Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Beview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . G . The Discrepancies of Freemasonry . Examined during a week's gossip with the late celebrated Bro . Gilkes and other eminent Masons , on

sundry obscure and difficult passages in the ordinary Lodge Lectures , which , although open questions in Grand Lodge , constitute a source of doubt and perplexity to the Craft . By the Rev . G . Oliver D . D ., Past M . P . S ., Grand Commander S . G . I . G . 33 ° for England and Wales ; Past D . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts ;

Past D . P . G . M . for Lincolnshire ; Honorary Member of numerous Lodges and Literary Societies in every quarter of tho Globe . Author of " The Revelations of a Square , " " The Book of the Lodge , " " Historical Landmarks , " & c . With numerous diagrams . London : John Hogg and Co ., Paternoster-row . 1875 .

It is difficult to imagine a more charming book , or one more calculated to inspire the Masonic student with enthusiasm for the Royal Art . Tho very style in which it is written , that of a dialogue among several members of the Craft , is alone enough to ensure the attention of the reader , but this , though a conspicuous , is very far from being

its only merit . The pen of a practical , as well as a ready writer is needed in writing dialogues , and those who have road Dr . Oliver ' s Revelations of a Square , will be the first to concede that few writers of the day would surpass him in this particular style . The late Sir Arthur Helps is the only man of eminence who could possibly have

infused more interest into such a work , or rather , be it said , into a series of subjects , handled in this particular fashion . After a long and able Introductory Chapter , in which we are initiated into the principal points to be discussed , and which forms , in fact , a kind of general synopsis of the work , we come to the

Discussions , which are held at a friend's hnuse , and extend over the six working days of the week . To show the breadth and variety of view the reader will be sure to find in these discussions , we may as well fix the characters of tho piece—to use a theatrical simile , the several dramatis personm . There is , in tho first place , the Surgeon , who though an able and hospitable man , is described as

being somewhat dogmatic , not to say obstinate in his views , and whose career as a Mason cannot be pronounced a very successful one , seeing that during his occupancy of the Lodge Chair his Lodge was somewhat irregular , and was less strong when his term of office was ended than when it began . Then we have the worthy Doctor himself , and Bro . Gilkes , one of the best Masons of his day , together with the

" Rev . , D . P . G . M . for Lincolnshire ; the Rev . , Rector of ; tho Rev . , Vicar of , and Head Master of the Grammar School at ; the Rev . , Curate of ; a young man who was reading for honours at Cambridge , the brother of our host ; a lieutenant in the Royal Navy ; and Nis Petersen , an intelligent Danish skipper , who spoke the English language correctly , with a slight foreign accentuation . "

It matters , of course comparatively speaking , but little ,-who , or how many , aro tho personages that take part in these discussions , or whether they are fictitious , as the " Friends in Council , " of Sir Arthur Helps , or real as in the description above given . The merit of the work belongs entirely to the man who writes the book , and that merit is all the more conspicuous the more numerous they are who

take part in the discussions . The subjects are far too numerous , and we may add , far too important to be disposed of in a single notice . Wo shall confine ourselves , therefore , on tho present occasion , to setting forth the leading features of the earlier discussions . The questions touched upon ou Monday evening , aro the following -. — "Spurious Rituals ,

Origin of Freemasonry , Third Degree and tho Royal Arch , The Legend , The Vesica Piscis , Tho Universal Language , and Masonic Ciphers . " Wo shall refer our readers to the book itself for the different views expressed on the earlier subjects ; but the Masonic application of the Vesica Piscis , being , doubtless , less familiar to the bulk of our readers , and being , moreover , a most ingenious theory ,

cannot fail to prove of interest . This Vesica Piscis contains , we are told , the imperfect outline of a risn , and was so called from the Greek word Ichthuos , which is an acrostic of theRedecmer—Iesous Christus Theofi 'Uios ' 0 Soter ; whence it became au emblem of Christ , although it had been used geometrically , long before His personal advent into the world . " It is added , that this same Vesica Piscis " appertained to the Platonic system , and constituted the sign of recognition

amongst the Epopts , by tho open hands united with tho ends of the fingers , and wrists to touching each other . " It also frequentl y " occurs in tho Egyptian temples , and particularly about the throne of Osiris , in reference to the divine triads , and , geometrically represents the birth of Light , Horns , or the Sun , from tho wedding of Osiris and Iris . " As to its Masonic application , we cannot do better than qnoto Bro . Gilkes , who explains it thus : —

"We apply it thus , Bro . Gilkes answered . "Our lectures inform us that the three most pcr ^ ci of all geometrical diagrams are , tho ' equilateral triaiif ' e , ;¦ ., . M | imvp , and the equal hexagon ; tho latter being a figurn prx'tirci by -arry ' ng ihe radius of a circle six times round the circiinfi'iPnce . And thus the hexagon , being composed of six equilateral trangitM , u- iqi < nl in nil its relations , aud retains the quality of being ii fi"it ly din- ib ' e into similar triangles , according

to the geometrical pn . jecsion < bsetved in the divisions of that trilateral figure , and msiy ihei c f-. > io be considered as tho most perfect of all multilateral lornw . O . tri ' a't ral and quadrilateral figures it is to be observed that wnc are admissible into symbolical geometry but those which , in their respective lines and angles , bear the relation of equality , or such i ' . tfj : ral proportions as may be adequately expressed by some of the numerical terms of tho Tetractys , i . e ., the numbers 1 , -i v > i - *•

Reviews.

Aa to the application of the doctrine to the Vesica Piscis , we are told . — " You shall hear , " said Bro . Gilkes . " The Vesica Piscis constitutes the origin and foundation of all these figures , and enters into the composition of almost every Masonic symbol . For instance , the number three refers to the Trinity in Unity , which is represented by a figure that Hemming and Shadbolt have denominated the

Pythagorean Triangle . This emblem powerfully elucidates the mystic relation between numerical and geometrical symbols . It is composed of ten points so arranged as to form one great equilateral triangle , and at the same time to divide it into nine similar triangles of smaller dimensions . The first of these is called a Monad , and represents

unity , answering to the geometrical point . The next two points are called Duad , answering to the geometrical line , which consists of length without breadth , and is bounded by two extreme points . The three suoeeding points are called a Triad , which embodies the idea of

length and breadth as abstracted from thickness . The four points at the base of the figure are denominated Tetrad or Tetractys . ¦ They bear a similar relation to a solid , which combines the three principles of length , breadth and thickness , inasmuch as no solid can have less than four extreme points of boundary . "

A discussion intervenes as to the Pythagorean interpretation of tho figure , and its application to Christ , after which Bro . Gilkes resumes : — " Having disposed of the four primary digits , " Bro . Gilkes continued , " we come to number seven , which is the sum of the two lastmentioned numbers , and has evidently more than one reference , from

the various ways in which it may be depicted . Thus , for instance , if it be exemplified by triangles , it produces the monogram of Godman , Jesus Christ ; the-apex pointing upwards denotes His divinity , and that pointing downwards , His humanity . If represented by squares , it produces the polished cubical stone , an emblem of perfection . "

He is then invited to explain " the identity between the Vesica Piscis and tho Pythagorean science of Numbers , as it is enunciated in our present system of Freemasonry , " and accordingly offers the following solution : — " Wc were speaking of the cube as a perfect fignre iu the abstract , "

Bro . Gilkes continued , "but you will observe , that'if it be extended to the extreme circumference of both the circles whose segments form the Vesica , it will produce the doable cube , or altar of incense , and include ton points , tho sum total of the Pythagorean Triangle ; being

the sacred number , and denominated amongst Masons the Perfect Ashlar . The Triple Tau , and the Jerusalem Cross include , in like manner , the two circles and Vesica ; and contain the dimensions of the Tabernacle and Temple , with the Most Holy naturally and scientifically separated from the Holy Place . "

As to the [ application of Bro . Gilko ' s theory to the science of Freemasonry , that eminent brother remarks : — **¦ " ! £ is allowed ou all hands , " Bro . Gilkes replied , "that his mysterious fignre , the Vesica Piscis possessed an unbounded influence

on the details of sacred architecture ; and it constituted the great and enduring secret of our ancient brethren . Tho plans of religions buildings were determined by its use , and the pivportious of length , breadth , and height were dependent on it alone . "

And again : — " You have alluded to the form of the Lodge ; but this form , whatever may be its dimensions , must be determined in all its varied proportions by the Vesica Piscis . Now , there aro in reality only six forms , including tho square , already mentioned , that were most commonly

used by our ancient brethren , which may be exemplified thus , take any line , M N , for instance , aud divide it into twelve equal parts , A to L , and from any two of these , at corresponding distances from the end of a line as centres , describe segments forming the Vesica , until you arrive at the central point ,

which will , of course produce a perfect circle . Tho Points of each Vesica , being extended into equal lines parallel to M N , will form a series of oblong squares of various dimensions , with a perfect square in tho middle as an elucidation of the central point and circle . Bro . Kerrieh asserts , in an interesting paper read

before the Society of Antiquaries a few years ago , that tho rule by which our ancient brethren adjusted these proportions is a profound secret at the present day ; but he thinks it was effected by writing some mysterious word of eleven letters upon it , which possibly might fnrnish names for them all . "

" And you will further observe , that the form of tho Lodge has the following properties peculiar to itself . First , that its sides are to each other as the side to the diagonal of a square ; and secondly , that if it bo bisected by a right lino parallel to its shorter sides , the two halves will not jn ! y be precisely similar to one another , but each also precisely similar to the whole . "

Here we pause for the present , contenting ourselves with remarking that pswt of this chapter , devoted to the language of Masonry , will bo found very interesting , as is likewise the explanation of the ancient Masonic cipher .

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