Page 80 - Amo Amass A-muse is some of the fruit of a lifetimes love of Freemasonry - the Lodge of Nine Muses No. 235

ThE PRESENTATiON OF A GRAND lODGE CERTiFiCATE
iN ThE lODGE OF ThE NiNE muSES

ROTHER . . .

BOur Grand Lodge issues a Certificate to every member after he has been
regularly Initiated, Passed and Raised in the established degrees of the Order; and, on
their behalf, I have much pleasure in presenting you with yours, which becomes your
personal property.
The design of this Certificate has changed throughout the years but it bears the
Coat of Arms of the Most Worshipful, the Grand Master for the time being. If you
will now examine yours, you will observe that it includes many Masonic Emblems,
almost all of which are displayed upon the First Degree Tracing Board, an explanation
of which I hope will one day be given to you. The most prominent of these Emblems
are the three Great Pillars, which are said to support a Freemasons’ Lodge. They are
represented in our Lodge by our famous Candlesticks. That by the Master is of the
Ionic Order, representing Wisdom; that by the Senior Warden, the Doric Order,
denoting Strength; and that by the Junior Warden, the Corinthian Order denoting
Beauty.
The year is given as “A.L.”, that is “Anno Lucis”, the beginning of Masonic Light,
which preceded the Christian Era by 4,000 years. It bears the impression of the Seal
of Grand Lodge and is signed by the Grand Secretary.
It is one of the essential proofs that you are a Regular Freemason working under
the Constitution of the United Grand Lodge of England, the Mother Grand Lodge
of the world. You may be asked to produce it if you visit a Lodge, especially abroad,
or when there is no one who can vouch as having seen you in a Lodge at work. It
is essential if you wish to join another Lodge or become a founder of a new one. It
is also required if you decide to be Exalted into the Order of the Holy Royal Arch
of Jerusalem, which I hope one day you will do. It is therefore best kept with your
Regalia. It should not be framed or displayed for professional purposes. By itself it is
not sufficient.