Post by William Preston on Jun 3, 2013 17:44:47 GMT 9.5
The symbol, Jacob's Ladder, mirrors the major code of Masonic morality. Despite Wellins Calcott’s pioneering efforts in assigning preferences or values to masonic morals, it cannot be doubted that the construction [of] Jacob’s Ladder and its introduction into the symbolism of the Craft was done by Dunckerley and Preston. When it was introduced is not known. Tradition suggests that Dunckerley introduced the symbol at York, and gave the Ladder three staves, and that he named the staves, Faith, Hope and Charity. History affirms that Preston adopted this symbol (although he never states this or alludes to the symbol in his writings), and extended the number of staves to seven, and that he named the last four Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude and Justice. Thus, by joining the three theological virtues with the four cardinal virtues, Preston created a code of seven supreme virtues for the Craft; and this code with its symbol has since remained within the body of “pure” Masonry as the Masonic code of major morals, and it is without doubt the “peculiar system of morality” referred to in the ritual of the First Degree.
W.Bro. Ian Boyd, Education Officer, The Schools Lodge, 639 UGL NSW & ACT, EDUCARE: Intellectual, Moral and Social Instruction, April 2013, excerpt page 2
An esoteric forum with a great interest in how Masonry preserves the ancient mysteries.
That is the question. Does it?
Let us be well assured of the Matter of Fact, before we trouble ourselves with enquiring into the Cause. It is true, that this Method is too slow for the greatest part of Mankind, who run naturally to the Cause, and pass over the Truth of the Matter of Fact.
The ladder being introduced to Freemasonry by Preston (1742–1818) to illustrate his peculiar system of morality would seem to run counter to your wishful assertion.
...The ladder being introduced to Freemasonry by Preston (1742–1818) to illustrate his peculiar system of morality would seem to run counter to your wishful assertion.
Although if the genuine secrets were already lost at that time Preston may not have understood.
But note how the ladders in 18th and 30th are not referenced to Jacob's Ladder. Does that mean that they are different ladders?
So you do not think that the horizontal ladder in 18th is much closer to a horizontal Mithraic ladder with 3 roses replacing the 3 emblems associated with each rung?
So you do not think that the horizontal ladder in 18th is much closer to a horizontal Mithraic ladder with 3 roses replacing the 3 emblems associated with each rung?
Each rung of the Mithraic ladder represented a separate and distinct degree. Few attained them all.
The entire Rose Croix ladder has a minor part in one appendant degree with four rungs featuring the Christian theme of the degree and the last three representing Preston's three principal virtues.
Do you not think that the form and presentation of the horizontal ladder in 18th is much closer to the form and presentation of the horizontal Mithraic ladder, both with 3 symbols per rung, than the craft presentation of the ladder?
The heavens were divided into seven spheres, each of which was conjoined with a planet. A sort of ladder, composed of eight superposed gates, the first seven of which were constructed of different metals, was the symbolic suggestion in the temples, of the road to be followed to reach the supreme region of the fixed stars. To pass from one story to the next, each time the wayfarer had to enter a gate guarded by an angel of Ormazd. The initiates alone, to whom the appropriate formulas had been taught, knew how to appease these inexorable guardians. As the soul traversed these different zones, it rid itself, as one would of garments, of the passions and faculties that it had received in its descent to the earth. It abandoned to the Moon its vital and nutritive energy, to Mercury its desires, to Venus its wicked appetites, to the Sun its intellectual capacities, to Mars its love of war, to Jupiter its ambitious dreams, to Saturn its inclinations. It was naked, stripped of every vice and every sensibility, when it penetrated the eighth heaven to enjoy there, as an essence supreme, and in the eternal light that bathed the gods, beatitude without end. 1
Didn't Jesus say something along the lines of “What you keep you lose and what you lose you keep.” Sounds like a round trip to me.
Good men and women enter Freemasonry and then build upon this good foundation. Faith, Hope, Charity etc They then undertake the arduous task of working towards greater perfection. Maybe we might imagine this as the journey towards the Sun, the lights in the East? They attain the virtues. 18th. Rose Croix.
The double sided ladder might indicate that as we attain and ascend we must also expect to surrender and descend (again).
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
All life moves towards perfection ... Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting ... trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
Do you not think that the form and presentation of the horizontal ladder in 18th is much closer to the form and presentation of the horizontal Mithraic ladder, both with 3 symbols per rung, than the craft presentation of the ladder?
Obviously from what I have already said on the subject I do NOT think so.
By 3 symbols per rung do you mean a rose, a letter and a rung for the Rose Croix ladder? If so that should be 2 symbols per rung.
I am reminded of another identification which was similarly way off-beam.
