A handful of nice precision tool grinding photos I discovered:
Kerr Masonic Lodge No. 230 Barrie, Ontario – 2014 Kerr Entertaining Night – five
Image by antefixus21
Masonic Mosaic Pavement and Star.
The lodge space: www.flickr.com/pictures/21728045@N08/8101810367/in/set-7215…
www.masonicforum.ro/?cmd=displaystory&story_id=73&amp….
The Mosaic Pavement
by GABRIEL VASILE OLTEAN
Professional Inspector of NGLR for Western Region Previous Worshipful Master, ZAMOLXIS Lodge, No. 182, Deva
"The interior decoration of a masonic lodge comprises ornaments, accessories and insignia. The ornaments are: the mosaic on the floor – respresenting spirt and matter, the shining star and the laced edge, which remind us constantly the very first of the presence of God and the second of the protective wall" – cites Charles W Leadbeater from the ritual of mixed masonry in his operate "Freemasonry – Rites and Initiations."
In the center of the Temple, on the ground, there is a rectangular floor, with black and white tiles, referred to as the mosaic pavement (theoretically, cubes observed perspectivally), where a relgaion obtains between the sides, either 2:1 (the extended square) or 1.618…/1 (the golden number), therefore coming up with a surface proportional to the total location of the Lodge. Hence we see that practically the moasica, placed in the center of the Lodge is a microcosmic representation of the whole of creation and is by itself a sacred central region – whence the interdiction to ever step on the mosaic when the operate of the Lodge is underway. The pavement symbolizes the indisociable operative complementarity of the two cosmic principles: the initiate should know how no longer let himself be dominated by the confrontation between constructive and unfavorable forces, to know (it is indispensable) how to use it, to master it so as to function constructively.
In Ancient Egypt, the mosaic was in no way stepped on except by a candidate and the masters of ceremony, and only at precise moments (by the Previous Worshipful Master for the fulfilment of his tasks, by the 1st Expert when he took the light of the sacred fire, or by the sexton when he spread frankincense on the altar of the Temple. An very essential aspect of the mosaic pavement is that, getting placed in the middle of the Temple, framed by the three colonettes (which represent the Worshipful Master, the Senior and Junior Wardens), must be avoided by walking in a square, in a symbolic sense. The current of power cross the floor, some along the length, some along the width, in lines that remind of the warp of a canvas.
Upon opening the work, the Trestle Board is depicted on this pavement, which varies with the first 3 degrees. The mosaic pavement signifies various items according to the traditional mode of perform in the lodge, or the masonic rite employed.
The French Rite specifies that the pavement adorned the threshold of the geat porch of the Temple and showed that this is 1 of the ornaments of the Lodge, being the emblem of the intimate union amongst masons. Right here it was explained to the Apprentice that he "could not stand on the mosaic pavement to contemplate the interior of the edifice". This began above from the seventh step, as we can well conclude by an attentive study of the Trestle Boards of the initial two degrees.
The Rectified Scottish Rite speaks also small of this pavement, noting that "the mosaic pavement adorns the threshold of the great veranda of the Temple. It covers the entry to the subterranean element of the Temple between the two columns, to a crypt that held holy idols and especially the pledge of the alliance among the chosen folks and the Creator: the Royal Ark (Ark of the Covenant).
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite does not describe in any way this ornament. As to the decoration of the Lodge, it is stated nonetheless "the floor of the lodge is the pavement in option black and white squares. When it is hence decorated, a pavement is accomplished wit the shape of a extended square, placed in the center of the Lodge, decorated on the model of the latter".
The York Rite affirms that "the mosaic pavement represents the floor of the Temple of Solomon", obtaining the added laced edge. It is apparent enough that it is about a symbolic contribution in what regards the floor of the Lodge, because in the Bible the floor of the Temple is not described as an series of black and white squares: "and the floor of the Temple was made from cypress planks" (3 Kings six:15).
Whereas in the Emulation Rite (the Anglo-Saxon Rites are more precise in their descriptions) specifies that "the mosaic pavement could rightly be considered the wondrous tiling of a freemason Lodge due to its diversity and regularity. As a result the diversity of beings and objects in the globe surfaces, as nicely the ensouled ones as these that are not". In the complementary course of the Rite of Emulation (in the fifth element) it is specified: "our lodge is adorned with mosaic pavement to mark the uncertainty of all terrestrial vanities… as we step on this mosaic, our thought should return to the original thought that we imitate and act as honorable males and masons". Mosaic pavement is presented as an image of faith, harmony, understanding..
Outdoors the definitions supplied by distinct masonic rites, the mosaic pavement might be approached below many aspect, two of which appear edifying to us:
• The floor of the Lodge,
• The route of squares for the tracing of planes,
When we method the mosaic pavement as floor of the Lodge, we are forced to distinguish between the pavement of operative and speculative Lodges.
In the first case, we specify that Lodges were normally annexes to the construction site, attached to the building on the Southern side of the Perform (to get much more light and to have the wall of the edifice for protection. It is very clear and evident that in this case no floor was imposed (nor would any be functional). The tiling that constitutes the mosaic is fragile in contradiction with the dimensions (weight) of the tools of freemasons (sledgehammers have been quite heavy). If we are speaking about a surface for permanent cutting and polishing of rock, we can simply picture that the floor of such a spot was permanently covered by fragments, remains, abrasive dust. Not in the final place, we must note the truth that mosaic was principally fixed in specially prepared mortar in which designs have been initial marked that etched the image or drawing that was the objective of the mosaic.
In the other method, that of the speculative Lodges, a symbolic rug laid in squares may be laid on the floor, or it could be develop from alternating black and white tiles, the choice getting that of the Lodge. The notionc of mosaic pavement can not be discussed prior to the appearance of Grand Lodges.
As a route of squares – as network of right angles – to trace planes is one more mode of approach distinct to operative lodges, which have to distinguish:
A directory route of the edifice that need to be understood following we describe the Medieval constructin internet site at the beginning of the operate: on a leveled and cleared surface (treated with charcoal), a scheme of the principal lines of the edifice was traced with the aid of a rope covered in chalk. There
are documents to this impact that attest the describe practice, which reminds of particular answers from the masonic catechism. To the question: "how do you serve your Master?", there is the answer: "with charcoal, chalk and clay".
A technical help set of squares would be another variant of this method. An amenably arranged surface, spread in typical squares via lines traced for inumerable uses, the very first and most essential becoming that of assembly table. It also served to establish effortlessly a series of angles, in an approximate way that was sufficient for a mason (taking four divisions on a line, and on the perpendicular seven at one particular extremity, a reasaonbly 60° angle is obtained). In truth, we can picture the banal math copybook paper that has helped us trace with a lot more facility (and far more precision) the geometrical shapes that tortured (or did not) us in the geometry troubles in elementary college.
The black and white, chessboard-like pavement is therefore the mosaic pavement. In what pertains to the term "mosaic", there are two diverse opinions, one particular refering to Moses and one particular to the approach of decoration. Every school has its pros and cons, far more or much less logical and valid.
"The canvas of ours lives is a mixed thread, the good collectively with the bad" wrote Shakespeare. Something is characterized by a mixture of great and undesirable, light and shadow, joy and sadness, constructive and negative, yin and yang. What is very good for me may be poor for you, pleasure is generated by discomfort, etc.
Following the thread of the present Paper, we may say with certainty that the mosaic is not mart of the components of Judaic architecture and that the mosaic pavement is a contribution of modern speculative Masonry, operative lodges never ever possessing been squared this way. It is obvious that the current exposition is not and does not wish to be an exhaustive operate. It is a somewhat complicated method of an crucial symbol in the decoration of the masonic Temple and it wishes in fact to the a paper addressing an open question:
- The mosaic pavement is the floor of the Lodge (as the rituals take into account it) or is it the space restricted by the 3 pillars Energy, Wisdom, and Beauty?
A good believed accompanied by the triple brotherly accolade!
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