THE COLUMN
The origin of the Column or Pillar, goes back to earliest time and it is
recorded that two pillars were erected before the time of the Flood, to the
elements of fire and air.
Jacob erected a pillar at Bethel .to commemorate his vision of “the ladder.”
Samuel set up a pillar to record the defeat of the Philistines. The
Egyptians built obelisks or pylons of masonry shaped like
truncated pyramids of immense size and height, sometimes as a mark of
sacrifice or as frontages to their temple courts denoting the actual
dwelling place of a god, and so the columns of wood and stone became
regarded as a sign or reminder of the presence of God.
It is not surprising to learn of the two great pillars at the porch, way or
entrance of King Solomon’s . Temple, for whatever grandeur Solomon intended to
employ to express the majesty and glory of his God, the pillars set before the
Temple were a great message to the people. Probably the excellent stone
squares especially selected by Hiram of Tyre to assist in the building of
that Temple were but repeating ideas handed down to their fraternity from
Masons employed by Amenhotep, the Egyptian monarch in 1400 B.C. and that
whatever purpose the pillars served, their position was a foregone conclusion.
They stood before the entrance of the House of .God, not only to
accentuate and add to the magnificence and splendour of the mass, but as
an integral feature of building the Temple emphasized to the Hebrew mind. Here
was a sign of Great Presence, here also was a message to Israel of secure
establishment amongst the nations as long as she was firm to her faith
and her principles.
And in our Masonic Lodges the pillars were placed to convey the impression
of approach to the Divine. The Craftsman is given their message of
assurance that by strength of head, and purpose, he shall establish within
himself that wisdom which is the beginning of understanding.
These three columns are known to us as Wisdom, Strength and Beauty, and are
assigned to the principal officers of a Lodge.
|
