New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-14
TIE BIBLE Is ONE OF THE THREE GREAT
LIGHTS ~ MASONRY.

II we consider the fraternity OF Masons as uni
versal cosmopolitan Institution composed OF men
OF every country. sect and opinion then tho Bible.
displayed as one OF the three Great Lights ~ Ma
sonry upon the altar OF It's lodges, must be con-
sidered and Is accepted alike hy Christian and
Mahometan as symbo-a symbol OF goodness,
obedience and submission to the supreme viii OF
the Great Architect. The square and compass. as
two OF the Great Lights. are also symbols. the
first OF conscientious. exact and cautious, square
and regular conduct the second OF that ai-enbrac-
Ing love OF man which thinks no eyil ara pFac-
tises selfdenial and in pledge OF charity tnkc' on
his shoe and give, It to his n,Ehbor.
Very few Masons. even IN our own country. have
been taught that tho Bible is a symbol OF light
without any direct implied construction % faith.
whether OF Christian. Hebrew or pagan belief
These three symbols, the Biblc the square and
tho compass being thus always found In connection.
tho Interpretation OF the qualities emolematlcaily
represented by them IL. ever should De. In
ssparabls. The Bible then, considered a. a symbol
OF godllness Is not ii.elf godneAs. and goodness
may exist without It. the material being the rsn OF
the idea and the real. the living expression OF that
which does not appear. The MAhomeian Koran.
the hebrew Testament CHE old Biblc') tho hinhoo
vedas-or their ancien, sacred literature or my
other book containing code o. moral law, might
have been originally adopted N one OF tho thr'o
Great Lights As SUCH however either OF those
books would ne but a symbol OF reverence and AZ
lection 20 God. 10 parents, and charity 10 al man
kind or IN other words Jealous piety ana rooI-
ness The old lectures OF Masonry do not say mat
the Bible IS the light bu: expressly declare that 1t
"sgnihe. the light that II to illuminate M1sonis
path through NE -
Light among all nations and IN all ages has been
an emblem OF knowledge the Excelsior or man
highest attainment Eternal truth WAS always rep
perception and the organs OF feeling and sensation
Az Hight is preaent In rapid and !. instant IN
ia ali Spacr-an ever aCtlVe principe m
nature In frultiOn md source 10 light 20 preserve
NE. for without IT, lsh, and heat u, could not
tho sanctuary OF the mind. for there 10 nothing
viii not bring out and snelyzs and make plain 20
tho understanding. Thought is the las, element TO
which analysis carry us-the supreme judge
OF every doubt tho starting point OF all witdom
with heat as true kncwleds. IL with mans -ensi-
bilit!es. Light and heat thus bear the same rea
and accessibility do TO the vigorous lie OF the mind
II wa, therefor appropriate TO represent tho
application 10 actual ne. by tbs symbol OF Light
ana hence the Bible "a Justly called termed the
That this idoa OF tho Bib> as a Great Light is
tho true and Original ''sniiicaiion: as unaorstood
lative Frcemasonery. IL evident from the frs. m.
cIcnt charge OF the Conrtitulon OF i72s which de-
ciares that Mason, by his tenure. must obey
the moral law" and that he IS obligated only %
that religion In which ALI men agree"
The revised constitutions OF 1893 still moro
explicit, declaring in addition that "Masons must
be be aa e mem esn OF or poF sa M
may be distinguished"
These ancient charges thus plainly Indicate that
the aim or design OF Masonry H. moral one. and
that Righteousness or plety which 1t requires must
be tested by morality slone-by that morality IA
which truth becomes Of value only ~ Il pass to tho
condition OF feeling that attains It's precousnoaa
only when II H. realized In the world fact;
and that this righteousness Is entirely distinct from
inc expression Of religious opinions. which is left
sonry The Bbis Therefore is Of no dosmaic aa
thorlty In the lodge nor can wa Masoncally re
gard 1t as the exclusive source OF that light which
Is to guide our steps.
1t 10 to US. as Masons but a symbol. a type OF
that goodness which the Mason require. in order
10 preserve ms moral purity and strength In every
condition ana station OF life Any representa- Ions
10 tho contrary arc antagonstic TO the pure spirit
Masonry. JOHN Il ANDEHSON
lie Roy, ". Y.