The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-07-05
KENosHA WISCONSIN, THURSDAY, JULY 5,,8n


nature is full Of symbolical teachings.
There is language in flowers, sermons
in stones, lessons in rocks and trees,
great truths uttered in the roar of the
cataract, and in the voice of the storm.
When the Jewish people were taken
under the leadership of Moses, and the
world was being prepared through
their agency for it's future develop
ment, a most magnificent and perfect
system of symbols was invented for
them. They had tabernacle and tenn
pie, with elaborate ritual and imposing
ceremonies, regalia for their priest
hood, and a succession of emblems
whose form, color, and material were
all for their instruction, and st. Paul
(says that this was to them a school
master, that is, it was to teach them
| truth. l' 51e.aa e.s4s
So all along the ages, the Divine
Architect has taught men by symbols.
We can often receive instruction
quicker through the senses, particu-
larly by the eye, than when simply
uttered in the abstract-a besides,
the impression left is often more abid-
ing. The ATk Of Noah would be
thought Of by the worlds earlier in
habitants, for many generations, as an
emblem of preservation. The Do0e,
from the. time it returned with the
olive branchlin it's mouth, has always
been esteemed as token of favor and
peace. The Serpent spoke of wisdom
to all nations Of the older world, and
especially, from the fact of. it's uprear-
ing in the Arabian desert, of wisdom
in its application to healing. When
the Creator said to the patriarchal
father: u do set my bow in the
cloud, and it shall be for token of the
covenant between Me and the EARTH y
then was given one of the most beau
tiful Of natures emblem's, and one of
| the most important of covenant signs.
Pledge of safety and eternal fidelity.
/ through the rolling centuries it has
spanned the earth, call woven with
light" and, as the eye has looked up
to it's gorgeous tints and graceful
arch, it has read there the symbolic
lessons which the Eternal hand has
written. ..
Thousands of ages have flourshed and fled,
Since on the first Rainbow Gods promise was
read:
Man dies, and earth changes but still doth en-
| duro -s.t -.....
That signet of mercy fresh, lovely, and pure.
The brother of Moses had a rod
aUhich bs1dded and bore blossoms, and
yielded almonds. That was made an
other emblem from the Almighty-an
emblem of authority and life-giying
truth--and as such, it was placed
among the special treasures of the ma
ton, in their most secret place of pres
ervation. #e.
Symbols have served a great pur-
pose in the moral world. Underneath
the soil on which stands the ancient
City of Rome, is a vast network Of eX-
cavations, with their passages, gal
leries, and chambers. In those re-
treats, known as the Catacombs, the
early Christians found refuge from
persecution; and there, unseen by the
eye Of cruelty, they performed the rites
of their religious worship. The rocks
and walls Of those Catacombs abound
in emblems. Unable to tell their faith,
as they wished, in words, they uttered
the truth in mystic symbols, which to
the present have constituted the signs
and tokens of the Christian faith. In
rude sculpture was portrayed, not only
the cross, their primal symbol, but also
the dove, the butterfly, the fish, the
anchor, the palm branch, and the
crown, Noses, s0tth his rod, striking
the rock from which water flowed, and
the lamb, that expressive token of in
nocence and purity.
Brethren, Of our friendly Order"
|letus prize well oar symbolic teach
lings.2 Let us endeavor to understand
their import, and to cultivate the spirit
they silently inculcate. May we always
live under the consciousness of the
Al1-Seeiag Eye, which shall not only
deter us from wrong-doing, but COM
fort us with the assurance Of divine
sympathy in our weakness and infirmi-
Il