Masonic swords, daggers & knives
For many European Freemasons, Masonic swords are naturally part of the rituals they practice, where they are omnipresent. In certain Rites (Traditional French Rite, Rectified Scottish Rite…), all Master Masons carry the sword in a Symbolic Lodge, and in practically all continental Rites, the Worshipful Master is equipped with a sword said to be flaming because of its wavy blade. But this is not the case in Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry, where swords are reserved for certain Side Degrees, but absent from symbolic Lodges, with the exception of the Tyler's sword. Why this difference? What is the origin of this passion in European (particularly French) Freemasonry for swords ? And what can the presence of swords mean in an Order that claims the tradition of the builders?
