My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Corn in a new Light

rhitland

Founding Member
Premium Member
anothre tid bit I found that impressed me.

CORN.(2) This seemingly insignificant "ear of corn" is, however a most important facet of Freemasonry. Let us establish at the outset however, that corn in this instance means "grain" or more specifically "wheat". Not only is it an important facet of Freemasonry, but it was probably the greatest essential element in the formation of society as we know it.

Picture, if you will, a nomadic tribe moving from place to place, all possessions held in common, searching for grass and wild wheat on which to feed their flock of goats. Such was man's existence for thousands of years. Around 8,000 B.C. came the largest single step in the ascent of man,- the change from nomad to village agriculture. What made that possible? An act by will of men, surely; but with that, a strange and secret act of nature. According to Bronowski, in his book, "The Ascent of Man" a new hybrid wheat appeared in the Middle East at the end of the Ice Age. It happened in many places. A typical one is the oases of Jerico. This wheat, a cross between goat grass and wild wheat combined the fourteen chromosomes of the one with the fourteen chromosomes of the other to produce "Emmer" with twenty-eight chromosomes. This hybrid was able to spread naturally, because its seeds were attached to the husk in such a way as to scatter in the wind.

More surprising, there was a second generic accident. "Emmer" crossed with another goat grass and produced a still larger hybrid with forty-two chromosomes, which is bread wheat. Now, has evolved an ear of corn which is so tight and heavy that it falls exactly where it grew. Suddenly man and wheat have come together. Suddenly wheat and the ancient sweet water oases springs such as that at Jericho, which have been flowing since time immemorial have come together. Suddenly man put his hand on plant and animal and, in learning to live with them, changed the world to his needs. Thus, an ear of corn has been an emblem of plenty since the mists of antiquity. The Hebrew word "shibboleth" means both an ear of corn and a flood of water. Both are symbols of abundance and wealth.


This paper was presented the Victoria Lodge of Education and Research on: Nov 15, 1994 by: Bro. John A Thompson.
 
Last edited:

JTM

"Just in case"
Premium Member
what happened to sibboleth meaning sheath of wheat?










edit: slight slip in spelling there. whoops.
 
Top