The Anchor and Ark
Emblems of a well-grounded hope and a well-spent life: the ark that carries us over a sea of troubles and the anchor that moors us in a peaceful harbor.
What it means
One of the Master Mason's emblems in Webb. The ark is the divine ark that safely wafts us over this tempestuous sea of troubles; the anchor is what safely moors us in a peaceful harbor where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest.
The anchor as a sign of hope is older than Freemasonry and comes from Hebrews 6:19.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Anchor and Ark mean in Freemasonry?
Emblems of a well-grounded hope and a well-spent life: the ark that carries us over a sea of troubles and the anchor that moors us in a peaceful harbor.
Who can wear the Anchor and Ark?
This is a lesson rather than a badge. It turns up on Lodge charts, prints and gifts, and owning or displaying one says nothing about rank. On a lapel most people will read it as Masonic.
Sources
Drawn from the published monitors and from what the bodies concerned publish about themselves. Nothing here comes from, or goes beyond, any obligated material.
- Thomas Smith Webb, The Freemason's Monitor; or, Illustrations of Masonry (1797)
- Jeremy L. Cross, The True Masonic Chart, or Hieroglyphic Monitor (1819)