Masonic Education for January 2021
This month’s issue of Masonic Education is about “The All-Seeing Eye” with information provided in a booklet from our Grand Lodge’s Seminars and Workshop Committee.
From the booklet – A Walk Around the Lodge
“The All-Seeing Eye”
The All-Seeing Eye is a perpetual and permanent symbol in many lodges and in the work of Freemasonry. It signifies the presence and power of God.
This symbol, however, is not peculiar only to Freemasonry. It was also adopted by the Hebrews and brought with them out of bondage in Egypt.
Its earliest Masonic use was probably by William Preston in his lecture which was first published in 1772:
“……our thoughts, words and actions may be hidden from the eyes of man, yet that All-Seeing Eye, whom the sun, moon and stars obey, and under whose watchful care even the comets perform their stupendous revolutions, pervades the innocent recesses of the human heart, and will reward us according to our merits.”
The “All-Seeing Eye” is a symbol of the watchfulness and omnipresence of the Supreme Being. The phrase “All-Seeing Eye” may well have been biblical in origin. Consider the following two versus – no doubt, one could find others.
“Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:4)
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)
R.W. Bro. Robert South