Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-11-02

On the Mysteries Of Masonry iil Mailing
ABbey Lodge No. 1858, so far as they
7lldg be lGICfuLly published.
From Freemsson's Magazine, London
The symbols and mysteries Of Free
masonry are a stOrehOuse Of the tTeasu-
ries Of moral and philosophie truth. The
ancient Mssons doubtless looked on them
with very different eyes, according to
the various degrees of proficiency which
thew had attained. Whilst the many
would recognize in the embleufs and
ceremonies belonging to the three stages
through which they had passed nothing
further than what was communicated
Unfortunately to al the brethren,
Others would discern under them deeper
and more impOrtant truths completely
yelled from the sight of the Ordinary in
ouirer. Hence the division Of MasOns
into exoteric and esOteric by Phyths-
goras. The exOteric truth Of Masonry
have been taught US in our Lodges Of in
structiOn, and delivered to Us in lectures
on the trscing boards. The esoteric
teachings Of Masonry, now, as for
merly, can only be fully discerned by dill
igent investigation. The writings OF
philosophers, and the architectural and
other records of religious systems, will
often suggest explanations Of Masonic
signs, and will again, in their turn, be
more fully understood and appreciated
when read in the light which Masonry
will shed upon them.
A brief consideration Of the general
purp0rt Of the three degrees Of Craft
! Masonry will serve as a preparation for
a more particular inquiry into the signiti-
| cation and object of its several symbols
and allegOries.
| We NAV consider the three degrees
with reference, first, to three periods OF
/ the history Of mankind; and, secondly,
/ to three stages in the life and education
OF an individual.
A glance at the tracing boards will
show how large g proportion of our sym
! bols belong to the first degree. And this
was to be expected, for gesture, Language
and picture writing would characterize
the early ages of the world as they nov
mark the infant state Of nations an0
individuals.
The distinctive symbols Of the frs
degree are doubtless Of the highest an
tiquity Probably they were sll used il
Masonry before the departure Of thu
Israelites from Egypt.
The earliest traditions would have ref
erence to the creation Of the world. Thi
was completed in seven periods or days
and seven is the characteristic numbe
of the first degree. The Masonic ladde
has seven rounds.
objection: There are but three round
named in Masonry.
AnsUeT: The names so given are com
paratively modern, as is the designation
of "Jacob's Ladder" When this EN-
bIem .of the E. A. Is fully considered
reasons will be given for believing thS
the ladder was a Masonic symbol beforr
the time of Jacob, and that the numbe
Of the rounds was seven.
The three pillars refer to the Creator 0
: the Universe. The Deity was repre-
sented by pillar, because it contained
kind of outline of the form OF a man il
hight and breadth, though OF far large
dimensions. This mode Of representing
Deity must have continued to the tim
OF the Exodus, for the Israelites wer
directed to throw down the pillars Of tn
idolatrous Cansanites; and it msy hav
! been on this account that the Di
vine presence was represented by tn
form Of pillar when the Israelites cam
out Of Egypt. The three pillars denot
q Trinity.
Objection The doctrine Of the Trinit
was unknown in the earliest periods {
Masonry, and the three pillars represen
the three principal officers of the Lodge
the three chief persons employed in tb
building of the temple; and three order
of architecture. Ard the lights hav
reference to the positions Of the sun.
Answer: These applications of th
symbol do not exclude the other. At th
: time to which we refer the introductio
Of the three pillars into the tracing boar
: of the Z. A. Degree, the builders Of th
, temple were not born, and the orders {
3 architecture were unknown; the cOnneC
} ton Of these last With Masonry is pei
7 haps figurative of the support the Lodge
r derived from three systems Of Greeia
: philosophy - the Dorian, IOnisn, an
: Attic. The consideration Of these latte
t applications is full of interest and instru,
tion. knowledge Of purely religion
! character does not appear TO bav
formed part of the ordinary instructiO
in Lodges, but was reserved for Il
= % WEsoterics.U PythagOras himself r
i commended conformity to the religion
> practices Of the country to which MssoI
8 belonged. But there was certainly r
J, ligtous knowledge veiled under the Nj
: sonic symbols, sparingly communicates
/ and a traditional knowledge Of Il
!. Trinity may have been included in
If II Is certain that in systems of religiC
u derived from o corruption Of Masonry,
; Druidism, the number three was investt
=, with q sacred character, as in the hon
l. given TO the mistletoe, and numero
10 other instances. The reverence for Il
1t triangular form amongst MasOns W
.e also very significant But this questiC
)r must be left for future cOnsideratio
ss The course Of the sun was the subject
le various allegories and symbols In d
le earliest ages of many nations and the
1t place in Masonry is therefore very pro
Is able.
le There is also reference, in the E.
y degree, to the first period in mar
z life and culture. The three periods, ct
le responding to the three degrees in Cra
u Masonry, are thus described by Algs
zali, the Arabian philosopher "T
be first, or infantile stake in intellectJ
e. development is that of pure sensatio
a. the second, which begins at the age
d, seven, is that Of understanding; {
er third is reason, by means of which {
III intellect perceives the necessary, I
ry possible, the absolute, and all tht
at higher objects which transcend the l
se, derstandiDg."