The herald., 1896-09-07
Eloquent Lecture by DR.. Cope.
land of Salem, Ore.
THE SYMBOLS OF THE ORDER
The Mystic Meaning af King Solomon's
Temple Explained
What the RESEARCH aad Study Of the Aneie Mt
History o! Masonry Has
Revealed

DR.. W. E. Copeland Of Salem. Ore, a
prominent member of the Masonic fra
ternity thirty degree. Scottish
rite, delivered a lecture last evening
before a large and interested audience
at the hall of the Friday Morning club.
on South Broadway.
DIR. Copeland took for his subject The
Mystic Meaning of King Solomon's
Temple, and his lecture showed great
study and research into the early his
tory of Masonry and the real meaning
of the signs and symbols of the order,
as we'll as a high appreciation OF the
lofty truths these are intended to con-
vey. Dr. Copeland is an eloquent speak
er, and he held the close attention of the
large audience throughout his very IN
teresting and instructive address.
He began his lecture by discussing the
question of the antiquity of Free Ma
sonry, which he placed as far back as
the mysteries of Egypt, and perhaps
Atlantis. His theory was that there
had been for thousands of years mystic
lodges of masters who initiated into
their wisdom those "who were worthy
and we'll qualified" and when the time
came that these mysteries were banned
by the church. that then they were con-
densed and given to the charge OF Free
Masons, who had carefully preserved
the eXoteric form of whose esoteric
meaning only a few were informed.
These mystic lodges had from time TO
time given parts OF the wisdom they
possessed, usually towards the close OF
a century, and now one of these lodges
proposed to erect on the Pacific coast
a temple where in due and ancient form
the candidates should be initiated. In
preparation for this interesting event
a body of Theosophists. who were most
of them Masons who had received the
thirty-second degree, were Journeylne
around the world and proclaiming the
revival of the ancient mysteries.
The lecturer gave some interesting
explana tions of signs printed on Ma
sonic charts. among them the dot with
in the circle, which was explained as
teaching the doctrine of evolution, or
as the Gnostics held 1t, the doctrine of
emanation. The circle was the circle
of infinity, representing infinite space
filled with ether, and the dot or point
was the beginning of the manifested
universe, when the first sound set up
that conscious vibration which finally
resulted in the universe. Mr.. Copeland
explained that the square and compass
was a most comprehensive symbol, the
compass again referring to the universe,
the infinite from which was evolved the
worlds which fill space and the inhabi-
tants of those worlds. DR.. Copeland then
explained the square, which was form
of the cross, the most ancient and COM
mon symbol, found in some form among
all religions, and always referring to
the descent of spirit into matter and
then it's return to the divine center OF
all things, teaching regeneration ana
immortality. So that the square and
compass, so commonly worn by Ma
sons, refers to the evolution of the uni
verse, the descent of man, his regenera-
tion and final union with God.
In conclusion DR.. Copeland said that
Masonry, by it's tolerance Of all creeds,
by it's vigorous battle for civil and re-
ligious freedom, by its symbolic teach
ing of regeneration and immortality,
has become power in diffusing light.
A Masonic lodge, properly conducted, Is
a true church of God, teaching the es-
sentials of true religion and closely re-
sembling Christian ecclesia of the first
century, where there ever prevailed
liberty, fraternity and equality. The
inner meaning has been too often over
looked. but next year Is to be erected
in California temple where, under the
direction of masters from Egypt and
India, the ancient mysteries are to be
conferred in due and ancient form, can
didates are to be initiated into a knowl-
edge of Immortality and invested with
the true omnific word. Under the inf1u-
ence of truth now fully revealed those
deemed worthy by severe trial are to
become perfect masters and be invest
cd with those powers which made initi-
ates veritable creative forces.
Turning to the Masons present, the
lecturer said: My brothers, let us be
ever faithful in the building up Of King
Solomon's Temple, a perfect character
so that when we are called hence, we
may meet the Supreme Inspector Of the
work at the east gate Of the temple,
our feet forming the angle of perfect
square. our bodies erect and facing the
Sun of Righteousness, which, rising in
the east sheds it's glorious, fe-giving
light through our whole nature, flooding
us with unspeakable strength and
beauty.
Try our port and sherry wines at Is
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