Few things are more controversial than the connotations ascribed by anti-Masons to some of the symbols used by Freemasonry and its related bodies. Seeing evil in every stroke of the pen, all sorts of interpretations and accusations have appeared over the decades yet the reality is that these symbols are no more 'evil' than the corporate logo of General Motors or the design on a bottle of ketchup.
First, it is important to understand that Masonic Symbolism does not represent an idea that has only one single and unequivocal meaning. In reality, the symbols encompass three things, all closely related but not actually identical.
 | There is "Personal Symbolism" in which the interpretation comes from the individual thinking of each person. It is from this source that much of the 'rubbish' surrounding Masonic symbols derives. Any person can make any claim about this or that symbol - and many early Masonic writers did! Their plethora of works gives rise today to the fanciful claims by those who seize upon the earlier (and far more 'dramatic') prose of a century ago to make false charges about 'true meaning'. |
| In contrast, there is "Masonic Symbolism" in which specific symbols are explained by recognized Masonic sources and ritual. |
| And lastly, there is "Comparative Symbolism" - in the same sense as one might commonly use the word "Comparative" in the study of Comparative Religion, wherein various religions are studied and compared from the standpoint of similarities and differences. |
As a further clarification, it is important to consider the fine distinction between the term (and idea) of SYMBOL and EMBLEM. A Symbol serves as an outward sign of something else while an Emblem does not necessarily have this 'something else' connotation. For example, a five-pointed star can be an emblem of a peace officer or to indicate the rank of general and yet used in a religious context, can come to have a spiritual meaning.
Particularly when one considers Masonic bodies created within the past 100 or so years by a single individual (or small group), the symbols (and emblems) adopted were nearly always the work of one individual's imagination rather than some secret (and evil) 'hidden meaning'. When a person doodles a star or circle or square while waiting for another to answer the phone, do they really contemplate (or even know) the centuries of history of that 'symbol'? Of course not.... Similarly, when an actor in New York was outlining his vision for what became the Shrine or a mid-west Minister was looking for motivation for a women's organization, it is well beyond a stretch of imagination to presume that they were imbued with evil and esoteric influences stretching back into the mists of time.
An exhaustive recitation of each and every charge made throughout the past 300 years by the small, vocal opposition to Freemasonry is far beyond the scope of this web site (and likely beyond the interest of its readers). Suffice it to say, however, that any graphical representation of Freemasonry should be viewed within the context of what Masonic ritual actually says about such a symbol rather than what others have personally attributed to it!
For those with a particular interest in this subject, this web site's author recommends the following:
Sources of Masonic Symbolism by Alex Horne. Missouri Lodge of Research, 1981. Not quite 100 pages in length, this work will provide you with more knowledge about Masonic Symbolism than you could find in a dozen other books of five times its size. An outstanding reference!
Signs and Symbols - Their Design and Meaning by Adrian Frutiger. (Translated from the German by Andrew Bluhm). Watson-Guptill Publications, New York. 1998. ISBN: 0-8230-4826-8. This book will help you appreciate that an oblong line or a simple curve has meanings far beyond that which might have imagined - and from this simple understanding will help you appreciate the fact that those who use (or abuse) Masonic symbolism might not understand what they're talking about!
Some additional resources on signs/symbols are summarized here.
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