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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00902
^^^^^^^Sj23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .
Some Lunar Phases.
SOME LUNAR PHASES .
FROM THE VOICE OF MASONRY . I NEVER neglect to read everything between tho two covers of the Proceedings—or ns they are officially termed , Tho Annalsof tho Grand Lodge of Iowa , and I havo never found anything that was unnecessary , for Brother Parvin has tho good judgment of publishing what is staple information . In tho Annals for 1881 is a synopsis of tho Returns of Lodges , ancl I was somewhat surprised to
observe the uniformity of sentiment existing among tho Iowa Craftsmen with respect to the time of their stated communications—all but 24 of the 369 Lodges mentioned in tho synopsis having their meetings fixed by the lunnr changes . Freemasons are frequently asked by profanes why Lodges in many localities assemble on or near tho full moon ? and appear to
experience much disappointment when informed that no Masonic signiiicance attaches to the custom , and that it grew out of tho convenience of having moonlight in which to attend the Lodgo . In the history of tbe creation as given in Genesis , the moon is mentioned simultaneously with the sun , and they aro said to havo been created " for signs , and for seasons , and for days and years . "
Superstitions people appear to have given these words a literal interpretation , and we have , in consequence , innumerable fancies connected with the moon , which , it is believed , exercises great influence upon both material and immaterial things . In tbe countries of the Orient the moon shines with greater bril . liancy than wo are accustomed to , and exposure to its rays and the
heavy clews occasions much suffering at times . Thus , in Psalm exxi . 6 , we rend , "The sun shall not smite thee by day , nor the moon by night . " Brother Rob Morris mentions the dews in his Freemasonry in the Holy Land , page 500 , in this manner : "The frequent and copious dews and fogs of Palestine—much more abundant than one •wonld suppose in snob an arid climate—have furnished tbo in .
spired writers with many of their beautiful and expressive figures , Onr readers will of course recall the beautiful extract from Psalm exxxi ., introduced into onr ceremony of Entered Apprentice : 'As the dew of Hermon , and as the dew that descended npon the mountains of Zion , ' & c . In the summer the dew of Palestine is so copious as to supplr to a considerable extent the absence of rain , and becomes
important to the farmer . * * * Every traveller remarks upon this subject of dew . Coming to Shnnem on Saturday night , my coat was nearly wet through with dew . Like tho person in Canticle ? v . 2 , ' My head "was filled witb the dew , and my locks with tho drops of tho night . ' * * # I observed at the mouth of Dog River how the dampness of the dew on the rocks brings out tho remarkable figures and inscriptions
delineated there . At Tiberias I noticed tho tents of a party encamped there , drenched with dew . They looked as if they had been exposed to a fall of rain during tho night . This is tho samo effusion so often referred to in Scripture , that ' descended upon the mountains of Zion , ' recalling the expressions in Psalm oxxxiii ., and others . " That so brilliant and comfortable a satellite should have been
honoured by the early nations is no matter of surprise to ns , in view of tho fact that superstition still exists among us , and in Egypt the moon was reverenced , nnder the form of Isis , as one of the dpi ties of that nation ; the Syrians adored it as Ashtoreth , and the Greeks as Diana . Brother Dr . George Oliver sums the subject up in his fifth lecture on signs and symbols , as follows : — " All these legends owe
their origin to Noah and tho Ark ; for the foundation of every known system of idolatry was the worship of the Great Father ancl the Great Mother , symbolised by the sun and moon . " Among the Hebrews , the first day of the lunar mouth was regarded as a holy day , and offerings , in addition to the usual daily
sacrifices , were made ; it was respected with all tho sanctity of a Sabbath , all trades and handicrafts were suspended , pnblic services were held in tho Temple , and trumpets were blown for the special sacrifices of the day , tho samo r . s on special solemn festivals . The civil year began v . 'ith the seventh new moon of the religious
year , at which time tho Feast of Trumpets was celebrated as it is to this day by the chosen people . No information is now possessed of tho method practised by the Jews at tho time of Moses for determining the . beginning of tho lunar month , and tho earliest , system of which we havo any knowledge is that employed by tho Sanhedrim , whieh was to establish watchmen on tho eminence . ? around Jerusalem , on tho hist day of the mouth , to observe the heavens . As soon ns ono of these observers defected the
now moon , tie . hastened to tho place ; i : i the ci ' y , which wns provide-P ' for tho purpose , ami wag iiiieny eto ; I by the ] YesIdra . t of iiio . S-i-nhodrixn ; these ropor ' y and exe . 'cal-in' [ on- ; were rontinr .-d re .. til lhc President was satisfied that the . t- v . ' -moon had indeed appear . sl , ween le arose and proclaimed it bv s .-ivme-: " Tfc is eo ^ oceateo . " It is
obvioug that much uncertainty existed in this I ' abblnical practice , especially when the heavens wero clouded , aud when the npoearance was manifested late iu tho day . It is well known that the Jewish day begins at sis o ' clock in tho afternoon ; it ; therefore , the important utterance of the President of tho Sanhedrim was uot made until after dark , the following day was tho first of tho month ; if be-
Some Lunar Phases.
fore dark , the day it was pronounced . When the day was determined , the information was at once sent throughout tho country , from tho Mount of Olives , by lighting tires on tho tops of the hills . The potency of tho moon in all sorts of divination , sorcery , etc ., such as easting magic bullets , manufacturing divining rods , & o ., is well established—in tho minds of tho superstitious . Seed planting , weaning children , and innumerable actions aro all regulated by tho
moon ' s changes . It is said that crabs caught during tho full of tho moon , burned alive and ground to powder , will euro hydrophobia , yet this dread disease prevails—and no one over trios tho remedy . Savage nations invariably greeted tho new moon with reverence and fear , mingled with joy ancl adoration , but such manifestations woro not confined to barbarians . An old English custom was for women to sit astride a gate or stile , on the appearance of a now moon , and interrogate her : —
" All hail , new moon , all hail to thee ! I prythee , good moon , declare to me This night , who my husband must bo . " It wns considered unlucky to kill a pig in the wane of tho moon , as the flesh would waste in boiling , and tho slaughter oftho hogs was delayed or hastened to accomplish it during tho increase .
Seeing tho new moon over tho left shoulder or through glass was unfortunate for the seer , an opinion that is yet held by many , and theso samo persons cultivate tho moon's favour by conrtesying to her , and turn the silver in their pocket for luck . The prevalence of greenbacks for so many years has certainly accomplished some good in having caused this senseless belief to become obsolete .
In Westphalia a superstitions method of avenging oneself upon enemies has a wide-spread belief , and were it successful nothing but "dwelling together in unity" would save the entire population from periodical disability . This spell can be practised only when tho moon fulls on Tuesday . Having previously selected a club or stick for the castigation , the avenger must go to it before daybreak ancl
address it , " Stick , T grasp thee in tho name oftho Trinity ; " a knife is then produced , with the words , " Stick , I cut thee in tbe name of the Trinity , that thou mayst obey mo and chastise any one whose namo I mention . " Two places are then made in the stick by remov . ing tho bark or skin , to cut these words upon it , abia , obia , sabia . It is then ready for its work , which is done by placing a garment on
the threshold of the house , and striking it hard with tho stick , at the same time speaking tho name of the person who is to be beaten . It is believed that although he may be at a great distance , he will suffer as much as if he were receiving the blows from'tho hands of the operator . A charm for toothache in Snabia is , when the crescent moon is
first seen , to look at it steadily , while theso words are thrice repeated : "I see the moon with two points ; my tooth shall neither shoot nor ache until I see the moon with three points . " In tho Alpine districts of Europe , especially in Switzerland , Savoy and Tyrol , as well as in certain regions of the Andes and Himalayas , the inhabitants aro afflicted with a swelling of the throat known aa
goitre , aud it is believed that if tho sufferer will face the moon , when on the increase , for three consecutive evenings , and touch the swelling with a stone , and then cast the stone over the left shoulder , that the goitre will disappear , but the virtue of the remedy is destroyed if a word is spoken . Persons with freckles may , if they desire , try the Tyrolese method
of removing them , which is to wash them in water in which the moon is shining . In antagonism to this recipe , in some parts of Europe ifc is thought dangerous to bathe or drink water in which the moon's rays fall , or to sleep in moonlight . Agricultural implements left oat of doors in moonshine will have the timbers broken , and linen must not bo left hanging in the moonlight . Ifc is also dangerous to dance in
tho moonlight because the surface of the earth is then as thin as a cobweb , and the spirits from the lower regiousare lured upwards by the music . The Suabians consider it a great crime to spin or knit by moonlight , for tho reason that it does not give sufficient light for any work , and any ono who ventures to spin weaves a rope for the neck of a
relative , and many stories are related illustrating the danger of doing so ; I venture the remark that the idea may have arisen from a desire to shelter relatives from justice . One of their stories is , that a poor woman who supported herself by spinning , spent whole nights at her distaff , and , when the moon was full , saved the expense of oil hy working in the moonlight . As she was thus employed one
night , tho clock struck twelve , when tho door opened and a stranger entered . He had h-s arms full of distaffs , and said , " If thou dost not spin all theso full this night , it will all be over with thee ; " he then vanished , leaving the poor woman in a terrible fright . Fortunate ! ' / sho bethought herself of spinning tlio distaffs one over , and in this v / ev accomp li shed her task before davbreak . The stranger ,
v . lip 'ess tho V , " ¦ H One himself , reappeared ab the appointed tune , sail silev . t / iv took the spindles away with him , but never again did Hie old lady encourage hia visits . The new moon is also . supposed to indicate , by tier horns , tho state of the weather ( luring ita ooiil . iiiiiM . nee ; unfortunately , the signs do : ifit harmonize , nnd rrspoab for thorn is weakened in the minds of
r " . 'Mies . Some contend that if the hovna aro upright , so that tho moon has the appearance of holding water , it will be a dry moon ; but fun Indian , whose weather observations arc entitled to as much reiooe '' , invuiiioly aeeepLatl snch a crescent as indicating a wet HI ; on . as ifc invited i . im to hang np hia implements of huutiug . Another weather si ; ni
is—A . P .-tnr . le y 711001 ! , If It raa-yy ; oace ;;; S 0 VCH VOfU'S %
(!; ,. re p ;; c , .,-r , c ;> . Ar . d vet Lh .. -e . is ' at to .- st . ee : Saturday moon iu each year ; indeed , i . i * io 7 'S L .: id LS 7 l » , flier ; . ; -, v ; re uirc-j , v ; . timiay moons ; in 1875 aud bS-aiO , lieo ; and iu ISS 2 there will bo two , while in this year , 1881 , thero is one , aud , up Lo the present writing , Uiree comets .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00902
^^^^^^^Sj23 GREAT QUEEN STREET , W . C .
Some Lunar Phases.
SOME LUNAR PHASES .
FROM THE VOICE OF MASONRY . I NEVER neglect to read everything between tho two covers of the Proceedings—or ns they are officially termed , Tho Annalsof tho Grand Lodge of Iowa , and I havo never found anything that was unnecessary , for Brother Parvin has tho good judgment of publishing what is staple information . In tho Annals for 1881 is a synopsis of tho Returns of Lodges , ancl I was somewhat surprised to
observe the uniformity of sentiment existing among tho Iowa Craftsmen with respect to the time of their stated communications—all but 24 of the 369 Lodges mentioned in tho synopsis having their meetings fixed by the lunnr changes . Freemasons are frequently asked by profanes why Lodges in many localities assemble on or near tho full moon ? and appear to
experience much disappointment when informed that no Masonic signiiicance attaches to the custom , and that it grew out of tho convenience of having moonlight in which to attend the Lodgo . In the history of tbe creation as given in Genesis , the moon is mentioned simultaneously with the sun , and they aro said to havo been created " for signs , and for seasons , and for days and years . "
Superstitions people appear to have given these words a literal interpretation , and we have , in consequence , innumerable fancies connected with the moon , which , it is believed , exercises great influence upon both material and immaterial things . In tbe countries of the Orient the moon shines with greater bril . liancy than wo are accustomed to , and exposure to its rays and the
heavy clews occasions much suffering at times . Thus , in Psalm exxi . 6 , we rend , "The sun shall not smite thee by day , nor the moon by night . " Brother Rob Morris mentions the dews in his Freemasonry in the Holy Land , page 500 , in this manner : "The frequent and copious dews and fogs of Palestine—much more abundant than one •wonld suppose in snob an arid climate—have furnished tbo in .
spired writers with many of their beautiful and expressive figures , Onr readers will of course recall the beautiful extract from Psalm exxxi ., introduced into onr ceremony of Entered Apprentice : 'As the dew of Hermon , and as the dew that descended npon the mountains of Zion , ' & c . In the summer the dew of Palestine is so copious as to supplr to a considerable extent the absence of rain , and becomes
important to the farmer . * * * Every traveller remarks upon this subject of dew . Coming to Shnnem on Saturday night , my coat was nearly wet through with dew . Like tho person in Canticle ? v . 2 , ' My head "was filled witb the dew , and my locks with tho drops of tho night . ' * * # I observed at the mouth of Dog River how the dampness of the dew on the rocks brings out tho remarkable figures and inscriptions
delineated there . At Tiberias I noticed tho tents of a party encamped there , drenched with dew . They looked as if they had been exposed to a fall of rain during tho night . This is tho samo effusion so often referred to in Scripture , that ' descended upon the mountains of Zion , ' recalling the expressions in Psalm oxxxiii ., and others . " That so brilliant and comfortable a satellite should have been
honoured by the early nations is no matter of surprise to ns , in view of tho fact that superstition still exists among us , and in Egypt the moon was reverenced , nnder the form of Isis , as one of the dpi ties of that nation ; the Syrians adored it as Ashtoreth , and the Greeks as Diana . Brother Dr . George Oliver sums the subject up in his fifth lecture on signs and symbols , as follows : — " All these legends owe
their origin to Noah and tho Ark ; for the foundation of every known system of idolatry was the worship of the Great Father ancl the Great Mother , symbolised by the sun and moon . " Among the Hebrews , the first day of the lunar mouth was regarded as a holy day , and offerings , in addition to the usual daily
sacrifices , were made ; it was respected with all tho sanctity of a Sabbath , all trades and handicrafts were suspended , pnblic services were held in tho Temple , and trumpets were blown for the special sacrifices of the day , tho samo r . s on special solemn festivals . The civil year began v . 'ith the seventh new moon of the religious
year , at which time tho Feast of Trumpets was celebrated as it is to this day by the chosen people . No information is now possessed of tho method practised by the Jews at tho time of Moses for determining the . beginning of tho lunar month , and tho earliest , system of which we havo any knowledge is that employed by tho Sanhedrim , whieh was to establish watchmen on tho eminence . ? around Jerusalem , on tho hist day of the mouth , to observe the heavens . As soon ns ono of these observers defected the
now moon , tie . hastened to tho place ; i : i the ci ' y , which wns provide-P ' for tho purpose , ami wag iiiieny eto ; I by the ] YesIdra . t of iiio . S-i-nhodrixn ; these ropor ' y and exe . 'cal-in' [ on- ; were rontinr .-d re .. til lhc President was satisfied that the . t- v . ' -moon had indeed appear . sl , ween le arose and proclaimed it bv s .-ivme-: " Tfc is eo ^ oceateo . " It is
obvioug that much uncertainty existed in this I ' abblnical practice , especially when the heavens wero clouded , aud when the npoearance was manifested late iu tho day . It is well known that the Jewish day begins at sis o ' clock in tho afternoon ; it ; therefore , the important utterance of the President of tho Sanhedrim was uot made until after dark , the following day was tho first of tho month ; if be-
Some Lunar Phases.
fore dark , the day it was pronounced . When the day was determined , the information was at once sent throughout tho country , from tho Mount of Olives , by lighting tires on tho tops of the hills . The potency of tho moon in all sorts of divination , sorcery , etc ., such as easting magic bullets , manufacturing divining rods , & o ., is well established—in tho minds of tho superstitious . Seed planting , weaning children , and innumerable actions aro all regulated by tho
moon ' s changes . It is said that crabs caught during tho full of tho moon , burned alive and ground to powder , will euro hydrophobia , yet this dread disease prevails—and no one over trios tho remedy . Savage nations invariably greeted tho new moon with reverence and fear , mingled with joy ancl adoration , but such manifestations woro not confined to barbarians . An old English custom was for women to sit astride a gate or stile , on the appearance of a now moon , and interrogate her : —
" All hail , new moon , all hail to thee ! I prythee , good moon , declare to me This night , who my husband must bo . " It wns considered unlucky to kill a pig in the wane of tho moon , as the flesh would waste in boiling , and tho slaughter oftho hogs was delayed or hastened to accomplish it during tho increase .
Seeing tho new moon over tho left shoulder or through glass was unfortunate for the seer , an opinion that is yet held by many , and theso samo persons cultivate tho moon's favour by conrtesying to her , and turn the silver in their pocket for luck . The prevalence of greenbacks for so many years has certainly accomplished some good in having caused this senseless belief to become obsolete .
In Westphalia a superstitions method of avenging oneself upon enemies has a wide-spread belief , and were it successful nothing but "dwelling together in unity" would save the entire population from periodical disability . This spell can be practised only when tho moon fulls on Tuesday . Having previously selected a club or stick for the castigation , the avenger must go to it before daybreak ancl
address it , " Stick , T grasp thee in tho name oftho Trinity ; " a knife is then produced , with the words , " Stick , I cut thee in tbe name of the Trinity , that thou mayst obey mo and chastise any one whose namo I mention . " Two places are then made in the stick by remov . ing tho bark or skin , to cut these words upon it , abia , obia , sabia . It is then ready for its work , which is done by placing a garment on
the threshold of the house , and striking it hard with tho stick , at the same time speaking tho name of the person who is to be beaten . It is believed that although he may be at a great distance , he will suffer as much as if he were receiving the blows from'tho hands of the operator . A charm for toothache in Snabia is , when the crescent moon is
first seen , to look at it steadily , while theso words are thrice repeated : "I see the moon with two points ; my tooth shall neither shoot nor ache until I see the moon with three points . " In tho Alpine districts of Europe , especially in Switzerland , Savoy and Tyrol , as well as in certain regions of the Andes and Himalayas , the inhabitants aro afflicted with a swelling of the throat known aa
goitre , aud it is believed that if tho sufferer will face the moon , when on the increase , for three consecutive evenings , and touch the swelling with a stone , and then cast the stone over the left shoulder , that the goitre will disappear , but the virtue of the remedy is destroyed if a word is spoken . Persons with freckles may , if they desire , try the Tyrolese method
of removing them , which is to wash them in water in which the moon is shining . In antagonism to this recipe , in some parts of Europe ifc is thought dangerous to bathe or drink water in which the moon's rays fall , or to sleep in moonlight . Agricultural implements left oat of doors in moonshine will have the timbers broken , and linen must not bo left hanging in the moonlight . Ifc is also dangerous to dance in
tho moonlight because the surface of the earth is then as thin as a cobweb , and the spirits from the lower regiousare lured upwards by the music . The Suabians consider it a great crime to spin or knit by moonlight , for tho reason that it does not give sufficient light for any work , and any ono who ventures to spin weaves a rope for the neck of a
relative , and many stories are related illustrating the danger of doing so ; I venture the remark that the idea may have arisen from a desire to shelter relatives from justice . One of their stories is , that a poor woman who supported herself by spinning , spent whole nights at her distaff , and , when the moon was full , saved the expense of oil hy working in the moonlight . As she was thus employed one
night , tho clock struck twelve , when tho door opened and a stranger entered . He had h-s arms full of distaffs , and said , " If thou dost not spin all theso full this night , it will all be over with thee ; " he then vanished , leaving the poor woman in a terrible fright . Fortunate ! ' / sho bethought herself of spinning tlio distaffs one over , and in this v / ev accomp li shed her task before davbreak . The stranger ,
v . lip 'ess tho V , " ¦ H One himself , reappeared ab the appointed tune , sail silev . t / iv took the spindles away with him , but never again did Hie old lady encourage hia visits . The new moon is also . supposed to indicate , by tier horns , tho state of the weather ( luring ita ooiil . iiiiiM . nee ; unfortunately , the signs do : ifit harmonize , nnd rrspoab for thorn is weakened in the minds of
r " . 'Mies . Some contend that if the hovna aro upright , so that tho moon has the appearance of holding water , it will be a dry moon ; but fun Indian , whose weather observations arc entitled to as much reiooe '' , invuiiioly aeeepLatl snch a crescent as indicating a wet HI ; on . as ifc invited i . im to hang np hia implements of huutiug . Another weather si ; ni
is—A . P .-tnr . le y 711001 ! , If It raa-yy ; oace ;;; S 0 VCH VOfU'S %
(!; ,. re p ;; c , .,-r , c ;> . Ar . d vet Lh .. -e . is ' at to .- st . ee : Saturday moon iu each year ; indeed , i . i * io 7 'S L .: id LS 7 l » , flier ; . ; -, v ; re uirc-j , v ; . timiay moons ; in 1875 aud bS-aiO , lieo ; and iu ISS 2 there will bo two , while in this year , 1881 , thero is one , aud , up Lo the present writing , Uiree comets .