From the book
Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry
R. Swinburne Clymer · Diotimos Editions · 2026
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At a Glance
- The wordG is a Masonic emblem to which the book assigns several meanings and a condition of institutional recognition.
- In Ancient Mystic Oriental MasonrySection 180 rejects Geometry in favor of Gnosis, described as the inward secret.
- In this editionThe single letter is searched case-sensitively.
- A place to readF.146: … “Templars and the Gnostic teachings (the Masonic " G " does not and never did, stand” …
Meaning
G is a Masonic emblem to which the book assigns several meanings and a condition of institutional recognition.
Use in the book
Section 180 rejects Geometry in favor of Gnosis, described as the inward secret. The long original note to Rule 12 nevertheless joins God and Geometry. Rules 11–12 make the prominent presence of G a condition for recognizing another body. Thus interpretation and jurisdiction meet in one letter.
Places to read
- Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 146… “Templars and the Gnostic teachings (the Masonic " G " does not and never did, stand for Geometry, but for "Gnosis," the soul) it is well to quote from Abbe Gregoire” …
- Rules and Regulations · Block 13… “member of any Masonic Body in which the "G" does not hold a prominent place. In such cases Masonic rule is broken and in this respect Albert G. Mackey, the Highest” …
- Rules and Regulations · Block 14“12. The "G" in the Masonic Institution is the oldest Landmark the institution has and to take this away is to break Masonic Rule. It is un-Masonic and any Grand Lodge” …
- Original Notes · 1907 pp. 184–188“*“G” This letter is deservedly regarded as one of the MOST sacred of the Masonic emblems. Where it is used, however, as a symbol of Deity, it must be remembered that” …
In this edition
The single letter is searched case-sensitively. Matches can include initials and spaced abbreviations as well as the emblem; the count is lexical, not a census of meanings.
Reading the argument
The contradiction is important evidence about the compilation. It should not be removed by selecting one explanation and treating it as the only historical meaning. A reader can compare what the author prefers, what his source says, and what his rule requires.
G
“G” — 14 occurrences in 8 text blocks: M.43; F.87, 93, 95, 146; R.13–14; N.184.
Geometry
“Geometry” — 3 occurrences in 2 text blocks: F.146; N.184.
God
“God” — 87 occurrences in 68 text blocks: I.16–17, 24; D.14; M.1, 3, 16, 30, 38, 54–57, 66; F.39, 50, 64, 67, 70, 75, 89–90, 93, 96, 98, 132, 144, 151, 153, 158, 163–167, 171; S.8–12, 15, 18, 25, 28, 34, 38, 44–45, 47, 52, 71, 77, 83, 89, 111, 113, 125–128, 132, 142, 149–150, 154; R.8; N.184.
Gnosis
“Gnosis” — 2 occurrences in 2 text blocks: F.76, 146.