The Golden Fleece
site map
Golden Fleece > The Letter G

craftsman's art and music's measure
for thy pleasure all combine.

The Letter G

Greek gamma

Gamma is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 3. The upper case Gamma resembles a builders square, like those found in ancient Egyptian tombs. The secret of forming a right angle by making a triangle with sides in the proportion 3, 4 and 5 was known to both the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. The Egyptian measure of length was the cubit (about 52.5 centimeters), which was subdivided into seven palms. The letter G may refer to geometry, which was the fifth of the seven liberal arts and science: grammar, rhetoric, logic, arthimetic, geometry, music and astronomy

Gamma was derived from the Phoenician letter Gimel. The men of the Phoenician city of Gebal who were known as Gebalites (in Hebrew Gebalim) built temples around the Mediterranean Sea and beyond at Cadiz. Gebal also means a line or natural boundary, such as a mountain range. The name of this important ancient trading port may be derived from the line of mountains seen behind this city, when it is approached from the sea. It was known to the Greeks as Byblos.

Junior Warden conducting candidate

Gabanon was the name given for a free mason in a book, which was "dedicated to the fair sex" and published in France in 1744 under the pseudonym of Leonard Gabanon. The engravings of various masonic ceremonies illustrate the fashionable pursuit introduced by the Duke of Richmond to the elegant salons of eighteenth century Paris. The ceremonies of Sir Christoper Wren from the building site of St Paul's Cathedral had been developed in the taverns and country houses of England into a popular pastime.

Far from being secret, freemasonry was attracting widespread interest. Public processions of freemasons wearing aprons and a profusion of pamphlets stimulated a lively discourse about in the nature and purposes of the fraternity. In 1742 a parade of beggers, prostitutes and others, all wearing Masonic regalia walked along the proposed route of the public procession to the grand feast in London. The effect of this bogus procession, immediately ahead of the Masons themselves, was that much ridicule was heaped upon the fraternity. Similar stunts so embarassed the Masons that in 1747 Grand Lodge decided that none of its members should participate in public processions wearing Masonic regalia. Ironically this measure, aimed at protecting the fraternity from ridicule, invited even more negative speculation about what Masons really did in their secret world, behind lodge doors. The aftermath of this mockery would have a legacy lasting until today.

Master's jewel

The builder's square has been used to designate the Master of a lodge. In freemasonry the square The square is a symbol for morality, honesty and fair dealing.


Copyright © 2001-2010 The Fleece. All rights reserved.