Masonic abbreviations of technical terms or of official titles are very extensively used in Freemasonry. They serve to abbreviate long or commonly-referenced titles in the fraternity.
These abbreviations were rarely employed in the earlier Masonic publications.[1] There are no abbreviations, for example, found in Anderson's Constitutions. These came into use particularly by French authors during the 19th century.
Typographyedit
In modern computer typography, the Therefore, sign is encoded in Unicode at U+2234 ∴ and in HTML (HTML ∴ · ∴). In many word processing programs therefore can be created by typing 2234 ALT+x, or ALT 8756. It is also possible to create the inverse, because, at U+2235 ∵ (HTML ∵), 2235 ALT+x, or ALT 8757.[citation needed]
The first use of "∴" to abbreviate a Masonic title was August 12, 1774, by the Grand Orient of France, in an address to its subordinates.[1] No authoritative explanation of the meaning of these dots has been given, but According to Mackey it is supposed to refer to the three lights around the altar, or perhaps more generally to the number 3, and to the triangle, all important symbols in the Masonic system.[1]
The doubling of a letter is intended to express the plural of that word of which the single letter is the abbreviation. For example, in French, F∴ signifies "Frère," or " Brother," and FF∴ " Frères," or "Brothers." Similarly in English, L∴ is sometimes used to denote "Lodge", and LL∴ to denote "Lodges". Exceptions exist regularly; for example, Sovereign Grand Inspectors General is abbreviated as S∴G∴I∴G∴, and not S∴G∴II∴G∴.
Listedit
Some examples of Masonic abbreviations include:
Aedit
A.Dep. – Anno Depositionis. "In the Year of the Deposite", The date used by Royal and Select Masters
A.&A. – Ancient and Accepted
A.F.M. – Ancient Freemasons
A.F.&A.M. – Ancient Free and Accepted Masons
A.Inv. – Anno Inventionis. "In the Year of the Discovery", the date used by Royal Arch Masons
A.L. – Anno Lucis, "In the Year of light" the date used by Ancient Craft Masons
A∴ L∴ G∴ D∴ G∴ A∴ D∴ L'U∴ – À la Gloire du Grand Architecte de L'Univers. "To the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe" (French) The usual caption of French Masonic documents.
A∴ L'O∴ – À L'Orient, "At the East" (French) The seat of the Lodge
H∴ J∴ – Heilige Johannes, "Holy Saints John" (German - referring jointly to John the Baptist and John the Evangelist)
H∴ K∴ T∴ – Hiram, King of Tyre.
H∴ R∴ D∴ M∴ – Heredom.
Iedit
Ill∴ – Illustrious.
I∴ N∴ R∴ I∴ – Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudoeorum. Latin, meaning "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews". The Letters are also the initials of a significant sentence in Latin, namely, Igne Natura Renovatur Integra, meaning "By fire nature is perfectly renewed".
I∴ P∴ M∴ – Immediate Past Master. English title of an official last promoted from the chair.
I∴ T∴ N∴ O∴ T∴ G∴ A∴ O∴ T∴ U∴ – In the Name of the Grand Architect of the Universe. Often forming the caption of Masonic documents.
M∴ L∴ – Maurer Lehrling. German, meaning Entered Apprentice.
M∴ L∴ – Mère Loge. French, meaning Mother Lodge.
M∴ M∴ – Master Mason. Mois Maçonnique, "Masonic Month" (French): March 18 the first Masonic month among French Freemasons. Also Meister Maurer, "Master Mason" (German)
N'o∴ P∴ V∴ D∴ M∴ – N'oubliez pas vos décorations Maçonniques, "Do not forget your Masonic regalia" (French), a phrase used in France on the corner of a summons.
Oedit
O∴ – Orient.
O∴ A∴ C∴ – Ordo ab Chao, "Order Out of Chaos" (Latin)
R∴ S∴ Y∴ C∴ S∴ – Rosy Cross (in the Royal order of Scotland).
R∴ W∴ – Right Worshipful.
R∴ W∴ M∴ – Right Worshipful Master.
Sedit
S∴ – Scribe, Sentinel, Seneschal, Sponsor.
S∴ C∴ – Supreme Council.
S∴ G∴ D∴ – Senior Grand Deacon.
S∴ G∴ I∴ G∴ – Sovereign Grand Inspector General
S∴ G∴ W∴ – Senior Grand Warden.
S∴ M∴ – Secret Master; Substitute Master
S∴ O∴ – Senior Overseer.
S∴ P∴ R∴ S∴ – Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.
S∴ S∴ – Sanctum Sanctorum, "Holy of Holies" (Latin)
S∴ S∴ M∴ – Senior Substitute Magus.
S∴ S∴ S∴ – The initials of the Latin word Salutem, meaning Greeting, repeated thrice and also found similarly in the French, Trois Fois Salut, meaning "Thrice Greeting". A common caption to French Masonic circulars or letters
S∴ W∴ – Senior Warden.
Sec∴ – Secretary.
Soc∴ Ros∴ – Societas Rosicruciana
Sur∴ – Surveillant. French, meaning Warden.
Tedit
T∴ C∴ F∴ – Très Cher Frère. French, meaning Very Dear Brother.
T∴ G∴ A∴ O∴ T∴ U∴ – The Grand Architect of the Universe.
T∴ S∴ – Tres Sage. Meaning Very Wise, addressed to the presiding officer of French Rite.
Uedit
U∴ D∴ – Under Dispensation.
Vedit
V∴ or Vén∴ – Vénérable. French, meaning Worshipful.
V∴ D∴ B∴ – Very Dear Brother.
V∴ D∴ S∴ A∴ – Veut Dieu Saint Amour, or Vult Dei Sanctus Animus. A formula used by Knights Templar. The expression Veut Dieu Saint Amour means "Wishes God Holy Love". Vult Dei Sanctus Animus is the Latin Version of the same phrase.
^ abcMackey, A. G. (1914). An Encyclopedia of Freemasonry and its Kindred Sciences: comprising the whole range of arts, sciences and literature as connected with the institution. New and rev. ed. / New York: Masonic History Co. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Malcolm C. Duncan (1866). "Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor". p. 77.