The "Setting Maul", in operative Masonry is used for setting stones, that is, tapping them to a firm seat in the mortar by urging them sideways into place. It is in Speculative Freemasonry a symbol, in the Third Degree, reminding us of the death of the builder of the Temple, which is said to be effected by this instrument. It is considered by some to be a symbol of untimely death. In some Lodges it is improperly used by the Master as his gavel, from which it totally differs in form and symbolic signification. The gavel is a symbol of order and decorum; the setting-maul, of death by violence.
This was a wooden instrument used by operative masons to set polished stone firmly into a wall. The Maul has been shown to be a symbol of destruction from prehistoric times, and is shown many times in mythology. One of the best known is that of Thor, God of Thunder, who is shown as a powerful man armed with a mighty hammer.
Why is the Setting Maul important?
The 3 instruments used by the Ruffians, and the points where one is struck by these specific instruments, has deeper meaning than what American Present Day Masonry leads on to...
There are some theories that the hidden meanings expounded upon in the 18th century lessons were these hidden meanings, which were subtracted out of the ritual's lessons by Egotistical Grand Officers with agenda's in my opinion.
Use reason and put oneself into the frame of mind of a man from the 18th century, who is fighting despotism and trying to free America. The lessons seem to be geared toward men who are trying to spread, "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity", in spite of the Crown's and Churches attempts at suppression of the Masonic/American battle Cry.
1. "a blow with the twenty-four inch gage across the throat".
Allen Roberts states, "When a man's throat is silenced, it is difficult to carry on his activities efficiently. Too often the enemy will endeavor to destroy freedom of speech."
(Reference: Allen E. Roberts; “The Craft and its Symbols: Opening the Door to Masonic Symbolism”) and Malcolm Duncan: “Duncan’s Ritual of Freemasonry”).
Crown and Church both used violence to destroy Free Speech!
The Attack on the Throat Symbolizes this Fact.
2. " A blow with the square across his breast".
Mr. Robert states, "Others will try to maim a person with blows to the heart. The heart is not only a vital organ, but symbolically holds all that is good or divine in man." By dulling or killing this divine light, man becomes useless".
The Crown and Church for centuries had Disheartened mankind towards any Hope of Liberty, Equality or Fraternity. That again was a lesson taught to 18th century American Freemasons. Not since 1813 though?
The attack on the Breast Symbolizes this Fact.
3. "Dealt him (mankind?) a violent blow with the setting-maul on his forehead, which killed him dead on the spot".
Mr. Roberts states, "A blow to the head, or brain, is the worst that man can suffer. It destroys freedom of thought. This creates ignorance. Where there is ignorance, there is despotism. A few control the many. These few use the majority as pawns in their quest for power and more power."
(Reference: Allen E. Roberts; “The Craft and its Symbols: Opening the Door to Masonic Symbolism”) and Malcolm Duncan: “Duncan’s Ritual of Freemasonry”).
Sounds like the Grand Lodge system that is in place in America.
The few control the many?
The many small minded local masons will attack on a whim!
Believe anything told them by an "elder", whether truth or lies, and will act upon it, instead of subduing their passions!
The men, who show great Ignorance, get promoted up the Line, get "appointed" into positions of financial responsibility as well as decision making positions that can affect the Craft's course!
Our American Free Masonic Fore Fathers took oaths and obligations to seek freedom, justice and equality for the Masses; not to be loyal to Grand master's whims and Passions!
Man created edicts and rules, which inhibit Free Speech, Free Association and Free Thought, would never be followed by a George Washington or a Ben Franklin.
That is a Fact by the way the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania refused a Masonic burial for Brother Franklin because he refused to succumb to recent additions to "grand Lodge codes" which have nothing to do with landmarks and the Spirit of Freemasonry.
George Washington claimed to stay away from British Masonic lodges the last 30 years of his life!
Something must have changed to make these two great Americans and masons refuse to be a part of the new "American Present Day" controlled Freemasonry.
Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston Feb 22, 1706 and was the only signor of all four of America’s founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, French and English treaties and the Constitution. Benjamen Franklin was a friend of George Washington, twice Grandmaster Mason of Pennsylvania, represented the colonies in England’s Lodges and was Grandmaster of France’s Lodge of the Nine Sisters through 1780. In addition to contributing to the organization of the Apollonian Society and Lycee, he also had ties to the 1770 Rite of the Philalethes (Seekers of Truth). A loyal Modern mason, he was excluded by the later Antients in Philadelphia even on his death Apr 17, 1790.
Mystically, he first comes to our attention around 1730 as the founder of a small club in Pennsylvania, the Junto or Leather Apron Club, an educational debating society which discussed morals and required a quarterly essay. In 1754 he joined the English Royal Society for the Arts. Twice GM of Pennsylvania, by 1771, he had given anti-colonial speeches in America, was shunned by polite English society and had visited Ireland of the time immemorial lodge of Antient Masonry. Around 1778 he became the second GM of the Nine Sisters Lodge of France, so named after the classic Greek goddesses of arts and science. Antoine Courte de Geblin, secretary of the lodge, published mythologies tying Tarot to Jewish and Egyptian mysteries. Benjamen Franklin had a hand in organizing The Apollonian Society of 1780 which encouraged the understanding of mechanics and industry and attempted to offer higher education for free.
Franklin helped pave the way for equality to spread through America, France and England. 1763 found him in a squabble with the Penn family for publishing pamphlets decrying the massacre of a group of Native Americans. Louis Amiable’s book A MASONIC LODGE BEFORE 1789 recalls the Franklin’s Nine Sisters Lodge prior to the French revolution which was involved in the protection of the unjustly accused and the reform of penal laws. Authors, artists and scholars comprised the lodge; members coming from both gentry and reformers. While some have thought an international Masonic conspiracy, the book noted “the elaboration of ideas, in rendering public opinion clearer, wiser and stronger, fashion[ed] the men in the fray whose action was decisive.” Franklin used his contacts to raise funds for the American Revolution and upon his return became an outspoken abolitionist.
Ten years after being a French GM in Paris, he was laid to rest in Philadelphia. While he visited Ireland, he was not laid to rest with the standard Masonic solemnities. In 1789 George Washington praised Benjamen Franklin in a letter: “If to be venerated for benevolence, if to be admired for talents, if to be esteemed for patriotism, if to be loved for philanthropy can gratify the human mind, you must have the pleasing consolation to know that you have not lived in vain.”
"In 1731, Franklin was initiated into the local Freemason lodge, becoming a grand master in 1734, indicating his rapid rise to prominence in Pennsylvania.[9][10] That same year, he edited and published the first Masonic book in the Americas, a reprint of James Anderson's Constitutions of the Free-Masons. Franklin remained a Freemason throughout the rest of his life."
Not according to the Grand Lodge of Pa... His French Alliance, which helped free America, was too much for the new American Present Day controlled Freemasonry. They refused Masonic recognition at his death as stated above earlier!?
Now for Washington: On the question of Washington's Masonic connections, the only safe ground, once again, are the writings of Washington himself. There is an oft-repeated statement of Washington's used to demonstrate his supposed indifference to Masonry: "to correct an error that you have run into, of my presiding over English Lodges in this country. The fact is I preside over none, nor have I been in one more than once or twice within the last thirty years." John Eidsmoe, in his book "Christianity and the Constitution", quotes this passage selectively to make it look like Washington was disavowing all Masonic connections: far from "Presiding over the English lodges in this country" as Snyder supposed, he had not been in a Masonic lodge "more than once or twice within the last thirty years."
However Masonic historian, J. Hugo Tatsch interpreted that to mean simply that Washington never presided over nor frequented any English lodges in this country, but that this did not exclude the American lodges of which he was an active member. There is too much of a laudatory and sympathetic nature in Washington's private letters to various lodges to deny that he was a lifelong, practicing Mason.
Did Washington make a distinction between English Lodges and American Lodges?
Washington was Brotherly with French Masons, but not with British masons back then?
Logically and Reasonably I cannot fathom why then after 1813, and then into the Late 19th Century, American Freemason's breaking of Amity with the Freemasons who helped free us from Britain? Over an interpretation of the original constitutions of Anderson regarding Atheism. Another petty excuse to "not" spread Universal Brotherhood and Equality!?
Something does not sit right with this scenario?
For all you free thinking men and masons, ask yourself a question: “Would Ben Franklin and George Washington stand for the watered down, American Present day controlled Freemasonry"?
Would they care about whether they were a Knight Templar, of Prince of the East and West, or an Illustrious High Priest!?
They fought for the removal of those titles from society!
Wake up American Freemasons and claim your Independence and sovereignty.
General Rufus Putnam who served during the Revolutionary War, refused to surrender his lodges charter to the Grand Lodge of Ohio because of being an American Revolutionary War Veteran, and with the War of 1812 raging, would not fall under the newly formed UGLE authority of American Grand Lodges. unfortunately, after his death, his lodge was swallowed up by the newly formed Grand Lodge system. Our American Style of Freemasonry was now officially killed off, like Hiram?!
Take your lead from an American Freemason who understood the lessons taught by American Freemasonry of the 1700's, compared to the Present day American freemasonry form of "loyal subject making" members,
Not Free Thinking, Independent men who stand up to Tyranny and Despotism!
Those days are long gone for the American Masonic system of yesteryear, which was taken over by Grand Lodge Loyalists and changed American Freemasonry forever!
Use The Setting Maul to Disperse the Spell of Silence, Disheartning and Ignorance that has been cast over our American Revolutionary Institution!
Take it back my Brothers.
Cain Has Spoken!
My thoughts?
Your Thoughts!
Viva La France!
