There is no symbol more significant in its meaning, more versatile in its application, or more pervasive throughout the entire Freemasonry system than the triangle. Therefore, an examination of it cannot fail to be interesting to a Masonic student.
God’s name – YHVH (Tetragrammaton)
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The equilateral triangle appears to have been adopted by nearly all ancient nations as a symbol of the Deity in some of his manifestations or emanations; consequently, it is likely that the prevailing influence of this symbol was carried into the Jewish system, where the yod within the triangle came to represent the Tetragrammaton, or sacred name of God.
According to Brother D. W. Nash (Freemasons Magazine iv, page 294), the equilateral triangle represents the Great First Cause, Creator and Container of all things, as one and indivisible, manifesting Himself in an infinite number of forms and attributes in this visible universe.
In Egyptian hieroglyphics, the trowel, an important Masonic tool, has the shape of a triangle, symbolising the darkness through which a candidate for initiation must pass.
They considered the equilateral triangle to be the most perfect of all figures and a symbol of the great principle of animated existence, with each of its three sides representing one of the three divisions of creation, the animal, vegetable, and mineral.
Masonic Symbol | The Triangle
The triangle of equilateral sides is prevalent throughout the Masonic system. It forms the figure that suspends the jewels of the officers within the Royal Arch.
In the Ineffable Degrees, the sacred Delta manifests everywhere as the emblem of the Grand Architect of the Universe.
Constantly exhibited in Ancient Craft Masonry as a component of significant ceremonies. The seats of the principal officers are arranged in a triangular formation, the positions of the three Lesser Lights are identical, and the Square and Compasses form, by their union on the Greater Light, two intersecting triangles with common bases.
The equilateral triangle is one of the most consistent forms of Masonic symbolism, to put it succinctly.
This figure also exists in the form of a triangle with a right angle, which merits consideration. The base represented Osiris or the male principle, the perpendicular represented Isis or the female principle, and the hypotenuse represented Horus, their son or the product of the male and female principles.
Pythagoras received this symbol from the Egyptians during his long sojourn in that country, and with it he learned its unique property, namely, that the sum of the squares of the two shorter sides is equal to the square of the longest side.
This property is symbolically expressed by the formula that Osiris and Isis are the parents of Horus. This figure has been adopted in the Third Degree of Freemasonry and will be acknowledged there as the Forty-seventh Problem of Euclid.
SQUARE AND TRIANGLE
It is a type of the Eternal, the All-Powerful, and the Self-Existent. As the Delta was the initial letter of Deity in ancient cultures, so is its modern equivalent a type of the Eternal, the All-Powerful, and the Self-Existent.
As passive matter, the Square represents the material world, in contrast to the Triangle’s representation of force.
The Square is also a symbol of humanity, similar to how the Delta or Triangle represents God. The delta, Triangle, and Compasses are equivalent in nature.
The raising of one point, followed by another, denotes that the divine or higher portion of our nature should gain strength and control the baser tendencies.
This is the actual, practical “journey to the End.” The interlocking Triangles or Deltas represent the union of the active and passive, male and female forces that pervade the universe.
The interlacing of the two Triangles, one white and one black, symbolises the coexistence of the two apparent powers in nature, darkness and light, error and truth, ignorance and wisdom, evil and good, throughout a person’s life.
The Triangle and Square form the Pyramid as depicted on the Apron of an Apprentice-in-Training. In this context, the Pyramid represents matter and force units, as well as the unity of man and God. The placement of the numbers 3, 5, 7, and 9 in the parts and points of the Square and Triangle in pyramidal form signifies Perfection (see Pointed Cubical Stone and Broached Thurnel).
RADIATED TRIANGLE
A triangle positioned within and encircled by a circle of rays. In Christian art, this circle is referred to as a Glory.
When this Glory surrounds the Triangle in the form of a circle, it becomes a representation of God’s eternal glory.
This is the typical usage in religious contexts. But when, as is typical in the Masonic symbol, the rays emanate from the centre of the Triangle and envelop it in their brilliance, it represents the Divine Light.
These rays of light were associated by the perverted beliefs of the Pagans with their sun-god and their Sabian worship.
But the true Masonic meaning of this Glory is that it represents the Eternal Light of Wisdom that surrounds the Supreme Architect as a Sea of Glory and emanates from Him as the centre of His created universe.
TRIANGLE, TRIPLE
The perdalpha, or Triangle of Pythagoras, is commonly referred to as the Triple Triangle because the intersection of its sides forms three triangles.
However, there is another variety of the Triple Triangle that is more deserving of the name, as depicted in the illustration.
It will be recognisable to the Knight Templar as the shape of the jewel worn by his Order’s Prelate.
As with all variations of the triangle, it is a symbol of the Deity; however, as the Knights Templar Degree is exclusive to Christian Freemasonry, the Triple Triangle there refers to the Mystery of the Trinity.
In the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Degree of Knight of the East, the symbol is also said to refer to the triple essence of Deity.
However, the symbolism is made even more enigmatic by assuming that it represents the sacred number 81, with each side of the three triangles equalling 9, which is the square of 3, the most sacred number in Freemasonry.
In the Twentieth Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, or that of “Grand Master of all Symbolic Lodges,” the number 81 is said to refer to the triple covenant of God, symbolised by a Triple Triangle said to have been seen by King Solomon when he consecrated the Temple.
In fact, the triple triangle is referenced much more frequently in the Ineffable and Philosophical Degrees than in Ancient Craft Masonry.
The Hindu Triple Triangle, also known as the Indian Trimourti, has a unique shape consisting of three concentric triangles. In the middle is the holy triliteral name Aum.
The inner triangle represents Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva; the middle triangle represents Creation, Preservation, and Destruction; and the outer triangle represents Earth, Water, and Air.
Article by: Albert G. Mackey
Albert Gallatin Mackey (1807 – 1881) was an American medical doctor and author.
He is best known for his books and articles about freemasonry, particularly the Masonic Landmarks.
In 1849 he established The Southern and Western Masonic Miscellany, a weekly masonic magazine.
He served as Grand Lecturer and Grand Secretary of The Grand Lodge of South Carolina, as well as Secretary General of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FREEMASONRY
Vol 1
By: Albert Mackey
And its Kindred Sciences Comprising the Whole Range of Arts, Sciences and Literature as Connected With the Institution.
Mackey knew that very few men have the means, time, and the inclination for the purchase of numerous books, and for the close and attentive reading of them…to acquire a knowledge of all matters connected with the science, the philosophy, and the history of his Order.
It was this thought that suggested to him that he should collect materials for a work which under one cover might help to enlighten his Brethren.
This book is so absorbing you could sit and read it from cover to cover. It also serves as a handy reference guide for any Masonic question that may arise.
Highly recommended.
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