Question:
When we are exhorted, in the Third Degree, to 'lift our eyes to that bright morning star, whose rising brings peace and salvation . . .' are we referring to a particular star, or is this pure symbolism?
Answer:
The various aspects of this problem may be best envisaged, perhaps, from the following quotations, beginning with some extracts from Miscellanea Latomorum (Series ii) Vol. 31, pp. 1-4:
It is argued that this reference to 'that bright Morning Star' is an allusion to the Founder of Christianity, and as such should never have been included in, or retained in, the ritual of an Association professing entire freedom from denominational creed or dogma, outside of the simple basic belief in the existence of a Supreme Being. This attitude has unfortunately been bolstered up by a frequent misquotation of the wording, the phrase 'whose rising brings peace and tranquillity' being often rendered as 'peace and salvation', which is erroneous and decidedly mischievous. [N.B. Emulation, Stability and Logic use the word 'salvation'; Exeter says 'tranquillity'.]
As a symbol, the Morning Star is indeed most appropriate to the ceremonial incident just previously enacted; so apt, in fact, that it may be confidently asserted that no other symbol could be found which would so perfectly fit the circumstances of the case. Astronomically the Morning Star is the herald of the dawning of a new day, just as its opposite, the Evening Star, presages the coming of night. The latter foretells the dying of another day; the approach of the time when man can no longer work; when darkness covers the face of the earth. Darkness has ever been associated with promise of yet another day, of light once more, in which man may work and renew his association with his fellow-man in business or in pleasure. In short, with the new-born day, man rises to a new life. What more fitting symbol, then, than this of the promise of new life after death—of the immortality of the soul.
The late Dr. E. H. Cartwright, in his Commentary on the Freemasonic Ritual, (2nd edition., 1973, p. 186), wrote, with customary forthrightness:
'That bright morning star'. It should, of course be 'that bright and morning star', the phrase being a quotation from The Revelation, xxii, 16. The reference is definitely to Christ and is a relic of the time when the Craft was purely Christian. The allusion apparently escaped the notice of the revisers at the Union, when Christian references generally were excised. Some hold that, as we are not now exclusively Christian, but admit Jews, Moslems and others who, though monotheists, are not Christians, this reference should be deleted, as others of a like nature have been. If the phrase be objected to, the Revised Ritual provides an appropriate alternative rendering, namely, 'and lift our eyes to Him in whose hands are the issues of life and death, and to whose mercy we trust for the fulfillment of His gracious promises of Peace and Salvation to the faithful etc.'
My own view is that the reference to the 'Bright Morning Star' would be quite inexplicable if we read it in an astronomical sense, to imply that a particular star can bring peace, or tranquility, or salvation, to mankind. As a Christian reference, moreover, this passage must cause embarrassment to Brethren who are not of that Faith and in two of my Lodges (of mainly Jewish Brethren) where this point arose, we now use the following:
... and lift our eyes to Him whose Divine Word brings Peace and Salvation to the faithful, etc.
This form of wording has two great advantages:
1 It provides a definite meaning to the passage instead of an ambiguous one.
2 It is in full accord with Masonic teaching and respects the religious beliefs of all the participants.
[From The Freemason at Work by Harry Carr]
Norm Leeper, PM
