Incense in the Lodge
Some Lodges use the peculiar scent of Frankincense to fragrance the air in their Lodges. If you have ever travelled to these Lodges you may have gone as far as wonder why there would be incense burning in a Lodge room at all, or even how that would be appropriate.
Frankincense is a resinous tree sap harvested from the Olibanum-tree (Boswilla Sacra), it has been used for thousands of years for is aromatic and medicinal properties.
If you lived in Jerusalem 2500 years ago, and spent any time around King Solomon’s Temple, you would no doubt encounter this aroma. It was used to perfume the Tabernacle (Ex 30:34), and also offered as a holocaust sacrifice “…it is a gift of a soothing aroma to the LORD.” (Lev 2:2). Our Senior Warden may tell us that “The tabernacle was an exact model of King Solomon’s Temple…” (EA Lecture, Ancient Work) and so it stands to reason that, just as Frankincense was burned in the original Temple, so should it be burned in the Masonic Temple.
Thomas Smith Webb wrote on the Masonic symbolism of the “Pot of Incense”: “The Pot of Incense is an emblem of a pure heart; this is always an acceptable sacrifice to the Deity; and as this glows with fervent heat, so should our hearts continually glow with gratitude to the great and beneficent author of our existence for the manifold blessings and comforts we enjoy.” It is interesting that although the Pot of Incense is accepted as a symbol of Masonry, the particular type of Incense burned is never mentioned.
Frankincense was not limited to Judaism and the Old Testament, The religious cults of the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians et cetera; all used Frankincense to pay homage to their Deities. It is likely that the cults of Mercury and Hermes (of which much remains in the Masonic tradition) also burned Frankincense. Today the worlds largest consumer of Frankincense is the Roman Catholic Church, and has been ever since the 4th century AD.
Frankincense has a long and ubiquitous tradition with the mystery schools, and aside from its use in scrying, or prayer, or homage to the Great Architect, at the very least one has to admit that the sweet scent of Frankincense is a welcome treat for the scenes in the respite Freemasonry offers.
Frankincense is a resinous tree sap harvested from the Olibanum-tree (Boswilla Sacra), it has been used for thousands of years for is aromatic and medicinal properties.
If you lived in Jerusalem 2500 years ago, and spent any time around King Solomon’s Temple, you would no doubt encounter this aroma. It was used to perfume the Tabernacle (Ex 30:34), and also offered as a holocaust sacrifice “…it is a gift of a soothing aroma to the LORD.” (Lev 2:2). Our Senior Warden may tell us that “The tabernacle was an exact model of King Solomon’s Temple…” (EA Lecture, Ancient Work) and so it stands to reason that, just as Frankincense was burned in the original Temple, so should it be burned in the Masonic Temple.
Thomas Smith Webb wrote on the Masonic symbolism of the “Pot of Incense”: “The Pot of Incense is an emblem of a pure heart; this is always an acceptable sacrifice to the Deity; and as this glows with fervent heat, so should our hearts continually glow with gratitude to the great and beneficent author of our existence for the manifold blessings and comforts we enjoy.” It is interesting that although the Pot of Incense is accepted as a symbol of Masonry, the particular type of Incense burned is never mentioned.
Frankincense was not limited to Judaism and the Old Testament, The religious cults of the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians et cetera; all used Frankincense to pay homage to their Deities. It is likely that the cults of Mercury and Hermes (of which much remains in the Masonic tradition) also burned Frankincense. Today the worlds largest consumer of Frankincense is the Roman Catholic Church, and has been ever since the 4th century AD.
Frankincense has a long and ubiquitous tradition with the mystery schools, and aside from its use in scrying, or prayer, or homage to the Great Architect, at the very least one has to admit that the sweet scent of Frankincense is a welcome treat for the scenes in the respite Freemasonry offers.
The opinions expressed on this webpage represent those of the individual authors and, unless clearly labeled as such, do not represent the
opinions or policies of any masonic lodge, Grand Lodge or recognized masonic body.
Unless otherwise noted, all contents copyright 1957-Present North Star Lodge No.167
opinions or policies of any masonic lodge, Grand Lodge or recognized masonic body.
Unless otherwise noted, all contents copyright 1957-Present North Star Lodge No.167