Masonic symbol
Last summer I visited the Yerkes observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. This is a beautiful 100-year-old observatory full of wonderfully carved ornamentation. For anyone visiting Wisconsin, and for fans of astrology, it is worth a visit just for its carvings of the zodiac, the moon and other celestial objects. What I thought odd was why an observatory, an institution of science, would be covered with the zodiac. Sure, celestial symbols are appropriate for an observatory, but astrology and astronomy are not exactly brothers-in-arms. Looking at the carvings made me think the architect might have had other things on his mind. Viewed from the occult perspective, it was fun to identify the occult symbolism I found there. A clue might be the Masonic symbols I saw. That is often a good indictor something else might be going on. Below are some snapshots of the interesting stonework at the Yerkes Observatory. Here is a link to their website: http://astro.uchicago.edu/yerkes/
I am always on the lookout for spiritual or occult symbolism in public. This symbolism appears nearly nonexistent today. Maybe a hundred years ago it was different. Barns would display hex signs. Masonic symbols were put on tombstones. Today…nothing at all, or so it seems. However, if we look closely, we actually can see pagan symbolism is widespread, especially in our holidays.
Today is Groundhog Day. If we think about it…what a strange holiday. What is up with that? Groundhog’s Day comes from the Christian celebration of Candlemas, which was adopted by the church to take the place of the pagan celebration of Imbolc. This morning I watched live as the groundhog Punxsutaney Phil was taken out, with great fanfare, to see if he’d see his shadow. Many people were gathered to witness the event, and the press was covering it. Did anyone realize this was all based on a pagan holiday?
OCCULT SYMBOLISM
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:31 am
Thompson Hall, the science building in the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, features a smattering of alchemical symbols on the tiles of one of the floors below the clock tower and on the outside of one building (I can guarantee you a full set of planetary symbols, among other things), interspersed with more modern images. Sort of a recognition of the disciplines’ roots. It’s not quite the same thing, but is that close enough?
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:22 am
Very interesting. I’ll have to do a search online and see if I can find any images of those tiles to check out. I also pay attention to any gargolyes I might see on a building or church. When the weather gets warmer here in Chicago, I will go on a gargoyle hunting trip with camera in hand and try to get some photos of our local gargoyles.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Interesting post! You’re right – I don’t think most people look for things like masonic associations in architecture. I was fortunate to go to college where some of the buildings were from the 19th century but it never occurred to me to look at anything like that until I took an art class and was sent to look at a local cathedral. I haven’t thought about it in years. Thank you for this informative piece. The photos are great as well.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Hi Hrafnkell,
I know an old cemetery that has quite a few gravestones with Masonic symbols on them. Modern cemeteries are boring…I like the old ones with great carvings, statues and character. I’ll post some pictures from this cemetery in the future.
February 27th, 2009 at 3:52 am
Amazing looking detail and symbology in the carvings and building. I can see what you mean by pagan symbology.. Theres heaps of them there.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
That was a great post…I love this site…Thanks
June 12th, 2009 at 3:13 am
Thanks Botelho!
November 7th, 2009 at 6:26 am
George Ellery Hale the man who convinced Charles Yerkes the robber baron of Chicago (called the Goliath of Graft) very much viewed the observatory as a temple to science. So much so that when he built Mt. Wilson years later he called the dormitories for the astronomer monasteries it’s no surprise that mystic symbolism abounded.
November 7th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Hi Stacy, thanks for that insight. I finally got a chance to visit inside the observatory last year for their tour. The tour guide was great, and he even mentioned that some people might take all the symbolism the wrong way. I see the symbolism as quite spiritual in nature, but then science and spirituality have long walked hand in hand until fairly recently. I suspect the architect had more in mind with his design of Yerkes then we know. Why else the Masonic symbols?
October 24th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
I’m a freemason (High Priest of my Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and holder of several other positions) and the head carver for the local cut stone mill. I’ve carved many masonic symbols, though mostly it is just my MARK that is put on the back of some of the more interesting pieces for regular architecture. Personally, I see such symbols EVERYWHERE when I walk about, but probably because I know what to look for, and where to look.
October 24th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Oh, and signs of the Zodiac are common on observatories of that era. The Drake University/City of Des Moines Observatory has such carving on it, but it is also a mausoleum for one of the early professors and his wife.
October 25th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Hi Benjamin,
I have seen Masonic imagery on old buildings and tombstones, but I rarely see them on modern structures. Is there a specific place on a structure to keep an eye out for? Perhaps today’s masons are more discrete. I do enjoy it wherever I happen to see one.
Dave
October 25th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Benjamin,
Inside the Yerkes Observatory are a lot of curious symbols as well. I’ll have to write another post (I have pictures) about what is inside. I have to wonder what was on the architect’s mind when he embellished an institution of science with this type of imagery.
Dave
October 30th, 2010 at 12:33 am
David,
Post-Bauhaus Architecture, when it does include stone, is completely non-ornate. That movement killed the trade (save for restoration work). Answering your question about what the architect was thinking, remember that before the era of the TV, most professionals were members of some kind of fraternal organization, whether it be Oddfellows, Knights of Columbus or Pythias, Masons, or the myriad “animal” lodges. I can tell you that Astronomy is a topic of much interest to Masons, starting in the Fellowcraft degree. It ties into Geometry, one of the meanings of the Masonic “G”. In the higher degrees, especially in the Scottish Rite and the Memphis/Mizram Rite, one is taught of the Masonic Constellations.
Or one could look at the designs as mere space fillers. Astrology, however, cannot claim exclusive ownership to the signs of the Zodiac; the constellations existed long before con-artists figured out how to make money on them. They were our original calendar.
As far as where to look on modern structures, look HIGH. Especially on cornices and areas that are already decorated. Within the decoration, look for the Delta, a common symbol for Deity. They are, however, few and far between on modern structures, unless the building has a special purpose.