Symbology on the Masonic Blue Lodge Society Dial No. 1103 by the Elgin National Watch Company
Symbology serves an important role in Freemasonry. When the Elgin National Watch Company introduced its line of “Society and Sporting” dials in 1889, this Masonic Blue Lodge dial was offered, adorned with illustrative symbols at each of the standard hour indicators.
At first glance, the symbols appear seemingly vague and unrelated. However, a Freemason is able to accurately identify the meaning encoded within each symbol presented on the dial.
According to references on Freemason symbology, the images found on the Elgin Masonic dial have the following meaning:
All Seeing Eye: God’s Divine Watchfulness
Blue Slipper: Confirmation of Verbal Agreements
Scythe: An Emblem of Time and Eternity
Hourglass: Continual Passing of Time, Life is Finite
Cup of Bitterness: Misfortune and Sorrow Through Life, Calmness and Resignation
Tiler’s Sword: Moral Consciousness and Self-Control
Beehive: Collaborative Work and Industry
Masonic Gavel: Authority of Freemasons, Ability to Maintain a Pure, Moral, and Spiritual Heart
Shovel and Pickaxe: Working Tools
Plumb Rule: Equality (Jewel of Senior Warden)
Anchor: Emblem of Well-Grounded Hope and Life
Holy Bible: Sacred Law