{"id":59,"date":"2004-09-02T13:10:58","date_gmt":"2004-09-02T20:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theeduca.mywhc.ca\/?p=59"},"modified":"2004-09-02T13:10:58","modified_gmt":"2004-09-02T20:10:58","slug":"serpent-clasp-on-aprons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/serpent-clasp-on-aprons\/","title":{"rendered":"Serpent Clasp on Aprons"},"content":{"rendered":"

What could be the Significance of the Serpent on the Clasp of many Masonic Aprons?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The use of a serpent or snake-like hook to fasten our Masonic Aprons is an intriguing practice. Although the serpent is despised by more people than any other creature on earth, it is one of the oldest, and most venerated, of symbols.<\/p>\n

Even though the snake or serpent is perhaps the most deadly and most feared of all the enemies of primitive man (and so stands for the powers of evil), it is also regarded as the wisest of all creatures and when extended at length is the symbol of Divine Wisdom.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Christian<\/strong> Freemasonry, the serpent is an emblem of the fall and subsequent redemption of man.<\/p>\n

Both aspects are depicted in the Volume of the Secret Law (Bible<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

The evil aspect is shown in the story of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, while the Divine Wisdom is clearly referred to in the phrase \u201cBe ye as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves\u201d (Matthew 10 Verse 16).<\/p>\n

So, symbolically, the serpent fastening our aprons indicates that, we are encircled by the Holy Wisdom. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The serpent biting its tail and thus forming a circle, which is a figure without a beginning or an end, represents eternity, and therefore the eternal wisdom of the Most High. It should be an ever present reminder that<\/p>\n

\u201c In all his pursuits a Freemason should have Eternity in view.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Author Unknown<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Something to think about.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A friend gave Peggy & I a book some years ago and we have left it on a bedside table in our guest room for the pleasure of anyone visiting our home. It is a beautiful book of Poetry by Helen Steiner Rice and titled \u201c Someone Cares\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

We offer the following poem from that book for your contemplation and pleasure:-<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat More Can You Ask\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s love endureth forever<\/p>\n

What a wonderful thing to know<\/p>\n

When the tides of life run against you<\/p>\n

And your spirit is downcast and low<\/p>\n

God\u2019s kindness is ever around you<\/p>\n

Always ready to freely impart<\/p>\n

Strength to your faltering spirit,<\/p>\n

Cheer to the lonely heart\u2026<\/p>\n

God\u2019s presence is ever beside you,<\/p>\n

As near as the reach of your hand,<\/p>\n

You have but to tell him your troubles,<\/p>\n

There is nothing he won\u2019t understand\u2026<\/p>\n

And knowing God\u2019s love is unfailing,<\/p>\n

And his mercy unending and great,<\/p>\n

Your have but to trust in his promise,<\/p>\n

\u201cGod comes not too soon or too late\u201d<\/p>\n

So wait with a heart that is patient<\/p>\n

For the goodness of God to prevail,<\/p>\n

For never do prayers go unanswered,<\/p>\n

And his mercy and Love never fail.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 
\n <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following along in our quest for understanding, the next section of the First Degree Tracing Board deals with what we refer to as \u201cThe Furniture of the Lodge\u201d.<\/p>\n

Having spent some time on the Ornaments of the Lodge\u201d this appears to me to be the first time in this lecture that we move from a description of Masonry itself and start describing the Furniture of the Lodge and how it symbolically applies itself to the actions & responsibilities of Masons as a whole and as individuals in particular. Please take some time to study this section and appreciate where it is directing us as Masons.<\/p>\n

\u201c The furniture of the Lodge consists of the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Compasses, the Square. The Sacred Words are to 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.<\/p>\n

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\u201d<\/p>\n

Dealing firstly with the Volume of the Sacred Law it is extremely important to note that this statement is NON SPECIFIC and can, and should, include all premier Books of Faith that are followed by members of your Lodge whether they are present at the meeting or not. This, particular point, was addressed by our Immediate Past Grand Master, M.W.Bro.Bill Ferguson, during his term in office, and he has admonished us all to ensure that all Brethren are shown the religious respect they so properly deserve.<\/p>\n

It might be a good idea to check if your Lodge has considered this matter and is prepared to put it into effect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[61,62,100],"class_list":["post-59","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-educator","tag-lodge","tag-mason","tag-sacred-law"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"MasterMason","author_link":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/author\/mastermason\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"The Educator<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Following along in our quest for understanding, the next section of the First Degree Tracing Board deals with what we refer to as \u201cThe Furniture of the Lodge\u201d. Having spent some time on the Ornaments of the Lodge\u201d this appears to me to be the first time in this lecture that we move from a…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/76"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=59"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/59\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=59"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=59"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=59"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}