Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-09

rn1edorut fht bnSter . Ifxo:: xsno-
cratus ana Aristotle.
His contemporaries we're such men
as Daniel and Bzedkiels the Hebrew
prophet; also Esdra6, Zachartah and
Nehemiah. known in the Chaldea IAN
guage as Schladrach Mechec and Abed-
nego; also Zeruebel and among them
all he appears as a lofty tower OF
strength, his great mind grasping and
explaining the hidden secrets OF ma
ture. His wisdom was so profound and
his knowledge SO vast that he was sup
posed to possess, like Solomon, his pre-
decessor, supernatural knowledge. His
doctrines were delivered as infallable
propositions and admitted of no doubt.
"He said it" was one considered suff-
cient answer to anyone who demanded
a reason. He was one of the greatest
mathama ticians before or since his
age, by his exceptional knowledge of
music and harmony he demonstrated
the mathematical relation of musical
intervals as we'll as being the inventor
of a number of musical instruments.
In geometry he is regarded as having
been the originator of several prob
lens, among them the forty-seventh
problem. He taught the mystical
power Of numbers, a science that is
now almost entirely neglected. 1t is
often referred to throughout the Scrip
lures, especially in the writings Of
Daniel and John the Evangelist. There
are none of his writings extant; much
Of the symbolisms we now possess have
been derived from him and handed
down to us by his Disciples. His fame
spread throughout the known world,
and pupils fiocked to him in thousands,
and yet he maintained his humility, re-
fusing to assume any title other than
that of philosophy or lover of wisdom,
and it was he who was first known
by the name of Philosopher. His i'm
mense knowledge taught him what
Shakespeare has later so aptly ex-
pressed:
mere are things in heaven and earth,
Horat:o.
Which were never dreamt of in your
philosophy,
and he proclaimed the fact that he was
merely a seeker after wisdom and not
its possessor.
been considered models after which
Masonic lodges have been constructed,
and it has come down to us that his
disciples were divided into classes Of
three degrees. First degree, those who
were engaged in studying mathematics
Or exact science. Second degree, those
who were engaged in the knowledge CT
God and the future state CT man.
Third degree, those who were taught
the higher. secrets which could not be
communicated but to a few who from
their depth of learning and superior in
tellect were able to grasp the full frul-
ton of the pythagorian philosophy.
His mathematical teachings have
been given to the world and cultivated
extensively in the Western Henri
sphere The teachings Of his second
degree are those adopted in the Eastern
Hemisphere. l refer to the knowledge
of God and the future state of man.
He taught that God was living and
absolute verify clothed with light, the
supreme music the nature of which is
harmony, that God was universal soul
and that the souls of men were a part
of that soul and would ultimately re-
turn to God, it's source, that these souls
Of men changed from one condition to
another, that after possessing one
| body they would return after death to
some other human body. Not necessary
Immediately after death; ages might
pass before that soul again clothed it
self with corporal frame, it being I'M
necessary that the soul when free
should be conscience of its personality
no more than q soul is conscience when
the intellectual brain becomes paraly-
zed by a sudden blow, OR when over
come by sleep, although time will
come when the soul will remember all
that it had passed through in the pre-
ceding end of time
Many have ridiculed these teachings,
and yet if investigated without pre-
judice there is much that is worthy Of
consideration and respect, much in our
own belief in the Hebrew Scriptures
which coroborates his teachings, yet we
| have been taught otherwise from our
youth, and the most difficult to tear
| from our breasts are the first impress
sions of your youth. 1t is natural that
we should prefer and it may be an al
wise provision of Providence that we
cling to the teachings of our good and
pious parents; they were good enough
| for them and they will be good enough
| for us; we will cling to them, live by
them, and praising God die in the faith
| of our fathers.
This disposition and tendency is
shared by those who have been taught
and still maintain the principles taught
| by Pythagorus. When we learn that
millions have followed that teaching
! and still follow that teaching, there
must be much to recommend it. Py-
thagorus enveloped doctrine with SYM
bolism, but carefully refrained from
personiications, which he thought
would sooner or later produce idolatry.
The Kabbala which is the mystical
theosophy of the Jews considers God
as intelligent, animating, living, in
finite. He is not either the aggregate
of existence or existence in the alb