Interpreting Our Symbols: A Point Within a Circle
By Elbert Bede, Past Master and 33 degree
Published by Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply. All rights reserved.
I wish to speak of the interpretation of Freemasonry's symbols, and I am going to use a story as an aid in illustrating the points I want to make.
A guide for a hunting party had gone on a day ahead to prepare the camp. When the hunters arrived, while the guide was absent, they found the stove set four feet off the floor on posts, and the hunters discussed the possible reason for such an arrangement.
Editor's Note for non-hunters: Normally, a camp stove sits directly on the floor or on short, sturdy legs just a few inches high to keep it stable, safe, and at a comfortable height for cooking. Propping a heavy, hot stove four feet in the air on wooden posts is highly unusual because it makes the cooking surface dangerously high to reach and creates a major tipping and fire hazard in a wooden camp.
One suggested, "The guide is a smart fellow and has figured this out. He put the stove in the air so the heat hits the ceiling and starts circulating. That way it heats the room much more quickly than if the stove were on the floor. Saves wood, too." That was a complete explanation for this one.
"Nonsense," said a second, "that guide couldn't have figured that out. He put the stove up high so it would be above the window and let in more fresh air at night." That was a complete explanation for this one.
The two appealed to the third. "You are both wrong," was his verdict. "He put the stove on stilts so he could pile green wood under it to dry." That was a complete explanation for this one.
About this time the guide came in with an armload of dry wood, which he stacked in a corner. The hunters pointed to the stove questioningly. The guide said bluntly, "You fellows didn't send half enough stove pipe and that was the only way I could make what pipe I had reach the roof."
So far as the guide was concerned, the others didn't have the solution, but hadn't each done some thinking that resulted in just as acceptable an answer for putting a stove on stilts as that of the guide? And hadn't each learned not to be dogmatic in his thinking?
We, as Freemasons, may apply that story to ourselves. It applies to any one of us who dogmatically states that the interpretation of a symbol is so-and-so and, like those explaining why the stove was on stilts, is certain there is but one interpretation and he has given it.
Our symbols urge us to study, urge us to think. If we give group study and group thought to a symbol the results may astonish us.
Let us assume that the symbolism of the Point Within a Circle is under discussion. One Brother gives the interpretation so often heard that "the Point represents the individual Brother, the Circle the boundary line of his duty." This may be the complete answer for this Brother. At least, it is reasonable interpretation.
Another, who may have read something of ancient religions, may counter: "This symbol refers to the old phallic religions, and the Point Within the Circle is a symbol of fertility." This may be the complete answer for this Brother, at least it is a reasonable interpretation.
A third may contend: "The Point represents the sun, which gives the earth the heat that is necessary for production, while the Circle represents the universe." This may be the complete answer for this Brother. At least it is a reasonable interpretation.
A fourth may join by explaining: "The Point represents Deity and the Circle, the endless universe." This may be the complete answer for this Brother. At least it is a reasonable interpretation.
A fifth may not be satisfied and offers his explanation: "The Point is the symbol of our Holy Altar and the Circle is symbolic of its circumambulation by the candidate." This may be the complete answer for this Brother. At least it is a reasonable interpretation.
A sixth may make his suggestion: "The Point is symbolic of the Master and Wardens, representing the sun in its three positions, while the Circle is symbolic of the universality of the lodge over which Masters and Wardens preside." This may be the complete answer for this Brother. At least it is a reasonable interpretation.
Each one of these Brothers has given a different interpretation, with some of these interpretations not closely resembling the others, but hasn't each one expressed an idea indicating that he has done some individual thinking and research? Hasn't each one, in imitation of the hunters discussing the stove on stilts, given a reasonable and acceptable interpretation?
No interpretation of a symbol, correct as it may be, is necessarily the only one. Each Brother's serious interpretation of any symbol is the correct one so far as he is concerned.
Our Freemasonry, at least a large part of it, is concealed in our symbols. Most of our symbols have numerous interpretations. To one Brother each symbol may mean one thing, to others it may mean several other things. That is one reason why Freemasonry never can be fully exposed to the profane.
You can purchase this book here: 5 - 15 minute Talks by Elbert Bede
