Symbols in Masonry QUESTION from Scott Durant September 23, 2001 I was wondering what all the symbols of masonry mean, such as the eye on the pyramid on the dollar bill and the compass symbol you see on every masonic lodge.
What are some ways that Catholics can fight this diabolical organization?
Scott D.
ANSWER by John-Paul Ignatius, OLSM on October 9, 2001 Dear Mr. Durant:
Well to begin with the eye on the pyramid on the dollar bill IS NOT a Masonic symbol. This is an urban legend.
The best description I can find of the symbols on the U.S. Dollar, the current design of which was first released in 1957, I believe, is as follows:
If you look on the front of the bill, you will see the United States Treasury Seal. On the top you will see the scales for the balance-a balanced budget. In the center you have a carpenter's T-square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath that is the Key to the United States Treasury. That's all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that dollar bill is something we should all know. If you turn the bill over, you will see two circles. Both circles, together, comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved.
If you look at the left hand circle, you will see a Pyramid.
Notice the face is lighted and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the West or decided what we could do for Western Civilization. The Pyramid is un-capped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity.
It was Franklin's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.
IN GOD WE TRUST is on this currency. The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means God has favored our undertaking. The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means a new order has begun. At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776.
If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States. It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery and is the centerpiece of most hero's monuments. Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet no one knows what the symbols mean.
The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: First, he is not afraid of a storm; he is strong and he is smart enough to soar above it. Secondly, he wears no material crown.....and we had just broken away from the King of England. Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own. At the top of the shield there is a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation.
In the Eagle's beak is a banner proclaiming E PLURIBUS UNUM, meaning one nation from many people.
Above the Eagle you have 13 stars representing the 13 original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away. Again, we were coming together as one.
Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.
They say that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief. You will usually never see a room numbered 13, or any hotels or motels with a 13th floor. But think about this: 13 original colonies, 13 signers of the Declaration of Independence, 13 stripes on our flag, 13 steps on the Pyramid, 13 letters in the Latin above, 13 letters in E Pluribus Unum, 13 stars above the Eagle, 13 plumes of feathers on each span of the Eagle's wing, 13 bars on that shield, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 fruits, and if you look closely, 13 arrows. And for minorities: the 13th Amendment.
As for as the Masons are concerned as an organization, they are a great evil, I believe, and they certainly do present a worldview that is antagonistic to Christianity. This is the reason that it is a sin for a Catholic to belong to the Masons.
There are too many Masonic symbols to describe here. The most famous of the symbols is the Square and Compass with the letter G in the middle. According to the Masonic Information Center here is a description of the meaning of the symbol.
The Square stands for Virtue and Morality. The Compass stands for the importance of keeping our passions withing bounds. The Square also stands for the world and physical reality. The Compass also stand for spirtual things. So, one of the meanings of hte symbol is hat while a person has a physcial or animal nature and a spiritual nature, the spiritual should be stronger than the physical. The letter G in the compass stands for God and, also, for geometry since the ancients believed that the study of geometry led the mind to the study of God.
As to how to fight them? That is the same advice it is for any anti-Christian group -- learn about them, then expose those elements that are anti-Christian. There are several books that detail some of the issues. One is by Jack Harris, I think is his name. He is a Protestant, but as a former Mason he exposes their rituals. I am also hestitant about former members. Sometimes they exaggerate things, but I have checked out Harris' book with the original Ritual books from the Mason that I had a chance to review once and he is accurate in what he describes.
Behind the Lodge Door I believe is one of the more popular Catholic books on this subject.
And of course, it is critically important to inform people that Catholic MAY NOT join the Masons. Any Catholic who is a member of the Masons must resign the Masons or be barred from the Sacraments.
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