Masonry and the South Capitol Mall-
Kleinknecht's Explaination?
Against moving St Vincent DePaul Church a few hundred feet east
adopted from Monumental Indicator

Perhaps Kleinknecht points to a reason why St Vincent De Paul Church could not budge, via writing the forward to the book ‘The Secret Architecture of our Nation’s Capital: The Masons and the Building of Washington, D.C.”, by David Ovason:

“As above, so below.” These words, attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, lie at the heart of the Western esoteric tradition. In brief, they mean that the universe and all it contains is reflected in some manner not only on Earth, but also in man ad his works. The chief quest of all ages has been man’s attempt to understand the mystery of existence and to find his place in it. He keenly observed the movement of the stars, as we read in Genesis 1:14, “for signs, and for seasons.” Not only have the stars guided the traveler on the earth and seas, but their constellations are archetypes that have been viewed as guides for the lives of men and nations. In this fascinating and well-researched book, David Ovason presents the remarkable thesis that Washington, D.C., is a city of the stars. He demonstrates that there are over 30 zodiacs in the city, and that the majority of them are orientated in a meaningful way. Even more astonishing is to learn that these zodiacs were designed to point to the actual heavens- this marrying the Capital City with the stars. This discovery parallels the recent finding in Egypt that the three Great Pyramids correspond with the three stars in Orion’s belt, while the Nile River occupies the same relative position as the Milky Way. [Emphasis added] It is still debated whether this was intentional, yet the correlation is undeniable. Similarly, the assignment, position and meaning of Washington, D.C.’s zodiacs bespeak a relationship between heaven and earth. Recent scholarship, such as Steven C. Bullock’s Revolutionary Brotherhood: Freemasonry and the Transformation of the American Social Order, 1730-1840 (University of North Carolina Press, 1996), demonstrates the undeniable influence Freemasonry exerted on the American system of government and lifestyle.

Aware of these influences, David Ovason discovered what may be Masonic influences in the architecture and the layout of the city. He does not assert that all of his correspondences or discovered secrets were laid down by Masons, but there is some support for his argument in documents preserved by Masons, but there is support for his arguments preserved in the Achieves and Library of the Supreme Council, 33rd degree, Southern Jurisdiction.

As in other Scottish Rite Blue Lodge (“Symbolic” or “Craft”) rituals, Albert Pike’s Book of the Lodge contains recommendations for decorating the lodge ceilings with constellations and planets. The star map, which is painted on the ceiling, is replete with Masonic symbolism that was influenced by French designs in the early 19th century. The astonishing thing is that Pike’s ceiling design reflects precisely the same mysteries observed by David Ovason in this book. These mysteries relate to the constellation Virgo. Pike’s map is entirely schematic- which is to say that it does not reflect the actual position of the stars in the heavens. (Leo could in no way be represented as following Ursa Majoris, for example). [Emphasis added]. Even so, Pike is very clear in allocating his symbolic placing of planets and stars. For example he places the full Moon between the constellations Scorpio and Virgo. This means that the full Moon between the constellations Libra, and the star Spica is just above the lunar crescent. What does that mean to us?

The star Spica happens to be the one that David Ovason has shown to be the symbolically linked with both Washington, D.C. and the United States as a whole. As the reader will learn, Ovason also suggests that this star may be the origin of the five-pointed star that adorns the American flag. He also suggests that Spica may have been the origin of the Blazing (or Flaming) Star of Freemasonry. Certainly, it would be far fetched to draw too many conclusions for a schematic map, but it is evident that Pike visualized his star map as marking the setting of Virgi, along with the constellation of Bootes, to the north. This is precisely the cosmic setting that David Ovason suggests represents the secret star plan of Washington,D.C. While Pike engineered a schematic time for his star map, Ovason shows that it relates to a number of days centering upon August 10 of each year. The significance of this and other “mysteries” is fully explored in this work. In view of the meanings that may be traced in Albert Pike’s map, we can only wonder if he observed the same correspondences of the city, noted by Ovason, yet for reasons of his own never divulged them. In any case, David Ovason presents us with a fascinating work that will be sure to captivate and entertain readers interested in architecture, esotericism, Freemasonry, and our nation’s capital. His thesis may be controversial, but it is well thought out and presented.

This ‘zodiac’ concept could be a ‘why’ behind the refusal to relocate the St Vincent DePaul Church, and/or the placement of the stadium, with its jutting to the south clubhouse.

Starting with St. Vincent de Paul Church; it can be said to look somewhat Masonic from the front with its pyramid shaped peak above that ‘eye’ of a window.

Note its three clearly defined points with its trio of crosses, with one each upon its shorter northern and taller southern towers, flanking a middle cross at its roof’s peak.





The zodiac of the Virgo appears relevant to this St Vincent DePaul Church at the northeast quadrant of the intersection of Washington, D.C.’s South Capitol Street and M Street.

(I’ve seen this zodiac design feature on numerous churches, including ‘protestant')

From these different illustrations within Ovason’s Kleinknecht forwarded book, it’s apparent that these exact angles may vary.

But why should that matter with the idea of moving the church a few hundred feet east?


Especially with a schematic rather then exact scheme of things rule- as mentioned in Kleinknecht's forward to Ovason's The Secret Architecture of our Nation’s Capital: The Masons and the Building of Washington, D.C.?