Page 99 - Lunacy and the Age of Deception

But there is much more to the symbolic teaching given to an Entered Apprentice about the heavens.
Here are the ritual myths that are recited while images of the Moon are displayed on the walls of
the temple and on various tracing boards or floorcloths... The ritual says:

The Universe is the Temple of the Deity whom we serve: Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty are about
his throne as pillars of His works: for His Wisdom is infinite, His strength is omnipotent, and Beauty
shines through the whole of the creation in symmetry and in order... The Sun and Moon are
messengers of His will, and all His law is concord. The Sun and Moon were created one to rule the
day, and the other to govern the night...

Freemasonry teaches that the Moon is a source of hope in a world of darkness. When the sun sets
and the awful hour of disappearing light saps our strength, we can rely on the Moon to reflect the
light of truth into our darkest hours. The Moon was more than just a symbol of hope among a dark
world to early Freemasons. In the days before streetlights and public transportation, many lodges
met by the light of the full Moon, because it made traveling from lodge to home easier. Some Lodges,
such as the Yorkshire Lodge of the Three Graces, still meet on the evening of the full Moon. They
are known as Moon lodges. Some lodges went further and carried the symbolic involvement with
Moonlight as far as having an aperture in the roof of the temple to allow the light of the full Moon
to shine into the ceremonies. The ritual speaks of the importance of meeting by Moonlight.

“Our ancient brethren met always at night, when the Moon was full; and the more perfectly to
remain unknown, allowed no light but hers... The sun and Moon in our lodges are the truth, and the
reflection of the truth in doctrine... And of course, the Greek name for the sun was Apollo. This name
was also chosen for NASA’s project to land men on the Moon...

The name Apollo, and the role of the symbol of the sun have a long and distinguished history within
Freemasonry...