Red & Blue Lodges
by Don Falconer
Brethren,
Comprehensive answers to the reasons for calling the Craft and the Chapter
blue and red lodges respectively are give in my paper entitled "The
Symbolism
of Colours" - which is Chapter 14 in the revised edition of my book. I will
begin posting this paper during the coming week. The following extracts taken
from different sections of the chapter will give you a lead, but you will
have to read the whole chapter to get the full picture. The symbolism of a
wide range of colours from ancient times to the present is discussed at
length. In addition to the following, you will read elsewhere in the chapter
that red is an ancient symbol of fervency and zeal, which is one of the core
teachings of the Royal Arch and its associated degrees.
Blue is the fundamental colour of ancient, free and accepted masonry, or that
branch of speculative freemasonry commonly called craft freemasonry and
meeting in what are known as blue lodges. Blue is the fundamental colour
because, as a symbol of universal friendship and benevolence, it is intended
to remind every brother that in his breast these virtues should be equally
extensive. The degrees of craft freemasonry are the basis of speculative
freemasonry and are a prerequisite for membership of all branches of
freemasonry. Capitular freemasonry is an extension of craft freemasonry and
relates to the rebuilding of the temple and symbolically to the rebuilding of
life. It is typified by the colour red and meets in Royal Arch Chapters,
commonly called red lodges.
Although an order or a series of degrees in freemasonry may have one or more
characteristic colours, the individual degrees within the order or series may
use other colours as specific symbols, typical of that degree. For example,
although blue is the characteristic colour of speculative craft freemasonry,
the typical colour appropriate to the first degree, or Entered Apprentice, is
white emblematic of purity, innocence and initiation. Blue is the typical
colour of the second degree, or Fellow of the Craft, because it is emblematic
of the intellectual knowledge and practical skill of the craftsman and his
faithfulness to the fraternity. Lastly, green is the typical colour of the
third or sublime degree of a Master Mason, alluding to his discovery of the
characteristics of divine truth, his belief in the immortality of the soul
and his hope of a resurrection.
An example of several colours being used in combination is to be found among
the degrees of the Royal Arch Chapter, for which the characteristic colour is
red, from which is derived the expression "Red Masonry" to distinguish
it
from the craft which is commonly referred to as "Blue Masonry".
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