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An Essay in the Second Degree.

English Translation

of a Lecture given in an Italian Fellowcraft Lodge.

by a Fellowcraft Mason, June 16, 2012

(Author unknown)

Ghiblim.

Translated by Bro. Vincent Lombardo

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Ghiblim.   In the Anderson's Book of Constitutions of 1738, on page 70, is written: "John of Spoulee (who was living in the year 1350) is called the Master of the Ghiblims, the ones who rebuilt the chapel of Saint George."

In Hebrew Ghiblim or better, pronounced the same way but written, Giblim, is a word of fundamental importance in Freemasonry.   With the letter "G" pronounced stressed, the word signifies the inhabitants of the city of Gebal, which, as mentioned in the scriptures, were the assistants of Hiram in the building of Solomon's Temple.   They were the ones who squared the stones to allow the perfect fit.   They were the Stonecutters who followed the instructions of the Grand Master Hiram in preparing cornerstones, and buttress stones for the erection of the building.

By the various translations, Giblim assumed in the English language the meaning of Mason, in that of the French, Tailleur de pierre, and in the German, Ghiblim [Steinmetz] — Perfect synonym for Freemasonry.

If we remove the letter "m" the meaning of Ghibli takes on a whole new look.   For the Tuareg people it means "impetuous wind that sweeps the hot desert" but always maintains its root strength (ghib) which symbolizes energy.

Looking at the image to the right, we can understand the "historical" origin of the description of Freemasonry: ancient Masons, builders of cathedrals, who met each other and in different degrees of membership, handing down the secrets of the Masonic Art.

The path that the Apprentice took to reach the mastery of the Art included all the most menial and seemingly unnecessary, but for their simplicity, fit and at the same time necessary for the unskilled apprentice to allow him to grow both as a craftsman and as a man; exactly the path that we modern Masons follow.

There is in its evolution the transition from operative to speculative Masonry, where the work to be done in order to realize oneself as a builder and as a man is no longer that of the material order, but rather of a spiritual one.   Although no longer working with stones, bricks and mortar, the Mason must make an inner journey that leads him to the discovery of the treasure that is stored in each of us, and he is taught to erect a metaphysical or spiritual building.

The working tools made use of in operative masonry have been adopted in speculative masonry for the symbolic instruction:

°   The mallet and chisel: that the Ghiblim (stonemason) holds in order to square the rough ashlar and turn it into a perfect ashlar; represent reason and the willingness to learn and to self-discovery.   The combination of the strength of will (Mallet) with the power of discernment (Chisel) produces the gradual perfection of the stone.

°   The level and the plumb line: are used in the further working of the stones and in adapting them to their particular locations, representing the measure in all things and the balance in the work.

°   The Square and compasses: to represent open-mindedness, restrain and righteousness.   Symbols of perfection.

°   The trowel: while the Apprentice is engaged in the preparation of raw materials, an operation that requires only the use of the straight edge and a small mallet to give them their proper form, and a Fellowcraft places them in their appropriate location by means of a plumb line, the level and the Square, only the Master Mason, after examining the correctness of these stones, and having them verified, trust them permanently in their place by spreading, by means of the trowel, the cement that binds them together forever.

°   The apron: is worn by operative masons to keep their clothes clean from dirt and stains, but speculative Masons make use of it for a more noble cause.   From its immaculate color, we are admonished to preserve that spotless purity of life and conduct (of a free man of good morals) that will allow us to present ourselves in front of the Great Architect of the Universe, unstained by vice and untouched by sin.

°   The blazing star: at the center of the apron is the light in the darkness, symbolizes the right thinking, right action, and right speech, as symbol of our Lodge, represents man as a microcosm within the macrocosm of the universe. It means that our energy is an eternal part of the universe.

°   The rough ashlar and the perfect ashlar: in a general sense, where the meaning of the stone is tied by assimilation with the very concept of Mason; the Masonic work of squaring and polishing of the rough ashlar corresponds to the work of self-development, where the Mason passes from the imperfect, unconscious and passive state of the profane into that well-formed, regulated, and creative of the Freemason.   As the rough stone is unsuitable for the building of the cathedral, because badly fit with other stones and produces instability and disharmony, so the perfect stone, smooth and polished, meets in its uniqueness with the other equally worked, and thus contributes to the building of the Temple.   This correlation implies, therefore, that by constantly improving himself first of all, a Mason works for the good of the country and for the progress of all humanity.

These considerations, however, are purely conceptual and sterile, for it suffices a bit of interest and a search on the Internet.   That which is not found there instead, is the key to a more esoteric and metaphysical reading than the picture above tells us.

To an attentive observer, for example, it does not escape the fact that this stonemason, Ghiblim, is particularly stately.   This symbolizes the STRENGTH and firmness, coincidentally, of the light that the Senior Warden turns on during the works, overseeing the light of the second Column in the South.   The force exerted by this stonemason is nothing but energy, necessary to transform the rough ashlar into the perfect stone.   Energy which is the transformation of matter.   The energy that transforms our way of being and our way of thinking.   The "Solve et Coagula" of the Alchemists.

The concept of the dissolution of elements (solve) and the setting (coagulation) of dissolved elements, which by new synthesis of elements, leads to the Philosopher's Stone.   Through and within the framework of the Fellowcraft Lodge, and with its ritual, the Craftsman knows that the Force and its Energy transforms him, indeed "Solve et Coagula" him, which at this point assumes a much deeper meaning: patience.   In respect to the precept "to preserve is better" we understand that "to preserve" is not the same thing as to "insist".   There are battles that last much longer than necessary and drain all strength and enthusiasm.   A prolonged fight destroys the victory.   We need to know when to insist and when it is time to withdraw forces from the battlefield, and then "Solve" takes on the meaning of time to rest, and "Coagulation" time of action.   The worst strategic mistakes are acting prematurely and letting an opportunity go.

As perfect ashlars, Ghiblim or Fellows, we participate in the building of the Temple, but we are still only a small part of the building.   We are microcosms within a macrocosm.   When we say we work for the good and progress of our country and of humanity, we also say that we are not content to be just a stone among many, but we want to improve ourselves to the point of becoming a cornerstone, so that others may see our way of being, and society may appreciate us by taking us as an example.   Just like a mason when building a dry stone wall, first select the best stones to place them at crucial points, and then with the others completes its construction.