The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-01-17

teaching, lat me eau y0ur attention %
the meaning Of certion symbols which
al Master MasOns know, yet need Of
tea 70 de told again.
AccaoiG. In the mythic system of
Free Masonry, the acacia Is Is the SYM
Dol Of the Immortality Of tbs soul The
short life 81 TIE Hover which today Is
aud tomorrow ia not, reminds us Of the
transitOry nature Of human life. But
the perpetual renewal Of the acacia,
which represents the appearance Of
continued youth and vig0r, Is fittingly
COMPARED 10 the spiritual life Of the
soul which, when freed from the body
Of flesh, shall enjoy an immortal youth.
So.the acacia Is an emblem OF our faith
Ri the Immortality of the soul BY IL
we are reminded Mat we have an inn
mortal part within as, which shall sur
vive the grave, and which shall never
die. So then as the symbol Of immor-
tallty, the acacia is most appropriate 70
Masonry, al of whose teachings are in
tended TO inculcate the lesson that life
comes forth from the grave. But this
evergreen plant means even more 20
Free MasOns. In this one symbol we
are taught that beautiful lesson famil-
lar TO ali Third Degree MasOns, that
innocence must for q time lie in the
grave, and then BY the Grand Master
OF the Universe be called 10 immortali-
ity. Let as also keep in mind the place
where the spTig Of acacia was planted,
Mount Calvary 1.-THE place Of sepulture
Of Him who drought life and immOr-
tality 10 light. Let US also keep in
mind that In the mystery Of His death,
the wood Of the cross take the place Of
the acacia, and in this beautiful little
symbol, but which is really and truly
the most important and significant one
in Masonic science, we have beautiful
suggestion Of all the mysteries Of life
and death, Of time and eternity, of the
present and Of the future.
SquQro.-The square is another inn
pOrtant and significant symbol In Free |
Masonry. 10 is the symbol Of moral |
ity. And though applied in various
ways, the square everywhere inculcates |
the same lesson of morality, Of truth /
fulness, Of honesty. SO universally ac-
eepted Ia 4his-symbOl that II has passed |
into e6lioqdSai language and proverbial
sayings. Alife squared by the virtues /
of honesty and truthfulness A life
that can stand and challenge the uner- |
ring square ! Square dealing The |
world is in sore need of it. Thousands |
and tens Of thousands mourn because !
there is so little Of IT, From mother |
earth the blood of countless victims |
rises and calls for it, Square living !
The world needs this too. And these |
two things-squRre dealing and square |
hvinE-pOint to moral rectitude And |
moral rectitude is the meaning Of the |
square. During the last century, an /
architect, in rebuilding a very ancient |
bridge near Limerick, In Ireland found /
under the foundation stone an old |
brass square, much eaten away And /
on the two sides he found this inscrip- |
ton II tDlH strive 20 liUe--tUith tOUe |
and care upon the lsVei-bB the
square"
Oompasses. The compasses are an
other symbol in Free Masonry. In OPP
erative Masonry the eOmpasses are used |
for tsIe admeasurement of the archi- |
tect's plans, and TO enable him TO give
those Just proportions which will insure
beauty as well as stability TO his work.
In speculative Masonry the cOmpasses
are symbolic Of that beauty of depOrt-
meht, and that standard Of rectitude
which are needed 20 bring real happis !
ness. Hence the eompasses are the
most prominent emblems Of virtue-the
true and only measure Of a Mason life
and conduct. As the Bible gives as
light on our duties 90 God, and the
square illustrates our duties TO the COM /
munity ana our brother 80 the COM
passes give as light and instruct Us in |
the duty we owe ourselves the great |
and important duty OF drawing q line
around our wishes and inclinatiOns. and
keeping all within the bounds Of pure
thought and moral deed. In other
words, the compasses mark the bounds
within which lies the sphere Of a Ma
sons life, AID. beyond which We are
warned not % 90. The philosopher
Burke says "It Is ordained In the
eternal constitution Of things, that men
Of incorporate habits can not be free -
So let us then remember the beautiful
lessons which these symbols teach, and
let that sphere Of moral Fectitude, Of
which the square Ia the symbol, ever be |
within the bounds Of safety and m0aer-
alton, 30 clearly defined 81 the eEeig4
cling line Of the eompEsses. But Ma
soury Is more than signs and wOrd0 and
symbols. These and many Other SYM
b0ls are simply the mode Of Masonic In 4
atruction Free Masonry has certain
well defined objects IN view. And not
the least Of these q the search for
truth. From our entrance into The
Lodge, on through the ssveral degrees.
this search goes On. And Whatever be
the laboTB you may perfofn, WhGiever
the cafemOaies thfcoRh which y0u may
uans whnfavaF The eyuhole n which