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Montana Freemason May 2015 Volume 90 Number 1

THE WINDING STAIRS

Oliver Day Street defined the central theme of the Speculative Masonry presents a vision of spiritual
Second Degree as: buildings and encourages each individual to choose
his own method of actuating it. In other degrees we
“In the winding stairs, an architectural feature of encounter the five pointed star and the five points of
Solomon’s Temple is seized upon to symbolize the Fellowship.
journey of life It is not a placid stream down which
one may lazily float, it is not even a straight or level The final seven steps teach us to develop our minds.
pathway along which one may travel with a minimum The seven Liberal Arts and Sciences constitute Rome’s
of exertion, it is a devious and tortuous way, requiring rchuertroicruicluamndofloegdiuccaetmiopnh.aTshizee“Tcorimvimumun” iocfagtiroanmsmanard,
labor and effort for its accomplishment. This is reasoning.
appropriately symbolized by the winding staircase. It
teaches us that our lives should be neither downward mThues“icQuanaddraivsituromn”ocmony.siTstheed of arithmetic, geometry,
nor on a dead level, but, although difficult, progressive first two are concerned
and upward.” with measurement and are basic to all the sciences,
Where and what does life lead us to? A ladder would inventions and discoveries that we know today.
afford a straight path for our efforts and a clear view
to the top, but the winding or spiral staircase better The Fellow Craft is allowed to pass through the
approximates the reality of outer and inner doors into the
our life quest. Middle Chamber where we
Each step partially hides what congratulate him, for he now
comes next and our goal is understands that the concept
not constantly in sight. It was of the “winding stairs” is not
fortuitous that the ancients an elaborate repetition of
chose the spiral as the symbol historical fact, but rather a
of creative force, the substance piece of symbolism whose
of life. Modem scientific meanings have led him to a
discoveries have shown it to higher sense of what life is and
be the pattern of developing what is meant to be. This is his
galaxies and solar systems and great reward’
the configuration of the vital
DNA molecule.

The initial three steps teach
about the great purpose of
Masonry, an appreciation of
spirituality. The number three
and the triangle have long
symbolized Deity, to whom
we give our utmost homage and reverence.

The three characteristics of God are Omnipresence,
Omniscience and Omnipotence. In Christianity, He
has three aspects embodied in one. The three Great
Lights of Masonry symbolize truth, faith, hope,
morality and righteousness.

The next five steps teach that the physical aspect is
also important. We learn about architecture, which
is the science of building and the art of durability.
The five Orders of columns, although externally
different, are but variants of the basic unit of support.

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