Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-08-20

itual ediice is to be constructed.
This symbolic reference Of mason, al
his initiation, to the corner stone of relig'
ious edifce, is beautifully extended by all al
lusion to all the various parts and qualities
which are to be found in the chief stone o
building. Its torn-its pnsiIion-its beau
ty-its durability-are all seized by the com
prehensive grasp of our symbolic science,
and converted into important lessons of mo
rality and religion.
The corner stone of an edifice must be O
perfect square, lest by violation of this
true geolnetric figure, the walls to be erected
OH it should deviate from the requiredline oi
perpendiculs'ity, which can alone give
strength aud proportion to the building.
Perfectly square on its surface, il is in its
sulid contents cube Now the square and
the cube ale both important and significant
symbols.
The square is an emblem Of morality or
the strict performance of every duty. Among
the Greeks, who were highly poetic aud
imaginative people, the square was deemed
figure Of perfection, aud the amer eetragonos,
"the square or cubical man" was term
used 10 designate q man of unsullied inIeg.
rity. Hence, one Of their most eminent
metaphysicians has said, that he who vail
an,ly sustains the shocks of adverse fortune,
demeauing himself uprishtly, is truly good
and of a square posture, without reprool,
and he who would assume such square
posture, should often subject himself 10 the
perfectly square test of justice and integrity"
The cube, in the language OF syn,b"lism,
denotes truth. Among the Pagan mytholo-
gists, Mercury, or Hermes, because he was
the type OF truth, was always represented BY
Il cnbcal stone, and the same form was
adopted by the Iraelitrs in 'he construction
of the tabernacle which was to be the dwell.
ling place Of Divine truth.
The mason, then, is reminded, by this pc.
culiar and essential form of the corner stone,
of the necessity of basiug all his efforts to
accomplish the just design Of his profession,
upon the sure foundation of mistaken integ.
r,y and undertaking truih--that integrity,
ny the constant practice of which alone, he
can expect to gain admission after helabors
of this earthly lodge, into the divine refresh
ments OF an eternal one, and that truth.
which, he is informed, is divine attribute
and The foundation of every virtue, the first
lesson he is taught-the theme he is perpet.
ually to contemplate, and the rule by which
he is at all times to regulate his conduct.
But The position Of tho corner stone like.
wise attiacts our attentions Placed in the
angle of the wall, aud presenting two OF its
equal surfaces TO corresponding sides, it thus
forms strong connecting link which gives
security and stability to the edi6ce. Hence,
it is symbolic Of that bro,herly love and at.
lection which uniles our fraternity into one
sacred band of friends and brothers, among
whom no contention should ever exist but
that noble emulation of who can best work
and best agree. Each mason thus. as Il cor.
ner stone of the great edifce Of his institu.
ton, constitutes connecting link which
binds the whole order with an adamantine
hand, aud enables it, with vast chain OF
love, to girdle the entire earth, carrying its
principles and its benefts--its beauty and its
holiness--is spirit aud its power-intu the
remntest lands where the step Of man has
left foot. print or the voice of man awakened
an echo.
The invariable position Of the corner stone
is in the northeast corner Of the building,
and this also furnishes all impressive lesson
OF symbolism. Every mason is familiar
with the fact, that the east, as the source OF
material light, is symbol Of our own Or
der, which seeks to disseminate the light of
truth and love to its disciples, whence ma.
SONS often call themselves the "Sons Of
Light" and that the north, as the spot re-
mo,est from the Illuminating rays of the SO.
lar orb when at his meridian height, has,
with equal metaphoric propriety, been called
",he place of darkness" aud is thus sup
posed to denote the profane world without
u.s. who have not yet been penetrated and
enlightened by the intellectual rays Of ma.
sonic light. Now, as one of the faces Of the
corner stone looks towards the east, and the
other towards the north, this double direc-
ton is intended to remind US that the union
of love aud charity should not be confined
to our own household, but that we should
extend il, in the true spirit Of liberality, 10
the whole human race-csteemlng all men
us our brethren, and guiding ourselves by the
golden rule Of doing unto others as we would
that they should do unto US.
The beauty of the stone is also an essen.
ta element Of its symbolism. Constructed
generally OF material finer aud more pol.
,shed than that which constitutes the remain.
der of the ediiice-often carved with ap.
propriate devices and fitted for its distin
guished purpose by the utmost skill of the
scuIptor's art, it becomes the appropriate
symbol of that beauty of holiness with
which the Hebrew psalmist has said that we
are to worship Jehovah. 1t teaches US, that
while wealth and talents aud outward adorn-
ments may make US acceptable to the dmly
seeing and falsely estimating world, there
must be in the corner stone Of our hearts an
inward wealth of virtues practical knowl.
edge of duty-a spiritual adornment of
grace, which can alone make the edifce of
our souls worthy of the reception of Him
who is himself all purity and spiritual beau.
ty and to whom the de6lement of sin is ever
abhorrent.
Again: the durability Of tue corner stone
is eminen,ly suggestive to US. To fulfil its
design as the foundation and support Of the
massive hnildins, il must he constructed ol
material which shall outlast aud survive all
other parts of the edifce, so that when that
eternal ocean whose waves are years" shall