
The Three Pillars
The universe is the temple of the Deity whom we serve: Wisdom, Strength and Beauty are around his throne, as pillars of his works; for his wisdom is infinite, his strength is omnipotent, and his beauty shines forth through all his creation. … Every lodge must be supported by three grand shafts, or pillars — Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty. Wisdom constructs the building, Beauty adorns, and Strength supports it; also, Wisdom is ordained to discover, Beauty to ornament, and Strength to bear. He who is wise as a perfect Master, will not be easily injured by his own actions. Hath a person the strength which a Senior Warden represents, he will bear and overcome every obstacle in life. And he who is adorned, like the Junior Warden, with humility of spirit, approaches nearer to the similitude of God than another. But the three pillars must be built upon a rock, and that rock is called Truth and Justice.-Gadicke
[Robert Macoy, General History, Cyclopedia and Dictionary of Freemasonry. (New York: Masonic Publishing Co., 1872), 325, 615–616.]
