Jacob’s Ladder
By W Bro Steve Lourey The Entered Apprentice has heard the NE Charge before he hears the beautiful words of the sectional lecture that describe the three principal rounds of Jacob’s ladder: ‘Charity, lovely in itself, is the brightest ornament that can adorn our masonic profession; it is the best test and surest proof of the sincerity of our religion; benevolence attended by heaven-born Charity is an honour to the nation from whence it springs and by which it is nourished and cherished.’ But the EA may reflect that masonic giving to the needy is not confined to alms. ‘Charity comprehends the whole’ is a way of saying that we must have a natural affection for all men, to think well of them, and to support them.
Jacob’s ladder
In the Islamic tradition, Jacob’s Ladder is seen as a symbol of ascension, representing the ascent of Muhammed to heaven from the top of Mount Moriah.
We first hear of Jacob’s Ladder in Genesis 28:10-22. During his arduous journey from Beersheba to Haran, Jacob stopped to rest in a desolate place.
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n a dream, he saw a ladder; its base rested on the earth and its top reached to heaven. The ladder, on which angels of God were ascending and descending, represents the connection between the human and the divine. The ladder is an allegory of the divine action that should precede all human activity. It is in contrast to the Tower of Babel, built by men, who in their pride, wanted to reach heaven to become gods. In Masonry, the Entered Apprentice (EA) is first introduced to the imagery of Jacob’s Ladder in the First Degree. Remember that the EA is not expected to ascend the ladder at his initiation; it is depicted on the Tracing Board and the means of ascent are partially explained to him. The symbolism of Jacob’s Ladder portrays a spiritual advance, through the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity, to the summit of Masonry. The ladder represents the progressive ascent of intellectual communication between earth and heaven. A newly initiated candidate stands on the floor of the lodge, depicting the temporal
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world, and begins his ascent of the ladder of life from ‘earth’ to ‘heaven’, from ‘life’ to ‘death’, from the ‘mortal’ to the ‘immortal’. Step by step he progresses until he reaches the top of the ladder. Masonry is, indeed, a progressive science. In ancient Egypt, tradition relates that Ra’s ladder linked heaven and earth. The Egyptian Book of the Dead referred to a ladder which allowed one to behold the gods. In works of Egyptian art, we find the souls of the dead climbing a stairway of seven or nine treads to reach the throne of Osiris and undergo the weighing of their hearts. The first of the three principal rounds in the masonic ladder is faith. This grace is explained in the scriptures. It is the cheer of the sorrowing, and the life of the just. It is the credit we give to the declarations of God or the evidence of the facts or propositions presented to us in the Bible. True faith involves the forsaking of all known sin and cheerful and constant obedience to God’s commands.
Amongst our operative brethren, the ladder is, of course, a familiar implement. It was in constant use by our ancient brethren. In a system where working tools were used to symbolize moral properties the ladder would be made to typify the power or means by which man is lifted to a higher state of existence. It was always employed with the same meaning in the Ancient Mysteries and was a familiar symbol of salvation long before Jacob saw it extending from earth to heaven. We, as did the ancients, ascribe to it seven rungs, symbolising the four cardinal and the three theological virtues by which it was supposed a man was prepared for and elevated to the higher state. In the Christian tradition, Saint John Chrysostom urged us to reach heaven, by ascending Jacob’s ladder. To him, Jacob’s ladder was an illustration of the ascent through virtue, step by step, by which it is possible to rise from earth to heaven, not by steps apparent to the senses, but by the amending and correcting of one’s habits. In the Platonic tradition, this symbolism describes the ascent of the soul from one world to the other. In the Mithraic mysteries each rung of a ladder was guarded by an angel and the adept had to progressively disrobe to attain the resurrection of the body. The Mithraic initiation used the ladder as a symbol of
Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason
