Acacia
Acacia is a plant name used in botanical, biblical and Masonic writing. These uses need to be distinguished: older books apply the name to species that modern botanists may place in other genera. For example, Kew accepts Senegalia senegal as the name of the gum-arabic tree formerly called Acacia senegal.[1]
Botanical names and materials
Senegalia senegal belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. Kew describes its native range as tropical and southern Africa extending to India, and its growth form as a shrub or tree. Its gum has uses in food preparation, crafts and cosmetics.[1]
Biblical reference
Exodus 25:10–22 specifies acacia wood for the Ark of the Covenant and its carrying poles, with gold covering the wood. This is part of the biblical account of the sanctuary's construction.[2]
Masonic interpretation
Albert G. Mackey's The Symbolism of Freemasonry interprets the sprig of acacia chiefly as an emblem of the immortality of the soul, and also discusses innocence. His account belongs to nineteenth-century Masonic symbolic literature, rather than botanical evidence.[3]
The name also appears in the separate American collegiate organisation Acacia Fraternity. Its own history traces its foundation in 1904 to members of a Masonic club at the University of Michigan. It states that its present Masonic ties are informal and symbolic, and that Masonic membership is not required to join.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton, Plants of the World Online, including Kew Species Profiles. Accessed 24 September 2026.
- ↑ Exodus 25:10–22, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, Bible Gateway. Accessed 24 September 2026.
- ↑ Albert G. Mackey, The Symbolism of Freemasonry, chapter XXVIII, “The Sprig of Acacia”. Project Gutenberg edition.
- ↑ Acacia Fraternity, Our History. Accessed 24 September 2026.
| Explore the Freemasonry Wiki: Full article index · All articles · All categories · Random article |