Rogue Council #23, Cryptic Masons of Oregon

The Sword and the Trowel are the two implements most prominently depicted in the Cryptic Degrees, holding a place in the emblem of our order. We have been explained that the sword is used for defense and protection, and that the trowel is used to cement the brotherhood.

I want to take a deeper look at these implements. Particularly, I want to consider them as an example of dualism. The online Encylopedia at www.wikipedia.org says of Dualism: "In a given domain of knowledge, dualism involves the existence of two fundamental principles (or concepts), often in opposition to each other." Well, the Sword keeps people away, and the Trowel binds people together, so these seem to fit the description. Come to think of it, the lessons of Masonry are filled with this statements to this effect. On one hand, we are taught about the Universal Brotherhood of Mankind and on the other hand we are told to keep them in the dark concerning the secrets of Masonry.

The system of Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah presents us with a picture of Dualism.

The Tree of Life is a diagram used by Kabbalists to help them understand the attributes of their self and of God. It is said that Aur Ein Sof (Light Without End) shines down into the tree and is split like a prism into ten attributes, known as Sephirot (the Hebrew word for Ciphers) and finally reached Yesod (Foundation) and Malkhut (Earth) at the bottom. The pillar on the left is known as the Pillar of Severity (or Strength.) That on the right is known as the Pillar of Mercy (or Wisdom.) The one in the center is known as the Pillar of Equilibrium (or Beauty.) In fact, our Masonic triad of Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty is represented more particularly by Hokhmah (Wisdom), Gevurah (Strength), and Tiferet (Beauty). You'll notice that the middle pillar has a gap in it, making it a broken column.

The idea with this tree is usually to go through a series of meditations contemplating each attribute of God in a sequence. But our goal personally is to try to achieve the balance represented by the middle pillar, and more particularly by Tiferet, Beauty or Harmony.

By crossing the Sword and the Trowel in the emblem of Cryptic Masonry, I believe an allusion is being made to achieving this same type of balance between Severity and Mercy. A lesson which is well demonstrated by Solomon in the story of our admission into the Select Master Degree.

I will conclude by defining the Sephirot to aid in understanding the diagram:

Keter = Crown
Hokhmah = Wisdom, Binah = Understanding
Hesed = Mercy, Gevurah = Strength
Tipheret = Beauty
Netzach = Victory, Hod = Splendor
Yesod = Foundation
and Malkhut = Kingdom.