Theological ladder

Use in the book

The text joins four cardinal virtues to Faith, Hope, and Charity, then interprets Charity as divine love and the sun at the summit of a planetary comparison. Jacob's ladder supplies a scriptural image, but the particular number and order of steps belong to the later symbolic exposition.

Places to read

1. Masonic Symbolism · Block 116… “the host of stars is represented. The Mystical ladder which is here referred to as a symbol that was widely diffused among the religions of antiquity, where, as in Masonry, it” …
2. Masonic Symbolism · Block 118“321. "This Mystical ladder, which in Masonry is referred to as 'the theological ladder, which Jacob in his vision saw, reaching from earth to heaven,' was widely dispersed among the religions” …
3. Masonic Symbolism · Block 119… “is an anomaly in giving to the Mystical ladder of Masonry only three rounds. It is an anomaly, however, with which Masonry has had nothing to do. The error arose from” …
4. Masonic Symbolism · Block 120“323. "If Charity is equivalent to Divine Love, and Divine Love is represented by the sun, and lastly, if Charity be the topmost round of the Masonic ladder, then again we” …

In this edition

Theological ladder is the technical expression discussed here. Rounds means steps in this context, rather than repeated performances of a rite.

Reading the argument

The number of steps and the biblical image are separate matters. Genesis 28:12 does not specify seven rounds. The author's sevenfold interpretation can be understood without attributing its entire arrangement to that verse.

Related texts

Genesis 28:12 supplies Jacob's ladder, while the verse leaves the number of steps unspecified. The distinction separates a scriptural image from the structure assigned to it in this exposition.⁷

ladder

“ladder” — 10 occurrences in 5 text blocks: S.116–120.

rounds

“rounds” — 3 occurrences in 2 text blocks: S.118–119.

Temperance

“Temperance” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: S.119.

Fortitude

“Fortitude” — 6 occurrences in 6 text blocks: M.68; S.32, 69–70, 89, 119.

Prudence

“Prudence” — 2 occurrences in 2 text blocks: M.68; S.119.

Justice

“Justice” — 9 occurrences in 9 text blocks: I.24; D.17; M.68; F.46, 132, 158, 165, 169; S.119.

Faith

“Faith” — 18 occurrences in 16 text blocks: I.16, 24; M.30; F.50, 69, 87, 95, 145, 156; S.4, 10–11, 25–26, 81, 119.

Hope

“Hope” — 3 occurrences in 3 text blocks: M.25; S.5, 119.

Charity

“Charity” — 12 occurrences in 8 text blocks: F.158; S.119–120; R.5–6, 9–10; N.184.