May 2, 2012May 2, 2012

InvocationInvocation

Pledge of Pledge of AllegianceAllegiance

Honor the Texas flag; Honor the Texas flag;

I pledge allegiance to thee, I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas,Texas,

one state under God, one state under God,

one and indivisible.one and indivisible.

Masonry'sMasonry'sMysteriousMysterious

WordsWords

...mysterious words......mysterious words...

AbifAbifCompassesCompassesHeleHeleProfaneProfaneTokenToken

Due GuardDue GuardCowanCowanObligationObligationLibertineLibertineSo Mote It BeSo Mote It Be

ProfaneProfane

The common meaning has The common meaning has changedchanged

Anciently: uninitiatedAnciently: uninitiated

Today: uses God's name in vainToday: uses God's name in vain

Masonically it Masonically it has nothas not changed changed

Profane = not initiated Profane = not initiated

LibertineLibertine

The common meaning has The common meaning has changedchanged

Anciently: not of church doctrineAnciently: not of church doctrine

Today: a man of promiscuous habitsToday: a man of promiscuous habits

Masonically it Masonically it has nothas not changed changed

Libertine = an agnostic or atheistLibertine = an agnostic or atheist

TokenToken

The common meaning has The common meaning has changedchanged

Anciently: a gesture or a signAnciently: a gesture or a sign

Today: an offeringToday: an offering

Masonically it Masonically it has nothas not changed changed

A token is always an actA token is always an act

CompassCompassesesCompass or Compasses?Compass or Compasses? Compass: a magnetic direction finderCompass: a magnetic direction finder Compasses: dividers - have legs like pantsCompasses: dividers - have legs like pantsSix US jurisdictions say “Compass”Six US jurisdictions say “Compass”In Texas it is always “Compasses”In Texas it is always “Compasses”MeasureMeasureCircumscribe Circumscribe

HeleHelePronounced like “Hail”Pronounced like “Hail”Anglo-Saxon (English): hele = concealAnglo-Saxon (English): hele = concealNorman (French): conceal = hideNorman (French): conceal = hide...hele, ...conceal, and never reveal...hele, ...conceal, and never revealRedundant Redundant andand repetitious repetitious...free will and accord; ...duly and truly...free will and accord; ...duly and trulyRepetition avoids misunderstandingRepetition avoids misunderstanding

CowanCowanA term of contemptA term of contemptA Masonic wordA Masonic wordScottish slang:Scottish slang: one who builds walls without morterone who builds walls without morter a self taught builder, not of the tradea self taught builder, not of the tradeGreek: “Kuon” meaning “dog”Greek: “Kuon” meaning “dog”Today - not of the Masonic fraternityToday - not of the Masonic fraternity

Due GuardDue Guard

Two words used as oneTwo words used as oneMackey: a contraction of “duly guard”Mackey: a contraction of “duly guard”Others: from the French ”Dieu Garde”Others: from the French ”Dieu Garde”

(meaning “God Guard”)(meaning “God Guard”)

It It isis a sign a sign(but not according to all rituals)(but not according to all rituals)

Abif (as in Hiram Abif)Abif (as in Hiram Abif)

““Abif” does not appear in the BibleAbif” does not appear in the BibleAn honorific meaning “father”An honorific meaning “father”

(respectfully, not parentally)(respectfully, not parentally)The honorific adds to Masonic loreThe honorific adds to Masonic loreFound first in a writing from 1550Found first in a writing from 1550Gained common usage in early 1600'sGained common usage in early 1600's

ObligationObligation

a tiea tiea bonda bondan agreementan agreementan intentionan intentiona responsibilitya responsibility

a dutya dutya constrainta constrainta pledgea pledgeacknowledgementacknowledgementnotnot an “oath” an “oath”

So Mote It BeSo Mote It Be

Amen. So mote it be.Amen. So mote it be.““So may it be”So may it be”Chaucer (~1380) used those exact wordsChaucer (~1380) used those exact wordsIt appears in the Regius Poem (~1390)It appears in the Regius Poem (~1390)A Super AmenA Super Amen

The Will The Will of God of God

Be DoneBe Done

DiscussionDiscussion

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