The Symbolism of The Candle in Freemasonry. Reflections on Light, The Four Elements and The Three Journeys of The Apprentice

<p>From the Middle Ages, in the West, the candle competed with the oil lamp which had the<br>disadvantage of being more dangerous, requiring more attention and required more handling for<br>filling and changing the wick which quickly charred. The candle had a wick surrounded by beef or<br>mutton tallow.<br>The word "candle" appeared in the French language in the 14th century. But it is to Michel-Eugène<br>Chevreul, a French chemist, that we owe the invention of the first candle in the 1820s, following the<br>discovery of saponification.</p> <p>But what is the meaning and the importance of the candle in Freemasonry?</p> <p>Importance of the four elements. Importance of receiving the light in Freemasonry and the profane receiving the light during his initiation.</p>