THE NORTHEAST CORNER By ELBERT BEDE, P.M., 33°
Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc.
Long before written history the Northeast Corner had been beautifully adorned by the skillful and artistic fingers of legend and tradition. One of the earliest traditions was that civilization arose in the Northeast Corner of the Oblong Square known as the world, and from this corner civilized people spread over the then known world. To them, therefore, the Northeast Corner, as the place where the light of civilization first dawned, was sacred and the proper place to set the first stone of a Temple erected to the worship of God.
There was a legend among Operative Masons that Solomon laid the cornerstone at the Northeast Corner early in the morning, because at that time the light was in the Northeast Corner. He moved from there with the rays of the sun to the Southeast Corner as the sun rose toward its zenith; to the Southwest Corner as the sun started its downward parade toward the west, reaching the Northwest Corner early in the afternoon, thus having the greatest light at all times at the portion of the Temple where he labored. Taking this legend as the basis, the Northeast Corner represents the dawn of light into the soul. It is a symbol of youth emerging from the darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge.
We, as Freemasons, look toward the East, whence comes the light of spiritual wisdom, and, so long as we imitate Solomon in his erection of the physical building, and travel with the symbolic light in our labors, the security and perpetuity of our great Institution are assured.
The candidate, in the Entered Apprentice degree, commences the intellectual task of erecting a spiritual building in his heart. He is traveling away from the extreme North, which ever has been, physically and spiritually, cold, and dark, and dreary. He is traveling toward the East, where he finds light, and warmth, and cheer, and everything necessary or desirable for his physical and spiritual welfare and comfort.
To me there is a symbolism about placing the Entered Apprentice in the Northeast Corner that we have neglected to give the attention it deserves. The youngest Entered Apprentice, placed in the Northeast Corner, is symbolic of a cornerstone. He is one of those upon whom the lodge of the future must be erected. We must know he is of suitable material for that purpose.
In all traditions and legends concerning the Northeast Corner, it represents the source of the dawn, the place of beginning where the sun's rays first strike. It, therefore, in our ritual, symbolizes the Entered Apprentice beginning his Masonic life. He is placed in that corner of the lodge to receive the first instruction on which to erect his Masonic and spiritual edifice. Freemasonry furnishes him the light and the implements for his labor. It is his part to erect his Master's Piece according to the designs to be found in our symbols by those who seek them there.
(NOTE: The inspiration for this address came from sources now largely forgotten by the author, but one to whom credit is due is the late Charles C. Hunt, Past Grand Master and Past Grand Secretary, Iowa.)
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