[ The Learned Author has in his article “Esotericism and Freemasonry”, posted in this website as Article No.181, has referred to the inscription V.I.T.R.I.O.L in the Chamber of Reflections, in which the candidate is required to meditate for some time prior to his introduction in the Lodges in some of  the Masonic Jurisdictions and  that, the word represents the initials of the words in the Latin sentence Visita Interiora Terra Rectificando Inventies Occultum Lapidem. A detailed elucidation of the significance of those words has been provided in this short article, in order to make the earlier Article complete. Please read on . . .  ]

Reflections On The Word “ V.I.T.R.I.O.L.”

By R.W.Bro.Leon Zeldis A.G.M

 The word VITRIOL is displayed in the Chamber of Reflection, used in some masonic rituals as the first contact of the candidate with the Lodge. Its meaning is not always apparent, although its alchemical origin is well known.  The word is actually composed of the initials of a Latin sentence:

“VISITA  INTERIORA  TERRA  RECTIFICANDO  INVENIES  OCCULTUM  LAPIDEM” 

Visit the interior of the earth and rectifying (i.e. purifying), you will find the hidden stone. This has been interpreted as a message inciting the initiate to delve into his own soul in order to find wisdom. However, let us examine closely each of the words.

 VISITA. A visit. This means that the initiate journey into his soul must be a two-way journey, like the course followed on a labyrinth, which ends by returning to the starting point. The initiate must not seek to remain inside. He goes and comes back. He visits.

INTERIORA. The interior, the inside. As The Gospel of Phillip, quoted in A Gnostic Book of Hours states: ‘The revealed one they call “the one who is below”, and the hidden one is supposed to be above him. It would be better for them to say, “The Inner and the Outer”, and “What is outside of the outer.” This means that the usual Gnostic principle “what is above is also below” can be transformed into “what is inside is also outside”.

TERRA. Earth, one of the alchemical elements. The ground, the basis, and also the material, terrestrial (as opposite to spiritual or ethereal). The body.

RECTIFICANDO. Like rectified alcohol. This means at the same time an act of purification and of straightening. Whatever is bent must be straightened. The straight path must be followed. By rectifying our thoughts and our actions we shall find the hidden truth.

INVENIES. Literally: “shall find”. The same root of “invention”. Coming upon something (previously unknown). Karl Popper maintained that scientific truth must be invented.

OCCULTUM. Here we find a connection with “occulum”, the eye. The T may refer to Templum, the temple. This can be intepreted as the All-Seeing Eye that dwells within the Temple.

 LAPIDEM. The stone. Stone has many  connection with the sacred. Altars are made of stone. Kings are crowned seated on a stone. The symbolism of the stone is extensive.

By displaying VITRIOL to the eyes of the candidate, the intention is to teach him to search within his own soul and spirit in order to find the philosopher’s stone, that is, the key to understanding and eternal life.

Vitriol is also the name of a chemical compound: a caustic sulfate of various metals, such as copper, iron or zinc. The demonic aspect of sulfur and the yellow color is well known, this, together with the red of copper and the black of iron, are the basic colors of alchemical symbolism.

The rituals of the first degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite are strongly influenced by the symbolism of alchemy, and the decoration of the Chamber of Reflection is just one of the examples of this connection.