Thursday, August 04, 2005
SYMBOLS - EAGLE
Russian Eagle
Alchemical/Masonic Eagle where you can read:
The two faced eagle was popularized in Europe by the Emperor Charlemagne, and the symbol was adopted formally into Freemasonry in the mid-eighteenth century, by the Council of Emperors of the East and West. At that time, the device was commonly used to depict the uniting of two bodies into one; this was probably a factor in the decision to use the eagle symbol.
Passages from A DICTIONARY OF FREEMASONRY by Robert Macoy:
EAGLE. The eagle formed a constituent part of the cherubic symbol. It was referred to the prophet Daniel because he spake with angels, and received visions which relate to all time; and to St. John, who in his gospel treats of Christ's divinity, and soars to heaven like an eagle, in the Book of Revelation.(p. 494)
EMPERORS OF THE EAST AND WEST. An order calling itself a "Council of Emperors of the East and West was instituted in Paris, A.D. 1758. Its adepts styled themselves "Sovereign Prince Masons--Substitutes General of the Royal Art--Grand Superintendents and Officers of the Grand and Sovereign Lodge of St. John of Jerusalem." The rite consisted of 25 degrees, the first 19 of which were the same as those of the Scottish rite. The 20th was named Grand Patriarch Noachite; the 21st, Key of Masonry; 22nd, Prince of Lebanon; 23d, Knight of the Sun; 24th, Kadosh; and 25th, Prince of the Royal Secret. This rite had some success and was propagated in Germany, particularly in Prussia, and was accepted by the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes. The assumption that Frederick II, King of Prussia, ever had any connection with it will not be acknowledged by the intelligent Mason.(p. 138)
A Darker Claim about the Masonic eagle
Other Symbolical Meanings, including its use by Charlemagne
Are the Prince of the East and the Prince of the West today the Pope and the Russian Patriarch?
Interesting symbol.
