_Masonic regalia
_
Masonic regalia - of the Pharaohs of Egypt are depicted with their left foot first, for strength and victory. The Masonic
regalia armies of the world start marching with the left foot for the same reason. Interestingly the
phrase “wrong-footed” is originally a particularly Egyptian phrase.
Masonic regalia - The “STEP” in Freemasonry has been the subject of many a discussion, but I have found that the most
logical explanation is that it is an emblematical representation of the “TAU CROSS”, shaped like a
letter “T”, and regarded to be the most perfect figure in Geometry. This reference will be familiar to many
of you involved in other degrees in Freemasonry. One can imagine the moral speculation that could be
produced on this perfect shape being considered the “rectitude of your actions”. Yet again if you look
at the persecution of the Knights Templar, one of the points on the list of “Heretical Acts”, allegedly
performed by them as part of their ritual, was that in the process of making this step “they trampled on the
cross of Christ”, an accusation difficult to comprehend in these modern times, but not so in those far off
religiously fanatical days. The cross of Christ is now generally accepted to be a “T” bar cross, and not the
artistically represented one with the extended upright. Support for this interpretation of the “Step” can be
seen in the W.M.’s. Apron. The three emblems are thought by so many to be levels, this cannot be so, as
the level is the symbol of the Senior Warden. They are three TAU’s, indicating that three steps have been
completed: and if you put the three TAU’s together you form what is called “THE TRIPLE TAU”, a figure
important in Royal Arch Masonry. In olden times, you could only join the Order of the Holy Royal Arch
if you were a Past Master, and had completed those three steps. It must be fair to add Masonic regalia
that in olden times there were only two degrees, that of Entered Apprentice and that of Fellowcraft and
the third step was the Masters Chair. Now that we have an actual third degree, you are now eligible for
entrance into the H.R.A. once you have been a Master Mason for four weeks and upwards. Although the
system has changed, the symbolism has not, this can lead to misunderstanding and misinterpretation.
The complete action of making this “TAU CROSS”, is called, and I quote, “That my Brother is the first
regular step in Freemasonry…..” By using the word “regular” in this emphatic way implies that there
must be “irregular steps. And there are!! The word “irregular” means “something not of uniform length or
shape”. Just look at the instruction “Advance to the East in due form”, this advance consists of three steps
of irregular length!
With regard to Masonic regalia , the sign of the 1st Degree, many people are unaware of the significance
of the action applied to the words “as a man of honour”. This action of extending the r.h. with the
t.e.t.f.a.s. is synonymous with the position of the r.h. when kneeling to take the G. & S. obligation of a
Mason. The placing of the hand on the V.S.L. with the thumb in the same position assists in giving the
obligation an impact of reverence and solemnity, and the action in the first part of the sign, “as a man of
honour”, is meant to remind you of the reverential solemnity of that obligation, and the need to adhere to
its principles.
Masonic regalia - of the Pharaohs of Egypt are depicted with their left foot first, for strength and victory. The Masonic
regalia armies of the world start marching with the left foot for the same reason. Interestingly the
phrase “wrong-footed” is originally a particularly Egyptian phrase.
Masonic regalia - The “STEP” in Freemasonry has been the subject of many a discussion, but I have found that the most
logical explanation is that it is an emblematical representation of the “TAU CROSS”, shaped like a
letter “T”, and regarded to be the most perfect figure in Geometry. This reference will be familiar to many
of you involved in other degrees in Freemasonry. One can imagine the moral speculation that could be
produced on this perfect shape being considered the “rectitude of your actions”. Yet again if you look
at the persecution of the Knights Templar, one of the points on the list of “Heretical Acts”, allegedly
performed by them as part of their ritual, was that in the process of making this step “they trampled on the
cross of Christ”, an accusation difficult to comprehend in these modern times, but not so in those far off
religiously fanatical days. The cross of Christ is now generally accepted to be a “T” bar cross, and not the
artistically represented one with the extended upright. Support for this interpretation of the “Step” can be
seen in the W.M.’s. Apron. The three emblems are thought by so many to be levels, this cannot be so, as
the level is the symbol of the Senior Warden. They are three TAU’s, indicating that three steps have been
completed: and if you put the three TAU’s together you form what is called “THE TRIPLE TAU”, a figure
important in Royal Arch Masonry. In olden times, you could only join the Order of the Holy Royal Arch
if you were a Past Master, and had completed those three steps. It must be fair to add Masonic regalia
that in olden times there were only two degrees, that of Entered Apprentice and that of Fellowcraft and
the third step was the Masters Chair. Now that we have an actual third degree, you are now eligible for
entrance into the H.R.A. once you have been a Master Mason for four weeks and upwards. Although the
system has changed, the symbolism has not, this can lead to misunderstanding and misinterpretation.
The complete action of making this “TAU CROSS”, is called, and I quote, “That my Brother is the first
regular step in Freemasonry…..” By using the word “regular” in this emphatic way implies that there
must be “irregular steps. And there are!! The word “irregular” means “something not of uniform length or
shape”. Just look at the instruction “Advance to the East in due form”, this advance consists of three steps
of irregular length!
With regard to Masonic regalia , the sign of the 1st Degree, many people are unaware of the significance
of the action applied to the words “as a man of honour”. This action of extending the r.h. with the
t.e.t.f.a.s. is synonymous with the position of the r.h. when kneeling to take the G. & S. obligation of a
Mason. The placing of the hand on the V.S.L. with the thumb in the same position assists in giving the
obligation an impact of reverence and solemnity, and the action in the first part of the sign, “as a man of
honour”, is meant to remind you of the reverential solemnity of that obligation, and the need to adhere to
its principles.