Golden Globe
and Cross Cane
This Golden Globe and Cross Cane represents the
pinnacle in geometric design and craftsmanship for Masonic accessories. In
its closed position it looks very much like a "Ballot Ball" that one would use
during Masonic voting, however, by an ingenious arrangement of hinges, which
are imperceptible from the exterior, it may be opened out into the form of a
cross. Each section is pyramidical in shape with a spherical base. The base
is gold, but the pyramids are oxidized silver, almost black, the emblems being
engraved into pure silver, thus showing up white. A paper is sold with the
FOB charms explaining the symbolism of the whole, which is explained below.
It must be noted that that the below explanations are frankly Christian, and
therefore not applicable to all systems of Freemasonry. They would, however,
be perfectly valid in the jurisdictions of the Grand National Lodge, or the
Mother Lodge of the Three Globes. They have become very sought after and
their collectibility has made them expensive to acquire.
Taken from
Brother C. Clark Julius's book "Masonic Timepieces, Rings, Balls and Watch
Fobs"
Explanation of
the Cruciform Arrangement of St. John's Lodge Emblems contained in the golden
Globe:
1st Row:
(to be read from West to East)
"The
Conception of God"
1st Square:
Compasses: God's omnipotence is
visible everywhere.
Sun and Moon: The heaven's show forth
His glory, one day declares it to be another.
Plumb-line: His power descends
from above to the whole of the earth
2nd Square:
Level: and spreads over
the surface of the world.
Two columns: Rising and setting are
His work
Delta: and show us
there must be a divine existence.
3rd
Square:
Cross and Cabletow: The true and first
perception of Him has come to us through Christ.
4th
Square:
Gavel: Through him we learn the proper
government of the moral as well as the physical world.
Blazing Star: Thus He appears as
the paternal Creator,
Hexagonal Star: as the merciful,
beneficent, preserver of the world,
Square: and as the
everlasting, all-righteous God.
2nd Row:
(to be read from North to South)
"The Way From Darkness to Light"
(The moral evolution in virtue of
the conception of God.)
1st Square:
Rough Ashlar:
The natural man who, being ignorant, has to
learn by the spirit of God,
Tesselated
pavement: but is still His child, capable of development by the divine
light that dwells within him.
Seven steps:
by patient perseverance in well doing, and thus ennobling himself
Trowel:
he purifies and refines his heart according to the will of the Great
Architect.
2nd Square:
Cross and
cabletow: The real Teacher of the true way of life is the Master of
Nazareth,
3rd Square:
Skull &
crossbones: who has shown by precept and example, that we can, whilst
on earth here, separate the earthly from the heavenly,
Acacia:
and who has brought life
Perfect
Ashlar: and eternal existence to all.
N.B. -- The above
is not the doctrine of St. Johns Lodges in particular but of Freemasonry in
general.
