SOLOMON'S TEMPLE

 

 

Why is so much said about Solomon's Temple in Freemasonry?

Freemasons look back to the ancient temple that was built by King Solomon as a grand design for Masonry. In the planning, architecture, construction, workmen, and furnishings of the building are found guiding principles for building a better life and a better character. While Freemasonry actually "surfaced" to the world in 1717, it points back to the Temple as its actual beginning. This is not to say that Masons can actually trace their existence back that far, because they have no actual proof. They do, however, see allegories of Freemasonry in the Temple that fit Masonic concepts.

Was there a plan for the Temple prior to King Solomon?

That is difficult to answer. Of course, we know from scripture that the idea of building a Temple was given to Solomon's father, King David. Because he was a man of war God did not allow him to begin work on the Temple. It is odd though that the Temple was built on a special location. It is built on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. Perhaps it was built there because of its high location, but could there have been other reasons? There is the Legend of Enoch, which may explain some things. Enoch was instructed to build a series of vaults in the hill of Moriah. In those vaults he was to hide a certain article that would contain the true name of God. Sometime after building the underground vaults Enoch feared that a flood would come upon the earth and so built two pillars that would contain essential knowledge that had been thus far accumulated. The Temple was built on the site of the vaults and gives rise to legends about finding the lost name of God and about treasures found by the Knight Templars.

When was Solomon's Temple built?

There are those who believe that Solomon's Temple is a legend and was never built. If nothing else it flies in the face of the Biblical Record, and I am not going to raise questions about whether or not the Bible is factual. According the Bible the Temple was built in 957 B.C. The Jews did not possess the technology that the Phoenicians had, so arrangements were made for Hiram, the king of Tyre to provide labor and skills to erect this great undertaking.

If you want more detail on the building of the temple go to http://www.thelodgeroom.com and search under Masonic History.

Was King Hiram and the Hiram of Freemasonry the same?

Probably not. Actually, there were two Hirams mentioned in the Bible, but neither quite match the character of Hiram Abif. Hiram Abif may or may not have been a real person. Masonry does not declare that Hiram Abif was the same as the Biblical Hiram. The character of Hiram Abif is placed in the allegory to teach a lesson to the candidate.

What lessons do we learn from the Temple of Solomon?

I am not at liberty to go into detail on this subject, but a few lessons can be revealed in regard to some of our symbolism. First of all, we believe that Solomon was seeking to discover God's will for his life in constructing the Temple. This is a lesson for us in that we are also to be actively seeking God's will for our lives. God did not put us here without a purpose. It is our responsibility to find out what are purpose in life is. Life is a project. We are always under construction. We are stones that are being prepared and fitted for the Master's use. Our lives need to be chiseled and smoothed as were the stones of King Solomon's Temple so that we can be used for God's purpose. The hammer, chisel, trowel, cement, plumb, square, and compass are all tools that put together a better building. Masons use these tools as symbols of character building.

Hiram Abif being the central character in the Master Mason degree is overseeing the building of the temple. As the Temple is nearing completion Hiram is confronted by other workmen who demand that he tell them certain secrets. He refuses to tell them anything and is killed by them. The Temple is eventually finished but there has been a tragic loss of knowledge with the death of Hiram Abif. The Master Mason candidate received knowledge of that great loss and will not know of a solution until he moves on to one of the higher degrees.

The York Rite and Solomon's Temple

Very Briefly I will try to explain the connection between the Temple in the Master Mason Degree and the Temple story in the York Rite.

Mark Mason

In the Mark Mason Degree of the York Rite (the first degree), we find the Temple still under construction. The Candidate finds himself representing a workman in the Temple who has to learn the lesson of making the right mark in life. As the Operative Mason put his mark on the stones that he worked with, so we should also leave our mark on the work we do. He is taught to have a true heart and to be willing to stand up for what he knows is right. He is taught more lessons on the importance of charity.

The Most Excellent Master Degree

In this degree the new candidate finds the Temple is complete and is ready for dedication. Just as the Temple was complete and ready for dedication the Mason must also be complete in his life and ready to dedicate himself to service for God, country, and others.

The Royal Arch Degree

In this degree the candidate finds himself living during a very tragic time in Jewish history. The Temple has been destroyed and the people of Israel are in captivity in Babylon. Finally, they are set free from bondage and go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. In the process of rebuilding the Temple the workers find a great treasure buried under the Temple (remember the Enoch Legend?) The Lost Word of a Master Mason is found under all the rubbish. Without going into a lot of detail (which I cannot do) this is basically a lesson in knowing that we can be restored to a higher purpose in life and to a sense of knowing the reality of God. Some Masons may disagree with that interpretation, but this the way I see it. The Stone that was rejected by the builders will once again be restored.

The Royal Master Degree

This is one of the Cryptic Degrees. We are now taken to a time before the destruction of the Temple and the death of Hiram Abif. Not much is said about the Temple itself in this degree. The candidate is taught about his useful labor as a workman.

The Select Master Degree

Again we are taken back to a time when the Temple was first being built.

The Super Excellent Degree

Now the candidate goes forward in time and finds himself at the destruction of the Temple. King Nebuchadnezzar has conquered King Zedehiah, the last king of Judah. The lessons in this degree have to do with fidelity.

The Commandry Orders

The Commandry Orders are the highest orders in the York Rite and are open only to those of the Christian religion. The first Order is the Order of the Red Cross. In this degree the Temple is being rebuilt under order of King Darius and the vessels of the Temple restored. There is a lesson taught on how powerful Truth is.

The second Order is the Order of Malta. This takes place during the Crusades. The candidate is on a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulcher and is evidentially knighted.

The third and last order is the Order of The Temple. The candidate is knighted as a Christian warrior and becomes a Knight Templar. The Templars were encamped at the sight of the Temple during the Crusades. Lessons are taught on helping those who are oppressed.

There is a theory in Freemasonry that Masonry was born, or at least reborn, at the Temple by the Knights Templars, who carried the secrets found in the underground vaults of the Temple Mount back to Europe. They used the wealth and secret knowledge found at the Temple for their own purpose at first and then in 1313, when they were forced to disband, brought their wealth of knowledge into the Masonic Lodges of the Middle Ages.