A VISIT TO KING SOLOMON’S TEMPLE

If the object of the first degree is to symbolize the struggles of a candidate groping in darkness for intellectual light, that of the second degree represents the same candidate laboring amid all the difficulties that encumber the younger beginner in the attainment of learning and science.

Let us go back in history to the year 965 B.C., when Solomon succeeded David as King of the United Israelite Kingdom, that consisted of the Twelve Tribes, each of which were named after Jacob’s twelve sons. A year later, Solomon ordered the beginning of preparations for the construction of the first temple. Hiram, King of Tyre, a good friend of both he and his father, had already volunteered to help him with the temple construction. Hiram, King of Tyre, was the son of Abibal and was about the same age as David and Solomon. David, during his reign, had asked Hiram for cedars, carpenters, and masons, to build him a house. Nearly forty years afterward, when Solomon ascended the throne and began to prepare for the building of the Temple, he sent for Hiram, King of Tyre, the friend of his father, for the same assistance. The two kings sealed their agreement with prayers together on Mount Moriah, and the construction of the temple began.

Let us now visit the temple. As you reach the temple, you notice two pillars of the porch. The left pillar is named Boaz, and the right one is named Jachin. The pillars are more than eight meters high, and are made of brass. They are huge and weigh approximately forty tons each. The legendary Master Hiram Abif, the widow’s son, who was a great artificer in brass and other metals, had built these pillars.

You now pass through these two pillars and enter the temple. After you enter, you notice there is a flight of winding stairs consisting of a set of three steps, followed by a set of five steps and finally, a set of seven steps, totaling fifteen steps. This odd number of steps is not without purpose. The purpose is that you are to start the ascent with your left foot and when you reach the entrance of the temple, you will automatically enter the temple, stepping off with your left foot, a custom that has not lost any significance, even with the passing of time.

The first three steps allude to the three first three degrees of Masonry, and to the three principle officers of the lodge. They further allude to the three great lights of Freemasonry, the Square, the Compasses, and the Volume of Sacred Law and to the three lesser lights of Freemasonry, the Sun, the Moon, and the Master of the Lodge.

The next five steps allude to the five senses of men, hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, and tasting, and remind us to excercise due control over these senses. These also allude to the five architectural orders, which are, the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite.

Each order has its specialization and you can see the workmanship of each of such orders in the temple. They also allude to the five points of Fellowship. The seven and last set of steps allude to the seven liberal arts and sciences, which are, Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, Arithmetic, Geometry, Music and Astrology. They remind you that you are expected to keep improving your skills in these seven disciplines. Grammar, so that you may express yourself properly, Logic, in order that you can distinguish good from bad, and can make a reasonable decision when faced with a dilemma. Rhetoric because it beautifies your language, Arithmetic, because a Mason needs to be calculative in his actions, Geometry, because the whole science of the temple construction depends upon Geometry; Music, so when you shift from labor to refreshment you are able to appreciate the beauty of life, which is best expressed in terms of Music. Astrology, because it helps you to know the day and night; to know when to begin work and when to stop; to understand the seasons and to know the total area of jurisdiction of the Grand Architect of the Universe.

As you reach the outer door, you find that this door is open partially, and guarded closely by the Junior Warden, who demands a password. After due satisfaction, you are allowed to enter, but there is one more threshold to be crossed, credentials to be established again, and the password to be given again to the Senior Warden, who determines whether you enter the Middle Chamber or are refused admission. As you enter, you see a light emanating from the Letter “G”, which is displayed over the Masters chair in the East. You then notice King Solomon standing in the East holding a register in his hand. He inspects the register and calculates the wages due you. The wages paid to you are in the form of corn, wine, and oil; corn to feed you, wine to help you charge your energies, and the oil of joy. Having accepted your wages, you salute King Solomon, and withdraw from the Lodge with a sincere promise to return, remembering your obligation, whenever, you are summoned.


Hiram Abiff
The Widow’s Son


"No man has ever knelt at our altar of Obligation an arose the same man."
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