by Bro. Jonathan Siudmak, Junior Warden
With October rolling in and Halloween decorations appearing throughout our neighborhoods, it’s a time when many believe the veil between life and death grows thinner. For Freemasons, this time of year offers a perfect opportunity to contemplate one of our Craft’s most profound symbols: the Scythe.
Often associated with the Grim Reaper, the Scythe in Virginia Freemasonry represents Time, cutting the “brittle thread of life” and casting us into eternity. Though foreboding, the Scythe serves as a reminder of life’s brevity and the urgency to act meaningfully before death claims us all. This symbol, while relevant during Halloween due to its imagery, carries profound lessons about mortality, time, and legacy that remain relevant throughout our lives.
In Freemasonry, the Scythe isn’t merely a symbol of death but a reminder of the finite nature of life. It slices through life’s stages, delivering every person to the inevitable end— to the “land where our fathers have gone before us, that bourne whence no traveler returns” – yet, in doing so it acts as a bridge between worlds both terrestrial and celestial. However, unlike the fearful Grim Reaper, the Masonic Scythe should not induce terror, instead, it should illustrate that death is a major player on the stage of the natural human experience, not as the one who drops the final curtain but as to transition the performance between acts.
Just as farmers use scythes to harvest crops, making room for new growth, the Scythe of Time harvests us all, clearing the way for future generations to sow seeds nurtured by the Craft. Such farming metaphor begets the question, what are we doing presently to ensure this new growth is healthy and sustainable? Knowing the Scythe of Time swings both unpredictably and inevitably, we are called to use our time on Earth wisely. From engaging in charitable works, to contributing to our community, to ensuring that the timeless tenets of the Fraternity are enacted in our daily lives; the more we reflect on what the Scythe has in store for us the greater the importance of our deeds become.
In this sense, the Scythe embodies the concept of legacy. Every cut it makes is a reminder that while our time is limited, the mark we leave behind can be eternal. It challenges us to reflect on how we will be remembered, or if, in the absence of meaningful contributions, how our memory is at risk of fading with the sands of Time.
Brethren, as you revel in the autumnal festivities, let the Scythe be a reminder of the deeper truths it symbolizes—truths about our existence, our end, and our everlasting journey beyond the veil. Let it inspire you to act justly and with compassion toward your fellow man, walking uprightly as equals upon the Level, to make each day count, knowing that each moment passes under the encroaching shadow of the unstoppable Scythe of Time.