Overview & Ritual Context in British Freemasonry
Unique in their richness to British and Commonwealth Freemasonry, Tracing Boards are painted architectural and symbolic canvases displayed in the Lodge room during each of the three Craft Degrees to illustrate the historical lectures.
Primary Historical & Ritual Citations
- John Harris (1791-1873), miniature painter who designed the Emulation Tracing Boards in 1823 and revised them in 1845.
- Josiah Bowring (1757-1832), painter of the famous 1819 'Bowring Tracing Boards' still used by older Lodges.
From Chalk on the Tavern Floor to Painted Canvas
In early 18th-century London taverns such as the Goose and Gridiron, the Tyler literally drew ('traced') the symbols of the Lodge onto the wooden floor with chalk and charcoal before the meeting, and the newest Entered Apprentice washed them away with a mop and pail before supper. By the late 1700s, floor cloths and framed painted boards by artists like William Birch, Josiah Bowring, and John Harris replaced chalk drawings.
What Each of the Three Tracing Boards Depicts
(1) The First Degree Tracing Board depicts Jacob's Ladder reaching from the Volume of the Sacred Law to the veiled heavens, the three Classical columns of Wisdom (Ionic), Strength (Doric), and Beauty (Corinthian), the Mosaic Pavement, and the rough and smooth ashlars; (2) The Second Degree Tracing Board shows the winding staircase of 3, 5, and 7 steps leading to the Middle Chamber of King Solomon's Temple flanked by Boaz and Jachin; (3) The Third Degree Tracing Board displays the emblems of mortality, the Dormer, the Square Pavement, and the Sprig of Acacia.
Connected Masonic Orders & Degrees
Craft Freemasonry
Craft Freemasonry (often referred to as Blue Lodge Masonry) forms the foundation of all Masonic membership in the United Kingdom, comprising the three ceremonies of Entered Apprentice (First Degree), Fellowcraft (Second Degree), and Master Mason (Third Degree).
Women's Freemasonry (OWF & HFAF)
Women have practised regular ceremonial Freemasonry in the United Kingdom for well over a century through two historic Grand Lodges: The Order of Women Freemasons (OWF) and The Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (HFAF). Both work traditional Craft ritual, wear identical regalia to male Freemasons, and sit alongside UGLE on the Council for Freemasonry in England and Wales.
Interconnected Symbols in the Masonic Knowledge Graph
All-Seeing Eye of Providence
Often surrounded by an equilateral triangle or a burst of solar glory, the All-Seeing Eye (or Eye of Providence) is an ancient Renaissance and Biblical emblem adopted by 18th-century Freemasons to remind Brethren that every thought, word, and action is observed by the Great Architect of the Universe.
Boaz & Jachin Pillars
Standing at the porchway or entrance of every Masonic temple are two symbolic columns adorned with lilies, network, pomegranates, and celestial and terrestrial globes: Boaz on the left and Jachin on the right, modelled on the two hollow bronze pillars cast by Hiram of Tyre for King Solomon's Temple.
The Blazing Star
Situated at the centre of the chequered black-and-white Mosaic Pavement or within the Tessellated Border of the Lodge, the Blazing Star represents Divine Providence, the sun enlightening the earth, and prudent conduct amidst the shifting fortunes of human life.
Sprig of Acacia
The evergreen Sprig of Acacia (shittim wood of the Middle East) is the pre-eminent emblem of the Third Degree (Master Mason), symbolising the immortality of the soul, innocence, and the enduring memory of fidelity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Masonic Tracing Boards
Where can the public view historic Masonic Tracing Boards in the UK?
The Museum of Freemasonry at 60 Great Queen Street in London, the Masonic Museum in Canterbury, and Leicester Freemasons' Hall all display original 18th- and 19th-century Bowring and Harris Tracing Boards free to visitors.