The Hourglass
An emblem of human life: the sand runs out almost imperceptibly, and so does a life.
What it means
One of the Master Mason's emblems in Webb. We cannot without astonishment behold the little particles in it pass away, and yet in the course of an hour they are all exhausted. So wastes a life.
It is paired in the lecture with the scythe, the emblem of time, and both point toward the sprig of acacia.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Hourglass mean in Freemasonry?
An emblem of human life: the sand runs out almost imperceptibly, and so does a life.
Who can wear the Hourglass?
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)