Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-21
THE SECRET ORDERS.
MASONRY.

very seasonable hour.
on Wednesday evening. Mcdaniel Lodge
of Perfection held a special meeting and
/ worked the 9th to 1ith inclusive upon two
candidates. the work being done under the
/ supervision Of its wise master, W. II. Rose,
assisted by the jealous officers Of the lodge.
At the close of the work all enjoyed the
usual luncheon served in the banquet hall.
on Thursday evening Wheeling Lodge
No. ., met, but after routine business closed
unusually early as no work appeared, but
an the jealous workers were present to
have done their noble duty to candidates
If they had shown up. We note Worship
full Master Speyer was in his station, hav-
ing but lately recovered from a serious
attack Of the grip.
on next Tuesday evening, Bates Lodge
No SO. will hold communication, and work
viii be had on number Of candidates in
/ the second degree, and the members Of the
lodge. and brethren of sister lodges should
be present and assist the officers TO do the
work
ON Wednesday evening one OF the Scot
fish Rite bodies will meet to confer the de-
grees. The members will receive a person
al notice from Grand Secretary Darrah
giving them the correct information.
on Thursday evening, Nelson Lodge hold
regular communication, and at that time
degrees win be no doubt conferred on sew
eral candidates. Past Master James Nc
/ Cahon of Nelson Lodge No. so, is by re-
quest of Bates Lodge No So holding a
school of instruction on Friday evenings
for the benefit of the officers, and from re-
ports they are getting along finely.
Bro. John Carson Smith. of Chicago, who
returned last fan from trip around the
world. has given TO the brotherhood many
accounts of that trip, but one that interest
ed us most was what he saw in Bonnie
Scotland" the country where are to be
found many of the best Of relics of the ex-
quisite work Of Ancient Operative Mas
onry.
He says after we had visited Melrose
Abbay and Abbotsford and other places Of
note and had looked upon the beautiful
carving and examined many of the marks
Of our ancient craftsmen we went to Ross
lyn Castle and were permitted TO enter and
view the interior by its custodian, Bro.
Johnson, the W. NJ. of the Lodge OF Ross
lyn. That which attracted oup attention
more In particular was the Apprentice
Pillar" the most beautiful carving to be
seen anywhere in ones travels, and of
which our conductor told US the following
as being a true history of that exquisite
carving:
The Master Mason In charge Of the work
had a number of apprentices who were as
sistants in the carving and erection Of the
building and he not fully understanding
the drawings for this particular column
returned to Rome Italy, from whence he
had come to consult the architect, and to
see some similar pillar. During the alb
sence of the Master. one of the Entered
Apprentices. conceivlng the idea that he
could chisel out the designs and complete
=. the pillar did So. and had it set Up in the
intended place at the entrance Of the crypt.
on the return Of the Master. and on seeing
the pillar so beautifully executed he be.
came curious, and inquired among the
workmen TO know who had done that par
ticular piece of work, and learning that an
apprentice had done it, became 50 angry
that he took up a setting maui and, strIk-
ing the apprentice with 1t on the forehead,
fe'led him dead on the spot
The Indignation of the workIngmen at
the death Of the apprentice may well be
imagined, when they carved several stone
heads In various parts of the building
which can be seen q this late day. and
which have deep scars on the right temple
of each. to commemorate the fate Of the
skilled but unfortunate apprentice
The piner referred TO Is beautiful in de-
sign and entirely different from any other
TO be found in the Chapel. Eight dragons
interwined form the base. from whose
mouths issue the stems Of the vines in has
relief. which cluster around the column
There are only leaves upon the vines no
fruit. significant of evil. as the dragons are
supposed to have sucked all fruitfulness
out Of the stems The vines end at the
Capitol which Is highly adorned. Above
the Capitol is a representation of Abra-
hams sacrifice of Isaac. Isaac is lying
bound upon the altar, and a ram is fast by
his horns i'm the thicket one figure time
has destroyed, that of Abraham before the
altar with uplifted hand in the attitude Of
prayer Thus It can be shown when Mas
onry wcs operative that the apprentice
could be found the equal of his master, il
he but applied himself to obtain thor
ough knowledge of his calling and profess
sion. SO now in Speculative Masonry the
apprentice can become proficient and be
the equal Of his master in obtaining a
knowledge Of his duty to Cod his neigh
Dor and himself and thereby to fit himself
for that spiritual temple. that house not
made with hands. eternal in the heavens.
May the symbolic teachings Of the Ma
sonic art. as we see them eXemplided and
aeliniatzd 1Don the trestle board of our