From the book
Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry
R. Swinburne Clymer · Diotimos Editions · 2026
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At a Glance
- The wordWisdom, Strength, and Beauty are complementary supports of a lodge, a well-made structure, and an ordered character.
- In Ancient Mystic Oriental MasonryThe source connects the three qualities with officers, divine triads, and the sun's positions.
- In this editionThe three nouns have uses outside the named pillars.
- A place to readS.104: … “foundations or supports of a Masonic Lodge are three pillars, denominated Wisdom, Strength and Beauty. These” …
Meaning
Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty are complementary supports of a lodge, a well-made structure, and an ordered character.
Use in the book
The source connects the three qualities with officers, divine triads, and the sun's positions. The architectural language distinguishes planning, support, and completion or adornment. The lodge consequently becomes a model in which human labor participates in an ideal order.
Places to read
- Masonic Symbolism · Block 104… “foundations or supports of a Masonic Lodge are three pillars, denominated Wisdom, Strength and Beauty. These three noble pillars give it a stability which no exertion of art or ingenuity can” …
- Masonic Symbolism · Block 105“308. "In the Ancient Mysteries these three pillars represented the great emblematical Triad of Deity, as with us they refer to the three principal officers of the Lodge. In the British” …
- Masonic Symbolism · Block 109“312. "The three Principal Officers of a lodge are, it is needless to say, situated in the East, West and South. Now, bearing in mind that the lodge is a symbol” …
- Masonic Symbolism · Block 115“318. "In the East, as the pillar of Wisdom, this Deity was called Brahma; in the West, as the pillar of Strength, Vishnu; and in the South, as the pillar of” …
In this edition
The three nouns have uses outside the named pillars. Their locations are supplied individually so that the technical grouping can be checked.
Reading the argument
The arrangement is a meaningful analogy. Repeated triads in several traditions do not independently establish a single institutional descent. The reader should distinguish the functional comparison from the stronger historical conclusion placed around it.
Wisdom
“Wisdom” — 34 occurrences in 28 text blocks: I.10–11, 13, 21, 27; D.15; M.18, 25, 36, 68; F.51, 66, 78, 113, 115, 132, 169; S.5, 34, 104, 107–108, 115, 125, 152, 155; R.4; N.36.
Strength
“Strength” — 6 occurrences in 5 text blocks: S.104, 108, 115; R.4, 10.
Beauty
“Beauty” — 9 occurrences in 8 text blocks: D.15; M.29; S.92, 104, 108, 115; R.10, 13.
three pillars
“three pillars” — 2 occurrences in 2 text blocks: S.104–105.
pillars
“pillars” — 6 occurrences in 4 text blocks: S.82, 104–105, 108.