The Cubical Altar

(Title-page to Scripta in Naturali et Universali Philosophia, 1653.)

The cubic altar stone is symbolic of the Perfect Ashlar of Freemasonry and the Philosopher’s Stone of Alchemy. It is an emblem of Truth, and is also known as the Foundation Stone. As such it signifies not just faith, which is referred to as the foundation, but also hope and charity. These three constitute the whole truth. That is to say, on a basis of love, which means true and lasting friendship, a true understanding can develop, and from that can follow good and useful deeds for the benefit of all. Christianity refers to these three as faith, hope and charity; Druidism as loving truth, understanding truth and serving truth. They constitute the three basic degrees of initiation, symbolised by the alchemical elements of water, air and fire respectively, which Freemasonry knows as the Craft Degrees and which the Christian Church signifies in its rites of baptism, confirmation and ordination. It is only after these three degrees are complete that the Perfect Ashlar is finished—cut, shaped, polished and made true.

The Perfect Ashlar then becomes the foundation stone upon which the temple or church of the true soul is built, the altar on which the soul offers itself as an oblation to the Divine Good, and the throne upon which the soul sits in all its shining glory. The temple that is built upon this foundation is known as Solomon’s Temple, the temple of light, or the New Jerusalem, the city (or state) of peace. Another ancient image for this illumined state of being is that of Atlantis, a name which means ‘the land that has risen above the waters’. ‘Waters’ (plural) is a symbolic name for matter generally, and for the material or mundane life. To rise above it is achieved by means of the first three degrees of initiation. Then one is reborn or resurrected into the golden and blessed state of illumination, sometimes called the Arch Degree. In the Atlantean symbolism this enlightened state is known as the New Atlantis (like New Jerusalem). Bacon uses this symbolism for what he hopes his Great Instauration will achieve, when put into operation by the citizens of the world.

The world, set on its foundation stone and being blessed by the three Principals, is indicative of this New Atlantis.

© Peter Dawkins, FBRT, 1999