Ex Libris part II
By VW Bro Neil Wynes Morse and VW Bro Ian Shanley
The Guyot bookplates, part II Masonic bookplates have been said to be ‘probably the rarest of all genres’. Part 1 of this article, published last issue, described the life and work of VW Bro Guyot and gave his own detailed description of a bookplate he designed for a friend. Part 2 describes, again in his own words, another bookplate of his design.
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L Guyot also designed a bookplate for the District Grand Chapter of NSW Royal Arch Study Group. We were unable to find any information about this particular organisation. The text of the explanation reads:
Study group bookplate A bookplate is indicative of character, personality and environment, delineating the type of owner, and expressing in form his mental outlook. In the bookplate of the Study Group, District Grand Chapter, the designer has embodied the fundamentals underlying the basic principles in the development of masonic thought. A brief description of the salient features of the bookplate is here given for your consideration and thought. R 1. The Volume of the Sacred Law: Referring to Isaiah 34:16, we read ‘Seek ye out the book of the Lord and read’ and in our Craft Ritual we read: ‘The sacred writings are derived from God to man in general, because the Almighty has been pleased to reveal more of his divine will in that holy book than he has by any other means.’ It is the great light in Freemasonry for
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The development of the masonry arch has been known for at least 3,900 years.
from its position it pours forth upon east, west, south the refulgent rays of divine truth. R 2. Tesselated pavement: The mosaic pavement by reason of its being variegated and chequered points out the diversity of objects which decorate and adorn the whole creation whilst the border refers us to the planets and other heavenly bodies. The pavement is a symbol of earthly existence and hence the perambulations around the pavement according to the Zohar represent the existences in order that we as Masons may progress.
R 3. Point within a circle: This is a symbol of great interest and importance and brings us into close connection with early symbolism of the solar orb and the universe. There is within every Mason the point within a circle that rules and governs him. The circle is fixed as to its position by that point of the compass which is on the centre where Master Masons meet. It is fixed as to its extent and area by that which radiates from the centre, which in other and familiar language we describe as the compass of the Freemason’s attainments. This circle is bounded between north and south by two grand parallel lines – and were we as conversant and as adherent to the doctrines contained in the VSL as the patriarch and the king we cannot err. The circle is expressive of the collective people of the world, protected by the parallel attributes the power and wisdom of the Creator, the alpha and the omega, the great first cause of all creation. R 4. The double cube: A cube has ever been considered the symbol of equality, purity and justice so therefore the double cube was selected by our forefathers as the shape of the Altar
Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason
