G in Freemasonry 

The letter 'G' is familiar to all Masons and to most of the rest of the people on planet Earth.  In Freemasonry this letter is usually seen surrounded by the Square and Compasses.

What does it mean?

The answer to this question is not easy to give for several reasons. 

    1) There is no one person who speaks for all Masons
    2) There is no Grand Lodge that rules over all Masonic Lodges
    3) Many people have different ideas (Some have more than one idea by themselves.)

Here are some comments that may help one understand the letter 'G' as used by Masons.  There is nothing listed here that should be considered to be the final word on the meaning of the letter.  You may have your own idea as to its meaning.  If you have other insights into its meaning please send me your ideas.

    1) God
        (Said to be the common belief of those of the Christian Faith.)
    2) Goodness
        (Said to be the common belief among those of the Jewish faith.)
    3) Geometry or Geometric
        (Said to be the common belief of those of the Muslim faith.)
        (Geometry is said to have been synonymous with Masonry or Construction in the past.)
    4) Gnosis (Knowledge) or Gnosticism, or Gnostic. 
    5) Letter representing the number seven (7) (Seventh letter or English alphabet.)
        (Perhaps to represent the Seven Liberal Arts that Freemasons are encouraged to study)
        (Perhaps for the seven wonders of the world.)
        (Perhaps for the seven years it took to build Solomon's Temple)
        (Perhaps for the assumed seven days of the creation and rest by God.)
    6) Great Architect of the Universe (GAOTU)
    7) Golden Number
    8) Grand
    9) Order of the Garter
    10) Gold as in Alchemy
    11) Golden Rule 
    12) Generative principle (Sex act for reproduction)

Perhaps we will never know what it really represents.  It will probably never mean the same thing to all people.

What do you want it to represent?

Perhaps it was chosen as a symbol because no other group was using the letter 'G' at the time.

According to the June 2007 "Short Talk Bulletin" the Blazing Star was most often shown with a 'G' in its center. The idea that the 'G' stood for God seems not to have been introduced until between 1727 and 1730.