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m ir n w s m&mw moM u ■^}VgR€nY OF l£Z€Xffl> txyxz s & v . :?i % ?■ ?'-?> ProQuest Number: 10673078 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 10673078 Published by ProQuest LLC(2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 An Analysis of the Emergence of Early Masonic Symbolism BY FIONA E. POLLARD M. PHIL. DEGREE SUBMITTED AT SOAS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON ABSTRACT The subject of this thesis is English Masonic symbolism set within the limits of the middle of the seventeenth - to the late eighteenth-century which allows for the study of the earliest sources. The objective of the thesis is to analyse and compare the sources of early Masonic symbolism to determine when particular symbols first appeared and how they developed into themes through the eighteenth-century. This study is placed within the historical context of the early development of Freemasonry, its background and the type of member it attracted, and also the contemporary intellectual milieu in which the symbols emerged. Before an examination of the sources is undertaken a discussion on the theory and meaning of the term symbol is provided. A number of theories and definitions are addressed from various fields of study, such as anthropology, psychology and theology. This in turn forms the basis of a definition of Masonic symbolism as it is to be used during the course of the thesis. The sources themselves are divided into two: literary and visual. The first are comprised of a number of manuscripts, which may be described as Exposures or Expositions of Masonic ritual, in the form of catechisms. The second are a collection of objects, engravings and drawings that clearly depict Masonic symbols. Data concerning the specific symbols from both these sources is collated and presented in tables. This format allows for a comparison between the appearance of symbols in literary form, as they are described in the Expositions, and as they are shown in visual form. The conclusions that are drawn from this study ascertain the nature of early Masonic symbolism and whether it emerged in spite of various contemporary movements and intellectual fashions, or that its development was in fact influenced by them. 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis has proved to be an interesting and detailed study of English Masonic symbolism. The analysis of both the literary and visual sources has been a central part of this work, and without access to these could never have been undertaken. I therefore wish to thank the General Board of Purposes of the United Grand Lodge of England for the use of the library and museum in the Freemason's Hall, London, and for allowing me access to take my own photographs. I would also like to acknowledge the assistance and cooperation of the librarian John Hamill and his staff, particularly John Ashby who has always shown an interest in my work and a willingness to help in any way, and Matthew Scanlan who allowed me the use of his camera and his time in explaining the intricacies of its use! I must offer a special thanks to my supervisor, Professor John Hinnells who has been a source of inspiration and encouragement throughout the time I have spent w ith him . 3 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION p. 5 CHAPTER 1: A Theoretical Discussion Of The Meaning Of Symbol p. 13 CHAPTER 2: The Emergence Of Masonic Symbolism In Literary Form ... p. 35 CHAPTER 3: A Historical Study Of Early English Freemasonry p. 57 CHAPTER 4: The Contemporary Background To The Development Of Masonic Symbolism p. 74 CHAPTER 5: The Development Of English Masonic Craft Symbolism In The Eighteenth-Century: The Literary And Visual Sources p. 99 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... p. 163 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................... p. 172 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................... p. 178 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND TABLES Table 1 .......................................................................................................................p.39 Table 2 .......................................................................................................................p.40 Table 3 .......................................................................................................................p.42 Table 4 .......................................................................................................................p.48 Table 5 .......................................................................................................................p. 49 Table 6 .......................................................................................................................p. 52 FIG. 1. Syon House: the Great H all ...................................................................p. 91 FIG. 2. Plate 5 of Jamitzer's Perspectiva Corporum Regularium .....................p. 92 FIG. 3. Title page to Sylvester'sbartas, His Devine Weekes & W orkes p. 93 FIG. 4. French engraving by Bernigroth ........................................................ p. 101 FIG. 5 (a) Set of w ooden Tracing B o a rd s ........................................................ p. 102 FIG. 5 (b) Set of Tracing B oards ......................................................................... p. 103 TABLE A Literary Symbols (1696-1760) ..............................................................pp. 115 TABLE B Visual Symbols (1617-1798) pp. 117 TABLE C Literary and Visual Symbols in Themes (1617-1798) ..................... pp. 119 VISUALS 1-35 ...........................................................................................................pp.121-62 4 INTRODUCTION The subject of Freemasonry is a diverse one incorporating many areas of research, which include the history of the origins, members, lodges, Grand Masters; the 'additional degrees' and Orders; Masonic charity; and Freemasonry abroad. The area to be studied in this thesis will be Masonic symbolism; attention will also be given in one chapter to the early history of Freemasonry in England. The majority of books and research on the subject of Freemasonry have been written and conducted by Freemasons for other Freemasons. Most of these presume a basic knowledge of the workings of Freemasonry and its terminology. The following study does not depend on such a knowledge and does not attempt to incorporate such details. Where specific terms are used in the text, they will be explained as far as necessary. No attempt has been made to comment on the nature of Freemasonry, or to interpret and explain any of its principles and tenets. Involvement in the internal workings of Freemasonry has been avoided. The thesis will not attempt to establish the origins of Masonry, of which much has been written and there is much speculation. The subject will be addressed briefly, however, in the chapter dealing with the contemporary setting in which Masonic symbolism developed. The period that will provide the time-frame for the work on Masonic symbolism is the late seventeenth-century to the end of the eighteenth-century. There is no interest in the developments that occurred in Freemasonry after this date, such as in the ritual or in any of the additional degrees and their symbolism. It is also important to emphasise that this thesis is conducted within the confines of English Freemasonry, particularly London, The reason being that Freemasonry as a 'modern' organisation originated in England, and the first institution, the premier Grand Lodge, was formed in London. England was also the setting for the development of the ritual and organisation of Freemasonry. This thesis, as the title suggests, will comprise an analysis of the emergence of early Masonic symbolism in England. What is meant by the use of the words 'emergence' and 'early' must be clarified. The primary sources that will be used in this study provide the earliest evidence of the appearance of Masonic symbols in England, in written form. The latter part of the thesis examines these symbols together with the symbols appearing in visual sources, and how the two forms of symbolism developed throughout the eighteenth-century. It is in this first sense that 'emergence' is used. In a second sense, it denotes the historical setting in which the symbols first emerged. For instance, the intellectual background of the seventeenth- century which preceded the earliest evidence of Masonic symbolism, and the contemporary milieu of the eighteenth-century in which it developed. It is in this context that 'early' is used. The earliest record of Masonic symbolism, which is found in the ritual is 1696; a more detailed system is evident in 1730. The eighteenth- century may be regarded as the period in which, according to the evidence, Masonic Craft symbolism developed before the ritual was officially approved in 1815. There are two sets of primary sources examined in this thesis. The first

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