To the Glory of the Great Architect of the Universe

Buenos Aires, November 2015

Worshipful Master,

An overview on the Tracing Board of First Degree

Introduction

One of the first published illustrations of an EA Tracing Board is attributed to John Cole, which can
be found in his book entitled Illustrations of Masonry, 1801. John Browne and Josiah Bowring
followed him with truly captivating designs, but it was not until the earliest 1820’s that one of the
most important works of history was immortalized, not only for its beauty but also by the number
of men in which it has influenced. This piece of art was made by Bro. John Harris.

Harris was a miniature painter and an architect by trade. His fascination with the TB pushed him to
revolutionize its artistic and symbolic concepts, and some years after, his paintings were
considered and approved by a special committee to be the official TBs in Emulation Ritual.
Nowadays, an original complete set of his artwork is displayed to visitors every Friday evening, at
the UGLE headquarters.

The Tracing Board, the Temple, the Human Body

Most of us can firmly state that the TB is an obvious allegory of the Lodge and the Temple; while
finding a Bro. relating it to the human body in a harmoniously orchestrated series of
interpretations, is more than rare. Since this type of analysis is a task of a personal nature, here is
given just a glance of a way in which the TB can be studied.

The Lodge is supported by three great pillars. Wisdom is gained by an increase of perceptive
faculty and understanding. This way mental strength and confidence are gained, leading the
Freemason to grace of character and conduct with an inner beauty of spirit.

The black and white checkered floor of the Lodge denotes the dual quality of everything
connected with life, and the physical groundwork of human nature. Everything material is
characterized by inextricably blended opposites: good and evil, light and shade, etc. Our
experience of the dualism of these opposites continues for us, and creates tension, until such time
as we are ready for advancement: when we cease to perceive them as opposites, and are realized
as a unity -one cannot exist without the other-, and a transcendental peace is achieved. This
duality is a fundamental Taoist philosophy -Ying Yang- to help the achievement of inner peace.
If you consider the East, West, South and North as Rational Mind, Spirituality, the midway where
Mind and Spirit meet and Intellectuality attains its meridian, and Physical Sense –darkness-,
respectively; this is what supposedly occurs while the opening of the lodge is been conducted:

The Master's gavel calls the Lodge to attention, and the repeat of those knocks by the Wardens,
represents the Master-Principle calling us to attend to, and control the sensitive actions, -
represented by the Senior Warden-, and to keep down the impulses of our lower nature -the
Intellect- responded to by the Junior Warden. The Senior Deacon, carrying the messages and
commands of the Master to the Senior Warden, is the link between Spirit and Psyche. The Junior
Deacon, carrying the messages and commands of the Master from the Senior to the Junior
Warden, is the link between the Psyche and the Mind. The Tyler is the outer sense, the link with
the outside world, and keeps out unwanted influences. The Inner Guard acts as the inner sense,
the link between Mind and the outer Sense-Nature, and evaluates incoming influences.

This Tracing Board-Lodge-Body symbolism helps us to understand the rich and various meanings
the symbols can take in a deeper way, and to realize there is an infinite universe of interpretations
of this strongly interconnected system, ready to dress in different colors depending on what we
need in each particular time.

Traditional First-Degree Tracing Board Interpretation

Although there is no official or unique meaning for the symbols used in Freemasonry, it is well
known that there are some attributes of these elements that are strongly rooted by oral and
written practice, them being:

Cardinal Directions: They give the EA not only a full understanding of his position, but also the
stars give us a time reference when related to these points. Now the EA is conscious.

Corner Tassels: They mean Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice. Tradition says these

four virtues have been specifically practiced by our ancient Brethren.

Tessel Board: It is believed it refers to planets and how they interact with each other, this being
their gravitation.

Checkered Pavement: This mosaic flooring is supposedly based on King Salomon’s Temple floor. As
mentioned earlier It explains the eternal human duality, to be found in every aspect of our lives.
Male and female, good and evil, light and shade, joy and sorrow, positive and negative, etc.

Three Great Pillars: They represent Wisdom (King Salomon) to conduct us in all our undertakings,
Strength (King Hiram) to support us under all our difficulties; and Beauty (Hiram Abif) to adorn the
inward man. Any action by a good Freemason should have these three characteristics.

Jacob’s Ladder: There are three angels that excel the rest: Faith, Hope and Charity. Practicing these
virtues will lead you towards salvation and enlightenment, the seven-pointed star. They ascend as
aspirations and descend as inspirations.

Sun: This element refers mainly to masculinity, fatherhood, experience and rational mind. Has its
own light and is hot.
Moon: In the other hand, this shows femininity, motherhood, intuition, and spirituality. In order to
shine, must receive the light of the Sun and without it, remains cold.

Rough Ashlar: This represents a man in his infant or primitive state, rough and unpolished until, by
the kind care and attention of his parents or guardians in giving him a liberal and virtuous
education, his mind becomes cultivated, and he is thereby rendered a fit member of civilized
society.

Perfect Ashlar: This represents a man in the decline of years, after a regular, well-spent life in acts
of piety and virtue, which cannot otherwise be tried and approved than by the Square of God's
Word and the Compasses of his own self-convincing conscience.

Tracing Board: A complete universe within another one: the Spiritual Tracing Board of the Great
Architect of the Universe, in which are laid down Divine Laws and Moral Plans.

Point within a Circle: It shows us where to aim, and we must not err. The secret path to triumph is
focus.

Plumb Rule: Try (test), and adjust uprights, while fixing them on their proper bases. Check that
your foundations are always straight.

Level: It is a working tool used for testing horizontals. To the Speculative Freemason means a sign
of fraternal equality (not equity).

Square: It is for trying and adjusting rectangular corners of buildings, and assisting in bringing rude
matter into due form. While this symbol belongs to the whole craft, the compasses –meaning
perfection, creation, freedom- belong to the Master.

Lewis: There were no specific teaching about this particular element for the Freemason writing
this paper, but what he keeps in mind si that three legged things are the more stable and firm.
Draw your conclusions.

Volume of The Sacred Law: From God to manhood. Its pages reveal us the Devine Laws that
govern this Universe and explain us how to use them for our own benefit, but only the initiated
ones are able to understand its words.

Always bear in mind that reading about symbolism will not dress the reader with its virtues,
neither will practice by itself. Reading, practicing, and TEACHING will. That is the reason why
writing papers about masonic symbolism is considered one of the main tasks of every Freemason.
Unknown -1764
John Cole - 1801
John Browne - ?
Josiah Bowring - ?
Unkown - ?