Fifty Words and Phrases in Freemasonry
Prepared for use by the lodges and their members by the Iowa Committee on Masonic Education, Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M., Iowa.
Acacia Advancement Apron Ashlar Ballot Brought to Light Builder's Art Cable Tow Clandestine Column	Composite Constituent Lodge Corinthian Cowan Craft Degrees of Masonry Divested Doric Enlightenment Entered Apprentice (EA)	Equivocation Fellow Craft (FC) Freemason Grand Architect of the Universe (G.A.O.T.U.) Grand Lodge Grand Master Hiram Abif Hoodwink Hoodwinked Ionic	King Hiram of Tyre King Solomon Light Lodge Mason Masonic Organizations Masonic Regalia Masonry Master Master Mason (MM)	Master Mason's Word Mystery Profane Saints John Stated Meeting Sublime Tuscan Warden Worshipful Worshipful Master (WM)
Acacia	Any of various chiefly tropical trees of the genus Acacia, having compound leaves and tight clusters of small yellow or white flowers.
Advancement	Movement forward, i.e., the movement from one degree to the next.
Apron	Leather aprons were worn centuries ago by stonemasons to protect their skin and clothing, as well as to carry their tools. Today, lambskin or cloth aprons, often elaborately decorated or embroidered, are worn by members as a symbolic connection to those medieval craftmen from which it is purported that we derive our Masonic tradition.
Ashlar	A building block. A "rough ashlar" is one that has merely been excavated from a quarry. A "perfect ashlar" is one that has been squared and polished, and thus made fit for a builder's use. Speculative Masons take the ashlar as a symbol for their minds and consciences.
Ballot	A secret vote by balls and cubes or in writing.
Brought to Light	Term used in Masonic degree rituals to describe the moment when a candidate has his hoodwink (blindfold) removed, with implications of a more profound enlightenment. Also see "Enlightenment."
Builder's Art	The art of  architecture and stonemasonry is relied upon as the source of the allegorical methods and symbolic tools applied in the art of Speculative Freemasonry. The term also alludes to the designs and handiwork of the Grand Architect of the Universe (G.A.O.T.U.).
Cable Tow	A twisted rope, usually of cotton or synthetic material, used symbolically to bind or make fast; originally a particularly strong rope also, a compound word of Masonic coinage combining cable (a rope) and tow (a rope for pulling).
Clandestine	Concealed, usually for some secret or illicit purpose. In Freemasonry, illegal, not authorized.
Column	A supporting pillar consisting of a base, a cylindrical shaft and a capital.
Composite	One of the five orders of architecture, combining the Corinthian and Ionic styles.
Constituent Lodge	A Lodge chartered by, or under dispensation from a Grand Lodge.
Corinthian	One of the three classical (Greek) orders of architecture - the most ornamented of the three. Originated in the City of Corinth in Greece.
Cowan	A Masonic term which means intruder or one who accidentally enters where he is not wanted. This is not to be confused with the word eavesdropper or one who deliberately tries to overhear and see what is not meant for his eyes and ears.
Craft	Another term for Masonry, which implies that there are certain skills to be learned and developed within a system of apprenticeship and mastery.
Degrees of Masonry	Indications of the level of membership and knowledge of Freemasonry principles. The basic degrees of Masonry are Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason.
Divested	To deprive or take away from; to undress or remove clothing, ornaments or equipment.
Doric	One of the three classical (Greek) orders of architecture - the oldest and simplest of the three, originated in an area of ancient Greece known as Doris.
Enlightenment	Definitions of this term are understood to be inadequate, but it refers to the direct and conscious realization of the essential nature of being, which concepts alone cannot attain. In common Western usage the term  is somewhat synonymous with illumination, revelation and epiphany. When capitalized, as in ‘Enlightenment’ or ‘Age of Enlightenment’ it refers to the period of time (roughly the mid-1600's to about 1800) when the ideas of rational thought and liberty developed. Modern Freemasonry is often said to be a product of the Enlightenment.
Entered Apprentice (EA)	An initate of the first degree in Masonry. EAs are charged to work primarily at improving their moral character. The tools of an EA include the 24-inch gauge and common gavel.
Equivocation	To avoid committing oneself to what one says; uncertainty; uncertain or questioning disposition or mind.
Fellow Craft (FC)	A craftsman. A Mason who has been passed to the second degree of Masonry.  FCs are charged to continue their moral improvement, while also advised to improve their minds through the study, at least allegorically, of the classic seven liberal arts and sciences, especially geometry. The tools of FCs include the plumb, square and level.
Freemason	The word "free" was added to "mason" during the Middle Ages. The origin is uncertain, but may be related to stonemasons who worked as advanced stone carvers in "freestone."
Grand Architect of the Universe (G.A.O.T.U.)	Also Great or Supreme Architect, etc. This is a term used by Masons to refer to the Supreme Being, which Masonic ritual also refers to as the Creator, Deity, and God. Masons are required to profess a belief in a Supreme Being, but according to Anderson's Constitutions of 1723 every Mason has the right to maintain his own beliefs and religion.  Therefore every great religion of humanity is represented within the fraternity of Masonry.
Grand Lodge	The administrative body in charge of Freemasonry in a specific geographic area. The United States has Grand Lodges in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Grand Master	The elected leader of the Grand Lodge.
Hiram Abif	According to Masonic myth, Grand Master Hiram Abif was the son of a widow sent to King Solomon to serve as the Chief Architect and artificer of Solomon's Temple. In Masonic legend it is said that three FCs unjustly desired to know the secret Word of a Master Mason, and that they murdered Hiram when he refused to give it to them.  In Masonry he is associated with the Pillar of Beauty, the South of the Lodge, and the office of Junior Warden.
Hoodwink	A blindfold.
Hoodwinked	Blindfolded.
Ionic	One of the three classical (Greek) orders of architecture, originated in an area of ancient Greece known as Ionia.
King Hiram of Tyre	According to Masonic myth, King Hiram supplied many of the workers and materials necessary for building King Solomon's Temple.  In Masonry this Grand Master is associated with the Pillar of Strength, the West of the Lodge, and the office of Senior Warden.
King Solomon	Noted in the Bible as the son of King David and the builder of the Temple in Jerusalem, King Solomon was legendary for his wisdom in serving the people of Israel, and many believe that he authored the books of Proverbs and the Song of Songs.  In Masonry this Grand Master is associated wih the Pillar of Wisdom, the East of the Lodge, and the office of Worshipful Master.
Light	The symbolism of light has many philosophical, psychological and spiritual implications. Every Mason of every degree claims that light is what he seeks, and Masonry promises to deliver it in some measure, though it also instructs its members that further light must be sought beyond the traditional instructions and explanations of its ritual.  In this context, Masonry alludes to the light of insight and understanding. An important Masonic reference to light regards its prominence in the act of creation, as recorded in the first chapter of Genesis.
Lodge	This refers to both a unit of Masons as well as the room or building in which they meet. There are approximately 13,000 lodges in the United States.
Mason	A member of the Masonic fraternity.
Masonic Organizations	Any group, chapter, order, club, association or organization requiring Masonic affiliation as a prerequisite to membership, except Masonic Lodges.
Masonic Regalia	Aprons, jewels, implements and hats appropriate to one's station or office.
Masonry	An ancient nonsectarian fraternity with initiatory ritual and symbolism based upon legends about the building of King Solomon's Temple.
Master	The elected leader of the local lodge. Also the title a Mason acquires once he has completed the third degree of membership.
Master Mason (MM)	One who has been raised to the third degree of Masonry, also called the "Sublime Degree." MMs are charged to continue the work they began as EAs and FCs, but also to act as agents of brotherly love and to seek the Lost Word.  The tools of MMs include all the instruments of Masonry, but especially the trowel.
Master Mason's Word	Also known as the Lost Word or True Word. According to Masonic myth, this word was a Masonic secret originally known only to the ancient three Grand Masters: King Solomon, King Hiram of Tyre, and Hiram Abif.  Strangely, when Hiram Abif was murdered King Solomon lamented that the Word was lost, though he also declared that a key to the Word might be found on or near Hiram's body. King Solomon made provisions for a "Substitute Word" to be used until future Masons could recover the True Word.
Mystery	The secret or specialized practices or ritual peculiar to an occupation or a body of people; rites or secrets known only to those initiated.
Profane	One not initiated into the Fraternity of Craft, a non Mason.
Saints John	Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist, the two ancient patron saints of Freemasonry.
Stated Meeting	The monthly or bimonthly lodge meeting to conduct regular business, receive new members, and vote upon the Application for Degrees.
Sublime	Lofty, grand or exalted in thought; expression or manner; of outstanding spiritual, intellectual or moral worth; tending to inspire awe.
Tuscan	One of the five orders of architecture, originated in the Tuscany area of southern Italy.
Warden	An official having care or charge of some administrative aspect or an organization or some special supervisory duties; a British term used in the Episcopal Church and at various colleges and in government functions. In Masonry, a position equivalent to a First or Second Vice President.
Worshipful	As used in Worshipful Master, From the Anglo-Saxon, worthship (worthy); honorable or respectable. The term has no religious or sacred implication.
Worshipful Master (WM)	Also called Master of the Lodge, is the chief officer of a lodge..