The Seven Liberal Arts七文科.docVIP

The Seven Liberal Arts Presented to the Northern California Research Lodge By Thomas D. Worrel March 20, 1997 The Seven Liberal Arts Wisdom builded her house; She has hewn out her seven pillars. Proverbs 9:1 Table of Contents Introduction Interpretations of Masonic Authors The History of the Seven Liberal Arts The Cathedral and School of Chartres The Winding Staircase as a Symbol of Ascension . The Seven Liberal Arts Introduction The Staircase Lecture is presented to the Masonic candidate in the second degree of his work -that of Fellowcraft. The lecture is considered to be quite a long one as it covers many subjects pertinent to the Mysteries of Freemasonry. Within the dissertation are explanations of the three, five, and seven steps, which compose the staircase. Yet when the lecture reaches the seven steps we are merely told that they represent the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences; and, the seven subjects are named. There are no further explanations given, nor elaboration offered but for one exception -that of geometry. Being that the seven make up the bulk of the staircase, it would seem that further light would be forthcoming. But such is not the case. In this situation, we are left with more questions than answers. Why are these particular subjects mentioned? It is certainly debatable whether or not these are the most important academic disciplines. Why are there just seven? There are certainly more than just seven arts and sciences. Why are they in a staircase motif? If we took this to mean levels of prerequisite education or understanding or of importance, there would be considerable disagreement regarding this order. So what we are really left with are implications derived from the comments on geometry. That is, that these are subjects worthy of study and geometry is the most important of the seven. We are then left with the broadest question of them all: Is this the extent of the message to the candidate? In fact, that is the idea conveyed to most can