Indented
Tessel
The
ornamented
border which surrounds the Mosaic pavement (See Tessellated
Border).
Industry
A virtue
inculcated amongst Freemasons, because by it they are enabled not only to
support themselves and families, but to contribute to the relief of worthy
distressed Brethren. "All Masons," say the Charges of
1722, "shall work honestly on working days that they may live creditably
on holy days" (Constitutions, 1723, page 52.) The Masonic
symbol of industry is the beehive, which is used in the Third Degree.
Prov. 10:5 - Prov. 12:11 - Eph. 4:28
Indwelling of God
That God
deigns to dwell among his people and within the hearts of the pure and good is
a fundamental truth dear to Masons.
1 Cor. 3:16,17
Ineffable
Name
The Jews are quite
aware that the true pronunciation of the word is lost, and regarded it as one
of the mysteries to be revealed in the days of the Messiah. They hold,
however, that the knowledge of the Name of God does exist on earth, and that
he by whom the secret is acquired, has, by virtue of it, the powers of the
world at his command. Hence they account for the miracles of Jesus by
telling us that he had gotten possession of the Ineffable name. Rightly
understood, they seem to mean that he who calls upon God rightly, by this his
true name, cannot fail to be heard by him. St. John 1:1
- John 14:14
Inlay
A method of
providing decoration, by setting thin strips of wood, stone, or other
materials into a panel flush with the surface. EXAMPLE
Inner Door
Just as the
mysteries of God's truth are available to those who earnestly "knock," so
admittance to the mysteries of Freemasonry are open to those who make the
proper "knock" at the Inner Door... Jer. 29:10-14 -
Matt. 7:7,8
Innocence
What is the
symbol of Innocence? In all ages the lamb has been deemed an emblem of
innocence. Hence it is required that a Mason's apron should be made of
lambskin. 1 Peter 1:19
Innovations
No
innovations in the Rites and Ceremonies of Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry
are permissible.
Insignia
A plural term
for all types of portable (worn) awards or distinctions. Insignia is the
broadest category of phaleristic items and includes badges, collars, habits,
medals, sashes, ribbons, fourragères, Ärmelbands, and Armschilds. The
singular term is insigne.
Installation
The act by which
an officer is put in possession of the place he is to fill. In
Freemasonry it is, therefore, applied to the induction of one who has been
elected into his office. The officers of a Lodge, before they can
proceed to discharge their functions, must be installed. The officers of
a new Lodge are installed by the Grand Master, or by some Past Master deputed
by him to perform the ceremony. The ceremony is an old one, and does not
pertain exclusively to Freemasonry. The ancient Romans installed their
priests, their kings, and their magistrates; but the ceremony was called inauguration,
because performed generally by the augers. The word installation
is of comparatively modern origin, being medieval Latin, and is compounded of in
and stallum, meaning a seat.
Intaglio
On glass,
incised relief decoration done with abrasive wheels. On jewelry, carved design
hollowed out of the surface. A form of engraving creating a sunken
design. Often seen as the stones in Masonic rings. A synonymous
term is incuse.
Integrity
Integrity of
purpose and in conduct is symbolized by the plumb.
Intemperance
Intemperance
is regarded by the Masonic Fraternity as a vice wholly incompatible with a
true Masonic character, and habitual indulgence in strong drink subjects the
offender to the penalty of expulsion. Prov.
23:19-35 - Rom. 13:13 - Eph. 5:18
Intention
The obligations
of Freemasonry are required to be taken with an honest determination to
observe them; and hence the Freemason solemnly affirms that in assuming those
responsibilities he does so without equivocation, secret evasion, or mental
reservation.
Internal
Qualifications
Those
qualifications of a candidate which refer to a condition known only to
himself, and which are not patent to the world, are called internal
qualifications. They are: 1st. That he comes forward of his own
free-will and accord, and unbiased by the solicitations of others. 2nd.
That he is not influenced by mercenary motives; and, 3rd, That he has a
disposition to conform to the usages of the Order. The knowledge of
these can only be obtained from his own statements, and hence they are
included in the preliminary questions which are proposed before initiation.
Intolerance
Toleration is
one of the chief foundation-stones of Freemasonry; Universality and
Brotherly
Love are fundamental principles of the Fraternity. Indeed, the
arch-enemy of Freemasonry is intolerance. There may be individuals who
natural powers are limited and circumscribed and whose prejudices may lead
them into a spirit of intolerance; but the Fraternity frowns upon such, and
there is no institution that has greater resistive powers against this great
enemy of man than Freemasonry. The Third and Tenth Degrees, A. A.
Scottish Rite, strongly emphasize the doctrine of tolerance.
Matt. 9:38-40 - Luke 9:49,50
Intrinsic Value
The value of
a phaleristic item based solely on its metallic and gem content. As
distinct from numismatic value and market value.
Investiture
The presentation
of an apron to a candidate in the ceremony of initiation.
Iron
Tools
We are told
that in the building of King Solomon's Temple there was not heard the sound of
any metallic tool. All stones were fitted, and numbered in the
quarries; the
timbers were prepared in the forest of Lebanon, whence they were
brought by floats to Joppa, and thence carried over land to Jerusalem.
Stones and wood-work thus prepared fitted into the architectural plans of the
building with such perfection that the whole, when completed, seemed rather
the work of the Grand Architect of the Universe than that of mere humans.
Among Masons these remarkable facts symbolize the entire peace and harmony
which should prevail among Masons when laboring on that spiritual temple of
which the Solomonic Temple was the archetype. 1 Kings
5:18 - 1
Kings 6:7 - Deut. 27:5,6
Israel
The twelve original points,
that formed a part of the basis of the system of Speculative Masonry, was a
lecture, used in the early English lodges from 1738 to 1813 when they were
taken out and the four points, substituted. Each move the candidate made
while going through the ceremony was symbolized by one of the twelve tribes,
the sons of Jacob. Gen. 49:1-33
Issachar
The ninth son of Jacob, and the
sixth point of the ancient English lectures, which alluded to the
circumambulation about the altar, because, as the tribe of Issachar was a
thriftless and indolent tribe, they required a leader to advance them to equal
elevation of the other tribes. Gen. 49:14
Ivory
Elephant ivory
was used to make miniature Masonic working
tools, and probably as decorative elements. Walrus ivory was also
used in Masonic Maritime
artifacts. It is difficult to positively identify the
difference. Many reproductions look like ivory or Walrus tusk, the hot
pin test will surely tell. Heat the tip of a sewing needle with a
lighted match and while it is still hot push the pin into the item... if it
smells like burning plastic... its plastic! The hot needle will not
penetrate real ivory. It may also be confused with bone. As ivory
ages it naturally turns yellow and develops black cracks.
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