Lodge Symbols - Part Six

The Fellowcraft is taught the Pillar of
Establishment is called Jachin for various
reasons in the different jurisdictions. Some
Lodges don't have a reason. They just have a
name and a meaning for that name.

Jachin is an interesting word. It means
established, but some people say it means
establishment. The modern meaning is usually
given as "established in God." This means the
person is tuned into the Divine 24/7. Several
people may have been tuned into the Divine 24/7
during my lifetime: Ghandi, Theresa Newman,
Mother Theresa, the Dali Lama and Paramahansa
Yogananda. There may have been others. Some
people on my list may not have been tuned in
24/7.

The esoteric meaning of established is the person
is wise in all things. Hence many Masonic Lodges
call this pillar the Pillar of Wisdom. Just as
the Pillar or Strength is also called the Pillar
of Power, Darkness, Severity, Form and the Pillar
of Freedom and Fear, so the Pillar of Wisdom is
also called the Pillar of Intentions, Light,
Compassion, Energy and the Pillar of Mercy and
Desire.

When we look at a picture of the Tree of Life, we
see the Pillar of Wisdom on our right. But when
we become the Tree of Life, and we are all an
individual Tree of Life, the Pillar of Wisdom is
our left side. Our left side is our compassion.

What is wisdom?

The Kaballah teaches us that wisdom is knowing
the compassionate and merciful thing to do under
all circumstances. To allow a murderer the
freedom to murder again is neither compassionate
nor merciful. To put a murderer to death is
neither compassionate nor merciful. The wise
person finds the right things to do under all
circumstances.

That's the esoteric teaching of the Pillar of
Wisdom. As Esoteric Masons we're called upon to
use our Pillar of Wisdom for the benefit of
humanity. We do that by seeking out injustice and
inequity of every kind and standing up and
speaking out for justice and equality.

The Pillar of Wisdom teaches us that when we do
the right thing to help our fellow man, we are
acting with compassion and wisdom.

As the Pillar of Darkness and Strength represents
the Entered Apprentice and the Esoteric Apprentice,
so does the Pillar of Compassion and Wisdom
represent the Fellowcraft and the Esoteric Fellow.
So also does the Pillar of Strength represent the
Junior Warden and the Pillar of Wisdom the Senior
Warden in a Lodge of Esoteric Masons.

This is to esoterically teach us that as our right
side is a symbol of our junior warden, strength, so
our left is a symbol of our senior warden, wisdom.

Fraternally,
John