ATS Masons: Can You Decipher My Ring?

I have worn this ring for over 30 years since the death of my father, a 32nd degree Mason. I'd like to get some help deciphering the meaning of the symbols on the ring (if you're allowed to.)

Shown here is the face of the ring: a double-headed eagle encrusted with thirteen diamonds.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/711ec9ed7670.gif[/atsimg]

On this side of the ring are shown my father's degree within the brotherhood. The number - 32nd degree - is surrounded by a triangle (pyramid?) The cross, I assume, represents the Rosicrucian cross. It's extremely hard to see, but there is a rose stamped into the gold where the beams intersect, and rays of (light?) emanating from the center as well.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/f28f6e39ab3c.gif[/atsimg]

On this side of the ring you can see a set of scales and a Hebrew letter, Lamed, meaning:

Lamed: The twelfth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, L. Represents the number 30. The seventh of the twelve "single letters." A Hebrew word meaning "ox goad." Corresponds to Libra, the 22nd Path (between Geburah and Tiphareth), and Tarot trump XI (or VIII) Justice. source: Godwin's Cabalistic Encyclopedia

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/39b0095b214a.gif[/atsimg]

The scales I imagine have something to do with justice and honesty. I find it interesting though, that the scales can also represent the constellation Libra, which the Lamed can also represent. Below the scales, barely visible in the picture, is a sword pointing towards the bottom of the scale. My mother had this ring made for him and I asked her what the symbols on the ring meant. She said, "I just had the jeweler put on the symbols your dad told me to. He never told me anything about the Masons secrets." I find that particularly interesting because my mother has been the Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star several times, not to mention that my sisters were in Job's Daughter's and my brother in DeMolay. So I had a family that was literally steeped in Masonry.

I was too young to belong to anything; my father died when I was just a boy. I have, however, always wanted to join the Masons. I just haven't found the right opportunity. The only living Mason I know is currently deployed to Iraq, so I can't ask one to be one (unless you can just hang around outside the lodge and wait for someone to happen by.)

So, if it's not against the rules, can you guys tell me the story behind my father's ring?

Gee guys, thanks for the stars and flags. Any responses?

reply to post by OldCorp

Apparently, it's against the rules! As Jordon Maxwell always likes to remind us, "Do your homework."

You'll probably need to research this by getting specialized books or checking out some websites dedicated to that stuff.

My opinion (not a mason) is that it's just a big boys club with symbols tied to the past to make them feel important.

With all of my family being part of the Masons and affiliated organizations - my uncle was also a 32nd degree Mason, and his wife a Worthy Matron - don't I get some kind of preferred "legacy" status, like college fraternities?

reply to post by OldCorp

Perhaps the other reason no one is telling you is because none of them have a clue as to what those symbols mean! No one asks because they think they are the only one who doesn't know.

reply to post by OldCorp


Those symbols are specific to his degrees in the Scottish Rite, and unfortunately I am not involved in that Rite. I would suggest you send a U2U to Masonic Light. He is one of the most knowledgeable in that area of Masonry. There are plenty of others as well, maybe they will see your thread today.

Sorry I couldn't help more.

Originally posted by getreadyalready
reply to post by OldCorp

 

Those symbols are specific to his degrees in the Scottish Rite, and unfortunately I am not involved in that Rite. I would suggest you send a U2U to Masonic Light. He is one of the most knowledgeable in that area of Masonry. There are plenty of others as well, maybe they will see your thread today.

Sorry I couldn't help more.

Thank you very much. I will take your advice, and I hope the others can shed more light on the ring today as well.

For the top of the ring.. check out this page..

www.vermontscottishrite.com...

Grain of salt, since I am not a mason..

and a thread here speaks on one of the symbols..

www.abovetopsecret.com...

I must humbly suggest:

Do your Father an honor and NOT wear that ring until you become a Mason and go through the Scottish Rite. He would much prefer it that way.

Originally posted by OldCorp

On this side of the ring you can see a set of scales and a Hebrew letter, Lamed, meaning:

Lamed: The twelfth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, L. Represents the number 30. The seventh of the twelve "single letters." A Hebrew word meaning "ox goad." Corresponds to Libra, the 22nd Path (between Geburah and Tiphareth), and Tarot trump XI (or VIII) Justice. source: Godwin's Cabalistic Encyclopedia

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/39b0095b214a.gif[/atsimg]



So, if it's not against the rules, can you guys tell me the story behind my father's ring?

Incorrect. That symbol is Yod.

Probably soemthing to do with Jahbulon - I think he has three heads though.

The scales may represent the selling of drugs which I'm sure Freemasons have a hand in, because they're evil and that. The materials it's made from stand for greed and status, because that's the sort of things Freemasons are into - again being evil and that.

Originally posted by LightCraft
I must humbly suggest:

Do your Father an honor and NOT wear that ring until you become a Mason and go through the Scottish Rite. He would much prefer it that way.

edit on 11-2-2011 by LightCraft because: typo

I appreciate your POV; mine is that this is the ONLY thing my father left me. The Masons I've spoken to, who have expressed your same concern, upon learning why I wear it, have understood. I hope you will as well.

I'm not trying to pass myself off as something I'm not - that would be pretty foolish - but it's just a ring. My father was a good and decent man who never so much as raised his voice. Wearing his ring reminds me several times each day of the kind of man I want to be. So, respectfully, I will continue to wear it; and hopefully I will become a Mason one day soon.

Originally posted by JacKatMtn
For the top of the ring.. check out this page..

www.vermontscottishrite.com...

Grain of salt, since I am not a mason..

and a thread here speaks on one of the symbols..

www.abovetopsecret.com...

edit on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 08:39:26 -0600 by JacKatMtn because: (no reason given)

TYVM. The link on the "yod" symbol was pretty cool.

reply to post by OldCorp

The Masons I've spoken to, who have expressed your same concern, upon learning why I wear it, have understood. I hope you will as well.

I'm not trying to pass myself off as something I'm not - that would be pretty foolish - but it's just a ring. My father was a good and decent man who never so much as raised his voice. Wearing his ring reminds me several times each day of the kind of man I want to be. So, respectfully, I will continue to wear it; and hopefully I will become a Mason one day soon.

As a Mason, I encourage you to continue wearing the ring for the very reasons you state! If you just thought it was pretty and bought it at a flea market, that would be a waste. If you sought out a ring and wore it to look or feel like something you are not, then that would be pretty sick. But, seeing as how it was your father's, who you respect and admire, the ring came to you from him, you understand the significance of it, and you respect it, then by all means, you deserve to wear the ring more than anyone else, and more than a lot of Mason's do!

I have to admit, I am a little jealous. I don't want a shiny new Masonic ring, I want one with some history like yours has. My wife bought me a cool one, and I will continue to wear it, but I am always on the look out for a worn out old ring with a distinguished previous owner.

If any Mason ever gives you a hard time about it, you just repeat that bolded part, and if that doesn't work, tell them to call me!

Originally posted by OldCorp

Originally posted by LightCraft
I must humbly suggest:

Do your Father an honor and NOT wear that ring until you become a Mason and go through the Scottish Rite. He would much prefer it that way.

edit on 11-2-2011 by LightCraft because: typo

I appreciate your POV; mine is that this is the ONLY thing my father left me. The Masons I've spoken to, who have expressed your same concern, upon learning why I wear it, have understood. I hope you will as well.

I'm not trying to pass myself off as something I'm not - that would be pretty foolish - but it's just a ring. My father was a good and decent man who never so much as raised his voice. Wearing his ring reminds me several times each day of the kind of man I want to be. So, respectfully, I will continue to wear it; and hopefully I will become a Mason one day soon.

Well it so happens that I live in SC. Looking at your info, it appears you are too. If you happen to petition a lodge, I wish you well. Perhaps I could even come watch you go through the degrees or assist in your studies. I am certain your father would be proud. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

I've asked someone about the ring and their suggestion was to wear on a chain, around your neck . . . keeping the ring out of plain sight. That way you are still holding on to your father's memory, but not misrepresenting yourself or labled clandestine.

reply to post by OldCorp


The Yod is for the 14th degree, the Rose Croix is for the 18th degree, and the 32 speaks for itself. Off the top of my head I don't recall the 30th degree having the scales as a significant symbol, but there are judges in the portrayal of that degree, so it would make sense... The Scottish Rite is divided into four bodies (with the division slightly different in the north and the south...), but (in the south) those bodies are lead by the heads of the 14th, 18th, 30th and 32nd degree. Having those 4 symbols on the side of the ring with the double eagle on the top makes it even more Scottish Rite, I guess.

wow this stuff sis pretty complicated

The link someone else posted had a lot of examples of the double-headed bird. Here are a few and lots of single headed birds (be they Eagles, Phoenixes, or Horus) in countries Coats of Arms

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/bcf3eeb2a31a.jpg[/atsimg]

The ones with the double headed birds as their coats are Albania, Montenegro, and Russia

All of the single headed birds face left, except Syria, which faces right, and Thailand and Iran, which face forward.

Originally posted by getreadyalready
As a Mason, I encourage you to continue wearing the ring for the very reasons you state! If you just thought it was pretty and bought it at a flea market, that would be a waste. If you sought out a ring and wore it to look or feel like something you are not, then that would be pretty sick. But, seeing as how it was your father's, who you respect and admire, the ring came to you from him, you understand the significance of it, and you respect it, then by all means, you deserve to wear the ring more than anyone else, and more than a lot of Mason's do!

I have to admit, I am a little jealous. I don't want a shiny new Masonic ring, I want one with some history like yours has. My wife bought me a cool one, and I will continue to wear it, but I am always on the look out for a worn out old ring with a distinguished previous owner.

If any Mason ever gives you a hard time about it, you just repeat that bolded part, and if that doesn't work, tell them to call me!

After my father died, my uncle took possession of the ring for about 10 years - he was also a 32nd degree Mason - until he died, whereupon my aunt gave the ring to me. I have to agree with you on things with "history," especially when that history is your own. Two summers ago, I visited my father's grave in Indiana and the cemetery where he's buried is full of my ancestors going back 150 years.

Now THAT, standing in the middle of my own history, surrounded by the graves of my forebearers, was awesome. I even saw the plot reserved for me. It's the last plot available in the entire cemetery. Spooky now that I think about it.

Originally posted by LightCraft
Well it so happens that I live in SC. Looking at your info, it appears you are too. If you happen to petition a lodge, I wish you well. Perhaps I could even come watch you go through the degrees or assist in your studies. I am certain your father would be proud. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

I sent you a U2U about this. Thank you.

Originally posted by JoshNorton
reply to post by OldCorp

 

The Yod is for the 14th degree, the Rose Croix is for the 18th degree, and the 32 speaks for itself. Off the top of my head I don't recall the 30th degree having the scales as a significant symbol, but there are judges in the portrayal of that degree, so it would make sense... The Scottish Rite is divided into four bodies (with the division slightly different in the north and the south...), but (in the south) those bodies are lead by the heads of the 14th, 18th, 30th and 32nd degree. Having those 4 symbols on the side of the ring with the double eagle on the top makes it even more Scottish Rite, I guess.

That was pretty comprehensive, thank you very much. Is there any particular reason he chose to honor those four levels above the others? I mean, is there something super-special about these levels? And yes, my father was in the Scottish Rite. I remember him taking me to see the Cathedral in which they met; it was pretty impressive.



BTW, I've "friended" all three of you.

Peace.