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THE LEGEND OF HIRAM ABIF
CHAPTER XLIII
This is the most important of all the leen!s of Freemasonr"# It $ill therefore
%e &onsi!ere! in respe&t to its oriin' its histor"' an! its meanin(
Before' ho$e)er' pro&ee!in to the !is&*ssion of these important s*%+e&ts'
an! the in)estiation of the tr*l" m"thi&al &hara&ter of Hiram A%if' it $ill %e
proper to in,*ire into the meanin of his name' or rather the meanin of the
epithet that a&&ompanies it#
In the pla&es in -&ript*re in $hi&h he is mentione! he is &alle! at one time .in
/ Chroni&les ii#' 012' %" the 3in of T"re' in the letter $ritten %" him to 3in
-olomon' Ch*ram A%i( in another pla&e .in / Chroni&les i)#' 042' $here the
$riter of the narrati)e is re&or!in the $or5 !one %" him for -olomon'
Ch*ram A%i)' or' as it miht %e prono*n&e! a&&or!in to the so*n! of the
He%re$ letters' A%i*# B*t L*ther' in his German translation of the Bi%le'
a!opte! the pron*n&iation A%if' e6&hanin the flat ) for the sharp f# In this
he $as follo$e! %" An!erson' $ho $as the first to present the f*ll name of
Hiram A%if to the Craft# This he !i! in the first e!ition of the Enlish %oo5 ofConstit*tions#
An! sin&e his time at least the appellation of Hiram A%if has %een a!opte! %"
an! %e&ome familiar to the Craft as the name of the &*nnin or s5illf*l artist
$ho $as sent %" Hiram' 3in of T"re' to assist 3in -olomon in the
&onstr*&tion of the Temple# In Chroni&les an! 3ins $e fin! Ch*ram or
H*ram' as $e ma" *se the initial letter as a *tt*ral or an aspirate' an!
Chiram or Hiram' the )o$el * or i %ein in!ifferentl" *se!# B*t the Masoni&
*sae has *ni)ersall" a!opte! the $or! Hiram#
No$' the A%i an! A%i)' *se! %" the 3in of T"re' in the %oo5 of Chroni&les
form no part of the name' %*t are simpl" infle&tions of the possessi)e
prono*ns m" an! his s*ffi6e! to the appellati)e A%#
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A% in He%re$ means father' i is m"' an! in' i)' or if is his# A%i is therefore m"
father' an! so he is &alle! %" the 3in of T"re $hen he is !es&ri%in him to
-olomon' 7 Hiram m" father(7 A%if is his father' an! he is so spo5en of %" the
historian $hen he re&o*nts the )ario*s 5in!s of $or5 $hi&h $ere !one for3in -olomon %" 7 Hiram his father#7
B*t the $or! A% in He%re$' tho*h primaril" sinif"in a male parent' has
other !eri)ati)e sinifi&ations# It is e)i!ent that in none of the passaes in
$hi&h he is mentione! is it inten!e! to intimate that he hel! s*&h relationship
to either the 3in of T"re or the 3in of Israel#
The $or! 7 father 7 $as applie! %" the He%re$s as a term of honor' or tosinif" a station of preeminen&e# B*6torf .02 sa"s it sometimes sinife!
Master' an! he &ites the fo*rth &hapter of Genesis' $here 8a%al is &alle! the
father of &attle an! 8*%al the father of m*si&ians#
Hiram A%if $as most pro%a%l" sele&te! %" the 3in of T"re to %e sent to
-olomon as a s5illf*l artifi&er of preeminent s5ill that he miht e6e&*te the
prin&ipal $or5s in the interior of the Temple an! fa%ri&ate the )ario*s *tensils
inten!e! for the sa&re! ser)i&es# He $as a master in his art or &allin' an!
properl" !inifie! $ith a title $hi&h anno*n&e! his !istin*ishe! &hara&ter#
The title of Father' $hi&h $as i)en to him' !enotes' sa"s -mith' ./2 the
respe&t an! esteem in $hi&h he $as hel!' a&&or!in to the similar &*stom of
the people of the East at the present !a"#
I am $ell please! $ith the s*estion of Dr# M&Clinto&5 that 7Hiram m" father
seems to mean Hiram m" &o*nsellor( that is to sa"' foreman or master
$or5man7 .12
Appl"in this meanin to the passaes in Chroni&les $hi&h refer to this artist'
$e shall see ho$ easil" e)er" !iffi&*lt" is remo)e! an! the Craftsman Hiram
pla&e! in his tr*e liht#
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.02 7Le6i&on Talm*!i&*m#7 ./2 7C"lopae!ia of Bi%li&al Literat*re#7 .12
7C"&lopea!ia of Bi%li&al' Theoloi&al' an! Classi&al Literat*re#7
9hen 3in Hiram' $ishin to ai! the 3in of Israel in his &ontemplate!
%*il!in' $rites him a letter in $hi&h he promises to &ompl" $ith the re,*est
of -olomon to sen! him tim%er from Le%anon an! $oo!:&*tters to he$ it' as
an a!!itional mar5 of his frien!ship an! his !esire to &ontri%*te his ai! in
%*il!in 7 a ho*se for 8eho)ah'7 he i)es him the ser)i&es of one of his most
s5illf*l artisans an! anno*n&es the ift in these $or!s ; 7An! no$ I ha)e sent
a s5illf*l man' en!*e! $ith *n!erstan!in' m" master $or5man Hiram#7
An! $hen the historian $ho $rote the Chroni&les of the 5in!om ha!
re&apit*late! all the $or5 that Hiram ha! a&&omplishe!' s*&h as the pillars of
the por&h' the la)ers an! the &an!lesti&5s' an! the sa&re! )essels' he
&on&l*!es %" sa"in that all these thins $ere ma!e for 3in -olomon %" his
master:$or5man Hiram' in the He%re$ nasah H*ram A%if Lammele&h
-&helomoh#
Hiram or H*ram $as his proper name# A%' father of his tra!e or master:
$or5man' his title' an! i or if' an" or his' the possessi)e pronominal s*ffi6'
*se! a&&or!in to &ir&*mstan&es# The 3in of T"re &alls him Hiram A%i' 7 m"
master:$or5man#7 9hen the &hroni&ler spea5s of him in his relation to 3in
-olomon' he &alls him Hiram A%if 7 his master:$or5man#7 An! as all his
Masoni& relations are $ith -olomon' this latter !esination has %een a!opte!'
from An!erson' %" the Craft#
Ha)in th*s !ispose! of the name an! title of the personae $ho &onstit*tes
the main point in this Masoni& Leen!' I pro&ee! to an e6amination of the
oriin an! proressi)e ro$th of the m"th#
7The Leen! of the Temple:B*il!er'7 as he is &ommonl" %*t improperl" &alle!'
is so intimatel" &onne&te! in the rit*al $ith the s"m%oli& histor" of the
Temple' that $e $o*l! )er" nat*rall" %e le! to s*ppose that the one has
al$a"s %een &ontemporar" an! &oe6istent $ith the other# The e)i!en&e on
this point is' ho$e)er' %" no means &on&l*si)e or satisfa&tor"' tho*h a
&riti&al e6amination of the ol! man*s&ripts $o*l! seem to sho$ that the
$riters of those !o&*ments' $hile &ompilin from tra!itional so*r&es the
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Leen! of the Craft' $ere not altoether inorant of the ran5 an! ser)i&es
that ha)e %een s*%se,*entl" attri%*te! %" the -pe&*lati)e Masons of the
present !a" to Hiram A%if# The" &ertainl" ha! some notion that in the %*il!in
of the Temple at 8er*salem 3in -olomon ha! the assistan&e of a s5illf*l artist
$ho ha! %een s*pplie! to him %" the 3in of T"re#
The oriin of the Leen! m*st %e loo5e! for in the -&ript*ral a&&o*nt of the
%*il!in of the Temple of 8er*salem' The stor"' as tol! in the %oo5s of 3ins
an! Chroni&les' is to this effe&t#
On the !eath of 3in Da)i!' his son an! s*&&essor' -olomon' resol)e! to
&arr" into e6e&*tion his father
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%oo5 an! &hapter' in the thirteenth an! fo*rteenth )erses' are the follo$in
$or!s;
7An! no$ I ha)e sent a &*nnin man' en!*e! $ith *n!erstan!in' of H*ram
m" father
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In the Coo5e M-#' $hi&h is a h*n!re! "ears later' $e meet $ith the first
all*sion to it an! the first error' $hi&h is repeate! in )ario*s forms in all the
s*%se,*ent man*s&ript &onstit*tions#
That man*s&ript sa"s; 7An! at the ma5"n of the temple in -alamonis t"me
as lit is se"! in the %i%*ll in the iii %o5e of Re*m in tertio Re*m &apit*lo
,*into' that -alomoii ha! iiii s&ore tho*san! masons at his $er5e# An! the
5"nis sone of T"r" $as his master mason#7
The referen&e here ma!e to the thir! %oo5 of 3ins is a&&or!in to the ol!
!istri%*tion of the He%re$ &anon' $here the t$o %oo5s of -am*el are &ae!
the mat an! se&on! %oo5s of 3ins# A&&or!in to o*r present &anon' thereferen&e $o*l! %e to the fifth &hapter of the first %oo5 of 3ins# In that
&hapter nothin is sai! of Hiram A%if' %*t it is re&or!e! there that 7 A!oniram
$as o)er the le)"#7 No$ the literal meanin of A!oniram is the lor! Hiram# As
the 3in of T"re ha! promise! to sen! his $or5men to Le%anon' an! as it is
state! that A!oniram s*perinten!e! the men $ho $ere there he$in the
trees' the ol! leen!ist' not ta5in into a&&o*nt that the le)" of thirt"
tho*san!' o)er $hom A!oniram presi!e!' $ere Israelites an! not
Phoeni&ians' %*t s*pposin that the" ha! %een sent to Le%anon %" Hiram'
3in of T"re' an! that he ha! sent A!oniram $ith them an! )ie$in the $or!
as meanin the lor! Hiram' hastil" &ame to the &on&l*sion that this Lor! orPrin&e Hiram $as the son of the 3in# An! hen&e he ma!e the mista5e of
sa"in that the son of the 3in of T"re $as the person sent to -olomon to %e
his' master:mason or master:%*il!er#
This error $as repeate! in nearl" all the s*&&ee!in man*s&ripts' for the" are
reall" onl" &opies of ea&h other' an! the $or! A!on' as meanin lor! or
prin&e' seems to ha)e %een al$a"s ass*me! in some one or other &orr*pte!
form as the name of the $or5man sent %" 3in Hiram to 3in -olomon' an!
$hom the Freemasons of the present !a" 5no$ as Hiram A%if#
Th*s in the Do$ele! M-#' &on+e&t*rall" !ate! at A#D# 0==>' it is sai!;
7 An! f*rthermore there $as a 3ine of another reion that men &alle! IRAM'
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an! he lo)e! $ell 3ine -olomon an! he a)e him t"m%er to his $or5e# An!
he ha! a sonn that heiht .$as &alle!2 A?NON' an! he $as a Master of
Geometrie an! $as &hief Master of all his Masons' an! $as Master of all his
ra)ins an! &ar)ins an! of all manner of Masonr"e that lone! to the
Temple#7
There &an %e no !o*%t that A"non is here a &orr*ption of A!on# In the
Lan!s!o$ne M-#' $hose !ate is A#D# 0=4>' the lan*ae is pre&isel" the
same' e6&ept that it sa"s 3in Iram 7 ha! a sonne that $as &alle! a man#7
It seems almost &ertain that the initial letter a in this name has %een' %"
&areless $ritin' !islo&ate! from the remainin letters' man' an! that the tr*e
rea!in is Aman' $hi&h is itself an error' instea! of Amon' an! this a manifest
&orr*ption of A!on# This is &onfirme! %" the ?or5 M-#' N*m%er 0 $hi&h is
a%o*t fort" "ears later .A#D#04>>2' $here the name is spelle! Amon# This is
also the name in the Lo!e of Hope M-#' !ate! A#D# 04@>#
In the Gran! Lo!e M-#' !ate of A#D# 041/' he is aain &alle! the son of the
3in of T"re' %*t his name is i)en as A"none' another &orr*pte! form of
A!on# In the -loane M-#' N*m%er 1'@@' A#D# 044' it is A"non' the final e
%ein omitte!# In the Harleian M-#' N*m%er 0/' !ate! A#D# 04>' %oth the
final e an! the me!ial " are omitte!' an! the name %e&omin Anon
appro6imates still nearer to the tr*e A!on#
In the Aln$i&5 M-#' of A#D# 0>0' the name is still f*rther &orr*pte! into
A+*on# In all of these man*s&ripts the Leen! &ontin*es to &all this artist the
son of the 3in of T"re' $hose name is sai! to %e Hiram or more *s*all" Iram(
an! hen&e the &orr*pte! orthoraph" of Amon' A"non' or Anon' %ein
restore! to the tr*e form of A!on' $ith $hi&h $or! the ol! Masons $ere
a&,*ainte!' as sinif"in Lor! or Prin&e' $e et' %" prefi6in it to his father
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that the artist $as the son of 3in Hiram# B*t it &hanes his name to that of
Benaim# This is pro%a%l" an in&orre&t infle&tion of the He%re$ $or! Boneh' a
%*il!er' an! sho$s that the $riter' in an attempt to &orre&t the error of the
pre&e!in leen!ists $ho ha! &orr*pte! A!on into Anon or Amon' or A+*on'
ha! in his smatterin of He%re$ &ommitte! a reater one#
The 3ra*se M-# is *tterl" $orthless as a*thorit"# It is a forer"' $ritten most
pro%a%l"' I thin5 I ma" sa" &ertainl"' after the p*%li&ation of the first e!ition
of An!erson
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In the se&on! or 01@ e!ition of the Constit*tions' An!erson &onsi!era%l"
enlare! the Leen!' for reasons that $ill %e a!)erte! to $hen I &ome' in the
ne6t part of this $or5' to treat of the oriin of the Thir! Deree' %*t on $hi&h
it is here *nne&essar" to !$ell#
In that se&on! e!ition' he asserts that the tra!ition is that 3in Hiram ha!
%een Gran! Master of all Masons' %*t that $hen the Temple $as finishe! he
s*rren!ere! the pre:eminen&e to 3in -olo# mon# No s*&h tra!ition' nor an"
all*sion to it' is to %e fo*n! in an" of the Ol! Re&or!s no$ e6tant' an! it is'
moreo)er' entirel" oppose! %" the &*rrent of opinion of all s*%se,*ent
Masoni& $riters#
From these s*estions of An!erson' an! from some others of a more
esoteri& &hara&ter' ma!e' it is s*ppose!' %" him an! %" Dr# Desa*liers a%o*t
the time of the Re)i)al' $e !eri)e that form of the Leen! of Hiram A%if
$hi&h has %een preser)e! to the present !a" $ith sin*lar *niformit" %" the
Freemasons of all &o*ntries#
The s*%stan&e of the Leen!' so far as it is &on&erne! in the present
in)estiation' is that at the %*il!in of the Temple there $ere three Gran!
Masters:-olomon' 3in of Israel( Hiram' 3in of T"re' an! Hiram A%if' an! that
the last $as the ar&hite&t or &hief %*il!er of the e!ifi&e#
As $hat relates to the fate of Hiram A%if is to %e e6plaine! in an altoether
alleori&al or s"m%oli&al sense' it $ill more appropriatel" &ome fin!er
&onsi!eration $hen $e are treatin' in a s*%se,*ent part of this $or5' of the
-"m%olism of Freemasonr"#
O*r present st*!" $ill %e the leen!ar" &hara&ter of Hiram A%if as the &hief
Master Mason of the Temple' an! o*r in)estiations $ill %e !ire&te! to theoriin an! meanin of the m"th $hi&h has no$' %" *ni)ersal &onsent of the
Craft' %een a!opte!' $hether &orre&tl" or not $e shall see hereafter#
The ,*estion %efore *s' let it %e *n!erstoo!' is not as to the histori& tr*th of
the Hirami& leen!' as set forth in the Thir! Deree of the Masoni& rit*al:not
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personae' his tr*e position amon the $or5men at the Temple' &an not
affe&t' in the slihtest !eree' the s"m%olism of $hi&h he forms so interal a
part' $hile it $ill rationall" a&&o*nt for the importan&e that has %een
attri%*te! to him in the ol! as $ell as in the ne$ Masoni& s"stem#
9hether $e ma5e Hiram A%if the &hief B*il!er an! the Operati)e Gran!
Master of -olomon
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instr*ment of oo! or of e)il' $as s*%se,*entl" personifie! %" the Gree5s;
the e!i& h"mns' referrin to the &ontin*al reno)ation of the flame' as it $as
fe! %" f*el' &alle! it the fire:o! Ani( also Ga)ishtha' that is' the e)er "o*n#
From this the Gree5s ot their Hephaest*s' the miht" $or5man' the
immortal smith $ho fore! the $eapons of the o!s' an!' at the pra"er of
Thetis' fa%ri&ate! the irresisti%le armor of A&hilles# The Romans $erein!e%te! to their Ar"an an&estors for the same i!ea of the poten&" of fire'
an! personifie! it in their *l&an' a name $hi&h is e)i!entl" !eri)e! from the
-ans&rit l5a' a fire%ran!' altho*h a similarit" of so*n! has le! man"
et"moloists to !e!*&e the Roman *l&an from the -emiti& T*%al Cain#
In!ee!' *ntil the mo!ern !is&o)eries in &omparati)e philolo"' this $as the
*ni)ersal opinion of the learne!#
Amon the Ba%"lonians an important o! $as Bil:&an# He $as the fire:o!'
an! the name seems to %e !eri)e! from Baal' or Bel' an! Cain' the o! ofsmiths' or the master smith# Geore -mith' in his Chal!aen A&&o*nt of
Genesis' thin5s that there is possi%l" some &onne&tion here $ith the Bi%li&al
T*%al Cain an! the &lassi&al *l&an#
From the framents of -an&honiathon $e learn that the Phoeni&ians ha! a
hero $hom he &alls Chr"sor# He $as $orshippe! after his !eath' in
&onse,*en&e of the man" in)entions that he %esto$e! on man' *n!er the
name of Diami&hi*s( that is' the reat in)entor# To him $as as&ri%e! the
in)ention of all those arts $hi&h the Gree5s attri%*te! to Hephaest*s' an! theRomans to *l&an# Bishop C*m%erlan! !eri)es the name of Chr"sor from the
He%re$ Charat' or the -har%ener' an appropriate !esination of one $ho
ta*ht the *se of iron tools# The a*thorie! )ersion of Genesis' $hi&h &alls
T*%al Cain 7 an instr*&tor of e)er" artifi&er in %rass an! iron'7 is %etter
ren!ere! in the -ept*aint an! the *late as a sharpener of e)er"
instr*ment in %rass an! iron#7
T*%al Cain has %een !eri)e!' in the Enlish le&t*res of Dr# Hemmin' an!' of
&o*rse' %" Dr# Oli)er' from a enerall" re&ei)e! et"molo" that Cain meant$orl!l" possessions' an! the tr*e s"m%olism of the name has %een th*s
per)erte!# The tr*e !eri)ation is from 5in' $hi&h' sa"s Geseni*s' has the
espe&ial meanin to fore iron' $hen&e &omes 3ain' a spear or lan&e' an
instr*ment of iron that has %een fore!# In the &onate Ara%i& it is 3a"in# 7
This $or!'7 sa"s Dr# Gol!iher in his $or5 on M"tholo" Amon the He%re$s7
$hi&h $ith other s"non"mo*s names of tra!es o&&*rs se)eral times on the
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so:&alle! Na%atean -inaiti& ins&riptions' sinifies -mith' ma5er of ari&*lt*ral
implements .02 an! has preser)e! this meanin in the Ara%i& 3a"in an! the
Aramai& 5ina"a' $hilst in the later He%re$ it $as lost altoether' %ein
pro%a%l" s*ppresse! thro*h the Bi%li&al attempt to !eri)e the proper name
Cain et"moloi&all" from 5ana' 7 to ain#7 Here it is that Hemmin an! Oli)er
ot their false s"m%olism of 7$orl!l" possessions#7
Gol!iher attempts to i!entif" m"tholoi&all" Cain the fratri&i!e $ith the son
of Lame&h# 9hether he %e &orre&t or not in his theor"' it is at least a &*rio*s
&oin&i!en&e that Cain' $hi&h I ha)e sho$n to mean a smith' sho*l! ha)e
%een the first %*il!er of a &it"' an! that the same name sho*l! ha)e %een
assine! to the first forer of metals' $hile the ol! Masoni& Leen! ma5es
the master smith' Hiram of T"re' also the &hief %*il!er of -olomon#
It $ill' I thin5' %e interestin to tra&e the proress of the m"th $hi&h has
i)en in e)er" ae an! e)er" &o*ntr" this prominent position amon artisans
to the smith#
Hephaest*s' or *l&an' 5in!lin his fores in the isle of Lemnos' an! $ith his
C"&lops +o*rne"men %eatin o*t an! shapin an! $el!in the re!:hot iron
into the forms of spears an! +a)elins an! helmets an! &oats of mail' $as the
so*thern !e)elopment of the Ar"an fire: o! Ani# 7 Hephaest*s' or *l&an'7
sa"s Dio!or*s -i&*l*s' 7 $as the first fo*n!er in iron' %rass' ol!' sil)er' an!
all f*si%le metals' an! he ta*ht the *ses to $hi&h fire miht %e applie! %"
artifi&ers#7 Hen&e he $as &alle! %" the an&ients the o! of %la&5smiths#
The -&an!ina)ians' or northern !es&en!ants of the Ar"an ra&e' %ro*ht $ith
them' in their emiration from Ca*&as*s' the same re)eren&e for fire an! for
the $or5in of metals %" its potent *se# The" !i! not' ho$e)er' %rin $ith
them s*&h re&olle&tions of Ani as $o*l! in)ent a o! of fire E5e the
Hephaest*s an! *l&an of the Gree5s an! Romans# The" ha!' in!ee!' Lo5i'
$ho !eri)e! his name' it is sai! %" some' from the I&elan!i& loi' or flame#
.02 He &onfines the e6pression to 7ari&*lt*ral7 to enfor&e a parti&*lar theor"
then *n!er &onsi!eration# He miht &orre&tl" ha)e %een more eneral an!
in&l*!e! all other 5in!s of implements' $arli5e an! me&hani&al as $ell as
ari&*lt*ral#
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B*t he $as an e)il prin&iple' an! represente! rather the !estr*&ti)e than the
&reati)e po$ers of fire#
B*t the -&an!ina)ians' interpolatin' li5e all the northern nations' their fol5:
lore into their m"tholo"' in)ente! their leen!s of a s5illf*l smith' %eneath
$hose miht" %lo$s *pon the "iel!in iron s$or!s of mar)elo*s 5eenness
an! strenth $ere fore!' or %" $hose $on!erf*l artisti& s5ill !ia!ems an!
%ra&elets an! +e$els of s*rpassin %ea*t" $ere &onstr*&te!# Hen&e the m"th
of a $on!erf*ll" &*nnin artist $as fo*n! e)er"$here' an! the Leen! of the
-mith %e&ame the &ommon propert" of all the -&an!ina)ian an! Te*toni&
nations' an! $as of so impressi)e a &hara&ter that it &ontin*e! to e6ist !o$n
to me!iae)al times' an! tra&es of it ha)e e6: ten!e! to the s*perstitions of
the present !a"# Ma" $e not +*stl" loo5 to its infl*en&e for the prominen&ei)en %" the ol! Masoni& leen!ists to the Master -mith of 3in Hiram amon
the $or5men of -olomon
Amon the -&an!ina)ians $e ha)e the Leen! of ol*n!' $hose stor" is
re&ite! in the ol*n!!ar5)itha' or La" of ol*n!' &ontaine! in the E!!a of
-aem*n!# ol*n! .prono*n&e! as if spelle! 9a"lan!2 $as one of three
%rothers' sons of an Elf:5in ( that is to sa"' of a s*pernat*ral ra&e# The three
%rothers emirate! to lf!al' $here the" marrie! three al5"ries' or &hoosers
of the slain' mai!ens of &elestial oriin' the atten!ants of O!in' an! $hoseattri%*tes $ere similar to those of the Gree5 Par&ae' or Fates# After se)en
"ears the three $i)es fle! a$a" to p*rs*e their allotte! !*t" of )isitin %attle:
fiel!s# T$o of the %rothers $ent in sear&h of their errant $i)es( %*t ol*n!
remaine! in lf!al# He $as a s5illf*l $or5man at the fore' an! o&&*pie! his
time in fa%ri&atin $or5s in ol! an! steel' $hile patientl" a$aitin the
promise! ret*rn of his %elo)e! spo*se#
Ni!*th' the 5in of the &o*ntr"' ha)in hear! of the $on!erf*l s5ill of ol*n!
as a forer of metals' )isite! his home !*rin his a%sen&e an! s*rreptitio*sl"ot possession of some of the +e$els $hi&h he ha! ma!e' an! of the %ea*tif*l
s$or! $hi&h the smith ha! fa%ri&ate! for himself
ol*n!' on his ret*rn' $as seie! %" the $arriors of Ni!*th an! &on!*&te! to
the &astle# There the ,*een' terrifie! at his fier&e loo5s' or!ere! him to %e
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hamstr*n# Th*s' maime! an! !epri)e! of the po$er of es&ape or resistan&e'
he $as &onfine! to a small islan! in the )i&init" of the ro"al resi!en&e an!
&ompelle! to fa%ri&ate +e$els for the ,*een an! her !a*hter' an! $eapons
of $ar for the 5in# .02
It $ere te!io*s to re&o*nt all the a!)ent*res of the smith $hile &onfine! in his
islan! prison# It is s*ffi&ient to sa" that' ha)in &onstr*&te! a pair of $ins %"
$hi&h he $as ena%le! to fl" .%" $hi&h $e are remin!e! of the Gree5 fa%le of
Dae!al*s2' he ma!e his es&ape' ha)in %" strataem first !ishonore! the
prin&ess an! slain her t$o %rothers#
This leen! of 7 a &*rio*s an! &*nnin $or5man 7 at the fore $as so pop*lar
in -&an!ina)ia that it e6ten!e! into other &o*ntries' $here the Leen! of the
-mith presents itself *n!er )ario*s' mo!ifi&ations
In the I&elan!i& leen! ol*n! is !es&ri%e! as a reat artist in the fa%ri&ation
of iron' ol! an! sil)er# It !oes not' ho$e)er' &onne&t him $ith s*pernat*ral
%eins' %*t attri%*tes to him reat s5ill in his art' in $hi&h he is assiste! %"
the po$er of mai
The Germans ha! the same leen! at a )er" earl" perio!# In the GermanLeen! the artifi&er is &alle! 9ielan!' an! he is represente! as the son of a
iant name! 9a!e# He a&,*ires the art of a smith from Minner' a s5illf*l
$or5man' an! is perfe&te! %" the D$arfs in all his operations at the fore as
an armorer an! ol!# smith# He oes of his o$n a&&or! to the 5in' $ho is
here &alle! Ni!*n' $here he fin!s another s5illf*l smith' name! Amilias' $ith
$hom he &onten!s in %attle' an! 5ills him $ith his s$or!' Mim*n# For this
offense he is maime! %" the 5in' an! then the rest of the stor" pro&ee!s
)er" m*&h li5e that of the -&an!ina)ian leen!#
Amon the Anlo:-a6ons the leen! is fo*n! not )ar"in m*&h from the
oriinal t"pe# The stor" $here the hero re&ei)es the name of 9elan! is
&ontaine! in an an&ient poem' of $hi&h framents' *nfort*natel"' onl"
remain# The leen! ha! %e&ome so familiar to the people that in the metri&al
roman&e of Beo$*lf the &oat of mail of the hero is !es&ri%e! as the $or5 of
9elan!( an! 3in Alfre! in his translation of the Consolation of Philosoph" %"
Boethi*s' $here the a*thor all*!e'' to the %ones of the Cons*l Fa%ri&i*s' in
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the passae 7 *%i s*nt ossa Fa%ri&ie 7 .$here no$ are the %ones of Fa%ri&i*s
2' th*s paraphrases the ,*estion; 9here no$
.02 All these smiths of m"tholo" an! fol5:lore are represente! as %ein lame'
li5e Hephaest*s' $ho %ro5e his le in fallin from hea)en#
are the %ones of the $ise 9elan!' the ol!smith that $as formerl" so fame!
7 Geoffre" of Monmo*th after$ar!' in a Latin poem' spea5s of the ol!' an!
+e$els' an! &*ps that ha! %een s&*lpt*re! %" 9elan!' $hi&h name he
Latinies as G*eilan!*s#
In the ol! Fren&h &hroni&les $e repeate!l" en&o*nter the leen! of the s5illf*lsmith' tho*h' as miht %e e6pe&te!' the name *n!eroes man" &hanes#
Th*s' in a poem of the 4th &ent*r"' entitle! Ga*tier a la main forte' or 9alter
of the stron han!' it is sai! that in a &om%at of 9alter !e ar5astein he $as
prote&te! from the lan&e of Ran!olf %" a &*irass ma!e %" 9ielan!#
Another &hroni&le' of the 0/th &ent*r"' tells *s that a Co*nt of Ano*leme' in
a %attle $ith the Normans' &*t the &*irass an! the %o!" of the Norman 3in
in t$ain at a sinle stro5e' $ith his s$or! D*rissima' $hi&h ha! %een ma!e
%" the smith 9alan!er# A &hroni&le of the same perio!' $ritten %" the mon58ohn of Marmontier' !es&ri%es the manifi&ent ha%iliments of Geoffre"
Plantaenet' D*5e of Norman!"' amon $hi&h' sa"s the a*thor' $as 7 a
s$or! ta5en from the ro"al treas*r" an! lon sin&e reno$ne!# Galann*s' the
most s5illf*l of armorers' ha! emplo"e! m*&h la%or an! &are in ma5in it#7
Galans' for 9alans .the G %ein s*%stit*te! for the 9' as a letter *n5no$n in
the Fren&h alpha%et2' is the name %esto$e! in eneral on this s5illf*l smith'
an! the roman&es of the Tro*)eres an! Tro*%a!o*rs of northern an! so*thern
Fran&e' in the 0/th an! 01th &ent*ries' a%o*n! in referen&es to s$or!s of
$on!ro*s 5eenness an! strenth that $ere fore! %" him for the 5nihts an!
pala!ins#
9hether the name $as i)en as ol*n!' or 9ielan!' or 9elan!' or Galans' it
fo*n! its &ommon oriin in the I&elan!i& ol*n!' $hi&h sinifies a smith# It is
a eneri& term' from $hi&h the m"thi&al name has %een !eri)e!# -o the
Gree5s &alle! the s5illf*l $or5man' the smith of their fol5:lore' Dae!al*s'
%e&a*se there is a )er% in their lan*ae !ai!allo' $hi&h means to !o s5illf*l
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or ornamental $or5#
Here it ma" not %e irrele)ant to noti&e the &*rio*s fa&t that &on&*rrentl" $ith
these leen!s of a s5illf*l smith there ran in the Mi!!le Aes others' of $hi&h
3in -olomon $as the s*%+e&t# In man" of these ol! roman&es an! metri&al
tales' a s5ill $as attri%*te! to him $hi&h ma5es him the ri)al of the
s*%or!inate artisan# In!ee!' the artisti& rep*tation of -olomon $as so
pro)er%ial at the )er" time $hen these leen!s of the smith $ere pre)alent'
that in the poems of those !a"s $e meet $ith repeate! *ses of the
e6pression 7 l
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-imilar to this is the Enlish leen!' $hi&h tells *s that in a )ale of Ber5shire'
at the foot of 9hite Horse Hill' e)i!entl"' from the stones $hi&h la" s&attere!
aro*n!' the site of a Dr*i!i& mon*ment' formerl" !$elt a person name!
9a"lan! -mith# It is easil" *n!erstoo! that here the han!i&raft title has %een
.02 For man" of the !etails of these t$o leen!s' as $ell as for m*&h that has
alrea!" %een sai! of the m"tholoi&al smith of the Mi!!le Aes' I ha)e %een
in!e%te! to the learne! Dissertation of M#M# Deppin an! Mi&hel# It has %een
a%l" translate! from the Fren&h' $ith a!!itions %" Mr# -#9# -iner' Lon!on'
0@#
in&orporate! $ith the anli&ie! name' an! that it is the same as theme!iae)al 9elan! the -mith# No one e)er sa$ him' for the h*e stones
affor!e! him a hi!in:pla&e# He' too' $as a Hiller': for the $or! in the
pre&e!in leen! !oes not mean 7the man of the hill'7 %*t is from the
German h*llen' to &o)er or &on&eal' an! !enotes the man $ho &on&eals
himself# In this st*!io*s &on&ealment of their persons %" %oth of these smiths
$e !ete&t the &ommon oriin of the t$o leen!s# 9hen his ser)i&es $ere
re,*ire! to shoe a horse' the animal $as left amon the stones an! a pie&e of
mone" pla&e! on one of them# The o$ner then retire!' an! after some time
ha! elapse! he ret*rne!' $hen he fo*n! that the horse $as sho! an! the
mone" ha! !isappeare!# The Enlish rea!er o*ht to %e familiar $ith thisstor" from the *se ma!e of it %" -ir 9alter -&ott in his no)el of 3enil$orth#
It is )er" e)i!ent' from all that has %een here sai!' that the smith' as the
fa%ri&ator of $eapons for the %attle:fiel! an! +e$els for the %o*r!oir' as $ell
as implements of ari&*lt*re an! ho*sehol! *se' $as a most important
personae in the earliest times' !eifie! %" the an&ients' an! in)este! %" the
mo!erns $ith s*pernat*ral ifts# It is e,*all" e)i!ent that this respe&t for the
smith as an artifi&er $as pre)alent in the Mi!!le Aes# B*t in the )er" latest
leen!s' %" a &*stomar" pro&ess of !eeneration in all tra!itions' $hen thestream %e&omes m*!!le! as it pro&ee!s on$ar!' he !es&en!e! in &hara&ter
from a forer of s$or!s' his earliest o&&*pation' to %e a shoer of horses'
$hi&h $as his last#
It m*st %e %orne in min!' also' that in the :Mi!!le Aes the respe&t for the
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smith as a 7 &*rio*s an! &*nnin 7 $or5man %ean %" the intro!*&tion of a
ne$ &lement' %ro*ht %" the Cr*sa!ers an! pilrims from the East to %e
share! $ith 3in -olomon' $ho $as s*ppose! to %e in)este! $ith e,*al s5ill#
It is not' therefore' strane that the i!ea sho*l! ha)e %een in&orporate! into
the rit*als of the )ario*s se&ret so&ieties of the Mi!!le 'Aes an! a!opte! %"
the Freemasonr" at first %" the Operati)e %ran&h an! after$ar!' in a more
enlare! form' %" the -pe&*lati)e Masons#
In all of the ol! man*s&ripts &onstit*tions of the Operati)e Masons $e fin! the
Leen!of the Craft' an! $ith it' e6&ept in one instan&e' an! that the earliest'
a referen&e to T*%al Cain as the one $ho 7 fo*n! that is' in)ente! the -mith
Craft of ol! an! sil)er' iron an! &opper an! steel#7
Nothin %*t the *ni)ersal pre)alen&e of the me!iae)al leen! of the smith'
ol*n! or 9elan!' &an' I thin5' a&&o*nt for this referen&e to the Father of
-mith Craft in a leen! $hi&h sho*l! ha)e %een e6&l*si)el" appropriate! to
-tone Craft# There is no &onne&tion %et$een the fore an! the tro$el $hi&h
a*thorie! on an" other ro*n! the honor pai! %" stone:masons to a forer
of metals:an honor so mar5e! that in time the )er" name of T*%al Cain &ame
to %e a!opte! as a sinifi&ant an! important $or! in the Masoni& rit*al' an!
the hihest pla&e in the tra!itional la%ors of the Temple $as assine! to a
$or5er in ol! an! %rass an! iron#
After$ar!' $hen the Operati)e Art $as s*perse!e! %" the -pe&*lati)e
-&ien&e' the latter s*pplemente! to the simple Leen! of the Craft the more
re&on!ite Leen! of the Temple# In this latter Leen!' the name of that Hiram
$hom the 3in of T"re ha! sent $ith all honor to the 3in of Israel' to i)e
him ai! in the &onstr*&tion of the Temple' is first intro!*&e! *n!er his %i%li&al
appellation# B*t this is not the first time that this personae is ma!e 5no$n to
the fraternit"# In the ol!er Leen!s he is mentione!' al$a"s $ith a !ifferent
name %*t al$a"s' also' as 7 3in -olomon
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ar&hite&t*ral a%ilities in e6aerate! terms# He &alls him in one pla&e 7the
most a&&omplishe! Mason on earth'7 an! in another 7the prin&e of
ar&hite&ts#7 This &hara&ter has a!here! to him in all s*%se,*ent times' an!
the *n$ritten Leen! of the present !a" represents him as the ' Chief B*il!er
of the Temple'7 the 7 Operati)e Gran! Master'7 an! the 7 -5illf*l Ar&hite&t 7 %"
$hose ela%orate !esins on his trestle:%oar! the Craft $ere *i!e! in theirla%ors an! the e!ifi&e $as &onstr*&te!#
No$' it $ill %e profita%le in the in)estiation of histori& tr*th to &ompare
these attri%*tes assine! to Hiram A%if I2" the ol!er an! more re&ent
leen!ists $ith the %i%li&al a&&o*nts of the same person $hi&h ha)e alrea!"
%een &ite!#
In the oriinal He%re$ te6t of the passae in the %oo5 of Chroni&les' the
$or!s $hi&h !esinate the profession of Hiram A%if are 3horesh ne5hoshet':
literall"' a $or5er in %rass# The *late' $hi&h $as the pop*lar )ersion in
those !a"s an! from $hi&h the ol! leen!ists m*st ha)e !eri)e! their
5no$le!e of %i%li&al histor"' th*s translates the letter of 3in Hiram to 3in
-olomon; 7 Therefore I ha)e sent to thee a $ise an! most s5illf*l man' Hiram
the $or5man or smith' m" father 7:Hiram fa%rem Patrem me*m#
In!ee!' in the &lose of the )erse in the A*thorie! ersion he is !es&ri%e! as
%ein 7 &*nnin to $or5 all $or5s in %rass#7 An! hen&e Dr# A!am Clar5e' in
his'' Commentaries' &alls him 7 a )er" intellient &oppersmith#7
The error into $hi&h the ol! leen!ists an! the mo!ern Masoni& $riters ha)e
fallen' in s*pposin him to ha)e %een a stone:mason or an ar&hite&t' has
arisen from the mistranslation in the A*thorie! ersion of the passae in
Chroni&les $here he is sai! to ha)e %een 7 s5illf*l to $or5 in ol! an! in
sil)er' in %rass' in iron' in stone' an! in tim%er#7 The $or!s in the oriinal are
Baa%anim )e%anelsim' in stones an! in $oo!s': that is' in# Pre&io*s stones
an! in $oo!s of )ario*s 5in!s# That is to sa"' %esi!es %ein a &oppersmith he
$as a lapi!ar" an! a &ar)er an! il!er# The $or!s in the oriinal He%re$ are
in the pl*ral' an! therefore the translation 7 in $oo! an! in tim%er 7 is not
&orre&t# Geseni*s sa"s:an! there is no %etter a*thorit" for a He%raism:that
the $or! e%en is *se! %" $a" of e6&ellen&e' to !enote a pre&io*s stone' an!
its pl*ral' a%anim' means' therefore' pre&io*s stones# In the same $a" net'
$hi&h in the sin*lar sinifies a tree' in the pl*ral !enotes materials of $oo!'
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for an" p*rpose#
The $or5 that $as !one %" Hiram A%if in the Temple is f*ll" re&o*nte! in the
first %oo5 of 3ins' the se)enth &hapter' from the fifteenth to the fortieth
)erse' an! is %riefl" re&apit*late! in )erses fort":one to fift"# It is also
en*merate! in the thir! an! fo*rth &hapters of se&on! Chroni&les' an! in %oth
%oo5s &are is ta5en to sa" that $hen this $or5 $as !one the tas5 of Hiram
A%if $as &omplete!# In the first %oo5 of 3ins .)ii# >2 it is sai!; 7 -o Hiram
ma!e an en! of !*n all the $or5 that he ma!e 3in -olomon for the ho*se
of the Lor!#7 In the se&on! %oo5 of Chroni&les .i)# /2 the statement is
repeate! th*s; 7 An! Hiram finishe! the $or5 that he $as to ma5e for 3in
-olomon for the ho*se of Go!#7
The same a*thorit" lea)es *s in no !o*%t as to $hat that $or5 $as to $hi&h
the s5ill of Hiram A%if ha! %een !e)ote!# 7It $as'7sa"s the %oo5 of Chroni&les'
7 the t$o pillars' an! the pommels an! the &hapiters $hi&h $ere on the top of
the pillars ( an! fo*r h*n!re! pomeranates on the t$o $reaths( t$o ro$s of
pomeranates on ea&h $reath' to &o)er the t$o pommels of the &hapiters
$hi&h $ere *pon the pillars# He ma!e also %ases' an! la)ers ma!e he *pon
the %ases( one sea an! t$el)e o6en *n!er it# The pots also' an! the sho)els
an! the flesh hoo5s an! all their instr*ments' !i! H*ram his father .Hiram
A%if2 ma5e to 3in -olomon' for the ho*se of the Lor!' of %riht %rass#7
Eno*h has %een sai! to sho$ that the la%ors of Hiram A%if in the Temple
$ere those of a $or5er in %rass an! in pre&io*s stones' in &ar)in an! in
il!in' an! not those of a stonemason# He $as the !e&orator an! not the
%*il!er of the Temple# He o$es the position $hi&h he hol!s in the leen!s an!
in the rit*al of Freemasonr"' not to an" &onne&tion $hi&h he ha! $ith the art
of ar&hite&t*re' of $hi&h there is not the slihtest mention %" the %i%li&al
a*thorities' %*t' li5e T*%al Cain' to his s5ill in %rinin the poten&" of fire
*n!er his &ontrol an! appl"in it to the forin of metals#
The hih honor pai! to him is the res*lt of the infl*en&e of that Leen! of the
-mith' so *ni)ersall" sprea! in the Mi!!le Aes' $hi&h re&o*nte! the
$on!ro*s !ee!s of ol*n!' or 9ielan!' or 9a"lan!# The smith $as' in the
me!iae)al tra!itions' in the saas of the north an! in the roman&es of the
so*th of E*rope' the ma5er of s$or!s an! &oats of mail( in the Leen!s of
Freemasonr" he $as transm*te! into the fa%ri&ator of hol" )essels an!
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sa&re! implements#
B*t the i!ea that of all han!i&rafts smith:&raft $as the reatest $as
*n$ittinl" retaine! %" the Masons $hen the" ele)ate! the s5illf*l smith of
T"re' the 7&*nnin7 $or5er in %rass' to the hihest pla&e as a %*il!er in their
Temple leen!#
The spirit of &riti&al i&ono&lasm' $hi&h strips the e6terior h*s5 from the
histori& erm of all m"ths an! leen!s' has %een !oin m*&h to !i)est the
histor" of Freemasonr" of all fa%*lo*s ass*mptions# This attempt to i)e to
Hiram A%if his tr*e position' an! to !efine his real profession' is in the spirit of
that i&ono&lasm#
B*t the !o&trine here a!)an&e! is not inten!e! to affe&t in the slihtest
!eree the part assine! to Hiram A%if in the s"m%olism of the Thir! Deree#
9hate)er ma" ha)e %een his profession' he m*st ha)e stoo! hih in the
&onfi!en&e of the t$o 5ins' of him $ho sent him an! him $ho re&ei)e! him'
as 7 a master $or5man( 7 an! he miht $ell %e s*ppose! to %e entitle! in an
alleor" to the e6alte! ran5 %esto$e! *pon him in the Lee ! of the Craft an!
in the mo!ern rit*al#
Alleories are permitte! to !i)ere at $ill from the fa&ts of histor" an! the
tea&hins of s&ien&e# Trees ma" %e ma!e to spea5' as the" !o in the most
an&ient fa%le e6tant' an! it is no infrinement of their &hara&ter that a $or5er
in %rass ma" %e transm*te! into a %*il!er in stone to s*it a s"m%oli&
p*rpose#
Hen&e this 7 &ele%rate! artist'7 as he is fairl" &alle!' $hether smith or mason'
is still the representati)e' in the s"m%olism of Freemasonr"' of the a%stra&t
i!ea of man la%orin in the temple of life' an! the s"m%oli& lesson of his trie!interit" an! his *nhapp" fate is still the same#
As Freemasons' $hen $e )ie$ the $hole Leen! as a m"th inten!e! to i)e
e6pression to a s"m%oli& i!ea' $e ma" %e &ontent to &all him an ar&hite&t'
the first of Masons' an! the &hief %*il!er of the Temple( %*t as st*!ents of
8/13/2019 The Legend of Hiran Abiff
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histor" $e &an 5no$ nothin of him an! a!mit nothin &on&ernin him that is
not s*pporte! %" a*thenti& an! *n!isp*te! a*thorit"#
9e m*st' therefore' loo5 *pon him as the inenio*s artist' $ho $or5e! in
metals an! in pre&io*s stones' $ho &ar)e! in &e!ar an! in oli)e:$oo!' an!
th*s ma!e the ornaments of the Temple#
He is onl" the ol*n! or 9ielan! of the ol!en leen!' &hane!' %" a mista5en
%*t a nat*ral pro&ess of transm*tin tra!itions' from a $or5er in %rass to a
$or5er in stone#
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