The Scythe
An emblem of time, which cuts the brittle thread of life and launches us into eternity.
What it means
The companion to the hourglass among the Master Mason's emblems. Whatever a man has made of himself, the scythe of time comes for him, and the lecture uses that fact to argue for making the most of the hours left.
Like the hourglass, it leads directly to the sprig of acacia and the hope the third degree ends on.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Scythe mean in Freemasonry?
An emblem of time, which cuts the brittle thread of life and launches us into eternity.
Who can wear the Scythe?
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)