Almond Tree

Almond Tree. In the Master Mason degree, the Chaplain reads from the 12th chapter of Ecclesiastes, beginning: ”Remember now thy Creator,” etc. In it we find the following: ”Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail . . .” The peculiarity is that a flourishing almond tree, which has a hopeful connotation, is sandwiched between ideas of futility and despair. By context, the flourishing almond tree was not a gratifying sight. Why? Nobody seems to know. It is said that the white blossoms represent gray or white hair. But almond blossoms are pinkish and gray or white hair can hardly be said to flourish. It is probable that the blossoming almond tree had some symbolism, long since lost.

Macoy Collector's Note: Coil's rational skepticism shines here as he notes the inconsistencies in attempting to force modern interpretations onto lost Biblical allegories.