THE BEEHIVE

"Wherefore we labor, that, whether present
or absent, we may be accepted of him."

2 Cor. 5:9

Of all the hieroglyphic emblems explained to a Master Mason none is more significant than the beehive. Symbolizing industry and labor, the beehive is said to teach us that work is required of all men and creatures on earth, as well as of the creatures in heaven. It serves as a reminder that true happiness and prosperity are found only when man labors diligently for the common good. So important is that labor that Masonry regards the man who refuses to work for his neighbor as a drone - a useless member of society who is unworthy of being protected as a Mason.

Throughout history, the bee has been regarded as a symbol of wisdom. As the bee extracts pollen from the flowers, so does man extract wisdom from the events in his daily life. The insect is also considered sacred to the goddess Venus and is one of the many life forms for whose origin cannot presently be traced. In that bees are ruled by queens, they are also viewed as representative of the so-called feminine principle. Yet, Masonry holds more closely to the symbolism that relates to industry and labor - for very obvious reasons.

The Great Architect has not created a world filled with rich men and women. Rather, the earth largely consists of humans who are so poor that each must toil ceaselessly for a meager subsistence. It is precisely for this reason that Masonry holds work in such high esteem. It honors the worker who produces, as opposed to the person who simply consumes that which the labor of others produces.