I9 § The Letter G and the Swastika
I N The Great Triad in connection with Polar symbolism and the Chinese word i designating unity (the Pole Star is called Tai-i, that is, the 'Great Unity'), we mentioned the Masonic symbolism of the letter G. The normal position of this letter is likewise 'polar', and is to be compared with the letter I which represented the 'first name of God' for the Fedeli d'Amore. [1] The letter G could
not in itself be considered a true symbol inasmuch as it belongs to modern languages that have nothing sacred or traditional about them; but it 'stands for God' according to the English Masonic rituals, and is in fact the initial letter of the word God itself. Moreover its comparison with I is justified by the fact that, in certain cases at least, it has been considered as a substitute for the Hebrew yodh, symbol of the Principle or of Unity, in virtue of a phonetic assimilation between God and yodh. [2] These few remarks of ours were taken as the starting point for researches that have resulted in some new findings of the greatest interest. [3] This is why we think it worthwhile to return to this subject in order to complete what we have already said.
First of all, it is to be noted that in a very old catechism of the Companion grade, [4] the question: 'What does that G denote?', is answered, 'Geometry, or the Fifth Science' (that is, the science that ranks fifth in the traditional enumeration of the 'seven liberal arts', the esoteric transposition of which in medieval initiations we have pointed out on other occasions). This interpretation in no way contradicts the affirmation that the same letter 'stands for God', God being specially designated in that grade as 'The Great Geometer of the Universe'; and on the other hand, what gives it all its importance is that in the oldest manuscripts of operative Masonry, 'Geometry' is constantly identified with masonry itself. There is thus something here which cannot be considered negligible. Besides, as we shall now see, it appears that the letter G, as the first letter of the word Geometry, has assumed the place of gamma (Γ), its Greek equivalent, which the very origin of the word 'Geometry' sufficiently justifies (and here, at least, a modern language is no longer involved). Furthermore, this letter Γ has in itself a certain interest from the point of view of Masonic symbolism, by reason of its form which is that of the set-square [5] obviously not the case with the Latin G. [6] Now, before going further, it might be asked if this does not contradict what was said about G being a substitute for the Hebrew yodh, or at least-for this substitution did in fact take place