The semi-weekly Republican. (St. Francisville, La.) 1872-1872, 1872-04-16
LoslSe--Wiaat it is ana to
ss'saNsss Dedicated,


: A Masonic Lodge is said to be
place where Freemasons assemble
3 work. Its bounds are from the di
J tant quarters of the universe. I
hight is limited by the heavens. I
depth extends to the center, thus d,
noting the unlimited dominion {
that august Being, whose prcsenc
fills immensity, and whose providen
tlal care is over the minutest of Hi
creation. The supports of q Ma
sonic lodge are the pillars of lN;s
dom, Strength and Beauty. It is GOV
cred with the'starry canopy Of heav
en-, wither our lessons teach us al
good Masons may hope to arrive, b,
falM in God, Hope in Immortality
and Charity or love to all mankind
This indicated by the emblem of {:
ladder, Of which these virtues arc
said to be the principal rounds.
The furniture Of a lodge consists
Of the Ho'y Bib|c, the Square, and
Con1msses. The Billie is dedicated
to God, as being his inostimable gift
to man, and showing the path that
leads to happiness. The Square,
which denotes that unelring stand
ard OF divine truth, by which every
mans work is to be tried, is dedica-
ted to the Master, it being the ap-
prcpriate emblem of his office, to
reu'ind him Of the duty he owes to
the lodge over which he is appointed
to preside. The Compasscs, indica-
ting self-restraint, or the due sub
lection of the passions, and u peace
able submission to the laws and to
rn]e's, are dedicated to the craft.
Perhaps anciently, before Freema-
soniy became q speculative society,
The emblem of an open book may
have designated those laws which,
under the name Of reason, or natur-
II religion, regulated the moral
world. But more probably, it signi-
led those sacred writings those ora
'u'ar responses, Or revelations of the
WI Of the Deity to mau--wh;ch
most hcat(icn nations have supposed
themselves to possess, but which in
.uth did not belong to them. Thus
he East Indians represented one of
he appearances Of \7iishnu under the
multitude Of Il man coming out of
he mouth of vast fish, and hold
ng in one OF his hands an open
'ook or revelation from heaven, IF
his conjecture be well founded. it is
asy to account for the Introduction
{ the Scriptures into lodges Of Ma
ons, and for the yeneration in which
tells us they have immem-
rally been held. Certain it is, that
ac Holy Bible is termed, with en-
hasis, the great light of Masonry
is always open, to denote the pure ,,
ess Of it's professed benefits, and to
eprive us Of the plea of ignorance,
excuse our neglect Of the inpor-
mt message it brings.
Two ornaments of Il lodge ale the
[osaic pavement, with its tasselated
order, and the blazing star. The :.
[osiac pavement has an a}lusion to
le ground floor Of King Solonon's :,
emple, and the blazing star to the .
Terwatchful eye Of the Great Arch
ect of the Universe, of the Supreme ,
eing who guides and upholls u.s.
another point Of view, the Mosaic ..
svement, with its beautiful border, !.
ay be said to indicate the variety Il
delightful scenes aud objects :, a
hich ornament the natural world u
to denote the great diversitics of
aracter and incident which check :.
tue journey of life and the blaz- -
g star is an emblem of Providence, ~
G first and most exalted object
lich demands our attention in the L.
lge. 1t is placed in the centre, n
CT to be present to the eye of a IL
ason, that his heart may be atten- u
e to her dictates and stoadfast to y
/ laws. .,
The .jelce1s Of lodge are said to h
Brotherly Love or that expan- CT