Fellowcraft: The Wages

Corn Wine and Oil.

Corn, Wine, and Oil symbolize the wealth of life in the mental and spiritual, not financial realms. In the Old Testament, these three were physical wealth; in Freemasonry, Corn represents plenty, referring to opportunity, friends, work; Oil represents joy, happiness, gladness; Wine represents health, spirituality, and peace. Together Corn, Wine and Oil represent the rewards of a good life. They are also the elements of consecration used in Masonic Cornerstone layings and in theconstitution and the dedication of Masonic Halls.

One of the early references to these material blessings of mankind is found in that passage from the Old Testament recited by the Grand Chaplain in the ceremony of constitution of newly chartered lodges.

“And thou shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is therein and shall hallow it and all that is thereof; and it shall be holy. I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, of thy vine and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shall thou give him.”

As the newly chartered lodge is anointed with an offering of corn, wine and oil, so too, do we make an offering when laying the cornerstones of new Lodge Halls, schools, civic buildings, and churches. At cornerstone ceremonies, the Grand Master explains:

“In ancient times the laying of a cornerstone of a great edifice was the occasion of a sacrificial rite. To the primitive mind, it appeared as an undertaking which would provoke the jealousy of the Deity unless a blood sacrifice was offered. Archaeology has uncovered mute evidence of this practice.”

“However, the advance of civilization, man’s changing concept of the Deity, from a jealous and vengeful God to a God of love and mercy, has changed the ceremony to one of joy and thanksgiving. The Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, looking ever to the goodness and compassion of the Great Architect of the Universe, lays cornerstones with an offering of Corn, Wine, and Oil.”

In these ceremonies, we learn that the fruits of our labor are to be used for the most beneficent purposes, that a portion is to be set aside for the service of God and the distressed and that we then will have truly earned the Corn of Nourishment, the Wine of Refreshment, and the Oil of Joy.

Excerpted from “Handbook for Candidate’s Coaches”

By The Committee on Ritual and Donald G. Campbell, Past Grand Lecturer.

Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of California.