Masonic Rings by Fox Jewelry

The All-Seeing Eye is an important symbol of the Supreme Being borrowed by the Freemasons from both the Hebrews and the Egyptians. It appears as though the all-seeing eye was selected as an organ as the symbol of the function which it is intended. Similarly, the foot was often adopted as the symbol of swiftness, the arm of strength, and the hand of fidelity.

The All-Seeing Eye could then be considered as a symbol of God manifested in his omnipresence and preserving character-to which Solomon alludes in the Book of Proverbs (xv, 3), where he says: “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding (or, as in the Revised Version, keeping watch upon) the evil and the good.” It is a symbol of the Omnipresent Deity.

The use of the eye emblem to represent God was quite common in the Renaissance; often, the eye would be enclosed within a triangle representing the triune godhead. Such an emblem can be found in numerous examples of Christian art.

The Eye of Providence also appears as part of the iconography of the Freemasons. Here it represents the all-seeing eye of God, and is then a reminder that a Mason’s deeds are always observed by God (who is referred to in Masonry as the Grand Architect of the Universe). Typically the Masonic Eye of Providence has a semi-circular glory below the eye — often the lowest rays extend further down. Sometimes the Eye is enclosed by a triangle.

The all-seeiing eye can be found on many Masonic rings; particulary the Past Master’s Ring.

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