“Guess”
At least that’s what I’ve decided. Recently, I was doing some SEO work for a site that sells fraternity and sorority merchandise. They also have some Freemason stuff. As I was looking through the products, I noticed that there was a G in the center of the logo:
If you ask a mason what the square means, you might expect to get varying answers, as you would if you asked about the compasses. However, one would expect that if you ask a mason what the “G” stands for, you would get one answer. After all, the U on the mountain stands for Utah, and the Y stands for Young. The “D” on a coin stands for Denver, where a “P” stands for Philadelphia, determining where the coin was minted.
Now go online and try to find an answer to what the “G” stands for and you will get one of the following answers:
- God
- Great Mathemetician
- Geometry
- Greatness
- (my favorite) “It means what you want it to mean.”
For a group that supposedly has all the answers, this sure doesn’t help their cause much.
#1 by Terry on December 31, 2008 - 7:35 pm
The less-mentioned of them all, is probably the right one: Gnosis. This word encapsulates many of the “secret” teachings in Freemasonry, and is the main purpose behind most occult pursuits known to man.
#2 by Chris on January 2, 2009 - 11:26 am
The G is common in America but not in the rest the world. It’s general symbolism reminds us of two things: God & Geometry. That God should be at the center of whatever of all our actions & Geometry because it displays the Beauty, Glory, & Perfection with which God created the Universe.
A few important aspects to remember here:
1. God refers to an individual’s belief system. God may refer to Jesus, Allah, Buddha, etc. Masonry teaches no religious dogma nor offers any path to salvation. it only encourages belief in a supreme being. Religion is never discussed in Lodge. I have sat in lodge with the Christian Bible, Hebrew Tanach & the Koran all were open on the Altar during open lodge showing equality to all men & faiths. If there were those of other faiths, they would have been represented, too.
2. These symbols have foundations in a time when the general populace couldn’t read. It wasn’t like today where you know exactly what the Starbucks Logo means.
3. Since languages & cultures differ, the “G” wouldn’t make sense where the name is different.
Freemasons don’t claim to have all the answers. What we do feel strongly about is the ability of an educated, rational human being able to come together with others to help fix the world around him & by being involved. This is typically why you have many active in government & community. Not because of some sinister plot, but to truly make a difference.
In a different time, Freemasonry allowed men of vastly differing Faiths, Politics, & status to meet & discuss ideas without being condemned for Treason, Heresy, or some other crime that are now common place, that we now take for granted
http://www.masonicinfo.com has some good reference work.
Hope this helps.
#3 by Mike on January 2, 2009 - 12:02 pm
I don’t mean to mock any belief, I just find it interesting that there is a giant “G” in the middle of a symbol and nobody can agree on what i means. The most common response seems to be “God”, but I haven’t read it anywhere “official”.
I don’t really buy the lot about “These symbols have foundations in a time when the general populace couldn’t read. It wasn’t like today where you know exactly what the Starbucks Logo means” especially because the starbucks logo doesn’t have a big “S” in it. The story would be different if you were talking about an abstract symbol such as the square and compasses. But a letter is only put in a symbol because it stands for something specific.
Lastly, I think the “Geometry” one is kinda lame since there are plenty of symbols to represent Geometry better than a “G”. (i.e., circle, sphere, square, cube, pi, and even the square and compasses.)
#4 by Chris on January 5, 2009 - 6:04 pm
In the end, I’m sorry you don’t accept my explanation. I get the feeling you think I am withholding something, some “secret” piece of information that I would be in fear of my life for divulging, perhaps? I hope not.
The description is what is, nothing more. The exact Verbage is found in the second section, in the lecture portion, of the 2nd or “Fellowcraft” degree. You won’t read it any “official” because it is not in materials published for the general public. Traditionally, Grand Lodges throughout the world, do not write anything downregarding Ritual work. It is a violation of our oath, now considered tradition. Everything is taught “Mouth to Ear” & memorized. Many, not all, allow “memory aides” which is in code. In the mid-1860’s a book was published entitled “Duncan’s Ritual” written in plain english. One can probably find it on Amazon.
Best of luck in your endeavors!
#5 by Mike on January 6, 2009 - 11:30 am
Again, I don’t mean to mock the beliefs of the Freemasons. I just thought something as simple as a giant G in a symbol would have one very specific answer available all over the internet. I just find it interesting that it is not. I do not, in any way, view your organization in such a way that you would be killed for divulging information. Nor do I feel you are holding anything back. In actuality, you’ve explained better than others in your last post.
The answer I get is more or less this: It’s a secret. There’s nothing wrong with that. I, for one, am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We have teachings that we do not divulge to the general public. Some teachings are discouraged even from open discussion between members outside of the temple.
#6 by Chris on January 7, 2009 - 8:42 pm
Interesting that we have something in Common, then: My Great-Grandfather Edmund Durfee was the first Saint killed during the Nauvoo persecutions. http://www.nauvootemple.com/articles/MorleySettlement.html
Another GG was present when Brigham Young converted & was one of the first 40 Saints. I, however, am not a member of the Church as my Dad left when he was much younger.
Wasn’t sure if you were aware then that (at least) the first six presidents of the Mormon Church were Freemasons. I have been told that there are similarities. Strongly recommend reviewing attached links.
http://www.masonicinfo.com/mormons.htm
http://www.masonicmoroni.com/
#7 by Mike on January 8, 2009 - 10:56 am
I did know that many of the first members of the church were affiliated with the Freemasons. I am not sure, however, what their positions were after they joined the LDS church. I do know that members of the church today are not refrained from affiliation with the Freemasons, but it is discouraged.
This is not because there is anything wrong with Freemasonry, per se. The center of the LDS church is the Priesthood, which is not only literally “the power to act in the name of God”, but also the organization of men who hold such power. The reason is that the Priesthood provides everything that members might be seeking from Freemasonry, but is governed by God. The church also does not, however, refrain members from learning about other religions and organizations.
#8 by Horst on February 17, 2009 - 11:01 pm
Mike, I’m a ason from Toronto Canada. I have to agree with Chris, he really explained the whole ‘G’ thing perfectly. Masonry is quite ancient, from a few hundred years to thousands, depending on who you speak to. Whatever it’s true age, it was born in a time when literacy was certainly much less widespread than it is today. Masonry was communicated via memorized work (speeches) and symbols. If a symbol had more than one acceptable interpretation than that was certainly a very efficient way to teach a concept. There really and truly is no big secret.
Sometimes I like to think of Masonry like chocolate. I asked someone about it, they told me they liked it and I migt like it too. I tried it and I love it. If you ask me about it I’ll tell you how wonderful I think it is. If you wish to try it, you too might find you love it, then again it might not be your thing. No one will force you to keep eating it. While I truly enjoy it occasionally I hear of people who don’t like it or who think it is bad or evil, oh well it’s a free world they can believe whatever they want.. and hey – I get to keep eating chocolate. Masons generally don’t get too involved in responding to negativity… it’ll always be there and no matter how hard you try to dispell the myths and misconceptions there will always be those who insist that Masonry is evil, satanic, a conspiricy etc, etc, etc. I’m a Mason because I truly enjoy the comradeship, I have found a group of people who share my ideals and I’m having a really great time. As for any undeserved self advancement… I still work shifts ( I just finished night shift and I physically feel really crappy), I drive a ‘91 Mazda 323 and I pay my bills and taxes just like I’m sure you do. If there’s any special treatment I wish a bit would slide my way! Masons don’t advertise, most of what people know of Masonry is from word of mouth. Imagine trying to explain the beauty or intricacies of your faith to someone who is certain that ‘Big Love’ is a 100% true representation of the Church of the Later Day Saints. There are some good books out there that can better explain Masonry… try Freemasonry for Dummies (no kidding it exists). It really is a great book for further insight. And, if your up to it… I recommend trying chocolate. 2B1Ask1 !! All the very best to you and your nearest and dearest. Horst
#9 by Mike on February 17, 2009 - 11:36 pm
I never said anything negative about the Freemasons. I’ve known several and they are all very good people. I only pointed out that I found it odd that nobody could answer what a very obvious “G” in the middle of a logo meant. I understand that Freemasonry is very very old and if the G stems all the way back, it could very well even be something in Latin and could have had several meanings since then.
However, I find it fascinating that you would use “Big Love” as an example of something that might teach people about my church. The first reason is that I was talking to my wife about this not more than 2 hours ago. Secondly, that show in now way whatsoever has any kind of affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I don’t just mean affiliated in the sense of endorsed, I mean that the show offers absolutely no truths about the church. Assuming this is like me assuming that National Treasure is a good source for Freemasonry teachings.
Lastly, I get annoyed when I hear people refer to the church as “The Church of the Latter Day Saints.” Notice anything missing? This church is in the most literal sense Jesus Christ’s church restored in our time. That isn’t directed at you, Horst, I just wanted to clarify that for anybody who reads this post so they will know.
#10 by Horst on February 19, 2009 - 11:28 am
I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that I was trying to be critical… far from it. There is no simple answer to the ‘G’ thing. For many it stands for ‘God’, which , like it’s position in the Masonic Square and Compasses symbol, should be at the centre of all ones actions and undertakings. If you truly keep God at the centre of all things you can’t go wrong! In Masonry you must believe in a Supreme Being, but that Supreme Being is not defined by the craft… that is up to the individual and his personal religious convictions. Religion and politics are forbidden topics in lodge so how you define and worship the Supreme Being of your faith is entirely up to you. No one will ever question it or offer alternate definitions… Mason’s simply believe that a man should realize his subservience to a creator that has given us this marvelous/wonderful world and life.
Another popular explanation for ‘G’ is geometry. Masonry owes a lot to that science. Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry was created from the craft guild in medieval times (possibly even earlier) . While there were many different guilds then in existance, most were rather set in their development. Masonry was different in that as churches, castles and cathedrals became larger, more elaborate and more beautiful the science used to construct them became more and more advanced and involved. This was the time of the birth of many scientific disciplines. Mathematics, geometry, architecture, strength of materials. No other guild utilized science like this. Think about it… the carpentry guild wasn’t able to build structures on a scale anything like what the masons did. The weavers and shoemakers, not to slight their contributions to the world) really had nothing new to offer society. The masons use and development of math, geometry, physics etc. was of great interest to many that had no desire to actually work with stone. So the early operative (actual stone workers) guilds then permitted non-stone working (speculative) members to join.. they were called accepted masons, not actually stone working but interested enough in the science known to masons to want to join. That is why some people state that the “G” is for geometry. To build the cathedrals, churches and castles in those early times a skilled work force was needed that could move from location to location as required. Hence the ‘journeyman. To house these migrant workers ‘lodges’ were constructed at the worksite. To ensure harmony within the lodges certain rules and standards were enacted to ensure harmony. These lodges were also responsible for the training of the operative masons and as a masons skills increased he learned certain secret gestures and words which would show what level of proficiency he had attained. These secrets were universal so that if the journeyman went to a new site he could demonstrate what degree of skill he had attained so that he could be, among other things, be paid appropriately. The level of literacy in those times was extremely low so everything in masonry was communicated via symbols. The working tools each had a symbolic value attached to them, which ultimately explains why the ‘G’ came to be found within the square and compasses.
You might also find an all seeing eye (like the one above the pyramid on your dollar bill) or a shining sun, or even the Pythagorean or Euclids 47th proof within the square and compasses. For some, in other parts of the world, their word for god doesn’t start with g so a ‘G’ within the square and compasses would be meaningless. Others believe that any attempt to write the name of the diety is wrong and will therefore not be attempted. Some have stated that the ‘G’ is for good or goodness and many Scotch Masons state that it is for an old Scottish word (which I cant quite recall) which is roughly translated as ‘harmony’.
Masonry in each jurisdiction has it’s own Grand Lodge… I imagine Utah has it’s own Grand Lodge. There is no overseeing body above that level. There is no one body that presides over the world. So it is easy to see that each jurisdiction can adopt the symbol that it finds most acceptable to it’s members.
I don’t think there is any older latin definition for the ‘G’. While many believe that Masonry is as old as the building of Solomon’s temple, or possibly even older, I think that the most likely roots of Freemasonry are with the craft guilds of the middle ages.
These are the reasons that no one person can give you a definitive answer for the ‘G’. Symbols mean different things to different people, and while many people may share one definition that doesn’t make it the one or only or right definition… clear as mud huh!?!
I intentionally chose the ‘Big Love’ example for just this reason. It’s popular, in that it is broadcast to millions of viewers at a time, it provides one view of a subject, which to the uninformed may be considered as representative or true, and which by it’s very nature ,fictional drama for mass consumption to an uninformed audience, cannot possibly present an accurate portrayal of something as grand and encompassing as a faith or belief system.
I also wish to offer my sincere apologies for abbreviating the name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I’m sorry if I angered or offended you in any way. This was an error of my ignorance. I would never knowingly slight anyones faith. I will endeavor to learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints so that I don’t make the same error again.
I hope that I’m not inadvertantly being offensive when I state that it is rather ironic, perhaps supremely so, that I left Jesus Christ out of the middle of the name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, when I am discussing the ‘G’ in the midst of the Masonic symbol.
All the very best my friend!
Horst
#11 by Jay on June 4, 2009 - 11:49 pm
guys…..freemasons…..it’s new to me, how can i know more about it,,,,,,,all i can find on the web is general definitions and general ideas……i would like to know more…..code , rules or regulations if any…..how to join?who can join???
i appreciate it if someone could help………….
if any info, kindly send it to my gmail account
10x guys
#12 by Jay on June 4, 2009 - 11:50 pm
gmail account is johnnyzaiter@gmail.com
#13 by Tony from the Bronx on July 9, 2009 - 11:43 pm
Coins are minted, not printed, in Denver, not Detroit.
Givin you the heads-up!
#14 by admin on October 7, 2009 - 12:08 pm
To Don Keeballs: You realize I have to approve your comments, right?
#15 by Mike N on January 27, 2010 - 6:44 am
In Irish Freemasonry there is a degree for Past Masters which relate to the true meaning of the symbol G.
I am not a Irish Past Master and if I were I wouldn’t tell you want it means.
Like other posting I have heard the various descriptions:
1. God.
2. Geometry.
3. Gnosis.
4. The third letter of the Hebrew alphabet. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimel )
It might be a combination of the above.
But maybe to find the true understanding of what the symbol G means, you might need to appreciate that its a symbol not a letter.
#16 by HIRAM on February 27, 2010 - 6:01 am
Guys, the G has many meanings in freemasonry, but depending on which constitution you belong to you will find the answer will vary. I’m an English constitution Freemason, and as our brethren progress from degree to degree, it takes on a new meaning. 1st degree it is referred to Great Architect of the universe, in the 2nd it refers to Grand Geometrician of the Universe, and in the 3rd degree it refers to the Most High, basically a very neutral reference to your God whoever your God might be. As freemasonry is accepting of all faiths, this is an attempt to cover all bases, and not to alienate anyone. It has another meaning which I am not allowed to tell you,but if you join freemasonry and complete all these degrees, you will eventually get the chance to be installed in the chair of King Solomon. Upon reaching this office, a new secret word is revealed to you, which surprise, surprise begins with a G. You will not find this ancient word anywhere on the internet, or at least not on any freemason’s website, as it is very important in the ritual of all Excellent Masons. We keep this word very closely guarded. So if you really want to know more, you need to approach your local masonic centre and ask to join. Once a member you will soon learn there are many secret arts, hidden mysteries and other great and invaluable privileges. I’ve already said too much!! Stop asking questions and start finding out how to join. http://www.ugle.org.uk
#17 by Jeremiah on March 8, 2010 - 10:28 am
The D on a coin stands for Denver
#18 by Mike on March 8, 2010 - 10:43 am
@Jeremiah. Yeah, I know. That was mentioned earlier. I thought I had changed it, but I guess not.