The very first sentence of the First Degree initiation declares masonry to be “… an Art founded on the principles of Geometry”. It seems inevitable that Frieda Harris would apply the esoteric geometry she was learning in anthroposophical circles to her Craft. Sometime during 1937/38 she did this by painting her own versions of the tracing boards that were shown to candidates during their initiations, visual symbolism being central in rituals derived from a less literate age. Her treatment of the traditional designs was radical and gave visually stunning results.

Of course, whether or not these boards where actually used in the lodge is total conjecture!

First Degree Tracing Board.
In the bottom right can be seen the rough stone, symbolic of the candidate himself, above and next to it the gauge, gavel and chisel.  Also resting against the rough stone, with its back to the view, is the very tracing board that we are now viewing.

Elsewhere upon the black and white tiles are the tools of the Lodge, to our right the plumb and the square. To our left the level and the sword with which the Tyler guards the Lodge. Central is the perfect ashlar, the ideal square cut stone. It has a lewis fitted into its top as it is ready to be lifted into place. 

Upon the Volume of the Sacred Law one can see the square and compasses, the central symbols of the Craft. Above Jacob’s Ladder links earth to heaven.  On its rungs we can see the cross, symbolic of faith, the key indicating secrecy and the anchor representing hope. Above the light signifying the enlightenment of the Craft. At the top of Jacob’s ladder, a star rendered by Frieda as a pentagonal bipyramid. One can see the three forms of Greek pillars, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian.

The indented border represents the planets, and the tassels in the corners hark back to the 18th century, when the tracing board designs were executed on cloth.  The sword is particularly prominent. In mainstream masonry it is the weapon of the Tyler charged with protecting the Lodge from intrusion. In co-masonry it is also used to channel energy from the Divine, through the initiating Master Mason to the candidate.

Second Degree Tracing Board.
This shows the pillars of Temple of Solomon They are depicted as described in the initiation ritual, one surmounted by the sphere of the earth, the other the firmament.  The exaltation of the candidate as he or she passes between the pillars and then up the spiral staircase is indicated by the figure rising from the bottom left corner.

Unlike traditional tracing boards, and in keeping with the principles of projective geometry the culmination of the spiral of the staircase is depicted with columns morphing into a rainbow and the secret Name of God uttered once a year by the High Priest in King Solomon’s Temple.  Frieda does not spell it out in full but indicates the first letter with a dove, the name of which in Hebrew commences with Yod. Above, the blazing star formed of the intersecting black and white triangles with the letter ‘G’, for God and Geometry.

 Third Degree Tracing Board.
Frieda Harris portrays the usual coffin as an irregular dodecahedron, with coffin lids on multiple planes. The one facing the viewer has a portal into Solomon’s Temple. The degree’s exploration of the Mysteries of Death is confirmed by the skulls and crossed bones. The surround of acacia leaves promises immortality and the angelic wings and heavenly bodies suggests transcendence of earthly life.  

000″3″ refers to Anno Lucis [Year of Light] 3000. As we know Freemasonry dates from the traditional Judeo-Christian estimate that the world was created in 4004 B.C.E., and the date of Hiram Abiff’s death is taken as 1004 B.C.E. The number 5 repeated twice on the tracing board references the 5 Points of Fellowship, the Word and Grip resurrects the Candidate after he has taken the part of Hiram Abiff in a re-enactment of the crime.

 Conclusion
The images depicted on these boards can be looked upon as windows into King Solomon’s Temple. They can also be used as the vehicles for the exploration of occult masonry by means of astral projection. The method to do this would be to visualise your body standing in front of yourself, then step into your astral body and enter the scenes shown in the tracing boards, for example, ascend the ladder on the First Degree board, climb the spiral staircase on the Second Degree board and enter the portal of death illustrated in the third degree board.

Credit: W.Bro. Clive Robson P.A.G.D.C.