Weekly Phoenix herald., 1882-09-22
Masonic Matters.

Masonic Matters.
 Three co, ors have always held ] pre-eminence, viz: blue, scarlet and purple. These colors have been most extensively used to decorate the shrines of religion and the palaces of king,, and they have been
 made conspicuous in the garments 1 of priests and the robes of royalty.
 They were the appointed colors of
 the curtains and veil of the tabern- 1 acle, and were represented either se- | parately or in some form of combi-
 nation upon nearly all articles of
 sacred paraphcrnalIa connected with ancient worship. Blue was un-
 doubtedly the favorite and predomi-
 hating coloI-a light blue indicating
 the color of the sky and symbolizins
 the air-but purple, also held in
 high estimation, was much used.
 Purple was not only one of the lead- 1 ing colcrs in lhe tabernacle, but It 1 was the expressive color which
 characterized the ephod of the high | priest, his gird and breastplaie. It
 was likewise the required color for certain cloths made to cover articles | Ol SdCICu lilC | Ark of the Covenant. As blue re-
 presented the air, SO purple was un- derstood 10 signify the sea, and there
 was an appropriateness of such refer | ences because of the fact that the
 ancient purple dyes were manufac-
 tured from 1hc jOices of shell-tish. It is maintained by some writers,
 however, that the purple usei by
 the Isrelites at the time of the
 exodus was vegetable dye, the pre- paration of which nc W ranks as one of ,he lost ats. The far-famed
 Tyrian purple, it IS said, was not discovered at he time ot the exodus
 Other authorities hold that the art of
 obtaining this color from many
 kinds of shell-fish was known at the
 tune when Mlnos reigned in Crete,
 B. c. 1460, an1 that the manner of its
 preparation was undoubtedly fami-
 liar to the people of Islacl when
 they sojournrd Ill the wilderness.
 Be this as it may, there eau be no doubt of the fact that the 1sraelIte5
 had purple dyes in profusion at that early date, and were acQuair ted with much of the ricnnesS and variety of co.oring which afterward drew such extensive trade to the coasts of Tyre The discovery of the Tyrian purple is often attributed to the Tyrian
 Hercules, whose dog, in eating certain kind of shell-fish, stained hIs mouth with . rich purple color; this attracted the notice of his mas ter, who experimented with the juice of the fish on certain fabrics, which he brought before the notice of the king, who was so delighted with the rich and beautiful hue thus produced as to declare that the color | should be the special emb,em of royalty. The Romans, as also many | other nations dwelling aioSg the | coasts of the Mediterranean, recOg- | nized the purple as an imperial | color, ansi used it profusely in decor ating their temples and palaces lost of those nations understood the 1 art of manufacturing a variety of | dyes from the abundant material gathered from the great sea. l. was l the skilled workmen of Tyre, how ever, who produced lhc purple c lors most valued. They understood how to combine tin;s and produce pecu- liar lustre, by means of which their purple fabrics were at one time worth almost their weight in gold. Purple is a color that is still greatly used and admired. It Is now as in the ancient time royal and sacred color being used for the robes of kings and queens, and for the vestments Of ecc'esiastics holding high positions. In Masonry the purple color is re- cognized. IL distinguishes one ot I, in, ha oh ar d it is also brought before the vision of Royal Arch Masons in variety of suggestive presentations. It has its appropriate use in the con nectlon with the pioper illustration of several portions of the Masonic system, and while it adds 10 the rich ness of decoration it also carries with it II force of moral significance. We may not be clear in regard to many points involved in consid- ,ration of the sym oolism of colors. There can be no doubt. however, that purple was understood by the an z ;ients to represent authority and | wisdom. and that in its highest form If suggestiveness it points not alone 0 the glory and power of temporal ulers, but 10 the might and majesty { # him who is revealed as the King l f Kings and the Lord of Lords" We do well to consider that almost of material form and presentation-everything of decor tion and embellishments cry likely have q spiritual sIue nd suggestiveness most worth of UT careful search. Certainly all olors are thus significant.-Reposit- rU