THE LEGEND OF HIRAM ABIF

CHAPTER XLIII

This is the most important of all the le en!s of Freemasonr"# It $ill therefore %e &onsi!ere! in respe&t to its ori in' its histor"' an! its meanin (

Before' ho$e)er' pro&ee!in to the !is&*ssion of these important s*%+e&ts' an! the in)esti ation of the tr*l" m"thi&al &hara&ter of Hiram A%if' it $ill %e proper to in,*ire into the meanin of his name' or rather the meanin of the epithet that a&&ompanies it#

In the pla&es in -&ript*re in $hi&h he is mentione! he is &alle! at one time .in / Chroni&les ii#' 012' %" the 3in of T"re' in the letter $ritten %" him to 3in -olomon' Ch*ram A%i( in another pla&e .in / Chroni&les i)#' 042' $here the $riter of the narrati)e is re&or!in the $or5 !one %" him for -olomon' Ch*ram A%i)' or' as it mi ht %e prono*n&e! a&&or!in to the so*n! of the He%re$ letters' A%i*# B*t L*ther' in his German translation of the Bi%le' a!opte! the pron*n&iation A%if' e6&han in the flat ) for the sharp f# In this he $as follo$e! %" An!erson' $ho $as the first to present the f*ll name of Hiram A%if to the Craft# This he !i! in the first e!ition of the En lish %oo5 of Constit*tions#

An! sin&e his time at least the appellation of Hiram A%if has %een a!opte! %" an! %e&ome familiar to the Craft as the name of the &*nnin or s5illf*l artist $ho $as sent %" Hiram' 3in of T"re' to assist 3in -olomon in the &onstr*&tion of the Temple# In Chroni&les an! 3in s $e fin! Ch*ram or H*ram' as $e ma" *se the initial letter as a *tt*ral or an aspirate' an! Chiram or Hiram' the )o$el * or i %ein in!ifferentl" *se!# B*t the Masoni& *sa e has *ni)ersall" a!opte! the $or! Hiram#

No$' the A%i an! A%i)' *se! %" the 3in of T"re' in the %oo5 of Chroni&les form no part of the name' %*t are simpl" infle&tions of the possessi)e prono*ns m" an! his s*ffi6e! to the appellati)e A%#

A% in He%re$ means father' i is m"' an! in' i)' or if is his# A%i is therefore m" father' an! so he is &alle! %" the 3in of T"re $hen he is !es&ri%in him to -olomon' 7 Hiram m" father(7 A%if is his father' an! he is so spo5en of %" the historian $hen he re&o*nts the )ario*s 5in!s of $or5 $hi&h $ere !one for 3in -olomon %" 7 Hiram his father#7

B*t the $or! A% in He%re$' tho* h primaril" si nif"in a male parent' has other !eri)ati)e si nifi&ations# It is e)i!ent that in none of the passa es in $hi&h he is mentione! is it inten!e! to intimate that he hel! s*&h relationship to either the 3in of T"re or the 3in of Israel#

The $or! 7 father 7 $as applie! %" the He%re$s as a term of honor' or to si nif" a station of preeminen&e# B*6torf .02 sa"s it sometimes si nife! Master' an! he &ites the fo*rth &hapter of Genesis' $here 8a%al is &alle! the father of &attle an! 8*%al the father of m*si&ians#

Hiram A%if $as most pro%a%l" sele&te! %" the 3in of T"re to %e sent to -olomon as a s5illf*l artifi&er of preeminent s5ill that he mi ht e6e&*te the prin&ipal $or5s in the interior of the Temple an! fa%ri&ate the )ario*s *tensils inten!e! for the sa&re! ser)i&es# He $as a master in his art or &allin ' an! properl" !i nifie! $ith a title $hi&h anno*n&e! his !istin *ishe! &hara&ter# The title of Father' $hi&h $as i)en to him' !enotes' sa"s -mith' ./2 the respe&t an! esteem in $hi&h he $as hel!' a&&or!in to the similar &*stom of the people of the East at the present !a"#

I am $ell please! $ith the s* estion of Dr# M&Clinto&5 that 7Hiram m" father seems to mean Hiram m" &o*nsellor( that is to sa"' foreman or master $or5man7 .12

Appl"in this meanin to the passa es in Chroni&les $hi&h refer to this artist' $e shall see ho$ easil" e)er" !iffi&*lt" is remo)e! an! the Craftsman Hiram pla&e! in his tr*e li ht#

.02 7Le6i&on Talm*!i&*m#7 ./2 7C"lopae!ia of Bi%li&al Literat*re#7 .12 7C"&lopea!ia of Bi%li&al' Theolo i&al' an! Classi&al Literat*re#7

9hen 3in Hiram' $ishin to ai! the 3in of Israel in his &ontemplate! %*il!in ' $rites him a letter in $hi&h he promises to &ompl" $ith the re,*est of -olomon to sen! him tim%er from Le%anon an! $oo!:&*tters to he$ it' as an a!!itional mar5 of his frien!ship an! his !esire to &ontri%*te his ai! in %*il!in 7 a ho*se for 8eho)ah'7 he i)es him the ser)i&es of one of his most s5illf*l artisans an! anno*n&es the ift in these $or!s ; 7An! no$ I ha)e sent a s5illf*l man' en!*e! $ith *n!erstan!in ' m" master $or5man Hiram#7

An! $hen the historian $ho $rote the Chroni&les of the 5in !om ha! re&apit*late! all the $or5 that Hiram ha! a&&omplishe!' s*&h as the pillars of the por&h' the la)ers an! the &an!lesti&5s' an! the sa&re! )essels' he &on&l*!es %" sa"in that all these thin s $ere ma!e for 3in -olomon %" his master:$or5man Hiram' in the He%re$ nasah H*ram A%if Lammele&h -&helomoh#

Hiram or H*ram $as his proper name# A%' father of his tra!e or master: $or5man' his title' an! i or if' an" or his' the possessi)e pronominal s*ffi6' *se! a&&or!in to &ir&*mstan&es# The 3in of T"re &alls him Hiram A%i' 7 m" master:$or5man#7 9hen the &hroni&ler spea5s of him in his relation to 3in -olomon' he &alls him Hiram A%if 7 his master:$or5man#7 An! as all his Masoni& relations are $ith -olomon' this latter !esi nation has %een a!opte!' from An!erson' %" the Craft#

Ha)in th*s !ispose! of the name an! title of the persona e $ho &onstit*tes the main point in this Masoni& Le en!' I pro&ee! to an e6amination of the ori in an! pro ressi)e ro$th of the m"th#

7The Le en! of the Temple:B*il!er'7 as he is &ommonl" %*t improperl" &alle!' is so intimatel" &onne&te! in the rit*al $ith the s"m%oli& histor" of the Temple' that $e $o*l! )er" nat*rall" %e le! to s*ppose that the one has al$a"s %een &ontemporar" an! &oe6istent $ith the other# The e)i!en&e on this point is' ho$e)er' %" no means &on&l*si)e or satisfa&tor"' tho* h a &riti&al e6amination of the ol! man*s&ripts $o*l! seem to sho$ that the $riters of those !o&*ments' $hile &ompilin from tra!itional so*r&es the

Le en! of the Craft' $ere not alto ether i norant of the ran5 an! ser)i&es that ha)e %een s*%se,*entl" attri%*te! %" the -pe&*lati)e Masons of the present !a" to Hiram A%if# The" &ertainl" ha! some notion that in the %*il!in of the Temple at 8er*salem 3in -olomon ha! the assistan&e of a s5illf*l artist $ho ha! %een s*pplie! to him %" the 3in of T"re#

The ori in of the Le en! m*st %e loo5e! for in the -&ript*ral a&&o*nt of the %*il!in of the Temple of 8er*salem' The stor"' as tol! in the %oo5s of 3in s an! Chroni&les' is to this effe&t#

On the !eath of 3in Da)i!' his son an! s*&&essor' -olomon' resol)e! to &arr" into e6e&*tion his father<s lon :&ontemplate! !esi n of ere&tin a Temple on Mo*nt Moriah for the $orship of 8eho)ah# B*t the 8e$s $ere not a nation of artisans' %*t rather of a ri&*lt*rists' an! ha!' e)en in the time of Da)i!' !epen!e! on the ai! of the Phoeni&ians in the &onstr*&tion of the ho*se %*ilt for that monar&h at the %e innin of his rei n# -olomon' therefore' applie! to his all"' Hiram' 3in of T"re' to f*rnish him $ith trees from Le%anon an! $ith he$ers to prepare them' for' as he sai! in his letter to the T"rian 3in ' 7tho* 5no$est that there is not an" amon *s that &an s5ill to he$ tim%er li5e *nto the -i!onians#7

Hiram &omplie! $ith his re,*est' an! e6&han e! the s5ille! $or5men of sterile Phoeni&ia for the oil an! &orn an! $ine of more fertile 8*!ea#

Amon the artists $ho $ere sent %" the 3in of T"re to the 3in of Israel' $as one $hose appearan&e at 8er*salem seems to ha)e %een in response to the follo$in appli&ation of -olomon' re&or!e! in the se&on! %oo5 of Chroni&les' the se&on! &hapter' se)enth )erse ;

7-en! me no$ therefore a man &*nnin to $or5 in ol!' an! in sil)er' an! in %rass' an! in iron' an! in p*rple an! in &rimson' an! %l*e' an! that &an s5ill to ra)e $ith the &*nnin men that are $ith me in 8*!ah' an! in 8er*salem' $hom Da)i! m" father !i! pro)i!e#7

In the epistle of 3in Hiram' responsi)e to this re,*est' &ontaine! in the same

%oo5 an! &hapter' in the thirteenth an! fo*rteenth )erses' are the follo$in $or!s;

7An! no$ I ha)e sent a &*nnin man' en!*e! $ith *n!erstan!in ' of H*ram m" father<s# The son of a $oman of the !a* hters of Dan' an! his father $as a man of T"re' s5illf*l to $or5 in ol! an! in sil)er' in %rass' in iron' in stone' an! in tim%er' in p*rple' in %l*e' an! in fine linen' an! in &rimson( also to ra)e an" manner of ra)in ' an! to fin! o*t e)er" !e)i&e $hi&h shall %e p*t to him' $ith th" &*nnin men' an! $ith the &*nnin men of m" lor! Da)i!' th" father#7

A f*rther !es&ription of him is i)en in the se)enth &hapter of the first %oo5 of 3in s' in the thirteenth an! fo*rteenth )erses' an! in these $or!s

7An! 3in -olomon sent an! fet&he! Hiram o*t of T"re# He $as a $i!o$<s son of the tri%e of Naphtali:an! his father $as a man of T"re' a $or5er in %rass( an! he $as fille! $ith $is!om an! *n!erstan!in ' an! &*nnin to $or5 all $or5s in %rass' an! he &ame to 3in -olomon an! $ro* ht all his $or5#7

It is )er" e)i!ent that this $as the ori in of the Le en! $hi&h $as in&orporate! into the Masoni& s"stem' an! $hi&h' on the instit*tion of -pe&*lati)e Freemasonr"' $as a!opte! as the most prominent portion of the Thir! De ree#

The me!iae)al Masons $ere a&,*ainte! $ith the fa&t that 3in -olomon ha! an assistant in the $or5s of the Temple' an! that assistant ha! %een sent to him %" 3in Hiram# B*t there $as &onsi!era%le &onf*sion in their min!s *pon the s*%+e&t' an! an i noran&e of the s&ript*ral name an! attri%*tes of the person#

In the Halli$ell M-#' the earliest 5no$n to *s' the Le en! is not relate!# Either the $riters of the t$o poems of $hi&h that man*s&ript is &ompose! $ere i norant of it' or in the &om%ination of the t$o poems there has %een a m*tilation an! the Hirami& Le en! has %een omitte!#

In the Coo5e M-#' $hi&h is a h*n!re! "ears later' $e meet $ith the first all*sion to it an! the first error' $hi&h is repeate! in )ario*s forms in all the s*%se,*ent man*s&ript &onstit*tions#

That man*s&ript sa"s; 7An! at the ma5"n of the temple in -alamonis t"me as lit is se"! in the %i%*ll in the iii %o5e of Re *m in tertio Re *m &apit*lo ,*into' that -alomoii ha! iiii s&ore tho*san! masons at his $er5e# An! the 5"n is sone of T"r" $as his master mason#7

The referen&e here ma!e to the thir! %oo5 of 3in s is a&&or!in to the ol! !istri%*tion of the He%re$ &anon' $here the t$o %oo5s of -am*el are &a e! the mat an! se&on! %oo5s of 3in s# A&&or!in to o*r present &anon' the referen&e $o*l! %e to the fifth &hapter of the first %oo5 of 3in s# In that &hapter nothin is sai! of Hiram A%if' %*t it is re&or!e! there that 7 A!oniram $as o)er the le)"#7 No$ the literal meanin of A!oniram is the lor! Hiram# As the 3in of T"re ha! promise! to sen! his $or5men to Le%anon' an! as it is state! that A!oniram s*perinten!e! the men $ho $ere there he$in the trees' the ol! le en!ist' not ta5in into a&&o*nt that the le)" of thirt" tho*san!' o)er $hom A!oniram presi!e!' $ere Israelites an! not Phoeni&ians' %*t s*pposin that the" ha! %een sent to Le%anon %" Hiram' 3in of T"re' an! that he ha! sent A!oniram $ith them an! )ie$in the $or! as meanin the lor! Hiram' hastil" &ame to the &on&l*sion that this Lor! or Prin&e Hiram $as the son of the 3in # An! hen&e he ma!e the mista5e of sa"in that the son of the 3in of T"re $as the person sent to -olomon to %e his' master:mason or master:%*il!er#

This error $as repeate! in nearl" all the s*&&ee!in man*s&ripts' for the" are reall" onl" &opies of ea&h other' an! the $or! A!on' as meanin lor! or prin&e' seems to ha)e %een al$a"s ass*me! in some one or other &orr*pte! form as the name of the $or5man sent %" 3in Hiram to 3in -olomon' an! $hom the Freemasons of the present !a" 5no$ as Hiram A%if#

Th*s in the Do$ele! M-#' &on+e&t*rall" !ate! at A#D# 0==>' it is sai!;

7 An! f*rthermore there $as a 3in e of another re ion that men &alle! IRAM'

an! he lo)e! $ell 3in e -olomon an! he a)e him t"m%er to his $or5e# An! he ha! a sonn that hei ht .$as &alle!2 A?NON' an! he $as a Master of Geometrie an! $as &hief Master of all his Masons' an! $as Master of all his ra)in s an! &ar)in s an! of all manner of Masonr"e that lon e! to the Temple#7

There &an %e no !o*%t that A"non is here a &orr*ption of A!on# In the Lan!s!o$ne M-#' $hose !ate is A#D# 0=4>' the lan *a e is pre&isel" the same' e6&ept that it sa"s 3in Iram 7 ha! a sonne that $as &alle! a man#7

It seems almost &ertain that the initial letter a in this name has %een' %" &areless $ritin ' !islo&ate! from the remainin letters' man' an! that the tr*e rea!in is Aman' $hi&h is itself an error' instea! of Amon' an! this a manifest &orr*ption of A!on# This is &onfirme! %" the ?or5 M-#' N*m%er 0 $hi&h is a%o*t fort" "ears later .A#D#04>>2' $here the name is spelle! Amon# This is also the name in the Lo! e of Hope M-#' !ate! A#D# 04@>#

In the Gran! Lo! e M-#' !ate of A#D# 041/' he is a ain &alle! the son of the 3in of T"re' %*t his name is i)en as A"none' another &orr*pte! form of A!on# In the -loane M-#' N*m%er 1'@A@' A#D# 04A4' it is A"non' the final e %ein omitte!# In the Harleian M-#' N*m%er 0BA/' !ate! A#D# 04C>' %oth the final e an! the me!ial " are omitte!' an! the name %e&omin Anon appro6imates still nearer to the tr*e A!on#

In the Aln$i&5 M-#' of A#D# 0C>0' the name is still f*rther &orr*pte! into A+*on# In all of these man*s&ripts the Le en! &ontin*es to &all this artist the son of the 3in of T"re' $hose name is sai! to %e Hiram or more *s*all" Iram( an! hen&e the &orr*pte! ortho raph" of Amon' A"non' or Anon' %ein restore! to the tr*e form of A!on' $ith $hi&h $or! the ol! Masons $ere a&,*ainte!' as si nif"in Lor! or Prin&e' $e et' %" prefi6in it to his father<s name' A!on:Iram or A!oniram' the Lor! or Prin&e Hiram# An! hen&e arose the mista5e of &onfo*n!in Hiram A%if $ith A!oniram' the &hief of the $or5men on Mo*nt Le%anon' $ho $as a )er" !ifferent person#

The Pap$orth M-#' $hose !ate is A# D# 0C0A' is too near the time of the Re)i)al an! the real esta%lishment of -pe&*lati)e Masonr" to %e of m*&h )al*e in this in,*ir"# It' ho$e)er' retains the statement from the Ol! Le en!'

that the artist $as the son of 3in Hiram# B*t it &han es his name to that of Benaim# This is pro%a%l" an in&orre&t infle&tion of the He%re$ $or! Boneh' a %*il!er' an! sho$s that the $riter' in an attempt to &orre&t the error of the pre&e!in le en!ists $ho ha! &orr*pte! A!on into Anon or Amon' or A+*on' ha! in his smatterin of He%re$ &ommitte! a reater one#

The 3ra*se M-# is *tterl" $orthless as a*thorit"# It is a for er"' $ritten most pro%a%l"' I thin5 I ma" sa" &ertainl"' after the p*%li&ation of the first e!ition of An!erson<s Constit*tions' an!' of &o*rse' ta5es the name from that $or5#

The name of Hiram A%if is first intro!*&e! to p*%li& noti&e %" An!erson in 0C/1 in the %oo5 of Constit*tions printe! in that "ear#

In this $or5 he &han es the statement ma!e in the Le en! of the Craft' an! sa"s that the 3in of T"re sent to 3in -olomon his namesa5e Hiram A%if' the prin&e of ar&hite&ts#7

Then ,*otin in the ori inal He%re$ a passa e from the se&on! %oo5 of Chroni&les' $here the name of Hiram A%if is to %e fo*n!' he e6&els it 7%" allo$in the $or! A%if to %e the s*rname of Hiram the Mason(7 f*rthermore he a!!s that in the passa e $here the 3in of T"re &alls him 7 H*ram of m" father<s'7 the meanin is that H*ram $as 7the &hief Master Mason of m" father' 3in A%i%al*s'7 a most *n&riti&al attempt' %e&a*se he intermi6es' as its fo*n!ation' the He%re$ ori inal an! the En lish )ersion# He ha! not !is&o)ere! the tr*e e6pli&ation' namel"' that Hiram is the name' an! A% the title' !enotin ' as I ha)e %efore sai!' Master 9or5man' an! that in' or i)' or if' is a pronominal s*ffi6' meanin his' so that $hen spea5in of him in his relation to 3in -olomon' he is &alle! Hiram A%if' that is Hiram' his or -olomon<s Master 9or5man#

B*t An!erson intro!*&e! an entirel" ne$ element in the Le en! $hen he sai!' in the same %oo5' that 7 the $ise 3in -olomon $as Gran! Master of the Lo! e at 8er*salem' 3in Hiram $as Gran! Master of the Lo! e at T"re' an! the inspire! Hiram A%if $as Master of 9or5#7

In the se&on! or 0C1@ e!ition of the Constit*tions' An!erson &onsi!era%l" enlar e! the Le en!' for reasons that $ill %e a!)erte! to $hen I &ome' in the ne6t part of this $or5' to treat of the ori in of the Thir! De ree' %*t on $hi&h it is here *nne&essar" to !$ell#

In that se&on! e!ition' he asserts that the tra!ition is that 3in Hiram ha! %een Gran! Master of all Masons' %*t that $hen the Temple $as finishe! he s*rren!ere! the pre:eminen&e to 3in -olo# mon# No s*&h tra!ition' nor an" all*sion to it' is to %e fo*n! in an" of the Ol! Re&or!s no$ e6tant' an! it is' moreo)er' entirel" oppose! %" the &*rrent of opinion of all s*%se,*ent Masoni& $riters#

From these s* estions of An!erson' an! from some others of a more esoteri& &hara&ter' ma!e' it is s*ppose!' %" him an! %" Dr# Desa *liers a%o*t the time of the Re)i)al' $e !eri)e that form of the Le en! of Hiram A%if $hi&h has %een preser)e! to the present !a" $ith sin *lar *niformit" %" the Freemasons of all &o*ntries#

The s*%stan&e of the Le en!' so far as it is &on&erne! in the present in)esti ation' is that at the %*il!in of the Temple there $ere three Gran! Masters:-olomon' 3in of Israel( Hiram' 3in of T"re' an! Hiram A%if' an! that the last $as the ar&hite&t or &hief %*il!er of the e!ifi&e#

As $hat relates to the fate of Hiram A%if is to %e e6plaine! in an alto ether alle ori&al or s"m%oli&al sense' it $ill more appropriatel" &ome fin!er &onsi!eration $hen $e are treatin ' in a s*%se,*ent part of this $or5' of the -"m%olism of Freemasonr"#

O*r present st*!" $ill %e the le en!ar" &hara&ter of Hiram A%if as the &hief Master Mason of the Temple' an! o*r in)esti ations $ill %e !ire&te! to the ori in an! meanin of the m"th $hi&h has no$' %" *ni)ersal &onsent of the Craft' %een a!opte!' $hether &orre&tl" or not $e shall see hereafter#

The ,*estion %efore *s' let it %e *n!erstoo!' is not as to the histori& tr*th of the Hirami& le en!' as set forth in the Thir! De ree of the Masoni& rit*al:not

as to $hether this %e the narrati)e of an a&t*al o&&*rren&e or merel" an alle or" a&&ompanie! %" a moral si nifi&ation:not as to the tr*th or falla&" of the theor" $hi&h fin!s the ori in of Freemasonr" in the Temple of 8er*salem: %*t ho$ it has %een that the Masons of the Mi!!le A es sho*l! ha)e in&orporate! into their Le en! of the Craft the i!ea that a $or5er in metal:in plain $or!s' a smith:$as the &hief %*il!er at the Temple# This tho* ht' an! this tho* ht alone' m*st o)ern *s in the $hole &o*rse of o*r in,*ir"#

Of all the m"ths that ha)e pre)aile! amon the peoples of the earth' har!l" an" has ha! a reater anti,*it" or a more e6tensi)e e6isten&e than that of the -mith $ho $or5e! in metals' an! fa%ri&ate! shiel!s an! s$or!s for $arriors' or +e$elr" for ,*eens an! no%le la!ies# -*&h a m"th is to %e fo*n! amon the tra!itions of the earliest reli ions' .02 an! %ein han!e! !o$n thro* h a es of pop*lar transmission' it is preser)e!' $ith )ario*s i:nat*ral mo!ifi&ations' in the le en!s of the Mi!!le A e' from -&an!ina)ia to the most so*thern limit of the Latin ra&e# Lon %efore this perio! it $as to %e fo*n! in the m"tholo " an! the fol5:lore of Ass"ria' of In!ia' of Gree&e' an! of Rome#

Freemasonr"' in its most re&ent form as $ell as in its ol!er Le en!' $hile a!optin the stor" of Hiram A%if' on&e &alle! A!on Hiram' has stran el" !istorte! its tr*e feat*res' as e6hi%ite! in the %oo5s of 3in s an! Chroni&les( an! it has' $itho*t an" histori&al a*thorit"' transforme! the -&ript*ral i!ea of a s5illf*l smith into that of an ar&hite&t an! %*il!er# Hen&e' in the Ol! Le en! he is st"le! a 7Master of Geometr" an! of all Masonr"'7 an! in the mo!ern rit*al of -pe&*lati)e Masonr" he is &alle! 7 the B*il!er'7 an! to him' in %oth' is s*ppose! to ha)e %een intr*ste! the s*per: inten!en&e of the Temple of -olomon' !*rin its &onstr*&tion' an! the o)ernment an! &ontrol of those $or5men:the stone s,*arers an! masons:$ho $ere en a e! in the la%or of its ere&tion

To !i)est this Le en! of its &orr*pt form' an! to i)e to Hiram A%if' $ho $as a&t*all" an histori&

.02 7Dala' one of the names of In!ra' in the Ar"an m"tholo "' is tra&e!'7 sa"s Mr# Co6' 7thro* h the Te*toni& lan!s *ntil $e rea&h the &a)e of 9a"lan! -mith' in 9ar$i&5shire#7 7M"htolo " of the Ar"an Nations'7 )ol#' p# 1/4

persona e' his tr*e position amon the $or5men at the Temple' &an not affe&t' in the sli htest !e ree' the s"m%olism of $hi&h he forms so inte ral a part' $hile it $ill rationall" a&&o*nt for the importan&e that has %een attri%*te! to him in the ol! as $ell as in the ne$ Masoni& s"stem#

9hether $e ma5e Hiram A%if the &hief B*il!er an! the Operati)e Gran! Master of -olomon<s Temple' or $hether $e assi n that position to Anon' Amon' or A+*on' as it is in the Ol! Le en!' or to A!oniram' as it is !one in some Masoni& Rites' the s"m%olism $ill remain *naffe&te!' %e&a*se the s"m%oli& i!ea rests on the fa&t of a Chief B*il!er ha)in e6iste!' an! it is immaterial to the !e)elopment of the s"m%olism $hat $as his tr*e name# The instr*&tion inten!e! to %e &on)e"e! in the le en! of the Thir! De ree m*st remain *n&han e!' no matter $hom $e ma" i!entif" as its hero( for he tr*l" represents neither Hiram nor Anon nor A!oniram nor an" other in!i)i!*al person' %*t rather the i!ea of man in an a%stra&t sense'

It is' ho$e)er' important to the tr*th of histor" that the real fa&ts sho*l! %e eliminate! o*t of the m"thi&al statements $hi&h en)elop them# 9e m*st thro$ off the h*s5' that $e ma" et at the erm# An! %esi!es' it $ill a!! a ne$ attra&tion to the s"stem of Masoni& rit*alism if $e shall %e a%le to tra&e in it an" remnant of that ol!est an! most interestin of the m"ths' the Le en! of the -mith' $hi&h' as I ha)e sai!' has *ni)ersall" pre)aile! in the most an&ient forms of reli io*s faith#

Before in)esti atin this Le en! of the -mith in its referen&e to Freemasonr" an! to this parti&*lar Le en! of Hiram A%if $hi&h $e are no$ &onsi!erin ' it $ill %e proper to in,*ire into the &hara&ter of the Le en! as it e6iste! in the ol! reli ions an! in the me!iae)al m"ths# 9e ma" then in,*ire ho$ this Le en!' a!opte! in Freemasonr" in its stri&ter an&ient form of the Le en! of T*%al Cain' %e&ame after$ar! &onfo*n!e! $ith another le en! of a Temple: B*il!er#

If $e o %a&5 to the ol!est of all m"tholo ies' that $hi&h is ta* ht in the De!i& h"mns' $e shall fin! the fire: o! A ni' $hose flames are !es&ri%e! as %ein l*mino*s' po$erf*l' fearf*l' an! not to %e tr*ste!#7

The element of fire th*s $orshippe! %" the prime)al Ar"ans' as an

instr*ment of oo! or of e)il' $as s*%se,*entl" personifie! %" the Gree5s; the De!i& h"mns' referrin to the &ontin*al reno)ation of the flame' as it $as fe! %" f*el' &alle! it the fire: o! A ni( also Ga)ishtha' that is' the e)er "o*n # From this the Gree5s ot their Hephaest*s' the mi ht" $or5man' the immortal smith $ho for e! the $eapons of the o!s' an!' at the pra"er of Thetis' fa%ri&ate! the irresisti%le armor of A&hilles# The Romans $ere in!e%te! to their Ar"an an&estors for the same i!ea of the poten&" of fire' an! personifie! it in their D*l&an' a name $hi&h is e)i!entl" !eri)e! from the -ans&rit El5a' a fire%ran!' altho* h a similarit" of so*n! has le! man" et"molo ists to !e!*&e the Roman D*l&an from the -emiti& T*%al Cain# In!ee!' *ntil the mo!ern !is&o)eries in &omparati)e philolo "' this $as the *ni)ersal opinion of the learne!#

Amon the Ba%"lonians an important o! $as Bil:&an# He $as the fire: o!' an! the name seems to %e !eri)e! from Baal' or Bel' an! Cain' the o! of smiths' or the master smith# Geor e -mith' in his Chal!aen A&&o*nt of Genesis' thin5s that there is possi%l" some &onne&tion here $ith the Bi%li&al T*%al Cain an! the &lassi&al D*l&an#

From the fra ments of -an&honiathon $e learn that the Phoeni&ians ha! a hero $hom he &alls Chr"sor# He $as $orshippe! after his !eath' in &onse,*en&e of the man" in)entions that he %esto$e! on man' *n!er the name of Diami&hi*s( that is' the reat in)entor# To him $as as&ri%e! the in)ention of all those arts $hi&h the Gree5s attri%*te! to Hephaest*s' an! the Romans to D*l&an# Bishop C*m%erlan! !eri)es the name of Chr"sor from the He%re$ CharatF' or the -har%ener' an appropriate !esi nation of one $ho ta* ht the *se of iron tools# The a*thoriFe! )ersion of Genesis' $hi&h &alls T*%al Cain 7 an instr*&tor of e)er" artifi&er in %rass an! iron'7 is %etter ren!ere! in the -ept*a int an! the D*l ate as a sharpener of e)er" instr*ment in %rass an! iron#7

T*%al Cain has %een !eri)e!' in the En lish le&t*res of Dr# Hemmin ' an!' of &o*rse' %" Dr# Oli)er' from a enerall" re&ei)e! et"molo " that Cain meant $orl!l" possessions' an! the tr*e s"m%olism of the name has %een th*s per)erte!# The tr*e !eri)ation is from 5in' $hi&h' sa"s Geseni*s' has the espe&ial meanin to for e iron' $hen&e &omes 3ain' a spear or lan&e' an instr*ment of iron that has %een for e!# In the &o nate Ara%i& it is 3a"in# 7 This $or!'7 sa"s Dr# Gol!Fiher in his $or5 on M"tholo " Amon the He%re$s7 $hi&h $ith other s"non"mo*s names of tra!es o&&*rs se)eral times on the

so:&alle! Na%atean -inaiti& ins&riptions' si nifies -mith' ma5er of a ri&*lt*ral implements .02 an! has preser)e! this meanin in the Ara%i& 3a"in an! the Aramai& 5ina"a' $hilst in the later He%re$ it $as lost alto ether' %ein pro%a%l" s*ppresse! thro* h the Bi%li&al attempt to !eri)e the proper name Cain et"molo i&all" from 5ana' 7 to ain#7 Here it is that Hemmin an! Oli)er ot their false s"m%olism of 7$orl!l" possessions#7

Gol!Fiher attempts to i!entif" m"tholo i&all" Cain the fratri&i!e $ith the son of Lame&h# 9hether he %e &orre&t or not in his theor"' it is at least a &*rio*s &oin&i!en&e that Cain' $hi&h I ha)e sho$n to mean a smith' sho*l! ha)e %een the first %*il!er of a &it"' an! that the same name sho*l! ha)e %een assi ne! to the first for er of metals' $hile the ol! Masoni& Le en! ma5es the master smith' Hiram of T"re' also the &hief %*il!er of -olomon#

It $ill' I thin5' %e interestin to tra&e the pro ress of the m"th $hi&h has i)en in e)er" a e an! e)er" &o*ntr" this prominent position amon artisans to the smith#

Hephaest*s' or D*l&an' 5in!lin his for es in the isle of Lemnos' an! $ith his C"&lops +o*rne"men %eatin o*t an! shapin an! $el!in the re!:hot iron into the forms of spears an! +a)elins an! helmets an! &oats of mail' $as the so*thern !e)elopment of the Ar"an fire: o! A ni# 7 Hephaest*s' or D*l&an'7 sa"s Dio!or*s -i&*l*s' 7 $as the first fo*n!er in iron' %rass' ol!' sil)er' an! all f*si%le metals' an! he ta* ht the *ses to $hi&h fire mi ht %e applie! %" artifi&ers#7 Hen&e he $as &alle! %" the an&ients the o! of %la&5smiths#

The -&an!ina)ians' or northern !es&en!ants of the Ar"an ra&e' %ro* ht $ith them' in their emi ration from Ca*&as*s' the same re)eren&e for fire an! for the $or5in of metals %" its potent *se# The" !i! not' ho$e)er' %rin $ith them s*&h re&olle&tions of A ni as $o*l! in)ent a o! of fire E5e the Hephaest*s an! D*l&an of the Gree5s an! Romans# The" ha!' in!ee!' Lo5i' $ho !eri)e! his name' it is sai! %" some' from the I&elan!i& lo i' or flame#

.02 He &onfines the e6pression to 7a ri&*lt*ral7 to enfor&e a parti&*lar theor" then *n!er &onsi!eration# He mi ht &orre&tl" ha)e %een more eneral an! in&l*!e! all other 5in!s of implements' $arli5e an! me&hani&al as $ell as a ri&*lt*ral#

B*t he $as an e)il prin&iple' an! represente! rather the !estr*&ti)e than the &reati)e po$ers of fire#

B*t the -&an!ina)ians' interpolatin ' li5e all the northern nations' their fol5: lore into their m"tholo "' in)ente! their le en!s of a s5illf*l smith' %eneath $hose mi ht" %lo$s *pon the "iel!in iron s$or!s of mar)elo*s 5eenness an! stren th $ere for e!' or %" $hose $on!erf*l artisti& s5ill !ia!ems an! %ra&elets an! +e$els of s*rpassin %ea*t" $ere &onstr*&te!# Hen&e the m"th of a $on!erf*ll" &*nnin artist $as fo*n! e)er"$here' an! the Le en! of the -mith %e&ame the &ommon propert" of all the -&an!ina)ian an! Te*toni& nations' an! $as of so impressi)e a &hara&ter that it &ontin*e! to e6ist !o$n to me!iae)al times' an! tra&es of it ha)e e6: ten!e! to the s*perstitions of the present !a"# Ma" $e not +*stl" loo5 to its infl*en&e for the prominen&e i)en %" the ol! Masoni& le en!ists to the Master -mith of 3in Hiram amon the $or5men of -olomonG

Amon the -&an!ina)ians $e ha)e the Le en! of Dol*n!' $hose stor" is re&ite! in the Dol*n!!ar5)itha' or La" of Dol*n!' &ontaine! in the E!!a of -aem*n!# Dol*n! .prono*n&e! as if spelle! 9a"lan!2 $as one of three %rothers' sons of an Elf:5in ( that is to sa"' of a s*pernat*ral ra&e# The three %rothers emi rate! to Elf!al' $here the" marrie! three Dal5"ries' or &hoosers of the slain' mai!ens of &elestial ori in' the atten!ants of O!in' an! $hose attri%*tes $ere similar to those of the Gree5 Par&ae' or Fates# After se)en "ears the three $i)es fle! a$a" to p*rs*e their allotte! !*t" of )isitin %attle: fiel!s# T$o of the %rothers $ent in sear&h of their errant $i)es( %*t Dol*n! remaine! in Elf!al# He $as a s5illf*l $or5man at the for e' an! o&&*pie! his time in fa%ri&atin $or5s in ol! an! steel' $hile patientl" a$aitin the promise! ret*rn of his %elo)e! spo*se#

Ni!*th' the 5in of the &o*ntr"' ha)in hear! of the $on!erf*l s5ill of Dol*n! as a for er of metals' )isite! his home !*rin his a%sen&e an! s*rreptitio*sl" ot possession of some of the +e$els $hi&h he ha! ma!e' an! of the %ea*tif*l s$or! $hi&h the smith ha! fa%ri&ate! for himself

Dol*n!' on his ret*rn' $as seiFe! %" the $arriors of Ni!*th an! &on!*&te! to the &astle# There the ,*een' terrifie! at his fier&e loo5s' or!ere! him to %e

hamstr*n # Th*s' maime! an! !epri)e! of the po$er of es&ape or resistan&e' he $as &onfine! to a small islan! in the )i&init" of the ro"al resi!en&e an! &ompelle! to fa%ri&ate +e$els for the ,*een an! her !a* hter' an! $eapons of $ar for the 5in # .02

It $ere te!io*s to re&o*nt all the a!)ent*res of the smith $hile &onfine! in his islan! prison# It is s*ffi&ient to sa" that' ha)in &onstr*&te! a pair of $in s %" $hi&h he $as ena%le! to fl" .%" $hi&h $e are remin!e! of the Gree5 fa%le of Dae!al*s2' he ma!e his es&ape' ha)in %" strata em first !ishonore! the prin&ess an! slain her t$o %rothers#

This le en! of 7 a &*rio*s an! &*nnin $or5man 7 at the for e $as so pop*lar in -&an!ina)ia that it e6ten!e! into other &o*ntries' $here the Le en! of the -mith presents itself *n!er )ario*s' mo!ifi&ations

In the I&elan!i& le en! Dol*n! is !es&ri%e! as a reat artist in the fa%ri&ation of iron' ol! an! sil)er# It !oes not' ho$e)er' &onne&t him $ith s*pernat*ral %ein s' %*t attri%*tes to him reat s5ill in his art' in $hi&h he is assiste! %" the po$er of ma i&#

The Germans ha! the same le en! at a )er" earl" perio!# In the German Le en! the artifi&er is &alle! 9ielan!' an! he is represente! as the son of a iant name! 9a!e# He a&,*ires the art of a smith from Minner' a s5illf*l $or5man' an! is perfe&te! %" the D$arfs in all his operations at the for e as an armorer an! ol!# smith# He oes of his o$n a&&or! to the 5in ' $ho is here &alle! Ni!*n ' $here he fin!s another s5illf*l smith' name! Amilias' $ith $hom he &onten!s in %attle' an! 5ills him $ith his s$or!' Mim*n # For this offense he is maime! %" the 5in ' an! then the rest of the stor" pro&ee!s )er" m*&h li5e that of the -&an!ina)ian le en!#

Amon the An lo:-a6ons the le en! is fo*n! not )ar"in m*&h from the ori inal t"pe# The stor" $here the hero re&ei)es the name of 9elan! is &ontaine! in an an&ient poem' of $hi&h fra ments' *nfort*natel"' onl" remain# The le en! ha! %e&ome so familiar to the people that in the metri&al roman&e of Beo$*lf the &oat of mail of the hero is !es&ri%e! as the $or5 of 9elan!( an! 3in Alfre! in his translation of the Consolation of Philosoph" %" Boethi*s' $here the a*thor all*!e'' to the %ones of the Cons*l Fa%ri&i*s' in

the passa e 7 *%i s*nt ossa Fa%ri&ie G 7 .$here no$ are the %ones of Fa%ri&i*s G2' th*s paraphrases the ,*estion; 9here no$

.02 All these smiths of m"tholo " an! fol5:lore are represente! as %ein lame' li5e Hephaest*s' $ho %ro5e his le in fallin from hea)en#

are the %ones of the $ise 9elan!' the ol!smith that $as formerl" so fame! G 7 Geoffre" of Monmo*th after$ar!' in a Latin poem' spea5s of the ol!' an! +e$els' an! &*ps that ha! %een s&*lpt*re! %" 9elan!' $hi&h name he LatiniFes as G*eilan!*s#

In the ol! Fren&h &hroni&les $e repeate!l" en&o*nter the le en! of the s5illf*l smith' tho* h' as mi ht %e e6pe&te!' the name *n!er oes man" &han es# Th*s' in a poem of the 4th &ent*r"' entitle! Ga*tier a la main forte' or 9alter of the stron han!' it is sai! that in a &om%at of 9alter !e Dar5astein he $as prote&te! from the lan&e of Ran!olf %" a &*irass ma!e %" 9ielan!#

Another &hroni&le' of the 0/th &ent*r"' tells *s that a Co*nt of An o*leme' in a %attle $ith the Normans' &*t the &*irass an! the %o!" of the Norman 3in in t$ain at a sin le stro5e' $ith his s$or! D*rissima' $hi&h ha! %een ma!e %" the smith 9alan!er# A &hroni&le of the same perio!' $ritten %" the mon5 8ohn of Marmontier' !es&ri%es the ma nifi&ent ha%iliments of Geoffre" Planta enet' D*5e of Norman!"' amon $hi&h' sa"s the a*thor' $as 7 a s$or! ta5en from the ro"al treas*r" an! lon sin&e reno$ne!# Galann*s' the most s5illf*l of armorers' ha! emplo"e! m*&h la%or an! &are in ma5in it#7 Galans' for 9alans .the G %ein s*%stit*te! for the 9' as a letter *n5no$n in the Fren&h alpha%et2' is the name %esto$e! in eneral on this s5illf*l smith' an! the roman&es of the Tro*)eres an! Tro*%a!o*rs of northern an! so*thern Fran&e' in the 0/th an! 01th &ent*ries' a%o*n! in referen&es to s$or!s of $on!ro*s 5eenness an! stren th that $ere for e! %" him for the 5ni hts an! pala!ins#

9hether the name $as i)en as Dol*n!' or 9ielan!' or 9elan!' or Galans' it fo*n! its &ommon ori in in the I&elan!i& Dol*n!' $hi&h si nifies a smith# It is a eneri& term' from $hi&h the m"thi&al name has %een !eri)e!# -o the Gree5s &alle! the s5illf*l $or5man' the smith of their fol5:lore' Dae!al*s' %e&a*se there is a )er% in their lan *a e !ai!allo' $hi&h means to !o s5illf*l

or ornamental $or5#

Here it ma" not %e irrele)ant to noti&e the &*rio*s fa&t that &on&*rrentl" $ith these le en!s of a s5illf*l smith there ran in the Mi!!le A es others' of $hi&h 3in -olomon $as the s*%+e&t# In man" of these ol! roman&es an! metri&al tales' a s5ill $as attri%*te! to him $hi&h ma5es him the ri)al of the s*%or!inate artisan# In!ee!' the artisti& rep*tation of -olomon $as so pro)er%ial at the )er" time $hen these le en!s of the smith $ere pre)alent' that in the poems of those !a"s $e meet $ith repeate! *ses of the e6pression 7 l<*e)re -alemon'7 or 7the $or5 of -olomon'7 to in!i&ate an" pro!*&tion of reat artisti& %ea*t"#

-o f*ll" ha! the -&an!ina)ian sa as the German &hroni&les' an! the Fren&h roman&es spo5en of this m"thi&al smith that the i!ea %e&ame familiar to the &ommon people' an! $as han!e! !o$n in the pop*lar s*perstitions an! the fol5:lore' to a &omparati)el" mo!ern perio!# T$o of these' one from German" an! one from En lan!' $ill s*ffi&e as e6amples' an! sho$ the eneral i!entit" of the le en!s an! the pro%a%ilit" of their &ommon ori in#.02

Herman Harr"s' in his Tales an! Le en!s of Lo$er -a6on"' tells the stor" of a smith $ho !$elt in the )illa e of Ha en' on the si!e of a mo*ntain' a%o*t t$o miles from Osna%r*&5# He $as &ele%rate! for his s5ill in for in metals ( %*t' %ein !is&ontente! $ith his lot' an! m*rm*rin a ainst Go!' he $as s*pernat*rall" &arrie! into a &a)erno*s &left of the mo*ntain' $here he $as &on!emne! to %e a metal 5in ' an!' restin %" !a"' to la%or at ni ht at the for e for the %enefit of men' *ntil the mine in the mo*ntain sho*l! &ease to %e pro!*&ti)e#

In the &oolness of the mine' sa"s the le en!' his oo! !isposition ret*rne!' an! he la%ore! $ith reat assi!*it"' e6tra&tin ore from its )eins' an! at first for in ho*sehol! an! a ri&*lt*ral implements# After$ar! he &onfine! himself to the shoein of horses for the nei h%orin ( farmers# In front of the &a)ern $as a sta5e fi6e! iii the ro*n!' to $hi&h the &o*ntr"man fastene! the horse $hi&h he $ishe! to ha)e sho!' an! on a stone near %" he lai! the ne&essar" fee# He then retire!# On ret*rnin in !*e time he $o*l! fin! the tas5 &omplete!( %*t the smith' or' as he $as &alle!' the Hiller' i#e#' Hi!er' $o*l! ne)er permit himself to %e seen#

-imilar to this is the En lish le en!' $hi&h tells *s that in a )ale of Ber5shire' at the foot of 9hite Horse Hill' e)i!entl"' from the stones $hi&h la" s&attere! aro*n!' the site of a Dr*i!i& mon*ment' formerl" !$elt a person name! 9a"lan! -mith# It is easil" *n!erstoo! that here the han!i&raft title has %een

.02 For man" of the !etails of these t$o le en!s' as $ell as for m*&h that has alrea!" %een sai! of the m"tholo i&al smith of the Mi!!le A es' I ha)e %een in!e%te! to the learne! Dissertation of M#M# Deppin an! Mi&hel# It has %een a%l" translate! from the Fren&h' $ith a!!itions %" Mr# -#9# -in er' Lon!on' 0@AC#

in&orporate! $ith the an li&iFe! name' an! that it is the same as the me!iae)al 9elan! the -mith# No one e)er sa$ him' for the h* e stones affor!e! him a hi!in :pla&e# He' too' $as a Hiller': for the $or! in the pre&e!in le en! !oes not mean 7the man of the hill'7 %*t is from the German h*llen' to &o)er or &on&eal' an! !enotes the man $ho &on&eals himself# In this st*!io*s &on&ealment of their persons %" %oth of these smiths $e !ete&t the &ommon ori in of the t$o le en!s# 9hen his ser)i&es $ere re,*ire! to shoe a horse' the animal $as left amon the stones an! a pie&e of mone" pla&e! on one of them# The o$ner then retire!' an! after some time ha! elapse! he ret*rne!' $hen he fo*n! that the horse $as sho! an! the mone" ha! !isappeare!# The En lish rea!er o* ht to %e familiar $ith this stor" from the *se ma!e of it %" -ir 9alter -&ott in his no)el of 3enil$orth#

It is )er" e)i!ent' from all that has %een here sai!' that the smith' as the fa%ri&ator of $eapons for the %attle:fiel! an! +e$els for the %o*r!oir' as $ell as implements of a ri&*lt*re an! ho*sehol! *se' $as a most important persona e in the earliest times' !eifie! %" the an&ients' an! in)este! %" the mo!erns $ith s*pernat*ral ifts# It is e,*all" e)i!ent that this respe&t for the smith as an artifi&er $as pre)alent in the Mi!!le A es# B*t in the )er" latest le en!s' %" a &*stomar" pro&ess of !e eneration in all tra!itions' $hen the stream %e&omes m*!!le! as it pro&ee!s on$ar!' he !es&en!e! in &hara&ter from a for er of s$or!s' his earliest o&&*pation' to %e a shoer of horses' $hi&h $as his last#

It m*st %e %orne in min!' also' that in the :Mi!!le A es the respe&t for the

smith as a 7 &*rio*s an! &*nnin 7 $or5man %e an %" the intro!*&tion of a ne$ &lement' %ro* ht %" the Cr*sa!ers an! pil rims from the East to %e share! $ith 3in -olomon' $ho $as s*ppose! to %e in)este! $ith e,*al s5ill#

It is not' therefore' stran e that the i!ea sho*l! ha)e %een in&orporate! into the rit*als of the )ario*s se&ret so&ieties of the Mi!!le 'A es an! a!opte! %" the Freemasonr" at first %" the Operati)e %ran&h an! after$ar!' in a more enlar e! form' %" the -pe&*lati)e Masons#

In all of the ol! man*s&ripts &onstit*tions of the Operati)e Masons $e fin! the Le en!of the Craft' an! $ith it' e6&ept in one instan&e' an! that the earliest' a referen&e to T*%al Cain as the one $ho 7 fo*n! Hthat is' in)ente!I the -mith Craft of ol! an! sil)er' iron an! &opper an! steel#7

Nothin %*t the *ni)ersal pre)alen&e of the me!iae)al le en! of the smith' Dol*n! or 9elan!' &an' I thin5' a&&o*nt for this referen&e to the Father of -mith Craft in a le en! $hi&h sho*l! ha)e %een e6&l*si)el" appropriate! to -tone Craft# There is no &onne&tion %et$een the for e an! the tro$el $hi&h a*thoriFe! on an" other ro*n! the honor pai! %" stone:masons to a for er of metals:an honor so mar5e! that in time the )er" name of T*%al Cain &ame to %e a!opte! as a si nifi&ant an! important $or! in the Masoni& rit*al' an! the hi hest pla&e in the tra!itional la%ors of the Temple $as assi ne! to a $or5er in ol! an! %rass an! iron#

After$ar!' $hen the Operati)e Art $as s*perse!e! %" the -pe&*lati)e -&ien&e' the latter s*pplemente! to the simple Le en! of the Craft the more re&on!ite Le en! of the Temple# In this latter Le en!' the name of that Hiram $hom the 3in of T"re ha! sent $ith all honor to the 3in of Israel' to i)e him ai! in the &onstr*&tion of the Temple' is first intro!*&e! *n!er his %i%li&al appellation# B*t this is not the first time that this persona e is ma!e 5no$n to the fraternit"# In the ol!er Le en!s he is mentione!' al$a"s $ith a !ifferent name %*t al$a"s' also' as 7 3in -olomon<s Master Mason#7

In the %e innin of the 0@th &ent*r"' $hen $hat has %een &alle! the Re)i)al too5 pla&e' there $as a &ontin*ation of the eneral i!ea that he $as the &hief Mason at the Temple( %*t the tr*e name of Hiram A%if is' as $e ha)e alrea!" sai!' then first fo*n! in a $ritten or printe! re&or!# An!erson spea5s of his

ar&hite&t*ral a%ilities in e6a erate! terms# He &alls him in one pla&e 7the most a&&omplishe! Mason on earth'7 an! in another 7the prin&e of ar&hite&ts#7 This &hara&ter has a!here! to him in all s*%se,*ent times' an! the *n$ritten Le en! of the present !a" represents him as the ' Chief B*il!er of the Temple'7 the 7 Operati)e Gran! Master'7 an! the 7 -5illf*l Ar&hite&t 7 %" $hose ela%orate !esi ns on his trestle:%oar! the Craft $ere *i!e! in their la%ors an! the e!ifi&e $as &onstr*&te!#

No$' it $ill %e profita%le in the in)esti ation of histori& tr*th to &ompare these attri%*tes assi ne! to Hiram A%if I2" the ol!er an! more re&ent le en!ists $ith the %i%li&al a&&o*nts of the same person $hi&h ha)e alrea!" %een &ite!#

In the ori inal He%re$ te6t of the passa e in the %oo5 of Chroni&les' the $or!s $hi&h !esi nate the profession of Hiram A%if are 3horesh ne5hoshet': literall"' a $or5er in %rass# The D*l ate' $hi&h $as the pop*lar )ersion in those !a"s an! from $hi&h the ol! le en!ists m*st ha)e !eri)e! their 5no$le! e of %i%li&al histor"' th*s translates the letter of 3in Hiram to 3in -olomon; 7 Therefore I ha)e sent to thee a $ise an! most s5illf*l man' Hiram the $or5man or smith' m" father 7:Hiram fa%rem Patrem me*m#

In!ee!' in the &lose of the )erse in the A*thoriFe! Dersion he is !es&ri%e! as %ein 7 &*nnin to $or5 all $or5s in %rass#7 An! hen&e Dr# A!am Clar5e' in his'' Commentaries' &alls him 7 a )er" intelli ent &oppersmith#7

The error into $hi&h the ol! le en!ists an! the mo!ern Masoni& $riters ha)e fallen' in s*pposin him to ha)e %een a stone:mason or an ar&hite&t' has arisen from the mistranslation in the A*thoriFe! Dersion of the passa e in Chroni&les $here he is sai! to ha)e %een 7 s5illf*l to $or5 in ol! an! in sil)er' in %rass' in iron' in stone' an! in tim%er#7 The $or!s in the ori inal are Baa%anim )e%a nelsim' in stones an! in $oo!s': that is' in# Pre&io*s stones an! in $oo!s of )ario*s 5in!s# That is to sa"' %esi!es %ein a &oppersmith he $as a lapi!ar" an! a &ar)er an! il!er# The $or!s in the ori inal He%re$ are in the pl*ral' an! therefore the translation 7 in $oo! an! in tim%er 7 is not &orre&t# Geseni*s sa"s:an! there is no %etter a*thorit" for a He%raism:that the $or! e%en is *se! %" $a" of e6&ellen&e' to !enote a pre&io*s stone' an! its pl*ral' a%anim' means' therefore' pre&io*s stones# In the same $a" netF' $hi&h in the sin *lar si nifies a tree' in the pl*ral !enotes materials of $oo!'

for an" p*rpose#

The $or5 that $as !one %" Hiram A%if in the Temple is f*ll" re&o*nte! in the first %oo5 of 3in s' the se)enth &hapter' from the fifteenth to the fortieth )erse' an! is %riefl" re&apit*late! in )erses fort":one to fift"# It is also en*merate! in the thir! an! fo*rth &hapters of se&on! Chroni&les' an! in %oth %oo5s &are is ta5en to sa" that $hen this $or5 $as !one the tas5 of Hiram A%if $as &omplete!# In the first %oo5 of 3in s .)ii# A>2 it is sai!; 7 -o Hiram ma!e an en! of !*n all the $or5 that he ma!e 3in -olomon for the ho*se of the Lor!#7 In the se&on! %oo5 of Chroni&les .i)# /2 the statement is repeate! th*s; 7 An! Hiram finishe! the $or5 that he $as to ma5e for 3in -olomon for the ho*se of Go!#7

The same a*thorit" lea)es *s in no !o*%t as to $hat that $or5 $as to $hi&h the s5ill of Hiram A%if ha! %een !e)ote!# 7It $as'7sa"s the %oo5 of Chroni&les' 7 the t$o pillars' an! the pommels an! the &hapiters $hi&h $ere on the top of the pillars ( an! fo*r h*n!re! pome ranates on the t$o $reaths( t$o ro$s of pome ranates on ea&h $reath' to &o)er the t$o pommels of the &hapiters $hi&h $ere *pon the pillars# He ma!e also %ases' an! la)ers ma!e he *pon the %ases( one sea an! t$el)e o6en *n!er it# The pots also' an! the sho)els an! the flesh hoo5s an! all their instr*ments' !i! H*ram his father .Hiram A%if2 ma5e to 3in -olomon' for the ho*se of the Lor!' of %ri ht %rass#7

Eno* h has %een sai! to sho$ that the la%ors of Hiram A%if in the Temple $ere those of a $or5er in %rass an! in pre&io*s stones' in &ar)in an! in il!in ' an! not those of a stonemason# He $as the !e&orator an! not the %*il!er of the Temple# He o$es the position $hi&h he hol!s in the le en!s an! in the rit*al of Freemasonr"' not to an" &onne&tion $hi&h he ha! $ith the art of ar&hite&t*re' of $hi&h there is not the sli htest mention %" the %i%li&al a*thorities' %*t' li5e T*%al Cain' to his s5ill in %rin in the poten&" of fire *n!er his &ontrol an! appl"in it to the for in of metals#

The hi h honor pai! to him is the res*lt of the infl*en&e of that Le en! of the -mith' so *ni)ersall" sprea! in the Mi!!le A es' $hi&h re&o*nte! the $on!ro*s !ee!s of Dol*n!' or 9ielan!' or 9a"lan!# The smith $as' in the me!iae)al tra!itions' in the sa as of the north an! in the roman&es of the so*th of E*rope' the ma5er of s$or!s an! &oats of mail( in the Le en!s of Freemasonr" he $as transm*te! into the fa%ri&ator of hol" )essels an!

sa&re! implements#

B*t the i!ea that of all han!i&rafts smith:&raft $as the reatest $as *n$ittin l" retaine! %" the Masons $hen the" ele)ate! the s5illf*l smith of T"re' the 7&*nnin 7 $or5er in %rass' to the hi hest pla&e as a %*il!er in their Temple le en!#

The spirit of &riti&al i&ono&lasm' $hi&h strips the e6terior h*s5 from the histori& erm of all m"ths an! le en!s' has %een !oin m*&h to !i)est the histor" of Freemasonr" of all fa%*lo*s ass*mptions# This attempt to i)e to Hiram A%if his tr*e position' an! to !efine his real profession' is in the spirit of that i&ono&lasm#

B*t the !o&trine here a!)an&e! is not inten!e! to affe&t in the sli htest !e ree the part assi ne! to Hiram A%if in the s"m%olism of the Thir! De ree# 9hate)er ma" ha)e %een his profession' he m*st ha)e stoo! hi h in the &onfi!en&e of the t$o 5in s' of him $ho sent him an! him $ho re&ei)e! him' as 7 a master $or5man( 7 an! he mi ht $ell %e s*ppose! to %e entitle! in an alle or" to the e6alte! ran5 %esto$e! *pon him in the Le e ! of the Craft an! in the mo!ern rit*al#

Alle ories are permitte! to !i)er e at $ill from the fa&ts of histor" an! the tea&hin s of s&ien&e# Trees ma" %e ma!e to spea5' as the" !o in the most an&ient fa%le e6tant' an! it is no infrin ement of their &hara&ter that a $or5er in %rass ma" %e transm*te! into a %*il!er in stone to s*it a s"m%oli& p*rpose#

Hen&e this 7 &ele%rate! artist'7 as he is fairl" &alle!' $hether smith or mason' is still the representati)e' in the s"m%olism of Freemasonr"' of the a%stra&t i!ea of man la%orin in the temple of life' an! the s"m%oli& lesson of his trie! inte rit" an! his *nhapp" fate is still the same#

As Freemasons' $hen $e )ie$ the $hole Le en! as a m"th inten!e! to i)e e6pression to a s"m%oli& i!ea' $e ma" %e &ontent to &all him an ar&hite&t' the first of Masons' an! the &hief %*il!er of the Temple( %*t as st*!ents of

histor" $e &an 5no$ nothin of him an! a!mit nothin &on&ernin him that is not s*pporte! %" a*thenti& an! *n!isp*te! a*thorit"#

9e m*st' therefore' loo5 *pon him as the in enio*s artist' $ho $or5e! in metals an! in pre&io*s stones' $ho &ar)e! in &e!ar an! in oli)e:$oo!' an! th*s ma!e the ornaments of the Temple#

He is onl" the Dol*n! or 9ielan! of the ol!en le en!' &han e!' %" a mista5en %*t a nat*ral pro&ess of transm*tin tra!itions' from a $or5er in %rass to a $or5er in stone#