Shining light on the Corruption and Deceit of the Freemasons
At the heart of almost all major rites and religions there will be a story of a martyred leader or a dying god, and Freemasonry is certainly no exception.
According to Masonic folklore, Hiram Abiff was the Chief Architect at the building of King Solomon’s Temple. Supposedly, Hiram knew some sort of secret, which by its mere possession, would allow a person to pass himself off as a Master Mason – thus allowing him to travel and work in foreign countries – and to receive a higher rate of pay.
However, according to the Biblical Book of Kings; King Solomon had already built his temple in Jerusalem when he sent for a man called Hiram to come from the city of Tyre to complete the decorations. This Hiram, however, was neither a Mason nor an Architect, but is described as a Brass worker.
Further, neither the bible, nor any other contemporary source, mentions that Hiram, King Solomon or his temple were part of any sort of fraternal organization. So, how does Hiram Abiff the Architect turn up in Masonic rituals, when there is no mention of him in the Bible, and he had never previously been thought worthy of mentioning, even in the quasi-Biblical legends so beloved by Medieval Stonemasons?
The Cathedral builder’s “Gothic Constitutions” had contained grandiose tales of the Creation, the Flood, Babylon, Nineveh, the Hebrews, Ancient Egypt and Greece. They spoke of England in the Dark Ages, of St. Alban and the Saxon King Athelstan. But, of course, the real purpose of all these stories was to inflate the importance of the role played by builders throughout the ages, so that it would appear that almost anyone of any importance must have been a Mason.
The Gothic Constitutions gave only brief accounts of the building of Solomon’s Temple, and made no reference to Hiram the metalworker. Some reference is made to Hiram King of Tyre, a completely different man who is also revered in Freemasonry, for helping King Solomon build his temple by supplying Cedar wood from Lebanon.
[As an aside, this fact is especially interesting, because it raises other important issues: The Bible says the temple was built mostly of wood and was a smallish building, just thirty feet (20 cubits) wide by ninety feet (60 cubits) long – which is roughly the size of a modern-day church hall. So, if this wooden construction had needed an architect, he certainly wouldn’t have been a Stonemason.]
Despite the fact that there is no Biblical or Historical evidence that Hiram was either an Architect or a Mason, and neither the Bible nor the “Gothic Constitutions” mention that the Architect was murdered. This fairytale seems to have been invented in order to give much-needed drama to the third degree ritual – otherwise it would be extremely boring – and was most likely dreamt up by Dr. James Anderson or some other brethren, when they were rewriting Freemasonry’s Constitutions in the early 1700s.

Masonic Artist’s impression of King Solomons’s Temple
After the 18th century authors of Freemasonry’s Constitutions got hold of this story, they hyped Solomon’s Temple into a gigantic stone palace. They gave Hiram an equally imaginative makeover, first, inventing him a surname: “Abiff”. Then they describe him as “the most accomplished Mason upon Earth”, and even go so far as to claim that “this divinely inspired workman” erected the temple himself.
The Hiramic legend reaches its most grandiose form when the Fellow Craft is baptised into Freemasonry’s third degree. Here, Hiram is described as the Temple’s “principal architect”, and the candidate who is seeking to become a Master Mason must personify Hiram and then, with remarkable similarity to the story of the Crucifixion, must be symbolically killed, buried and then raised from the grave.
The story involved with the third degree describes how three Fellow Craft Masons tried to force Hiram to betray his secret, and how using their stonemason tools, they warn him that “death would be the consequence of a refusal” to give up the secret, whereupon Hiram responds that he would rather die than tell them the secret. The ruffians then make good their promise and beat Hiram to death.
In the Masonic myth Hiram Abiff dies. But, in the ritual, the candidate acting the part of Hiram is resurrected; although only after the Lodge Master has applied the Master Mason’s handshake. Next, he places his right foot and breast against the candidate, whom the other lodge officers slowly raise. Finally, the Lodge Master lays his left hand over the candidates back. He then explains these gestures as the “Five Points of Fellowship”:
Hand to Hand I greet you as a brother; foot to foot I will support you in all your undertakings; knee to knee, the posture of my daily supplications shall remind me of your wants; breast to breast, your lawful secrets when entrusted to me as such I will keep as my own; and hand over back, I will support your character in your absence as in your presence.
The Lodge Master then “raises” the candidate to the third degree, and “invests” him with his Masonic apron. He then explains how Hiram’s disappearance threw the workmen into confusion, and that King Solomon ordered a search. The body of Hiram was found “indecently interred” and subsequently reburied “with all respect and reverence”. Meanwhile, another search party had caught the killers on the road to Joppa (an ancient port city in Israel, nowadays called Jaffa). Unable to escape, the criminals confessed their guilt and were taken back to Jerusalem where “King Solomon sentenced them to that death the heinousness of their crime so amply merited”.
The Lodge Master continues that the murderers (Jubela, Jubelo and Jubelum) were so overcome with remorse that each exclaimed how he wished to die. Jubela wanted his throat cut across and his tongue torn out; Jubelo wanted his left breast torn open and his heart fed to vultures; whilst Jubelum fancied having his body severed, his bowels burnt to ashes and scattered to the four winds of heaven. King Solomon, duly obliged, and “ordered them to be executed agreeably to the several imprecations of their own mouths”; and, ever since, these utterances have been recalled by Freemasons in the penalties prescribed for the breaking of their oaths.
Without Hiram Abiff’s imagined murder, Freemasonry would have no ritual climax or martyred leader. So, this third degree ceremony helps create possibly the most emotive expression of mutual aid in Freemasonry, and comes straight after a solemn, even frightening enactment of murder, which according to some sources has bought the candidate to tears on occasion. So, after going through this emotional experience in front of the rest of his lodge, the new Master Mason very likely feels that he owes an overriding loyalty to his brethren.
Further, Masonic ritual teaches that imitation of Hiram Abiff is the way to reconciliation with the Great Architect of the Universe, and at the conclusion of the baptism into the Third Degree, the new Master Mason is told that he should imitate Hiram Abiff, so that he may gain entry into the “Celestial Lodge above”, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.
So, just like the other Freemasons oaths and penalties, this entire fairytale is an 18th century invention, and the fantasy of Hiram’s murder is yet another slander against medieval stonemasons, who illiterate as they likely were, were much less prone to bogus history than the Georgian gentlemen who went on to hijacked their traditions.
With a freshly-minted myth of King Solomon’s architect, the writers of the rituals had introduced the “Temple” to Freemasonry, and could now invoke the many religious and mystical properties associated with such a metaphysical concept.
Masonry ought forever to be abolished. It is wrong – essentially wrong – a seed of evil, which can never produce any good. ~~ former U.S. President John Quincy Adams
The Legend
According to the Masonic legend, Hiram Abiff was a man of Tyre, the son of a widow, and the chief architect of the Temple built by King Solomon. He was the central character in the building of the Temple and one of three leading characters along with King Solomon and Hiram, King of Tyre.
Hiram Abiff, Masonry teaches, was the only one on Earth who knew “the secrets of a Master Mason,” including the most important secret of all, the “Grand Masonic Word,” the name of God (the “ineffable name”). In the Occult, knowing the name of a spirit is a key to having its power, there was a very great power in knowing this word.
Knowing the other “secrets of a Master Mason” would enable the masons/workmen working on the Temple project to go out on their own, working as Master Masons and earning Master Mason’s wages.”
Hiram Abiff had promised to reveal the “secrets of a Master Mason,” including the name of God (“Grand Masonic Word”), upon completion of the Temple, and to make the workmen Master Masons, enabling them to go out on their own as masters (instead of “fellowcraft” Masons). One day Hiram went, as was his custom, into the unfinished Holy of Holies at noon (“High Twelve”) to worship and to draw up the work plans (on his “trestleboard”) for the workmen to follow the next day. The workmen were outside the Temple for their lunch break (“…the craft were called from labor to refreshment…”).
As Hiram was leaving the Temple he was accosted by three men in succession, who demanded that they be given the secrets immediately (without waiting for the Temple to be completed). He was handled roughly by the first man (Jubela), but escaped. Accosted and handled roughly by the second man (Jubelo), he again refused to divulge the secrets and again escaped. The third man (Jubelum) then accosted him and, when Hiram again refused to divulge the secrets, the man killed him with a blow to the forehead with a setting maul.
The body was then concealed under some rubbish in the Temple until midnight (“low twelve”) when it was taken out to the a hill and buried. The grave was marked by an Acacia branch, and the three men then tried to leave the country. They couldn’t get passage on a ship so they retreated into the hills to hide.
King Solomon was notified that these 3 men were missing in addition to Hiram Abiff who was also missing. Two searches were conducted. The temple was searched (presumably at the King’s request) and none of the men were found. At this point 12 “fellowcrafts” reported to the King that they and three others had conspired to extort the secrets of Hiram Abiff from him but they had repented and refused to go through with the plan. They informed the King of the three men that murdered Hiram Abiff and King Solomon then sent out a second search party to look everywhere they could and find the body of Hiram Abiff.
It is unclear at this point how the search party ended up at the proper grave, but apparently, the sea captain who refused to take the three men onboard had some information that could be used. In either case, the search party finally discovered the grave with the Acacia branch at the head. They dug up the body and sent word back to King Solomon. It is then stated that King Solomon sent an “Entered Apprentice” to attempt to dig up the body, but because the body had already begun to decompose, they could not raise it..
King Solomon reportedly then sent a Fellowcraft to attempt to raise the body. This too failed since the “Grip” of the Entered Apprentice and the “Grip” of the Fellowcraft were inadequate for the job. The story then continues that King Solomon himself went to the grave and raised the body up with the grip of a Master Mason, (the “Strong Grip of a Lion’s Paw.)”
It is then stated that Hiram was not only brought up out of the grave, but restored to life.
The first word he spoke was the replacement for the “Grand Masonic Word” lost at his death and that word is the one passed down to Master Masons to this day.
Most Blue Lodge Masons believe that this story of Hiram Abiff is a factual, scriptural and historical account.
The Masonic leaders and writers of doctrine agree that it is not only a myth, unsupported by facts, but acknowledge that it is but a retelling of the story of Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris!
Why then, would people believe the story? Is this story actually recorded in scripture?
The Bible and Hiram Abiff
Is there anyone named Hiram Abiff ever recorded in the bible? NO, there is no such person despite the fact that King Solomon’s name is used in the Masonic teaching.
The Scriptures do record two men named Hiram (1 Kings chapters 5, 7, 9 and 10) concerning the building of the Temple by King Solomon; one is Hiram, King of Tyre, who was supportive of Solomon and who provided materials and workmen for the project. The other Hiram, called “a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali,” who was a worker in brass, not the architect of the entire Temple. He made the brass pillars, the brass lavers, shovels and basins.
The Scriptures record that this Hiram, the widows son, completed all the work that he had come to do on the Temple and then he then returned to his home in Tyre, safe and sound (there is no indication in the Bible of anything to the contrary).
Concerning the Masonic claim that Hiram, the widow’s son, was chief architect of the Temple, the Bible is clear in establishing that he was not at all, the chief architect!
The Bible reveals that God, Himself, was the designer and architect of the Temple, that He gave the plans in minute detail to David and that David gave them to Solomon along with most of the materials. To claim that anyone but God was the Chief Architect of the Temple is unfounded and, I believe it is at the very least, blasphemous.
The Real Story
It has been overwhelmingly by Masonic leaders and writers of doctrine that the legend of Hiram Abiff is the Masonic version of the Egyptian story of the pagan gods of Isis and Osiris.
Allow me to present that story and to compare it with the story of Hiram Abiff.
Isis and Osiris: Pagan gods of Egypt
Osiris, both King of the Egyptians and their god, went on a long journey (this is a common theme in pagan cultures) to bless neighboring nations with his knowledge of arts and sciences. His jealous brother, Typhon (god of Winter) conspired to murder him and steal his kingdom.
Isis was not only the sister but the wife of Osiris. This of course, made her his queen. What this also did, since Osiris was know as the “Sun God” of Egypt: was to make Isis the “Moon-goddess” of Egypt. The story states that she went to search for the body of Osiris in all directions, asking everyone she met.
She finally found the body with an Acacia tree at the head of the coffin. When she returned home with the body, she secretly buried the body, intending to give it proper burial as soon as arrangements were made.
Typhon, by treachery, stole the body, cut it up into 14 pieces and hid them in as many different places. Isis then made a second search and located all the pieces but one; the one missing and lost part was the phallus (if you know Egyptian culture, you understand this).
She made a substitute phallus, consecrated it, and it became a sacred substitute, and object of worship.
There is much more to the story, but these are the basics.
Allow me now to compare both stories. Masonic leaders also acknowledge that this comparison is true and accurate.
Hiram Abiff compared to Osiris
The story is easily seen and recognizable. The basics of the stories are as follows:
(1) Both men went to foreign lands to share their knowledge of arts and sciences.
(2) In both legends there is a precious thing possessed: Hiram has the secret word; Osiris has the kingdom.
(3) In both legends there is a wicked conspiracy by evil men to seize the precious thing.
(4) In both legends there is a struggle and a murder of the leader. the one who holds the precious treasure.
(5) Both are murdered by their brothers (Osiris by Typhon; Hiram by Jubelum, his brother Mason).
(6) Both bodies are buried hastily, with the intention of a later, proper burial, hence the reason for the marker as outlined below:
(7) The graves containing the bodies were both marked by Acacia at the head.
(8) In both legends, there are two separate searches for the bodies.
(9) In both legends there is a loss of something precious: in Hiram’s death, the secret word is lost; in Osiris’ death, the phallus is lost.
(10) In both there is a substitution for the precious thing that has been lost; concerning Hiram it is the substitute for the secret word; concerning Osiris it is the substitute phallus.
CONCLUSION
It is clear that the Hiram Abiff of Freemasonry is not an historical character and certainly not a biblical one. Hiram Abiff of Freemasonry actually represents Osiris, the Egyptian Sun-god!
When the Mason’s in their initiation rites reenact the Legend of Hiram Abiff, it is actually the reenactment of the legend of Isis and Osiris.
Each man who is initiated into the Third (Master Mason) Degree of Masonry impersonates Osiris, the Sun-god of Egypt, and enters into his life of good deeds, his death, his burial and is “raised” in his resurrection from the dead. It is NOT the reenactment of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ to which Masons give honor or receive.
With this understood, it is then easy to understand the statement in the Kentucky Monitor that, while the Christian’s Messiah is called Jesus, the Mason’s Messiah is called Hiram (Kentucky Monitor, “the Spirit of Masonry,” xv).
Even Most Masons don’t quite realize that in the “Kentucky Monitor” (handbook for all Blue Lodge Masonry in the Grand Lodge of Kentucky), and other publications of the Masons, there is a statement that should be shocking to anyone who professes true Christianity:
“while the Christian’s Messiah is called Jesus, the Mason’s Messiah is called Hiram” (Kentucky Monitor, “the Spirit of Masonry,” xv).
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”
2 Corinthians 11:3-4
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
Galatians 1:6-7