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Masonic Education
The Master’s Collar W. Sir and Brethren, Take a good look at
this collar. It is made exactly
according to the specifications laid down in The Constitution of Grand Lodge
(article 391, p. 126). While the
collars of the other officers are more or less triangular with the jewel
affixed to the bottommost point, this collar is circular in form, to remind us the Freemasonry encircles the
globe. The sky blue of the fabric is associated with the colour we ascribe
to the heavens and, more recently, according to the astronauts, to Earth
itself. In some Lodges, the metallics of this collar are cast in gold metal rather than the more
common silver to remind us the Lodge has passed the century mark in its
history. The metallics
form a chain to remind us that
the Brethren of any Lodge derive their strength from being linked to each
other, and that each Brother must therefore take care not to be the weak
link of that chain. The chain is made up of
eight five-pointed stars, or
pentagrams, each within a circular wreath, and eight serpent emblems. Each
star suggests the five points of fellowship upon which we were all raised
and which govern our conduct toward each other. The star also reminds us of the star
which first appeared in the East, “that
bright morning star whose rising gives peace and salvation to the faithful
and obedient of the human race.” The stars and serpents
are so arranged that one of the stars is located in the centre of the chest
of the wearer, and from it is suspended the square, which is the
Master’s particular jewel – a symbol always facing us when we
sit in Lodge, reminding us to harmonize our lives and actions with the
principles of morality and virtue. We can all appreciate
the use of stars in this collar, but what about the serpents or
snakes? For my money, the serpent of
snake has been the victim of a lot of bad press because of his part in the
temptation of Adam and Eve, recounted in Genesis, Chapter 3. This story borrows from legends existing
all over the ancient world that the serpent was wise, intelligent and, as
Genesis says, “crafty.” Now the serpent in Genesis went wrong,
but you will find in Egyptian and Greek culture the use of the snake as a
symbol of wisdom. The wand of
Mercury, messenger of the gods, called caduceus,
bore a snake entwined upon it. The
practitioners of the medical arts and sciences have adopted this symbol,
not because the snake may have been evil but because he was wise. And don’t forget when Moses and
Aaron went to confront Pharaoh: the Lord caused Aaron’s staff to
become a serpent when he threw it on the ground (Exodus 7:9). In more recent times,
in the medieval Tudor and Stuart periods of English history, the Lord
Chancellor of England had powers very like our modern Prime Minister. His bade of office was “The Collar
of SS” – a collar comprised of golden snakes laid side by side,
all of which adds up to this: that while the stars represent brotherly love, relief and truth, the snakes represent the wisdom and
astuteness required for the ruling of a Lodge. A mathematician might observe that the
coiling of each snake of the collar resembles the symbol for infinity (resembling the figure
“8” turned on its side).
Mystics claim that a serpent with its tail in its mouth, as these
snakes here, represents eternity. These particulars of the snake on this
collar remind us that the wisdom of the creator is infinite
and that, in our lives and
actions, we should keep eternity
in view. Finally, I should like
to say a word about collars in general.
Why do our officers wear collars rather than coronets, or special
sashes or cloaks or badges? We do
not find collars in the vestments of the Priests of Solomon’s
temple. In ancient times, a collar
was placed on a slave so that he could be controlled by chain. Perhaps domesticated animals like dogs
and horses wore collars before human beings did. Thus, the collar was originally a sign of
subordination. In elaborate social structures, the higher
the responsibility of the slave, or vassal, the more elaborate his
collar. The most elaborate of all
were worn by the nobility to symbolize their subordination to the
Monarch. Hence, The Collar of SS
worn by the Lord Chancellor of England. The authority of the
Worshipful Master, as symbolized by the collar, is one of those, quoting
from The Work, “distinctions
necessary to preserve subordination among Masons and to reward merit and
ability.” But, while the
Master sits in the Chair of Solomon and rules the Lodge with his gavel, his
collar says the he is the chief
servant of the Lodge. By oath he
is held in this servitude for one year.
The collar is not his, but belongs to the Lodge. And when his successor is elected, the
collar, the yoke of service, is lifted from his shoulders and placed upon
the new Master. This is why some
restrictions are placed on when and where the collar may be worn. For when and where the collar is worn,
the Lodge is at Work and takes its Centre from the circle of the collar. |
