research No 444

2 Description from “Why the Brethern Square the Lodge” - Academia Lodge No 846

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Q: What are their uses?

A: Trasel Board for the Master to draw his designs upon..

The tracing board however is the picture that (as discussed above) was the picture formally drawn

on the floor of the lodge. Interestingly according to W.Bro Jim Anderson, most historic operative

lodges would have taken place outdoors. The lodge then would have to be portable

“We are told (Bro R J Meekren in his The Lodge, an essay in Method3) that the primitive operative lodge was

held out of doors. Echoes of this tradition are to be found in early speculative documents and some still persist

in the lectures. To the student of folklore, says Meekren, the marking out of a ritual enclosure on the ground is

a familiar and explainable practice. When lodges came to meet indoors, it would be natural to continue the

customs they used out of doors. The ‘enclosure’ had, therefore to be formed on the floor of the meeting floor”4

As operative Masonry moved its lodges from outdoors to meeting in the upper rooms of the Pubs

and private chambers within Churches. The Masonic Tracing board began to be made from Charcoal

or chalk, the designs and patterns being formed on the floors.

The duty of drawing these designs was generally given to the entered Apprentice, after the lecture,

the stewards or the Entered Apprentice would wash them off, this is why on some historic Masonic

documents we see a mop and bucket portrayed.

Later the tracing board was displayed on a rug, either placed on the floor, or on the table (some

areas in the English Constitution still unroll a rug while going through the tracing board lecture).

Over time the Tracing board was placed on the Trestle Board.

Incidentally there is historical claim that we “square the lodge” because of how the tracing board

was drawn on the floor, or on the dirt (if the lodge was convened outdoors). The older rituals talk of

“Nothing to do except to disarrange our emblems”, a reference to the brethren walking on top of

the design, the tracing board could be partial or fully destroyed.

3 “if we take the insistent and universal tradition among Masons that lodges – at some time in the distant past

– were used to be formed outdoors, on some high hill or in some deep dale” 4 “The Tracing Boards of Freemasonry” W. Bro J.D. Anderson

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Fig 1: Brethren convening at an outside lodge – we can see the outline of the Tracing board on the ground

Modernising the Tracing boards

Slightly before the creation of the United Lodges, we find the first tracing board designs as we see

them today. In 1801 John Cole published the designs for a set of tracing boards5.

Fig 2: The Early version of the Entered Apprentice Tracing board

5 Illustrations of Masonry

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These boards are particularly distinct, the checked board is diagonal, this is the first time that we see

the three columns representing Wisdom (Doric), Strength (Ionic) and Beauty(Corinthian). However

in modern tracing boards we can see this order of columns changed.

One of the most interesting features of these early Tracing boards is the absence of the exterior

tassels. The Outer border of the Tracing board was surrounded by a knotted rope – this symbolised

the bonds of friendship which should bind each Freemason to his brethren.

The main name in modernising the Tracing Board however is that of John Harris, shortly after the

creation of the United Lodges, he revolutionised the tracing boards, Harris was a miniature painter

and architect by trade. A facsimile of these boards is present in Arthur Square, along the corridor

towards the toilets.

After he was initiated into Freemasonry he became fascinated with the concept of the tracing board,

within two years he had created a set of miniature tracing boards that had all the elements of the

board we see today. His next set of tracing boards were dedicated to the Duke of Sussex in 1823 –

who was the first Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England, these were highly elaborate

and intricate in nature.

Fig 3:(1st

, 2nd

and 3rd

degree tracing boards of Harris’s design, as familiar today as in 1823)

It is worthwhile to note that each of the tracing board designs (which are rectangular in design – like

Harris’s design) have proportions linked to the Golden Section.

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As notable Masonic Scholar Don Falconer points out:

“Tracing boards in speculative freemasonry have sides which are in the proportion of the phi ratio,

which is called the Golden Section. It is mathematically and aesthetically elegant and results in a

rectangular shape most pleasing to the eye”6

Musings on the 1st Degree Tracing Board

In this Paper, I will attempt to bring further light onto the symbolic history that can be found within

the Entered Apprentice tracing board.

I will interlace the explanations with quotations from the English constitutions Entered Apprentice

Tracing board lecture, not practiced in the Irish constitution. This will hopefully give the reader the

context for which the tracing boards were created.

Why is the study of Masonic Symbolism Important?

The venerable Bro. Albert Mackey states;

“Withdraw from Freemasonry its symbolism and you take from the body it’s soul, leaving behind

nothing but a lifeless mass of effete, fitted only for a rapid decay”

It has been said that it is the ritual that defines Masonry, I believe in part that is true, however the other

half of understanding the uniquely transposed dimensions within the ‘masonic equation’ is

understanding its symbols, and the moral instruction that they direct all Freemasons towards.

Albert Mackey continues in his musings regarding the Tracing boards;

“Only by regular contemplation of Masonic symbols is it possible to grasp their true meaning and

esoteric significance. The keys of Masonic knowledge are presented in the emblems depicted on the

tracing board of each degree, but only through frequent study can the seeker lift the veil of the allegory

to reveal the hidden truth.”

The regular contemplation of Masonic symbolism is present in our ritual and its expositions. One of

the most important expositions is that of the Tracing boards.

What is the Entered Apprentice Tracing Board?

Robert Cooper writes in cracking the ‘Freemasons Code’;

“Each degree and branch of Freemasonry has its own special history, which is designed to impart its

particular moral lessons. The first three degrees are centred on King Solomon’s temple, how it was

built, by whom and for what purpose…the temple has always had a special resonance for stonemasons

and...It takes pride of place in the ‘Masonic system’, having been included in the first and for a

considerable time, the only Masonic ceremonies in existence...in them the Lodge is equated with the

6 Don Falconer, Square and Compasses Vol. 2, page 199.

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temple (specifically the entrance into it). The traditional history is allegorical, designed to convey

particular messages, moral lessons and Masonic lore”.7

The official explanation of what Freemasonry is from the United Grand Lodge system is;

“A peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated symbols…”

So here we see that symbolism plays an integral part within Freemasonry, therefore we can simply say

that the Entered Apprentice Tracing Board is a collection of symbols which relate to the metaphorical

temple which the degree rituals allude to.8

The Lecture concerning the tracing board introduces the new Entered Apprentice to;

1. Symbolism and its importance to the craft

2. What a Lodge is and how it is geometrically measured

3. The placement of the Lodge

4. The orientation of the Lodge, and its relationship to the tabernacle and temple

5. The physical and allegorical nature of the lodge

6. The physical objects to be found in a Lodge

7. The cardinal virtues of a craftsman.

The Origins of Freemasonry

The tracing board lecture begins by drawing parallels with ancient civilisations, bringing to light that

they were regular methods of communications. It specifically mentions the mystery traditions of

Ancient Egypt and Pythagoras’ systems.

“The usages and customs among Freemasons have ever borne a near affinity to those of the ancient

Egyptians. Their philosophers, unwilling to expose their mysteries to vulgar eyes, couched their systems

of learning and polity under signs and hieroglyphical figures, which were communicated to their chief

priests or Magi alone, who were bound by solemn oath to conceal them. The system of Pythagoras was

founded on a similar principle, as well as many others of more recent date. Masonry, however, is not

only the most ancient but the most honourable Society that ever existed, as there is not a character or

emblem here depicted, but serves to inculcate the principles of piety and virtue among all its genuine

professors.”

Dr James Anderson who wrote the Grand Lodge Constitutions in 1723, a part of which is always

referenced in our blue books(Laws and Constitutions), attempts to elucidate the history of

Freemasonry as such;

“Adam, our first parent, created after the Image of God, the great architect of the universe, must have

had the liberal sciences, particularly Geometry, written in his heart; for even since the fall, we find

principles of it in the Hearts of his offspring…

7 Robert Cooper, Cracking the Freemasons Code, pg. 93

8 I am not saying that Solomon’s Temple is allegorical, merely that we use the historical construction of the

physical temple as an allegory.

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And no doubt, the Royal art was brought down to Egypt by Mitzraim, the second son of Ham, about

six years, after the confusion at Babel, and after the flood 160 years, when he led thither his colony (for

the word Egypt is Mitzraim in Hebrew) because we find the River Nile’s overflowing it’s banks, soon

caused an improvement in Geometry, which consequently brought Masonry much in request.”

So we can see that from the creation of the Grand Lodge system, and perhaps before it, there has

always been the attempt to categorise the history of Masonry. Dr Albert Mackey has much to say of

the matter in his famous “Symbolism of Freemasonry”, where he specifically mentions how the Entered

Apprentice tracing board (or something similar) has been used since the Egyptians, in order to

communicate geometrical knowledge and to teach a system of morality.

The Form of the Lodge

Many masonic authors have said that the description of the form of the lodge within the lecture is

again, allegorical in nature, as within it, it attempts to explain the main principles of Masonic morality,

namely that of charity.

“Let me first call your attention to the form of the Lodge, which is a regular parallelepipedon, in length

from East to West, in breadth between North and South, in depth from the surface of the earth to its

centre, and even as high as the heavens. The reason that a Freemason's Lodge is represented of that vast

extent is to show the universality of the science that a Mason's charity should know no bounds save

those of prudence”

So what’s a parallelepipedon? , the dictionary definition is; “a prism whose base are parallelograms”, the

geometric symbolism here is of the infinite, this shape’s top, bottom and sides are stretching infinitely.

The main message here is to say that the true influence of Freemasonry is infinite and has no true

bounds.

The orientation mentioned in the lecture was important according to W.Bro. W. Kirk MacNulty with

the orientation of ancient temples and early churches. 9

In early Freemasonry there was also a form of Catechism associated with this;

Q: Did you ever travel?

A: My forefathers did

Q: Where did they travel?

A: Due East and West

Q: What was the object of their travels?

A: They travelled East in search of instruction, and west to propagate the knowledge they had

gained.

Again from the lecture;

9 Masonic Tracing Boards by W. Kirk MacNulty

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“Our Lodge stands on holy ground, because the first Lodge was consecrated on account of three grand

offerings thereon made, which met with Divine approbation. First, the ready compliance of Abraham

with the will of God in not refusing to offer up his only son Isaac as a burnt sacrifice, when it pleased

the Almighty to substitute a more agreeable victim in his stead.”

“Secondly, the many pious prayers and ejaculations of King David, which actually appeased the wrath of God, and stayed a pestilence which then raged among his people, owing to his inadvertently, having had them numbered. Thirdly, the many thanksgivings, oblations, burnt sacrifices and costly offerings which Solomon, King of Israel, made at the completion, consecration, and dedication of the Temple at Jerusalem to God's service. Those three did then, have since, and I trust ever will, render the groundwork of Freemasonry holy.

Our Lodge is situated due East and West, because all places of Divine worship, as well as Masons' regular, well-formed, constituted Lodges, are, or ought to be, so situated; for which we assign three Masonic reasons: First, the Sun, the Glory of the Lord, rises in the East and sets in the West.; Second, learning originated in the East, and thence spread its benign influence to the West; the third, last, and grand reason, which is too long to be entered upon now, is explained in the course of our Lectures, which I hope you will have many opportunities of hearing.”

Again we see references to the orientation of sacred places linked to the building or forming of lodges.

We also see clear reference to the fact that a freemasons lodge should always be ‘patterned’ on

Solomon’s temple, which itself was ‘patterned’ on Moses’ tabernacle.

Symbolism within the Tracing Board

The lecture then continues with what many consider the ‘main meat’ of the tracing boards, to be the

symbolism within. The symbolism within the board reflects upon the visible and invisible items

present within the masonic lodge. Such as the Pillar – very visible items, and the essence of Charity –

an invisible attribute of the mason and his lodge, but very tangibly felt to those whose troubles he is

helping to relieve.

“Our Lodge is supported by three great pillars. They are called Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty:

Wisdom to contrive, Strength to support, and Beauty to adorn; Wisdom to conduct us in all our

undertakings, Strength to support us under all our difficulties, and Beauty to adorn the inward man.

The Universe is the Temple of the Deity whom we serve Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty are about His

throne as pillars of His works, His Wisdom is infinite, His Strength omnipotent, and Beauty shines

through the whole of the creation in symmetry a order. The heavens He has stretched forth as a

canopy; the earth He hath planted as His footstool; He crowns His Temple with Stars as with a

diadem, and His hands extend their power and glory. The Sun and Moon are messengers of His will,

and all His law is concord. The three great Pillars supporting Mason's Lodges are emblematical of the

Divine attributes…But as we have no noble orders in Architecture known by the names of Wisdom

Strength, and Beauty, we refer them to the three most celebrated, the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.”

This shows several interesting aspects of Freemasonry firstly the importance of the number 3, the

number 3 is incessantly used in Freemasonry (especially in the Entered Apprentice) – three distinct

knocks at the door, the three squares made by the candidate during the degree etc. With specific

reference to the pillars contained in the tracing board, the lecture refers to them in specific ways;

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Symbolic – the three attributes representing the three Historic Grand Masters

– (omitted here as some of our brethren have not attained the sublime degree yet)

Metaphysical - Referring to the Great Architect

Physical – referring to Architecture

Wisdom is represented by the Ionic Column – as this is the most complex in design of the three

columns, therefore taking the most knowledge and skill to create. Therefore it seems only right that

this pillar represents the Master of the Lodge;

The second pillar (placed on the west side) represents Strength, this is a Doric column, said to be the

strongest design, this is said to represent the Senior Warden of the lodge;

The third and last pillar (placed on the south side) is said to represent the Junior Warden, and also

represents the aspect of Beauty - the architectural architect that is used to represent this is the

Corinthian pillar;

The venerable Albert Pike believed that the two columns of Solomon’s temple, placed in the portico –

Jachin and Boaz were of a phallic nature, tracing their origins through antiquity. According to Pike, the

clue to the nature of the Columns comes from the design of the Corinthian pillar, or a variant thereof.

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Looking at flora and it’s relative symbology in ancient Egypt, Pike sees imitations in the Egyptian

designs of the capitals (or top) of their columns.

“The capitals of the Egyptian columns were imitations of this seed vessel, surrounded by ornaments

and the smaller vessels of the same kind; all of which are symbolic; the pomegranate being a symbol of

the productive power of nature, and a representation of the productive power of nature"10

Interestingly he also compares the Indian lily and how it is used in similar columns in the religious

temples of the Indian civilisation. Pike also makes observations on the spacing between the Columns,

noting the similarity between the Egyptian, Indian and Hebrew temples. He finishes his observations

on the nature of the temple by matching the nature of the column and the capital.

“The phallic character of the columns of the Temple is shown by the seed-vessels of the lotus and by

the Pomegranates, which, surrounding the upright shaft of the height and circumference, unite the

symbols of the generative and productive organs and powers”11

The Furniture of the Lodge

Concerning the Furniture of the lodge, the lecture has this to say;

“The interior of a Freemason's Lodge is composed of Ornaments, Furniture, and jewels. The

ornaments of the Lodge are the Mosaic pavement, the blazing star, and the indented or tessellated

border; the Mosaic pavement is the beautiful flooring of a Freemason's Lodge, the blazing star the

glory in the centre, and the indented or tessellated border, the skirtwork round the same. The Mosaic

pavement may justly be deemed the beautiful flooring of the Lodge, by reason of its being variegated

and chequered. This points out the diversity of objects which decorate and adorn the creation, the

animate as well as the inanimate parts thereof. The blazing star, or glory in the centre, refers us to the

Sun, which enlightens the earth, and by its benign influence dispenses blessings to mankind in general.

The indented or tessellated border refers us to the planets, which in their various revolutions form a

beautiful border or skirtwork round that grand luminary, the Sun, as the other does round that of a

Freemason's Lodge. The furniture of the Lodge are the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Compasses, and

Square; the Sacred Writings are to rule and govern our faith. On them we obligate our Candidates for

Freemasonry; so are the Compasses and Square, when united, to regulate our lives and actions. The

Sacred Volume is derived from God to man in general; the Compasses belong to the Grand Master in

particular, and the Square to the whole Craft.”

The mosaic pavement is said to represent the diversity of creation, however it can also be said to refer

to the symbols of good and evil within human life;

“The mosaic pavement is an old symbol of the order. It is met with the earliest rituals of the last

century. It is classed amongst the ornaments of the lodge, along with the indented tessel and the

blazing star. It’s partly coloured stones of black and white have been readily and appropriately

interpreted as symbols of good and evil within human life.”

10

Albert Pike, The Book of the Words, pg.41 11

Albert Pike, The Book of the Words, pg.46

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Its history is particularly old, and relates to the floor possibly used by the Dionysian Architects, which

was in operation from about 1000BC, they exclusively confined to the privilege of erecting temples and

public buildings.

Kirk MacNulty writes concerning the ‘other’ possible conclusions regarding the blazing star, the

checkerboard and the tassels, he believes that they all represent the Architect.

“The fact that the Masons, who formulated our symbolism, gathered these three objects into a single

group seems to require that we consider them together and in relationship with each other. The

ornaments of the lodge are the Blazing star or Glory, the chequered pavement, and the indented,

tessellated border, and I will suggest that they all refer to the deity.”

“In fact the Blazing star, or Glory is a straightforward representation of the deity..[and as] shown in the

1st degree tracing board in the heavens, it represents the Deity in all its glory as it projects itself into

existence. The checkered board represents the Deity as it is perceived, here on Earth in ordinary life.

The light and dark represent paired opposites, a mixture of mercy and justice, reward and punishment.”

The Blazing Star has a long history within the craft, The masonic scholar Albert Mackey states :

“The Blazing Star is the first and most exalted object that determines our attention in the Lodge”

Like many other Masonic symbols it is a symbol of great antiquity and it is also a symbol derived from

other systems. It has been part of the lodge furniture since approximately 1735, it was not present in

the ritual monitor of 1717, but after 1735, the monitors describe the furniture of the lodge as being:

“Mosaic pavement is the Ground Floor of the Lodge, the Blazing Star the center, and the indented

Tarsel, the Border round about it”

The Prestonian Lecture credited to Dunckerley connects the Masonic Blazing Star with the Star of

Bethlehem and also, more curiously with Moses on Mount Sinai.

“The Masonic Blazing Star or glory in the center, reminds us of that awful period when the Almighty,

delivered the two tablets of stone , containing the 10 commandments to his faithful servant. Moses on

Mount Sinai when the rays of His divine glory shone so bright that none could behold it without fear

and trembling”

The Moveable/Immovable Jewels of a Lodge

With regard to the Masonic landmarks concepts of moveable/immovable jewels of a lodge, the lecture

says this;

“The jewels of the Lodge are three movable and three immovable. The movable jewels are the Square,

the Level and the Plumb Rule. Among operative Masons the Square is to try and adjust rectangular

corners of buildings and assist in bringing rude matter into due form; the Level to lay levels and prove

horizontals; and the Plumb Rule to try and adjust uprights while fixing on their proper bases. Among

Free and Accepted Masons, the Square teaches morality, the Level equality, and the Plumb Rule

justness and uprightness of life and actions. They are called movable jewels, because they are worn by

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the Master and his Wardens and transferable to their successors on the night of Installation. The

Master is distinguished by the Square, the Senior Wan by the Level, and the Junior Warden the Plumb

Rule. The immovable jewels are the Tracing Board, the Rough and Perfect Ashlars. The Tracing Board

for the Master to lay lines and draw designs on; the Rough Ashlar for Entered Apprentice to work,

mark, and indent on; the Perfect Ashlar for the experienced Craftsman to try and adjust his jewels They

are called immovable jewels, because they lie open and immovable in the Lodge for the Brethren to

moralise upon.”

“As the Tracing Board is for the Master to lay lines and draw designs on, better to enable the Brethren

to carry on: the intended structure with regularity propriety, so the Volume of the Sacred Law may

justly be deemed to be the spiritual Tracing Board of the Great Architect the Universe, in which are

laid downs such Divine laws and moral plans, that were we conversant therewith, and obedient thereto,

they would bring us to an ethereal mansion not built by hands, but eternal in the Heavens. The Rough

Ashlar is a stone, rough and unhewn as taken from the quarry, till, by the industry and ingenuity of the

workman, it is modelled, wrought into due form, and rendered fit for the intended building; this

represents the mind of man in its infant or primitive state, rough and unpolished as that stone, till by

the kind care and instruction of his parents or guardians, in giving him a liberal and virtuous education,

his mind becomes cultivated, and he is thereby rendered a fit member of civilised society. The Perfect

Ashlar is a stone of a true die or square, fit only to be tried by the Square and Compasses; this

represents the mind of a man in the decline of years, after a well-spent life in acts of piety and virtue,

which cannot otherwise be tried and approved than by the Square of God's Word and the Compasses

of his own self convincing conscience.”

The Ashlar stone was a piece of prepared stone work, it actually has its own form of masonry – a stone

wall prepared with these kind of stones, was known as Ashlar masonry. The rough ashlar was the stone

taken directly from the quarry and represents the Mason at the beginning of his journey, a smooth – or

perfect ashlar is one that is fit for use in the building project, and allegorically represents the

Freemason, who, through diligence and education has learned the lessons of Freemasonry and stands

morally upright amongst his fellow men.

Jewels of the Lodge?

I feel I have to segue slightly and explain what the Jewels of the Lodge are, or more precisely the rough

definition of what they are. Under most jurisdictions, every speculative craft lodge has three moveable

and three immovable jewels (though this varies on Constitutions). These jewels are meant for the

Brethren to moralise on, they are the Square, the level, the plumb rule, the rough Ashlar, the perfect

Ashlar and the tracing board.

The Masonic Ladder and the Three Theological Virtues

My eye has always been taken with the Symbolic ladder we can see on the Tracing board, it seems to be

the first thing that my eyes focus on – perhaps because it’s right in the middle. The ladder of course is

that of Jacobs dream, this ladder which is perhaps one of the most remarkable within the mythology of

the Jewish people can also be found in other ancient initiation ceremonies.

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In the Mithraistic mysteries, the seven runged ladder is said to be a symbol of the soul to perfection.

Certainly the ladder is seen as a symbol of progress , of reaching upward present in many religions and

societies, sometimes it is seen as a staircase (as we come to with the Fellowcraft Tracing board),

sometimes a series of gates. Regardless it is seen as the spiritual ascent from the darkness of ignorance

to the light of knowledge, from the material to the spiritual.

Faith, Hope and Charity rest on the rungs of the ladder, Faith is defined by the dictionary definition as;

“A firm conviction of the truth of what is declared by another”

The whole of civilisation rests on that form of faith, without faith in our promises and the written

word society could not exist, neither could Freemasonry exist. The faith considered here is not the

religious faith, but of that of the faith of those who considered Freemasonry had value to give to those

who looked for faith in its reality and genuineness and faith in its principles and practices.

Modern Speculative Freemasonry depict seven rungs on the ladder, yet name only three (the

aforementioned faith, hope and charity). The English explanation of the tracing board nods towards

this by the explanation that :

“The ladder has many staves or rounds, which point out as many moral virtues, but the three principal

ones are Faith, Hope and Charity”

So are the other four missing or left out?

Originally each rung of the ladder was labelled according to it’s individual symbolised virtue, however

possibly because artistically or for practical reasons they were eventually moved to other positions

around the board. This makes for a more interesting artistic depiction of the virtues, but it is still

important for the Freemason to remember that they are all part of the ascending ladder.

Faith Hope and Charity are known as the theological virtues, usually a cross is used to represent faith,

an anchor is used to represent hope and a hand holding a chalice is used to represent the virtue of

charity.

The four Cardinal virtues (which used to be known as the four Social virtues) are Temperance,

Fortitude, Prudence and Justice. These four virtues are represented by the four Tassels at the edge of

the tracing board.12

The Four Tassels of the Lodge

The first English lecture on the tracing board comments on the four tassels as such

“The two Ends of the Lodge, facing severally due East and West, and the two sides, facing respectively

North and South, thus indicating the four cardinal points of the compass, represent to us the Four

Cardinal Virtues, namely Temperance, Fortitude , Prudence and Justice”13

12

There are also three Intellectual virtues present on the tracing board, which we have touched on earlier – Wisdom, Strength and Beauty, these are depicted as the Columns or Pillars that have been mentioned earlier

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As mentioned earlier, the beginnings of the artistic styling of the Entered Apprentice tracing board did

not feature the four tassels, but a wavy cord, which was contained four knots and finished with two

tasselled edges hanging down

This arrangement of is known as the scalloped tassel, Dr John Browne in his text of the Master Key

explains the possible reason that this design was used:

“the kind care of providence which so cheerfully surrounds and keeps us within its protection whilst we

justly and uprightly govern our lives and actions by the four cardinal virtues in divinity”14

There are various interpretations of the Tassels which surround the tracing board, including the widely

accepted one from early French ritual, that the wavy cord should be symbolic of freemasons being

joined together no matter how much geographic distance between them.

We can trace the origin of the Tassels from Operative times, Masons created the structure of buildings

from the centre (another possible understanding of the point within the centre). In the case of religious

buildings, the altar, the main piece was constructed first, and everything else developed around it. The

points of the building were also laid out from the centre, this was for geometric reasons. According to

Bro. Don Falconer;

“The points established to locate the four corners of the principal constituent of the building were also

set out from the centre point. This was achieved by fixing a skirret at the centre point, from which a

line the required length could be extended to each of the four corners in succession”15

13

The sixth edition of the lectures of the Tracing Board, 1962 14

The Master Key, Dr John Browne 15

Don Falconer, Square and Compasses, pg.95

15 | P a g e

Bro. Falconer suggests that within early ritual the four tassels are representative of the four plumb lines

that the operative masons used to establish the four corners during construction.

The Hidden Key

Also near the Ladder, usually hidden away, is a key, the key is a very old symbol within Freemasonry,

mentioned in some of the earliest rituals.

“Q: What is the Key of your lodge?

A: A Well hung tongue”16

One piece of early ritual many brethren would recognise is this

“It is not made of Wood, Stone Iron or Steel, or any sort of metal, but the tongue of good report

behind a brother’s back as well as before his face17

This is the first recorded usage of the ‘tongue of good report’ – which seems to have been a significant

expression in the early masonic rituals.

The Point Within the Circle

This according to Masonic ritual is “The space between which no Mason can err”, North and South of

this are two Parallel lines, traditionally symbolising the Saints John – Baptist and the Evangelist,

connected by two solstices. That in the summer (June 24th) in regard to the Baptist and the winter

(December 27th) in regard to the Evangelist.

The two parallel lines denoting the Greek version of the name John – Ioannis.

They are also explained in certain jurisdictions (wishing to avoid a Christian explanation) they

represent the prophet Moses and King Solomon.

The Point within the circle is actually a very ancient symbol, on early Egyptian monuments, the symbol

for the eternal godhead was discovered, the point within the circle, with a border of two upright,

perpendicular serpents. The Point within the circle also represented the Sun 18.

16

Edinburgh Register House MS of 1696 17

Sloane MS of C1700 18

Interestingly the ‘Point within the circle’ can be seen in Rome – the great monolith which stands at St.Peter’s square, stands at the centre of a circle, the monolith was brought from Egypt by the Emperor Caligula.