Masons design the streets of ...

Washington D.C.

There are many masonic themes among the buildings, but my friend read about the things the streets illustrated. Himself and I decided to take a look ourselves.

shanet.com.au...

I'm not going to post the pictures, because you can't size them down obviously, or else it gets distorted. (Warning: Some pictures are around 5 megs)

Many of the designs which the streets illustrate relate to those of th Egyptians. Was this ment to be on purpose? or does it just Happen to illustrate the designs by accident due to layout? You decide.

Here are some websites pertaining to the subject of this thread:

freemasonry.bcy.ca...
This is a good one: www.freemasonrywatch.org...
www.theforbiddenknowledge.com...
www.masonicinfo.com...
www.dcist.com...
home.hiwaay.net...
www.cuttingedge.org...

Does anyone know if Pierre L'Enfant was a Mason? Or Benjamin Banneker? He might of lied about the plans ?

Note:
Many things just exist there because i was comparing streets and such, Do not comment on messy and pointless lines They're there just in case, for reference.

Edit: Added some links and information



[edit on 15-6-2005 by Vinci]

This one is interesting.

It's a park located in Canada called Prince Of Wales. The design is masonic and it has some sort of influence.



Particular interest should be focused on the "F" section on that map. Here's the description of that area.

The symbol of the stonemason guild is partly covered over by orange lichen, but can be seen carved into a stone on the inner wall of the workshop. It shows the mason's two principal tools : the square and the compass. The "G" reflects the masonic belief that God is the very centre of life.

I find that very interesting. Oh ya it's located in Churchill, Manitoba. I think there was something else on Masonic presence in Manitoba mentioned on this board before.

Here is a real life photo of the national park.

Originally posted by Linux
This one is interesting.
It's a park located in Canada called Prince Of Wales. The design is masonic and it has some sort of influence.

Linux,

What is "Masonic" about that design? That shape/design appears NOWHERE in Masonry. And what do you mean "it has some sort of influence?" Who is "influenced" by it? Certainly not Masons.

Just curious what you mean

Here are some websites pertaining to the subject of this thread:

freemasonry.bcy.ca...
This is a good one: www.freemasonrywatch.org...
www.theforbiddenknowledge.com...
www.masonicinfo.com...
www.dcist.com...
home.hiwaay.net...
www.cuttingedge.org...

Does anyone know if Pierre L'Enfant was a Mason? Or Benjamin Banneker? He might of lied about the plans ?

Originally posted by Vinci
Does anyone know if Pierre L'Enfant was a Mason? Or Benjamin Banneker? He might of lied about the plans

?

Yes, Pierre L'Enfant, the city planner who designed the streets of Washington DC, was a Freemason. I don't know who the other guy is.

[edit on 15-6-2005 by sebatwerk]

Originally posted by senrak
What is "Masonic" about that design? That shape/design appears NOWHERE in Masonry. And what do you mean "it has some sort of influence?" Who is "influenced" by it? Certainly not Masons.

I'm just as baffled as you are as to what, if anything, is masonic about that design. Linux said to pay close attention to section F, which is a small room, but I guess it contains the stone with the Square and Compass on it. In any case, the square and compass was never the mark of a stonemasons guild, it is only the primary symbol of Free and Accepted Masons.

Originally posted by senrak
What is "Masonic" about that design? That shape/design appears NOWHERE in Masonry. And what do you mean "it has some sort of influence?" Who is "influenced" by it? Certainly not Masons.

Just curious what you mean

I meant the design might have had some sort of Masonic influence. Since it was a Stone Masonic dwelling, I hope you didn't take that the wrong way. Looks like a compass to me, any input as to why it would be shaped that way?

Hope that clears some things up.

[edit on 15-6-2005 by Linux]

Originally posted by sebatwerk
I'm just as baffled as you are as to what, if anything, is masonic about that design. Linux said to pay close attention to section F, which is a small room, but I guess it contains the stone with the Square and Compass on it.

Pure speculation on my part, I was actually hoping somone could explain it.

In any case, the square and compass was never the mark of a stonemasons guild, it is only the primary symbol of Free and Accepted Masons.

So I guess your saying they stole it?

Originally posted by Linux

In any case, the square and compass was never the mark of a stonemasons guild, it is only the primary symbol of Free and Accepted Masons.

So I guess your saying they stole it?

No, I am saying that the symbol was engraved on the rock by a Free and Accepted Mason, and not an operative stonemason. Operative stonemasons would DEFINITELY not have a "G" in between there, as that was not added to the square and compass until the 1800's (I believe).

Thanks sebatwerk for the quick response.

I'm going to u2u.

In the "real life photo" of the National Park the way the structure is angled makes it look like a compass rose.

Just an insignificant "theory" of mine

i like this site, it even explains why the upside down pentagram is slightly off to 52* or something...

www.geocities.com...

Originally posted by Linux
This one is interesting.

It's a park located in Canada called Prince Of Wales. The design is masonic and it has some sort of influence.

That design is not masonic, its military. Thats a fort, the star design is an advanced design for forts, it allows extension of batteries and creates very intense 'killing zones', and also controls the movement of people around the fort.

The symbol of the stonemason guild is partly covered over by orange lichen, but can be seen carved into a stone on the inner wall of the workshop. It shows the mason's two principal tools : the square and the compass. The "G" reflects the masonic belief that God is the very centre of life.

Could be something done after the fort was made, but probably is just something carved by some operative masons who helped build the fort. The Operative Masons were apparently primarily in England, but activity in Canada makes a lot of sense, since it was part of the Dominion of Britain. Excellent find tho!

Also notice that the 'f' section wherein this marker is is not in any sort of masonic orientation (as far as I know). Its slightly east of south. From what I understand, masons favour easterly directions because its where the sun rises, but not somewhat east of south.

sebatwerk
any case, the square and compass was never the mark of a stonemasons guild, it is only the primary symbol of Free and Accepted Masons

Well, there goes my idea that is was made by the builders. Must've been a 'lodge' or somesuch there then.

Originally posted by Nygdan

sebatwerk
any case, the square and compass was never the mark of a stonemasons guild, it is only the primary symbol of Free and Accepted Masons

Well, there goes my idea that is was made by the builders. Must've been a 'lodge' or somesuch there then.

That's very possible. Could have been a military lodge or some such, those have been and still are very popular among the military of England, the US, France and I would assume Canada and other developed countries influenced by England or France.

Originally posted by sebatwerk
Yes, Pierre L'Enfant, the city planner who designed the streets of Washington DC, was a Freemason. I don't know who the other guy is.
[edit on 15-6-2005 by sebatwerk]

You don't know who Benjamin Banneker is? Darn dude

After Pierre was fired, they couldn't finish the building because Pierre took the plans with him, but Benjamin Banneker was a helper, and he said he memorized the plans. So, if he isn't a freemason, then damn, he has a good memory

Originally posted by Vinci
You don't know who Benjamin Banneker is? Darn dude

After Pierre was fired, they couldn't finish the building because Pierre took the plans with him, but Benjamin Banneker was a helper, and he said he memorized the plans. So, if he isn't a freemason, then damn, he has a good memory

Geez man, I didn't know I was supposed to!

Wikipedia states that he was black. The plans to Washington DC's layout aren't completely masonic. They have several streets which intersect in a way that, when looking for that sort of thing, could be seen as A KIND OF square and compass.

MANY people say that its obvious that the streets weren't planned like that, but merely a coincidence, because if they HAD been planned then they would look like the actual thing, and not just a more-or-less representation. I agree.

Originally posted by Linux


external image

As far as I can tell it looks like a classic fort design, based on renaissance principles of covering as many points with cannonfire. Have a look at at some renaissance and Napoleonic fortified city designs, they're pretty impressive and I'm sure all sorts of stuff could be read into the layout, regardless that they were simply the most effective forms of defence at the time.

I picked up quite an interesting looking second hand book on the "Masonic" design of Washington, looks fun.

(Edit to add an example)

Here is a drawing of the city of Palmanova, not he most complicated on but still pretty impressive!


external image

[edit on 17-6-2005 by DenyAllKnowledge]
[edited size of pics - nygdan]

[edit on 17-6-2005 by Nygdan]

that looks cool, nice find.

Originally posted by Nygdan
That design is not masonic, its military. Thats a fort, the star design is an advanced design for forts, it allows extension of batteries and creates very intense 'killing zones', and also controls the movement of people around the fort.

That's a pretty neat tidbit. I thought I had seen the design before but I was mistaken. At first I thought that symbol was a marker of somesort but looks like its just an ordinary fort, it's a must visit in my books though

EDIT: I just noticed I forgot the link to the Prince Of Wales fortress in my first post..

www.pc.gc.ca...

Check it out further if you like.

[edit on 17-6-2005 by Linux]