Dear Unknown Friend,
In Part I of this commentary I introduced Freemasonry and Alchemy with the Rebis. Doing this I followed Pike, but I think I should have hit closer to home, and I seek to rectify that now.
Alchemy is the transmutation of common metals into gold, in an effort to find the universal panacea to all worldly ills, and imperfections. It is also known as the Great Work. It is a Great Work clothed in the language of metals. Therefore an Alchemist can be called a Great Worker in Metals. Any Master Mason ought to understand this association immediately.
My next article is in development, but as a teaser, I offer the following and would welcome all comments.
There is in every regular and well governed Lodge, a certain point within a circle, embordered by two parallel perpendicular lines. . .
For many ancient philosophers, including Plotinus, Pythagoras, Parmenides, Plato, and Aristotle the monad was the first being, or the totality of all beings. Monad being the source or the One meaning without division. It’s is represented by the following symbol.
Again any Mason should have a piqued interest at seeing this, the correlation is direct and no doubt a case of our ancient brotherhood adopting the good ideas of their predecessors and adapting them to a new milieu.The monad, μονάς in greek, was used by philosophers as “the first”, “the seed”, “the essence”, “the foundation” and “the unity”. Perhaps it is but a mere coincidence, but I cannot help but speculate that we show the ancient symbol for foundation, unity, and first to Entered Apprentices as they start laying the foundation of their masonic journey; during their Initiation uniting them with us, and us to them, and admonishing them that faith is the first step of any great or important undertaking.
But the Point within a Circle/Monad also has alchemical expressions. Achilles Bocchius’ illiustration of Hermetic Silence, shows Hermes, under the the Sun. I should note that the astrological and astronomical symbol of the sun is, the point within the circle, as shown below.
Some of you are no doubt thinking the work of an Italian humorist does not history make. Please rest assured that should you visit any number of alchemical or hermetic works, the symbol will be prevalent. I simply work with what I have available.Some of you also aware of a Short Talk Bulletin published in 1938(ish) discussing this very issue, and will note that it concludes our operative brethren using the point within the circle, and the two perpendicular lines to test their working tools. I have no information to prove or disprove this, but what a wonderful consideration, that ancient moral and philosophical lessons on the beauty of man, reason, and faith combined expressed as post-renaissance teachings, were applied to the working lessons of the operative craft.
PoTS
J.
2 Responses to “Squaring the Circle - Pt. 1.5”
Rob
Apr. 18/2007/1:26 pm
First, this is my favorite theme so far.
I am amazed that with the research I have done into Islamic neoplatonism and emanationism, I have never connected the monad and the Craft.
A neoplatonist I am writing on now, Abu Ya`qub al-Sijistani, had his own interpretation of the monad. Intellect is the originator of being, from intellect originates seven categories: temporal eternity, truth, happiness, demonstration, life, perfection, and self subsistence. It’s interesting stuff. No time or room here to elaborate upon it I’m afraid. It may make for a good educational at some point.
J.
Apr. 18/2007/2:03 pm
You aren’t the first. I’ve had many people look at me cross-eye when I suggest the monad as an inspiration, or a predecessor of the Point-Within-A-Circle. I think, people avoid the monad because the solution appears to easy, or exclude the monad preferring to find (or invent) an ancient application with the two perpendicular lines - as if the easy answer is always wrong or suspect, or that syncretisticity is inherently bad, and avoided.
As the neo-plantonic school is inherently mathematic and mystic, as it posits geometry at the top of its art, and as many of the supposed ancient patrons of Masonry - specifically Pythagoras (Pyther Gower for all you English Brothers), I see the monad as easily fitting into operative and speculative Craft Masonry.
Others disagree…
J.
P.S. I like this theme as well.