THE ACACIA
“I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle,
and the olive tree I will established in the desert the fir tree, and the
pine, and the box tree with each other:”
Is. 41:19
The symbolism of the acacia, or evergreen is effectively-acknowledged as a Masonic Lodge Image throughout Freemasonry. It was planted to mark the place of the burial of a celebrated artist crucial to Masonic teachings. A sprig of evergreen is utilised by the Funeral Master in the course of each Masonic funeral ceremony. The shittim-wooden that was seemingly utilized by the youngsters of Israel in the building of Moses’ Tabernacle, as well as is the building of the Ark of the Covenant is a species of the acacia. Being a thorny tamarisk, it also grew all around the useless system of Osiris in the Egyptian legend and constituted the crown of thorns crushed to the brow of the Christ for the duration of his Passion. In all of all those occasions, the acacia represented immortality, for the reason that of its tenacity of lifestyle. Without the need of issue, the tamarisk was terribly tough to kill.
The ancients discovered the acacia with the a lot more sensitive plant regarded as the mimosa. A Coptic legend informs us that the mimosa was the first of all trees and shrubs to in fact worship the Christ. Certainly, some of the early fathers of Christianity made use of the tree to symbolize the Christ. As these types of, the ancients meant to convey the notion that trees, crops and shrubs had been residing, respiratory everyday living varieties that had been animated with the Divine Light-weight.
Trees are usually mentioned in both of those the Aged and New Testaments, as nicely as in the writings of the so-known as pagans. As illustrations, we find messages about generation hidden with this kind of symbols as the Tree of Life, which represents the non secular stage of harmony or equilibrium, and the Tree of Awareness, which signifies polarity in the form of superior and evil. Moses listened to the voice of God emanating from a burning bush. Buddha acquired his illumination although underneath the bodhi tree and the consecrated rod of Hermes was absolutely nothing much more than a style of tree.
Philosophers and priests were being routinely referred to as trees. The quite name of the Druids allegedly indicates “the gentlemen of oak trees.” Initiates into certain Syrian mysteries had been known as “cedars.” In reality, the renowned “cedars of Lebanon” explained in the Very first Diploma of Masonry were being initiated sages which constituted the real supports of King Solomon’s Temple. If one listens closely to the lessons in the 1st Degree, he will listen to that the a few pillars in the lodge symbolically signify the Worshipful Learn, Senior and Junior Wardens – originally regarded as a few exceptionally intelligent and gifted adult men who spiritually led the Entered Apprentices, Fellowcrafts and Masters, or overseers of the function.
As opposed to symbolizing certain people, Freemasonry works by using the acacia to stand for particular rules of spirituality that all individuals really should aspire to attain. 1st, it is the emblem of the vernal equinox, or annual resurrection of the sunshine from the demise of winter season. Second, it signifies purity and innocence – qualities also embodied in the legendary character Hiram Abif. 3rd, it typifies human immortality and the regeneration of everyday living. The evergreen represents that immortal section of man that survives the destruction of the bodily entire body and which will hardly ever, in no way, by no means die. Finally, it is the revered emblem of the ancient Egyptian Mysteries, to which Masonry owes a lot of its basis.
The legend of Hiram Abif is liberally drawn from the Egyptian Thriller ritual of the murder and resurrection of Osiris. As this kind of, the sprig of acacia also signifies to Hiram’s resurrection to all Masons. In the Egyptian legend, the chest that contains the entire body of Osiris, who was viciously murdered by Typhon, was washed ashore and lodged in the roots of a tamarisk, or acacia. The tamarisk grew into a mighty tree enclosing inside of by itself the entire body of the murdered god. Some writers have theorized that this legend is the basis upon which the tale was based about the sprig of acacia left at Hiram’s grave. Others also have asserted that the present-working day Xmas tree is a continuation of the mystery of the evergreen.
Amid Freemasons the critical lesson taught by the acacia pertains to the permanence of the human soul. The concept of permanence is bundled up into the numerous theologies and philosophies arising out of the idea of the resurrection. Today, certain religions teach that when a human dies sooner or later each his soul and substance entire body carry on in a heavenly setting. Other religions maintain that only the soul carries on to dwell. Most acknowledge the contention that souls usually ended up and ever will be dwelling organisms. Regardless of the interpretation a single selects about an afterlife, Freemasonry attaches an equally crucial significance to this life.
For hundreds of years, men have questioned the identical dilemma: what is the reason of human lifestyle? Hundreds of 1000’s have joined Freemasonry in excess of the decades in hopes of studying an remedy, but have discovered that the Craft returns them to their churches, synagogues, mosques and other spots of worship to find extra information. As a candidate passes by way of the levels of Masonry, he is knowledgeable that true knowledge is by no means to be observed in one location. A guy have to search in all places there is knowledge to comprehend his connection with the Excellent Architect.
In the course of that lookup, it is like that the inquiring thoughts will, quicker or later on, stumble throughout the teachings of Origen, who lived, wrote and instructed among 185 A.D. and 254 A.D. At just one time period in Christian record, Origen was regarded as the most exact of all interpreters about the human soul. Even though afterwards discarded by the Church as a heretic, he initially taught that souls repeat on their own in content incarnation – a teaching that now is termed reincarnation. Origen thought that each individual human becoming contained a spark of the Creator that had no commencing and no stop. In his literary operate entitled De Principils, Origen wrote: “Every single soul…will come into this globe strengthened by the victories or weakened by the defeats of the past existence. Its location in this entire world as a vessel appointed to honor or dishonor, is established by its previous merits or demerits. Its work in this globe decides its spot in the earth which is to adhere to.”
With out either accepting or rejecting reincarnation, Freemasonry helps make a comparable demand of its users about how each and every should really reside the everyday living provided them. Masons are referred to as to reside spiritually sturdy life not lives weakened by self-centeredness. When Pike wrote that each individual guy experienced a get the job done to do, he challenged every single Mason to not only make the ideal of the circumstances in which he found himself, but to do so by serving others. Pray for other people, feed the hungry, give to the weak, lavish love on your neighbor and offer for the non secular development of your spouse and children – it is these that Masonry inculcates into the hearts and souls of the honored associates of the Craft.
The acacia reminds us that while our lives are not minimal by time, our substance existence is time-controlled. No man is familiar with how a great deal time he has, but he must know that time is managing out. If a excellent perform is to be completed through this life span, it should be finished these days, for tomorrow is in God’s palms. Though we breathe, stand, walk and converse we may do a thing that improves the whole lot of our brethren. When time shall be no a lot more, that perform will be performed by those left driving and we ourselves shall give no extra. Though life shall normally continue outside of man’s earthly existence, man’s loving, giving and sharing with other folks will cease when he shall return to the earth and his soul to God, who gave it.