TRANSACTIONS OF

THE
ILLINOIS LODGE OF RESEARCH

VOLUME 23

2014
VOLUME 23 THE ILLINOIS LODGE OF RESEARCH PAGE 15

Much of the collection is likely to consist of A few works may be present that do not appear
books regarding Masonry. Non-Masonic books to belong in a Masonic library. Books are
are likely to be local history or related to frequently donated. Odd books often come in
religion. These non-Masonic books may be with Masonic ones. They also may have been
shelved with Dewey numbers or in a modified donated in some manner or by some eminent
Boyden manner, using a letter or letters other person so that that refusal to accept them was
than M. For example, Bibles and discussions of difficult.
religion might use shelf numbers starting with
an R for religion. Many of these libraries are maintained by
volunteers. They may not be well organized.
These libraries tend to be somewhat local The librarians frequently do not have the
regarding proceedings and such. The technical skills of professional librarians with
proceedings and histories of a Grand Lodge are Masters Degrees in library science. Do not
most likely to be found in libraries in its state; expect a lot of help with online reference
although some may be found in larger libraries resources and such. If the Masonic librarian has
elsewhere. They may also have some obscure these skills, you are just lucky.
works of little general interest, such as a history
of a local lodge or a biography of some member Once one understands the peculiarities of
who was active in the area. Masonic libraries, they can be good research
sources to obtain deeper understanding of
Biographies in these libraries will tend to Masonry or its History.
feature famous Masons; although there may be
others of local importance. There may even be a
biography of someone who was well known
elsewhere than in the area where the library is
located. Masons have been known to travel and
bring books with them.

Symbology of The Triple Tau in Freemasonry by Bill Wojtas

What do you know about the symbol which represents the Royal Arch of
Freemasonry? We often see the Triple Tau in logos for Royal Arch
Masons, but what does it mean? What does it symbolize? Interestingly, it
is closely related to the honorable symbol of the Blue Lodge, the Square,
Com a and G .

I need to begin by explaining the Triple Tau and what it is. The Tau
itself is very old and is seen in ancient artifacts. It is not a symbol
created by Masons, rather used by Masons for their purposes. It has
deep and profound meaning, which I will try to illustrate in this paper.
English Royal Arch Masonry acknowledges six lights 3 lesser and 3
greater, which are explained in our Blue Lodge Degrees. These lights
are arranged in equilateral triangles, each of the lesser bisecting a line
formed by two of the greater, thus geometrically dividing the greater
triangle into three lesser triangles at its extremities and forming a fourth
in the center, all equal and equilateral.
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This symbolic arrangement is related to the mysterious triple tau mathematically, which has two right
angles at each of its exterior lines and two at their union in the center. In all, eight right angles,
corresponding in number to the four triangles. To illustrate, four triangles equals a total of 720 degrees,
each single triangle consists of 180 degrees. Eight right angles (90 degrees) totals 720 degrees, which
is the equivalent of four triangles. This shows that the Triple Tau is a cryptic representation of the six
lights and the pattern in which they are placed.
Additionally, the pattern in which the 6 lights are placed
and the Triple Tau contain the same number and sizes of
lines, just arranged in a different manner. There are three
long lines and three short lines which make up both
symbols. This was often used to concealed reference to
the symbol in the 17th and 18th centuries.

This shows how the Triple Tau ties in to Freemasonry by

relating it to the arrangement of the 6 lights of English
Freemasonry. Now we need to take it one step further and
show the deeper meanings of this mystic symbol. We will
do this by relating it to a school of mystical philosophy
known as Neo-Platonism.

Neo-Platonism is a 19th century term for a philosophy which began in the third century based on the
teachings of Plato and other Platonists. Two of the earliest contributors are believed to be Plotinus and
his teacher Ammonius Saccas. Plotinus taught that there is a supreme, totally transcendent "One",
containing no division, multiplicity or distinction; beyond all categories of being and non-being. His
"One" "cannot be any existing thing", nor is it merely the sum of all things, but "is prior to all existents".
Plotinus identified his "One" with the concept of 'Good' and the principle of 'Beauty' Neo-Platonism, a
form of theistic monism, focused on the spiritual and cosmological aspects of Platonic thought,
synthesizing Platonism with Egyptian and Jewish theology. (Wikipedia contributors, "Plotinus," Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopedia, [Link] (accessed December 23, 2013).)
To begin, we will need to illustrate a symbol known as the Tetractys.
The placement of the six lights in English Freemasonry creates a
triangle, which we have shown to be related to the Triple Tau, due to
the corresponding number of degrees contained within (180 and 720
degrees). The Tetractys is also a triangular formation consisting of
ten points arranged in four rows, creating a total of 10 triangles. This
is a geometrical representation of the fourth triangular number which
is explained as the n-th triangle number is the number of dots composing
a triangle with n dots on a side, and is equal to the sum of the n natural
numbers from 1 to n ( T3=6, T4 10). The triple tau creates 4
Triangles, the fourth triangular number, T4 equates to the Number 10,
which is the Pythagorean representation of the Tetractys. The
Pythagorean method of displaying the number 10 is the sum of the numbers 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 and it
presents the idea that the number 10 contained within itself the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Each of these numbers represented a fundamental idea concerning the Pythagorean Cosmos, i.e., the
natural world (represented by the number 4) and three levels of higher, unchangeable reality called
"hypostases.". The Pythagorean symbology is explained as such (Wikipedia contributors, "Tetractys," Wikipedia, The
Free Encyclopedia, [Link] (accessed December 23, 2013).):

1. The first four numbers symbolize the harmony of the spheres and the Cosmos as: (1) Unity, (2)
Dyad - Power - Limit/Unlimit (peras/apeiron), (3) Harmony (4) Kosmos.[2]
2. The four rows add up to ten, which was unity of a higher order (The Dekad).
3. The Tetractys symbolizes the four elements fire, air, water, and earth.
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4. The Tetractys also represented the organization of space:

1. the first row represented zero-dimensions (a point)
2. the second row represented one-dimension (a line of two points)
3. the third row represented two-dimensions (a plane defined by a triangle of three points)
4. the fourth row represented three-dimensions (a tetrahedron defined by four points)

We have heard concepts like this before in Masonic lectures, a point, a line, a superfices, etc. So this
Pythagorean concept has been used by Masons more often that we realize and these symbols hold
deep Masonic meaning.

Pythagoras maintains, the power of the number 10 lies in the number 4, the tetrad, for this reason: If one starts
at the unit (1) and adds the successive number up to 4, one will make up the number 10 (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10). The
Tetractys, tetrad and the number ten were all very important Kabbalist symbols.

This same ten point symbol was used by the Hebrew as the Tetragrammaton. Tetragrammaton literally
ran la e o fo r le er and is the Hebrew theonym which is often represented by the Latin letters YHWH,
otherwise known as the representation of one of the ineffable names of God in the Hebrew
Book of Divine Law. The Hebrew Tetractys contains the four letters of the Tetragrammaton
placed on the ten positions of the Tetractys from right to left. Using a Jewish system of
numerology, known as Gematria, which assigns a numerical value to a work or phrase
reveals that the sum of the numbers is equal to 72, a dividend of 10 and 720. (Wikipedia
contributors, "Tetragrammaton," Wikipedia, The Free

Encyclopedia, [Link] (accessed December 23, 2013). )

At this time, it is important to relate the circle with the triangle. What
most of us are not aware of is that two circles will form a Triangle.
This is explained through a Kabbalist symbol known as the vesica
piscis, a shape that is created by two intersecting circles of the same
radius. Mathematically is explained as, The mathematical ratio of
the height of the vesica piscis to the width across its center i s
the square root of 3, or 1.7320508... (since if straight lines are drawn
connecting the centers of the two circles with each other and with the two points where the circles intersect, two
equilateral triangles join along an edge). The triangle can then be extended beyond the vesica piscis by
extending the lines through the corners to the opposite sides of the circle and connecting these new lines with
horizontal lines creates a larger triangle. In essence, it creates the T 3 triangle or the 6 point arrangement of the 6
lights of Freemasonry.
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I have discussed the importance of the numbers four and ten, the circle, vesica piscis and the triangle as well as
how the symbols have meaning in the Kabbalah. We will now tie all of these separate aspects together into one
very important symbol, the Sephiroth (translated: emanations). Geometrically, this is represented by FOUR
circles placed together in a position which creates THREE (an important number in Masonry) vesica piscis. This
creates a grouping of 10 "enumerations" or emanations through which God reveals himself and continuously
creates both the physical realm and the chain of higher metaphysical realms. The ten stage Sephiroth (in the
singular each stage is called a Sephirah) is quite similar to the Pythagorean/Platonic concept of the "Holy
Tetraktys." In description. It is often referred to as a representation of the Tree of Life d e to the positioning of
the Sephirah.

The Kabbalist Sephiroth teaches us that there are 4 planes of existence. Atziluth
which relates to the Divine plane, Briah which relates to the celestial plane, Yetzirah
which relates to the Astral plane and Assiah which is the earthly plane. Platonists
later associated the four planes with the elements: divine as Fire, Celestial with air,
Astral with Water and Earth with Earth. Later, in the fifth century, Proclus Lycaeus
proved an association with the concept of geometric progression as such:
Divine/Fire with a point, Celestial/Air with a line, Astral/Water with a superfices and
Earth with a Solid. His works are too detailed to summarize, but this will suffice for
the purposes of this paper. There is a fifth plane which is referred to as Diety or the
Universe, which encompasses all and is represented by the Sephiroth as a whole.

Kabbalist Planes Elemental Geometric

Atziluth Divine Fire Point
Briah Celestial Air Line
Yetzirah Astral Water Superfices
Assiah Earthly Earth Solid

In essence, the Divine contains the point from which all light emanates and is united with its source. Divine
Chochmah (one of the Sephirah) or the trait (wisdom) that something can be created from nothing. The
geometric progression as proved by Proclus brings that to the plane in which we exist, on earth, a solid.

Solids are related to the symbology of the Triple Tau through the concept of Platonic Solids, which are explained
by Euclidean geometry as a regular, convex polyhedron. The faces are harmonious, regular polygons, with the
same number of faces meeting at each vertex. (Wikipedia contributors, "Platonic solid," Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopedia, [Link] (accessed December 23, 2013).)
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There are exactly five solids which meet those criteria; each is named according to its number of faces.

The five Platonic Solids (bodies) are the following: The Tetrahedron (four faces), the Hexahedron or
Cube (six faces), the Octahedron ( eight faces), the Dodecahedron (twelve faces) and the Icosahedron
(twenty faces).

Platonists associated the Universe and the four elements with each of the bodies as illustrated in the
below matrix.

Elemental Planes Body

Universe Diety Dodecahydron
Fire Divine Tetrahedron
Air Celestial/Spirit Octahedron
Water Astral/Intellect Icosahedron
Earth Earthly/Physical Cube

Platonic theory says that the universe and its subordinate parts both animate and inanimate were created by the
deity from the four elements. Diety is the point that the Chochmah teaches is the point where something was
created from nothing. From the point to another point, a line is created. The line is necessary to create a
superfices. The foundational superfices which can create a solid from itself is the Triangle, rather, the Tetractys.
The Tetractys, which we proved is formed by a single Triple Tau, is folded upon itself to form a tetrahedron. The
Triple Tau is a symbolic representation if the superfices necessary to create the first three dimensional Platonic
Solid.
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Each body is subsequently formed by a multiple of Triple Tau as such:

Triple Tau Platonic Body

9 Dodecahydron
1 Tetrahedron
2 Octahedron
3 Icosahedron
5 Cube

We have related the Tetrahedron to the Divine, which is represented by the point. The Kabbalah teaches us that
from the point, everything is created. Platonic Theory tells us that that the universe and its subordinate parts
were created by the deity from the four elements. The four elements are related to the four planes of existence
and are thus considered the building blocks of the universe. That foundational body, represents the point from
which the building blocks of the universe are created, was itself created by a single triple tau. The point as
proven represents deity which further indicates that the triple tau is a symbolical representation of deity, that from
which all was created.

To this point, we have provided a progression which shows that the Triple Tau is a symbol of Deity using
philosophies and teachings known to be important to Masonry. Now, we will tie all this together with
Freemasonry and not just to symbology important to the Craft.

There is an Historical Lecture in the English Royal Arch Degree which will tie the triple tau symbol in with Royal
Arch Masonry. The lecture is tied to the floor layout of a Lodge of Royal Arch Masons with the knowledge that
there are no Masters of the Veil in English Royal Arch Masonry. The lecture is as follows:
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T b ca a a e e c e d e e e
tau, which has two right angles at each of its exterior lines, and two in
the centre; in all, eight right angles, corresponding in number with
those contained in the four triangles; for the three angles of every
triangle are together equal to two right angles. (walks to the West).

It also serves to illustrate the jewel worn by the Companions (Draws

attention to the Jewel) which forms by its intersections a given
number of angles: these may be taken in five several combinations,
and when reduced to their amount in right angles, will be found equal
to the five regular Platonic bodies (points) representing the four
ee e a d e ee e e e.

So the lecture ties the bodies and elements to the symbol in Masonry and
positions of officers of the RAM Chapter. The Triple Tau symbolizes the EHP
in the East of the Chapter and is a representation of the 6 Lights of Royal Arch Freemasonry. The tetrad the
lights form are symbolic of the gold plate found on the altar they surround and it also forms the tetrahedron, the
base solid. This ties the symbols to Royal Arch Masonry, but how can it relate to the Blue Lodge?

We know the importance of a circle as a fundamental geometric shape and how it ties to both Freemasonry and
the Triple Tau. We have also proved the importance of the Triangle to both the Triple Tau, the Craft and Royal
Arch Masonry through the historic lecture. Now we can tie this into Blue Lodge symbology.

The Compass draws the circle and from our degrees we know that the
point is in the center of a circle. The Square creates an angle of ninety
degrees and E c d T e e 12 de c be c ea e a 90 de ee
angle by drawing a triangle within a circle using the point within. We have
proved that the Triple Tau is representational of the point.

In Blue Lodge Masonry, you have the Square with the Compass over the
aea d e G a a e ce e . We a a e G a b b Ge e a d G d,
both the building blocks and creator of the universe, just as we have proven that the Triple Tau represents both
deity and the foundation of the geometry creating the building blocks of the universe. Coincidence?