The Letter "G" 7/7/08

The Iowa Systematic Enlightenment Course says;

"The letter "G" is a symbol of geometry and also that of Deity. by the letter "G" we are reminded that our every act is done in the sight of the Supreme Being and that Divine Providence is over all our lives. To the operative craftsman, geometry provided the principles of design and construction whereby he labored. It also portrays the order and harmony of parts found in the universe. The letter "G" is placed in the center of the Masonic Emblems worn by U. S. Masons, but not by Masons in England or other nations of the British Commonwealth."

I found this in a document called The Mason's Lady which is designed to be given to family members of new Masons.

The most widely recognized symbol of the Fraternity is the Square and Compasses with the letter “G” in the Center. 

Members wear it to remind themselves of their obligation to the lessons learned in their Lodges, and to identify their membership to other Masons and all people. Masonic symbols have wide meanings, some directly related to the tools used by actual Operative Masons and some, represent the need for order and direction in life. The letter “G” represents Geometry and also it is the initial of God, the Supreme Architect of the Universe.

A friend and former principal of mine told me that when he was a kid he bought a pin like the one above. Some old Mason grabbed him and told him that he should not be wearing it. It sort of soured him on the fraternity. See his name was Glenn and he thought it stood for him. It is too bad he was treated that way. It could have been explained carefully to him as a little kid and he could have been told to put it away in a drawer until he was old enough to join the Lodge and then he could wear it. As it is we lost a potential member.

I also found this while I was looking around and I kind of like it.

The Pythagoreans reverenced numbers as sacred; geometry was to them the sacred science. It initial letter, Gamma, a square, was especially revered. The Gamma looks like a square used by builders; it was the symbol of the actual, four-sided, or geometrical square, the first whole number square, and therefore, the representative of deity, the four-letter word, the tetragrammaton.

Symbols are easily converted the one into the other and back again. If the Gamma, which appeared like a workman’s square, was a symbol of the geometrical square, which in turn was a symbol of Deity, then, by a simple reconversion looked like Gamma, which in one position looked like the square of the workman, soon came to symbolize the tetragrammaton or four-letter word.

The Greek Gamma was rounded into the Latin “C.” For a while it stood for both the sounds of “g” and “k.” Later (third century B.C.), a slight change was made in the Latin “c” which stood for the soft, or “j” sound - and behold, our modern Roman “G.” Hence, by a path straight to any but mind demanding documentary proof, we place the origin of our “G,” as representing both God and Geometry, as far back as the Pyrhogoreans (sixth century, B.C.).

Another interesting hypothesis - it is hardly more - calls attention to the fact that three geometrical forms appear in the Greek alphabet, as we have seen; Gamma (G) is a square standing on end, the horizontal arm extended to the right. Omicron (O) is a circle, Delta (D) is a triangle.

Writing one letter on top of another to form a monogram is very old. The three Greek letters, Gamma, Omicron and Delta may be combined in a monogram to form a very fair conventionalizing of our letter “G” inside a triangle which looks not unlike our modern square and compasses!

I have always found the lecture on the letter "G" interesting. Part of it says that Freemasonry has survived in spite of the ravages of time. The attentive ear and the instructive tongue being the means whereby our symbolism is transmitted from one generation to another. Those who have heard the Fellowcraft lectures which culminate in the explanation of the letter "G" cannot help but be impressed with this beautiful symbol of our fraternity.

And finally an admonition from Harry Carr.

If Masonry does what we claim for it,
We should guard our tongues, lest we forget
To use that Great High name with care,
While at work, at play, or engaged in prayer.

For the world is watching both you and me,
To see if we honor the Letter "G";
And our lives and teachings they compare.
To see if they're Plumb, and on the Square.

You can read more about the letter "G" here, here, here, here and here.