The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-02

long as there is no evidence that ii can eluci-
date any other symbols than those of its own
Order. II the Masons have mastered this sub
jet and reduced it to the certainty Of a
science" we wish they would explain some Of
its most ordinary facts, which they might
easily do without disclosing or profaning
their o~n mysteries. Our national flag ito
select one example from multitudes) is u
symbol, and ii the Masonic fraternity are mas
tiers OF "the science of symbols they would
oblige all Americans by explaining il; OF
course we do not ask for anything SO trivial
and superficial as q statement that the thirteen
stripes are symbols Of the thirteen original
States, and that the thirty seven stars are
symbols OF the thiriy-seven States now IN
the Union. This side OF symbolism is
level 10 the capacity Of children. and the word
Science" would be made ridiculous If applied
to such paltry explanations. What we want
explained is the deep hold which a mere SYM
Dol like the American flag takes OF the human
soul Our late civil war showed that millions
OF our citizens stood ready to sacrifice their
lives for this symbol, which is, commercially,
only few dollars worth of striped
bunting, though, in patriotic estimation, it
justified the sacrifice OF infinite blood and
treasure. A science" of symbols should ex-
plain how any symbol can take such strong
hold on human feelings. The great power OF
the Christian symbol OF the cross is a more
wonderful illustration, but decent reverence
pr events our dwelling on it in this connection.
We suspect that nothing in human nature
goes deeper than symbolism, but we also sus-
pect that the Masonic symbols, however
affecting they may be to the initiated,
have nothing of the power which belongs
to other symbols which could be named Ii the
Freemasons possess 'the science OF symbols
they could betray no secret of their Order III
applying it TO the calculation OF such symbols
as are not included in their mysteries,
and we could test their science by
its application to known cases But
while we are sceptical as to the
Masonic claim to have reduced symbolism to
science, we respect the Importance
it attaches to symbolic representations,
which modern ages undervaluc. Carlyle
says, Win impressive lorce, u 70 IL 1Ao
through symbols that man consciously or
unconsciousy lives, works and has his being;
those ages, moreover, are accounted the
noblest which can bsst recognize SYM
bolical worth and prize it the highest.
We suppose the whole material world
is symbol Of the spiritual or, as
Goethe has finely expressed IT in Faust the
physical universe is the living, visible gar
ment of God the great and profound Ger
man poet makes the 'earth-spirit" say, after
describing his manifold operations,
IT'S thus at the roaring loom OF time ply.
And weave for God the garment thou seest Him by.
The universe is the symbol of God,
and it is full of minor symbols. If
any valuable practical good is to be got out
of Masonry it must consist in its recognition
of the great importance OF symbolism as one
of the chief age ncies for the ediication Of hui
manly. We wish we could credit its claim
that it possesses the science Of symbols
deeper science, we imagine, than the human
intellect has yet fathomed.