OF EMBLEMS AND SYMBOLS

The Logo on the Upper Left Corner of this Page

Regular readers of this column must, by now, have noticed the logo that has adorned the upper left corner of this page and may have wondered what the Square, the Compasses and the letter G at the middle stand for. For those not in the know, it may be worthwhile restating that “Masonry is a system of morality illustrated by symbols”, and that the three are symbols that are sacred to Masonry.

Two of the three are builders’ tools, as represented by the Square and the Compasses. But these symbols will not be discussed at this time, this issue will instead focus on the letter “G”.

To Masons, the letter G has two meanings, (1) it represents the initial of Geometry, the basis on which the superstructure of Freemasonry is erected, and (2).it is the initial of the Omnipotent God, creator of all things. contained in the universe.

The All Seeing Eye

There is yet another emblem that also represents God, and that is the All Seeing Eye. So the question that readers are therefore wont to ask is “What is the All Seeing Eye and how did it come about?

Well, the most popular depiction of the All Seeing Eye may be found at the back of the one-dollar bill when Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a Freemason, approved its design in 1935. More importantly, it was used in 1776 when the Great Seal of the United States was designed by the framers of the United States Constitution.

But this symbol can be traced back to ancient times, more specifically, as the Eye of Ra, chief deity of the ancient Egyptians, also called the Eye of Horus. (wordings copied verbatim from the wonderful pages of the Internet-JG)

Symbolisms of the All Seeing Eye in the province of Bohol

This now squarely puts the issue of whether Freemasons do not believe in God or at the very least, are non-believers of the Christian God as Horus obviously is a pagan deity. But is this really so??

Now look!

The Equilateral Triangle at Duero Church

Readers who travel the eastern route going to Tqgbilaran and who have passed the town of Duero (this means he must have come from Guindulman, Anda, Alicia or Ubay), may have noticed the town’s Catholic church. that displayed in the awning of its rooftop a curious symbol that showed an engraved circle and inside it was an equilateral triangle. Outside the circle are rays painted with resplendent rainbow colors that could easily remind the viewer of the rays that adorn the Philippine flag. But the question as to whether it indeed represents the All Seeing Eye since the equilateral triangle was substituted for the eye, this writer was not able to validate.

The architectural design of this church is of more current or cosmopolitan vintage and rightly so because construction was said to have started in 1908 and was completed two years later.

Curious to ascertain whether anybody in town knew of its significance, this amateur sleuth alighted from the van that he was riding on and inquired from the students who were then relaxing at the adjacent Catholic school building. Unfortunately, none of the students knew and the school administrator is nowhere to be found. Neither was the parish priest. The caretaker of the curio shop at the other side of the street facing the church that displayed some of the town’s mementos is also totally ignorant on what the symbol was all about.

The Equilateral Triangle at Loay Church

There is another equilateral triangle inside a circle that appeared at the upper part of the church door but this time at Loay town, some nineteen kilometers away from Tagbilaran City that surely can attract foreign tourists who visit the island if only it is properly advertised as a tourist destination. Let this chronicler explain.

Loay church, unless visited on purpose, is difficult to find as it is virtually hidden from public view. Nestled atop a small plateau, the church is covered with verdant foliage to the extent passersby that traverse the eastern route will likely miss it unless informed beforehand how to get there. And assuming he indeed locates the church, it will still take considerable time to find out on what part of the church the symbol actually was carved. Previous to our visit, the church personnel who helped us look for it themselves did not know what we were looking for and where to look for it. We no longer solicited the assistance of the town’s parish priest as we learned he was newly assigned in the parish when we made our visit and therefore cannot be of help.

To cut a long story short, the said equilateral triangle was carved inside a circle the same way it was depicted in the awning of the Duero church but instead of the resplendent rays that adorned the outer part of the circle, two seraphims were holding it which would easily remind the Filipino Masons of the Grand Lodge Seal of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines except that the seraphims are sitting whereas these seraphims were standing as the Grand Lodge Seal depicted.

According to the historical marker that was planted there by the National Historical Commission, this church was constructed in 1812, or a full century ahead that of Duero Church. Its design followed the Gothic type of architecture that was prevalent during the Middle Ages that the Knights Templar made popular in Europe with its circular or rotund buttress design.

The church interior is also something for tourists to behold. The ceiling was painted with life size replicas of patron saints while at one side of the wall was show an antique although unserviceable bamboo organ that could easily remind a tourist of a similar musical instrument at the famed city of Las Pinas.

And why is this writer certain that the equilateral triangle on these two churches represent the All Seeing Eye??

Well, because Wikepeda Dictionary said so saying it is the:

“Christian version of the Eye of Providence, emphasizing triangle representing the Trinity” (words copied verbatim from Wikepeda Dictionary)