FREEMASONRY: E PLURIBUS UNUM (Out of Many, One); DECODING THE SYMBOLISM

FREEMASONRY: E PLURIBUS UNUM (Out of Many, One); DECODING THE SYMBOLISM

by Fahim A. Knight-EL

There has been a lot of discussion on one of the African American Prince Hall Masonic web sites relating to the U.S. Dollar bill and the United States Seal, as far as, decoding the meaning and interpreting of the symbolism, and for many of us in the broader community; we would have considered the discussion they were having as an old discussion. However, what is considered old information to some, might be considered new to those who have yet to come in contact with certain information, which leads us to accept that what is considered "old" or "new" information should be viewed as relative terms.

A brother named Octavius S. Davis-El who is a 33rd Degree Mason from the PHAmily website wrote this message: “To my sisters and brothers, the words were said last night (Referring to President-Elect Barack Obama’s victory speech after defeating Senator John McCain for the office of president),"Out of many one." Let us think on these words. Annuit Coeptis meaning Out of many one, it's on back of your dollar bill. "It is time to build and reinforce our society". Davis had suggested that the Latin terminology Annuit Coeptis meant "Out of Many One" but actually E-Pluribus Unum (which translate from Latin to English is interpreted to mean "Out of Many One.” But upon being corrected, he humbly accepted that he had erred and made a mistake and quite graciously accepted being corrected.

There was another brother on the web site who identified himself as Dr. Michael Murphy who I am assuming holds a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph. D) in some discipline, but this was his response and correction to Davis-EL; "Hi again Brother Davis, When one earns two Bachelors Degrees at a Catholic University, one has to take Latin. I double checked what I thought was the correct translation, and confirmed it.""The Latin words "Annuit Conceptis" literally translated means announcing the birth or in the case of the dollar bill; "Announcing the Birth of the New World Order". The Latin words "E Pluribus Unum" means "Out of many; one" Forgive me brother-man. I hate raining on your oratory parade, but consider it a helpful instruction in the Latin Language."

Dr. Murphy was correct in his language translation and since Brother Davis-EL had made this error on a public forum, then I saw no reason why he should not have been corrected in a public way. But I did feel that he laid down to easy and this is what led me to do this research and bring forth this knowledge, but many of the responses after Dr. Murphy's correction of Davis-EL comment were in agreement with Dr. Murphy because we thought that an authoritative voice had spoken. However, perhaps none of them were willing to put in the research to verify or go after the historical evidence to further explain this Latin concept E-Pluribus Unum and why it was incorporated in the symbolism on the United States Currency and how did this relate to Freemasonry. This subject needed a little more scholarly attention than a bunch of yes men agreeing with Dr. Murphy, but what about offering an empirical investigation. This writer did not respond on day that these comments were being made relative to the U.S. Seal and U.S. Currency, it wasn’t that if he lacked the knowledge to have responded. But these were surface comments being offered and I desired to wait until after doing the research and then only would I offer Dr. Murphy and Davis-EL a legitimate response that would be well thought-out and well researched. Here is my response.

But many of the questions that people were posting had been thoroughly dealt with by the likes of Manly P. Hall and other Masonic scholars, as well as by those who research and study esoteric and occult topics have produced a wealth of information relative to interpreting the meaning of the symbolism and the story behind the United States Currency; in particular, the symbolism on and behind the United States Dollar Bill and the United Seal. (Reference: Mustafa El-Amin; Freemasonry: Ancient Egypt and the Islamic Destiny”).

The author Paul Foster Case in his book titled, "The Great Seal of the United States" analyzed and decoded the inner meanings of the numerology and interpreted the Masonic symbolism that is not readily accessible to the naked eye and he gives us the esoteric duality There is little doubt that the majority of the so-called Founding Fathers—Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington were Freemasons and the majority of the signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 were Masons and those 40 or so original signers of the United States Constitution, which fourteen (14) were Masons. These so-called enlightened men formulated the Rule and Guide of our legal and Jurisprudence structure. Many of these early Freemasons had been raised and initiated under the Grand Lodge of England. These “American” Masons who were ordinarily Caucasian and of an Elitist aristocratic society were given open Charters and Dispensation to set-up and organized duly chartered Masonic Lodges within the Continental America, which automatically received full recognition and approval from the Mother Lodge of England. (Reference: David Ovason; “The Secret Architecture of Our Nation's Capital: The Masons and the Building of Washington”)

These enlightened men based on the symbolism of the United States currency seemed to be infatuated with occult and esoteric knowledge, the historians have not produced any evidence that the Founding Fathers had ever made any pilgrimages to Kemet (Egypt), but their knowledge seemed outside the ordinary and represented a "higher science."

It was rooted in the ancient wisdom of books written by authors of the likes of Manly P. Hall such as "The Secret Teachings of All Ages;" Hall stated, "European mysticism was not dead at the time the United States of America was founded. The hand of the Mysteries controlled in the establishment of the new government, for the signature of the Mysteries may still be seen on the Great Seal of the United States of America. Carefully analysis of the seal discloses a mass of occult and Masonic symbols, chief among them the so-called American eagle—a bird which Benjamin Franklin declared unworthy to be chosen as the emblem of a great, powerful, and progressive people. Here again only the student of symbolism can see through the subterfuge and realize that American eagle upon the Great Seal is but a conventialized phoenix, a fact plainly discernable from an examination of the original seal. In his sketch of the "History of the Seal of the United States," Gaillard Hunt unwittingly brings forward much material to substantiate the belief that the original seal carried the phoenix bird on its obverse surface. . .” (Reference: Manly P. Hall; "The Secret Teachings of All Ages" pg xc and xci)

Hall continues: “Not only were many of the founders of the United States Government Masons, but they received aid from a secret and august body existing in Europe, which helped them to establish this country for a peculiar and particular purpose known only to the initiated and for the most part unknown--and the unfinished pyramid upon its reverse side is a trestleboard setting forth symbolically the task to the accomplishments of which the United States Government was dedicated from the day of its inception." (Reference: Manly P. Hall; "The Secret Teachings of All Ages" pg xc and xci).”

This writer wonders who were these individuals that Hall referred to as, "they received aid from a secret and august body existing in Europe;" were these the money changers who had financed both sides of the American Revolution—the international bankers who have always had a vested interest in the various Orders because of their ability to function as closed societies and the old penalties assured that what took place in the lodge stayed in the lodge based on the solemn oaths. This relationship between Freemasonry and the Power Elite have been mutual in a lot of regards.

Although, the Money Changers hoodwinked those of the Order because their involvement was never based on the three basic principles that under girds Freemasonry—Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth (Prince Hall Masons is based on similar principles Brotherly Love, Morality and Friendship), but money hoarding and controlling banking and finance were their true intent and objectives. Freemasonry became a convenient institution which to shield the inner-workings of some sinister individuals who had established blood descendent dynastic Orders and had become intertwined with visible Freemasonry. (Reference: David Icke: “The Biggest Secret”).

Some historians maintained that the "Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" was evidence of such covert organization and individuals that had systematically devised a high tech manipulation and deception plan of a group of wickedly wise, secret society, and sophisticated money changers that have duped humanity. However, their are others who say such a contention is mere nonsense and there is no reliable evidence that such a sophisticated plan ever existed and the "Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" was a fraud and a undocumented conspiracy theory hoax; just as the Priory of Sion. (Reference: William Guy Carr; "Pawns In The Game").

But nevertheless, what is undeniable is evident that their are some unseen forces, cloaked behind many different fronts and layers of deception and in deed they have the entire planet in a stranglehold. Thus, the so-called recent economic meltdown is not a meltdown at all; this economic crisis is one of their ploys to strangulate the ignorant masses by cutting off the life blood of society, which is its money flow in order to create confusion and human chaos while these profiteers are laughing at us Goyims and are continuing to rake in untold wealth at the expense of our misery. (Reference: Dr. John Coleman: “Conspirators Hierarchy: The Story of the Committee of the 300”).

Freemasonry as a Order might be innocent of such charges but is perhaps more guilty by historical association and as a passive entity in which in many cases have allowed the Invisible Rulers to use their Lodges not as a resting place, but as untouchable shelters who could communicate in a different language of symbolism—a word, sign and token, but their power and will transcended even the authority given under the 33rd Degree; offered under the United Supreme Council (this writer is not referring to African American 33RD Degree Masons because they will never be invited into attaining even an understanding of such POWER). They (Invisible Rulers) functions with unthinkable power and wealth and with complete sovereignty; these Invisible Rulers literally run circles around Freemasonry.

Thus, even Theosophical wisdom that consumed the life of Helen Petrovna Blavatsky displayed in her monumental works "The Secret Doctrines: The Synthesis, Religion and Philosophy" and "Isis Unveiled." or George Fraser "The Golden Bough." in which these scholars of renown also pointed to Kemet (Egypt) as being the cradle of civilization; all the known disciplines and sciences have their origin.

The American Founding Fathers used the language of Latin to communicate, because Latin was the language that had high intellectual significance and it was an expression of philosophical academia which was very popular even up until perhaps the 1950s. A lot of preparatory and parochial schools and colleges and university required the language of Latin as an intricate part of the curriculum. But Latin is a young language in comparison to languages found in the East such Hebrew and Arabic which derived from the much older language of Amharic that was originally spoken in the Middle Eastern region including Mesopotamia. Perhaps the Hebrew language that Yeshua Ben Yosef (Jesus, the son of Joseph) or in Islam and the Arabic language Isa bin Yusuf (Jesus the son of Joseph) spoke over 2,000 years ago were clear indications that the letter “J” was introduced only about five hundred year ago. Jesus did not speak English nor Latin.

The “out of many, one” was rooted in the teachings of Kemet (Egypt) where the microcosm universe was viewed in the context of the macrocosm universe and although the latter was huge and expansive, but the human anatomy—and physiology was only a miniature reflection of the heavenly bodies that were reflected and in direct correlation to the universal laws of motion and order. The Kemites understood the Universal laws of Maat—harmony, balance, justice, equilibrium, and reciprocity. So these ancient principles that were being symbolically used to shield and admonish a superior culture spoke to a higher language and as far as the language of Latin being used to describe these ancient principles and symbolism; it was only considered an exemplar language in the West and it does little justice as far as interpreting and decoding what was being spoken and written in Kemet (Egypt). (Reference: Josef A.A. Ben Jochannon; “The Black man of the Nile and his Family”).

Some believe that the Founding Fathers were influenced by the Rosicrucian mystic teachings that were brought to America in 1693 by one Sir Francis Bacon who understood esoteric and occult lessons that were rooted in science of alchemy and the universal balance of Eastern philosophy versus Western philosophy. It was no more evident than under the teachings of Akhenaton (the father of monotheism) which the Rosicrucian followers embraced and had a keen understanding of what Kemet (Egypt) meant in the realm of philosophical thought and its cultural contribution to humanity . There is no doubt that the Rosicrucians had come in contact with Kemet (Egypt) and had copied their Rose Croix theories directly from the Egyptian Mystery Schools who were doing degree work long before Rosicrucians, the Scottish Rite and York Rite Orders were even a thought. (Reference: Nesta H. Webster; “Secret Societies and Subversive Movements”).

William H. Gross in article titled, "Rosicrucianism' A Religion or Not" {Christian} Rosenkruez traveled to Damascus where he remained for three years, devoting himself to the study of the occult sciences. He then sailed to Egypt where he continued his studies and proceeded to Africa where he acquired further information from philosophers. Christian Rosenkruez's travels also took him to Spain and finally to Germany to where he decided to share his studies and research with his own countrymen. He also decided to establish a society for cultivation of the sciences which he had acquired during his travels. (Reference: William H. Gross; "Rosicrucianism' A Religion or Not").

Some scholars even maintain that the teachings of the Kabala was the biggest influence on the Founding Fathers, but all of these philosophies had what became known as a Masonic theme. For example, phallic symbolism, fertility rites, agriculture rites, and Sun God Rites that evolved around the winter and summer solstice—birth, death, resurrection, and ascension. The story of Osiris, Isis and Heru was a story of antiquity which had been told thousands of years before the Christian version of Yeshua Ben Yosef (Jesus, the so-called Christ); in fact the Christians forged this ancient pagan myth and repackaged it as a divine phenomena that gave them irrefutable religious credence over other faith traditions. (Reference: Kersey Graves; “The World’s Sixteen Crucified Saviors”). .

Moreover, based on the so-called story of Yeshua Ben Yosef (Jesus) and the Christian religious worldview; Yeshua Ben Yosef (Jesus) was supposed to have been the first world savior born of immaculate conception on December 25, suffered a brutal slaying, resurrected as an act of defying death and ascended (all this mythology was more related to birth and decline of the physical Sun). In Kemet all the structures of the pyramids were built around preserving the soul and is spoke to the higher lessons of the immorality of the soul. Wallis Budge in his book titled, "The Egyptian Book of Dead" (also known as 'Coming Forth by Day') provides us with these lessons. But Krishna, Mithra, Addonis, Buddha Apollo, Osiris, Quetzalcoatl and others shared this so-called divine phenomena long before Jesus the Christ (Yeshua ben Yosef). (Reference: John G. Jackson; “Introduction to African Civilization”).

The unfinished pyramid on the back of the dollar was this symbolic of the unfinished work of the Master Builder Hiram Abiff who was slain and left his unfinished work on the trestleboard? Perhaps the Founding Fathers saw themselves as a continuation of the majestic work that Grand Master Hiram Abiff started, which became interrupted by those who plotted its destructive end. These initiated men understood that nature and human life are but a cycle based on death and resurrection. They were inspired to take a so-called new nation and resurrected it from the ashes of war and conflict with its mother nation Great Britain. They borrowed the bird Eagle and/or Phoenix Bird from Kemet (Egypt) which was actually called the Benu bird. This majestic bird had many versions of its origin and the significance of its symbolism varied. (Ralph Epperson; “The New World Order”)

R.T. Rundle Clarke in his book titled, " Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt," stated: "In a sense when the Phoenix gave out the primeval call it initiated all these cycles, so it is the patron of all division of time, and its temple at Heliopolis became the centre of calendrical regulation. As the herald of each new dispensation, it becomes, optimistically, the harbinger of good tidings. During the Middle Kingdom the Benu Bird became the 'soul' of Osiris and the symbol for the planet Venus-the morning star Which precedes the sun out of the Underworld and is the herald of a new day. In spite of these minor roles, however, the Benu Bird continues to be 'he who created himself'-a form of the High God. In fact, Atum,Re, Shu and Osiris meet in the bird as the symbol of the godhead in time."(Reference: R.T. Rundle Clarke " Myth and Symbol in Ancient Egypt," pg 246).

Some historians have maintained that this mythological bird called by the Kemetic people as the Benu Bird (Phoenix) originated in Arabia and there were tales and myths that this bird had the ability to self create itself from death and even some have told that it was destroyed by fire and out of the ashes it resurrected itself to live five hundred (500) years. The Benu bird (Phoenix) bird is part of the symbolic degree of 33rd degree of Freemasonry, but is also tied to the Solar Deities based on the concept of birth, death, resurrection and ascension. The Founding Fathers were steeped in Masonic symbolism and made it the language of their new republic. They understood that these so-called New World settlers were some of the ones who were disallowed, despised and rejected (and if they hadn’t disavowed the Supreme Being their ultimate destiny would have been different), but one day would become the chief cornerstone of a new society and eventually a New World Order. Thus, they too represented Hiram Abiff and they understood that they were the Master Builders who were ordained to create a new civilization. This is why in our Capitol, the architecture layout from its roads to its monuments are reflections and a replica of aspects of Kemet (Egypt) from the Mall layout of the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, it is all laid out based on Masonic architecture in which a black man named Benjamin Banneker helped designed the United States Capitol. (Reference: “The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks”).

Anthony Browder in his book titled, "Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization stated, " The pyramid and the eye above it (which represents the eye of Heru-the son of God) clearly establishes an Egyptian link with the reverse of the Great Seal. The obverse of this seal is strikingly similar to the Nile Valley image of Heru, and the differences represent the cultural nuances which were unique to the United States. Above the eagle's head are 13 stars which arranged in the form of the Magen David, which is also called the Seal of Solomon. This is an ancient symbol that predates Judaism and represents two pyramids. The two pyramids symbolize the two pillars of Solomon, which play significant role in ritualistic masonry. They have been described by one Masonic historian, Dr. John A. Weisse in hi publication The Obelisk and Freemasonry, as "an imitation ­of two obelisks at the entrance of Egyptian Temples (as) the two towers on Gothic cathedrals and two steeples on churches.” (Reference: Anthony T. Browder: “Nile Valley Contribution to Civilization” pg. 203).

High Finance and Freemasonry have been interlocked because those that controlled world finance has used Freemasonry and the ruling classes found ways to shield their objectives by entering and setting up various ORDERS. The likes of Paul Warburg and Amschel Rothschild are just examples of Invisible Rulers and Money Changers who hid in various Illuminati fronts and of course the House of Rothschild; money and finance have always been their top priorities because like Amshel Rothschild stated over 200 years ago, “if I can control a nations money, I care not who writes its laws” (Reference: George Armstrong; “Rothschild Money Trust”)

The so-called first European Freemasonic Lodge was established in 1717 under the guise of Speculative Masonry, which some historians believe these philosophical lodges evolved out of Operative Masons who had established powerful Trades Guilds relative to protecting and setting guidelines to governing the training rights and privileges of their Craftsmen; this afforded these skilled artisan to have control over their labor and wages, which was tied to their learned building skills—knowledge, that was divided into three separate and distinct labor categories or designations—Apprentice, Fellow, and Master. Thus, each learned skill level was to be the determination of what kind of wages that a Craftsman could ascertain and warrant for his labor.(Reference: W.L. Wilmshurst; “The Meaning of Masonry”).

These Operative Masons developed a language of communication and actually was functioning as high powered tradesman labor union, over three Hundred years ago. The Guildsman established this tight knit brotherhood, a fraternity of sought of skilled Craftsman. Speculative Masonry (philosophical Masonry) copied and emulated the social structure of these laborers who did not admit or allow unskilled labors to capitalize off their system of networking. They established signs, tokens, and words which to determine one of their own. (Robert Lomas; “Turning the Hiram Key”).

However, in Kemet (Ancient Egypt) perhaps 3500 to 4000 B.C. Africans where teaching Geometry; the neophytes that were being taught in Egyptian Mystery Schools understood the meaning of the letter "G".Yes, Pythagoras studied and acquired his knowledge of geometry in Kemet (Ancient Egypt). These Africans had constructed magnificent edifices such as the Pyramids at Luxor, Gizeh, Cheop, etc., based on almost perfect mathematical equations observing the laws of physics and astrology, the Great Pyramid was constructed almost directly in the center of the earth. George G.M. James in his book titled, “Stolen Legacy” admonishes that the Greeks and other civilizations borrowed heavily from Kemet (Egypt).

The Founding Fathers perhaps came in contact with this ancient wisdom from their involvement in Freemasonry and they too borrowed its mythological and majestic symbolism as a language and model in which in 1787 to establish a new nation that had risen from the ashes of oppression and tyranny; no different than the dispute between Seth (darkness) and Heru (light) his twin brother. They even gave the city of Philadelphia where the Constitution Convention was being held a Masonic theme; Philadelphia is called the City of Brotherly Love. Yes, “out of many, one,” but unless you understand the Masonic Symbolism that has been so eloquently written about by Manly P. Hall then our level of understanding will continue to be surface knowledge in matters such as these.

Fahim A. Knight-EL Chief Researcher for KEEPING IT REAL THINK TANK located in Durham, NC; our mission is to inform African Americans and all people of good will of the pending dangers that lie ahead; as well as decode the symbolisms and reinterpret the hidden meanings behind those who operate as invisible forces, but covertly rules the world. We are of the belief that an enlighten world will be better prepared to throw off the shackles of ignorance and not be willing participants for the slaughter. Our MOTTO is speaking truth to power. Fahim A. Knight-EL can be reached at fahimknight@yahoo.com.

STAY AWAKE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN,
Fahim A. Knight-EL