Jacob's Ladder
The ladder of Genesis 28, by which Masons hope to reach the heavens; its three principal rounds are Faith, Hope and Charity.
What it means
In the first-degree lecture the covering of the Lodge is a clouded canopy or starry-decked heaven, and the ladder Jacob saw in his vision (Genesis 28:12) is the way up to it. It has many rounds, but three principal ones: Faith, Hope and Charity.
The greatest of these is Charity, as the monitors put it, because faith may be lost in sight and hope ends in fruition, while charity extends beyond the grave. It is why relief stands so near the center of what Lodges actually do.
Frequently asked questions
What does Jacob's Ladder mean in Freemasonry?
The ladder of Genesis 28, by which Masons hope to reach the heavens; its three principal rounds are Faith, Hope and Charity.
Who can wear Jacob's Ladder?
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)