May 2008
The Number Five
The five senses of hearing, seeing, feeling, tasting and smelling are introduced
into the lecture of the (What Degree?) F. C. Degree as a part of the instructions of
the degree. In the earlier lectures of the eighteenth century, the five senses were
explained in the first degree as referring to the five who make a lodge. (Today it
takes how many to open a lodge of entered apprentices? – 7)
The subsequent reference to the winding stairs, and the introductin into the
second degree, were modern improvements. As these senses are the avenues by
which the mind receives it perceptions of things exterior to it, and thus becomes
the storehouse of ideas, they are most appropriately referred to that degree of
freemasonry, the Fellow Craft Degree, whose professed object is the pursuit and
acquisition of knowledge.
In the third degree we find the reference to the number five as in the five points
of fellowship … anybody? foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, hand to
back, and cheek to cheek or mouth to ear. They are the duties owing by every
freemason to his brethren, which, from their symbolic allusion to certain points of
the body, and from the lesson of brotherly love which they teach. They are
symbolically illustrated in the third degree, and have been summed up as
“assisting a Brother in his distress, supporting him in his virtuous undertakings,
praying for his welfare, keeping inviolate his secrets, and vindicating his
reputation as well in his absence as in his presence.”
Geometry, too, which is deemed synonymous with freemasonry, is called the
fifth science. And, in fact, throughout nearly all the degrees of Freemasonry, we
find abundant allusions to five as a sacred and mystical number
James Schultz, P.M., 33°, L.E.O.
The Masonic Calendar
Some Brethren may have noticed in different Masonic documents that the year
is not even close to what we would understand it to be. I received a Certificate of
Membership after I was raised which stated the date to be: April 9th, A.D. 2005;
A.L. 6005.
Freemasons never make use of the common period or epoch in their official
documentation. More interesting is that the year used is different depending on
which rite referenced. The Masons of our country with that of most in Europe date
from the the creation of the world (4000 BCE) and use the term Anno Lucis (A.L.),
or translated from Latin: “in the Year of Light.” Not claiming that Masonry has
roots stretching that far back into time into the story of creation but as a symbolic
reference to “light” in Masonry.
Scottish Rite Masons also use the date of creation but may use Jewish calendar.
This would be Anno Mundi (A.M.) of “in the Year of the World.” To find this year
add 3760 to the year, and if it is after September add one year more.
Royal Arch Masons begin their epoch with the year that Zerubbabel began to
build the second Temple. This was 530 years before Christ and is called Anno
Inventionis (A.I.) or “in the Year of Discovery.”
Knight Templars use the period of their organization of their Order which was
1118 A.D. This is denoted as A.O. or Anno Ordinis (in the Year of the Order).
Where are we today? 2008 A.D. = 6008 A.L. = 5768 A.M. = 2538 A.I. = 890 A.O.
Bro. Jason L. Stitak, S.W.
References: Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Revised Edition, Mackey and McClenachan. Volume 1.