What is the role of the Worshipful Master in relation to the three columns?
The Worshipful Master plays a pivotal role in relation to the three columns, which symbolize Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty (or Harmony) within a Lodge of Freemasonry. These columns are represented by the Worshipful Master himself and his two Wardens. The Master instructs candidates about these columns during their initiation, emphasizing their significance as foundational elements upon which the Lodge rests. Specifically, the Master draws attention to the three great columns, explaining that they symbolize the essential qualities required for the governance and harmony of the Lodge. This connection is further illustrated in the masculine ritual, where these columns are also referred to as the three lesser lights, symbolizing the sun, the moon, and the Master of the Lodge, thereby linking modern Masonry with ancient symbolism.
As stated in *The Hidden Life in Freemasonry*, "the Master draws the candidate’s attention to the three great columns upon which a Lodge of Freemasonry symbolically rests - those of the R.W.M. and his two Wardens, symbolizing respectively wisdom, strength and beauty or harmony".