The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-10-16
Art-Its masonic DeyeIopm emit,


Among the various aspects in which Free
Masonry may be considered, perhaps one o.
the most interesting is in relation to its con.
nection with theN development Of Art Ar
is uncreated; it is pure and brilliant ema.
nation from the Divinity; but it is contempol
raneous with the creation When the Sub
lime Architect of the Universe fashioned His
design in infinite Wisdom, and executed His
plans with infinite Strength, He was not u,i-
mindful Of the Beauty which completes the
Trinity Of His projections, but gave it ter
restrial expression in the works of His hands
The highest manifestations of Art are
therefore to be found in the wonders of Ma
ture; and he who would be most successful in at
tanning the development and expression OF
Art, must follow the teachings Of the great
Master Builder, and initiate his designs as
spread before US on the magnificent trestle
board OF the universe. In the earliest ages
of the world, the idea of art existed but th,I Q
were insuperable obstacles toits lphysicai ex
preston, Condemned to subdue a rebelious
nature, and mould it to service man was
compelled to conquer the earth before he
could attemptito etnbellish it, t-t>a
1t is we'll known that the notions of art
and science have come down to us from
i1SJPD' VhiouSu VIC iutor poSlIiOu OIL the
Gfeeks, ana subsequently Of the Rpmans.-F
There were only chosen few among the
sEgy ptiahs VINO were IN possession OF science,
aud they required OF their initiates many
physical ana mefai TRIALS before sharing their
secrets WIN tneih. hese men, wishing to-
eXciude themselves ifoln the rest OF the world
~ order 70 pursue tnelr phi losophieal lnves-i
tlgatons more quietly, formed secret societies;
aud these are the societies whose labors are
known under the names Of the mysteries OF
Isis, OF sflellsis, &c, which held the monopo-
ylof science. but they desired to pcrfetuate
the results OF their researches IN a material
manner, which should be concealed from the
eyes OF the common people; and for th is pur-
pose they employed hieroglyphc characters,
composed OF the hgures OF all the objects
which strike the senses, and TO which signif-
cations were gwen, analogous to their forms
and their attributes. Thus at the commence
ment, writing, the physical means by which
sPlenoe 10 communicated, was nothing else
than pictorial representations OF the actions
or the subjects whose remembrance they de-
sngu ~ pe. ~ no. 4.f4 ltA,
.h srs+ ,,f soanoo a.
.au !, tba orr 81 ;,,;.at; 80 VIZ
cient ;n;tiatas ,pe,aa ,,ona otbgr MI
snms ,annsa lahors ars o'n onnt sn@n '"v
! - r. !. ~ No vo' .tee !" u'''
,re a,va "a frSf nrnc;rl'.s AZ ~. LII s,,h
H. a, -. s,.as .. ~
n;u;,;., 81 - MR. ;7t'as ,'s
3fnto onr so,,Is and 6ils Nm Nth an aaa IL
the hsantif,,l and ND, t he. whih g mar
,o,,,atss tho fnest troits 81 h,,,na a IT.
rrhieh em sur nfai At !, h;s,o,a
What wonId he left hons of those orand s;t;es
destroved aces aoo bv time and bnn1an noss1
ions # wa I'D not those ma gn;tcent yes a
81 sc,,lntn,,a which, st;lI sta ndna - tba ~
aae,a e sau for onr anco,,ras, .u
n,sr have sccornnl;shed oreat t5inosw
mt while as Masons we are nrond Of The
nobla worLs Masonry has accom- n,;shed lat
ns sacb enSeavar in on, t,,rn - 'd;stina',,;sb
p ~ ,assa 90 throngb tb;s World hv Some ynrb
~ - f of ho;no hola :, rar,on,,~ra,,oo H.