Development Of The Royal Arch Degree.

which signify Solomon Rex , Hiram | Eex , ^ Hiram Abif aM Mahabon . > . . ¦ *'; - '' ¦ '» ; : "" •~~ wn " These threej'illustrious architects ] had [ hadjfchis ' place constructed for the celebration of their most { secret ^ and grand mysteries , which they had written in gold letters npon a white marble table .

" The first movement of Gibulum , in view of this luminous place , was to bend his knee , and , with the right hand extended before the eyes , to make a sign of astonishment , respect and admiration . He approached the altar

and acquired the knowledge of the grand mysteries and read the oaths and obligations prescribed under the greatest penalties , written by those three illustrious and ancient wise depositories of the sciences .

" Gibulum , astonished afc his discovery , gave praise to the Almighty , and pulling the chord for the third time was taken out of " the vault . Once out in the light of day all the brethren surrounded him , and seeing the satisfaction depicted in his eyes , fraternally embraced him , shouting ,

Hurrah ! Qibuhim is a good Mason . He told them all that he had seen , but carefully kept to himself what he had learned . " Ifc is thus thafc from this line came out the Scotch , those illustrious who after this epoch have so well

distinguished themselves in the wars of the crusades , although the Grand Architect of the Universe did not grant to their arms all the success they hoped for . With increased

ardour and zeal they returned to Europe with the Knights of the West , where they acquired the greatest celebrity , not only by their valorous deeds but for their riches and

powers . From them descended the ancient Templars , the history of whom terminated with the defeat of the Grand Molay . " The last paragraph , about the Crusaders , is awkwardly tacked on to the history of the period of Emperor Titus . I shall call attention to it again . But I must here add , that the above Eitual is minus of the ceremony of the veils . The Grand Orator , who seems to act as Master of Ceremonies ,

conducts the candidate to four apartments in succession ; at each door a word is demanded , but , instead of uttering the word , the Master of the Ceremony shows a medal on which the desired word is engraved . One of those words was " MERIT . "—Masonic Truth . ( To be continued . )

The Legend Of The Lost Word.

THE LEGEND OF THE LOST WORD .

THIS legend , as briefly stated by Dr . Mackey , is as follows : — " The mystical history of Freemasonry informs us that there once existed a WORD of surpassing

value , and claiming a profound veneration ; that this word was known to the few , and that it was at length lost , and that a temporary substitute for it was adopted . " This idea of a mystic , all-powerful " word" was an ancient ancl widely-diffused superstition . Just how this notion originated has not been handed down to us , either by

tradition or otherwise . Ifc , however , probably came to be entertained in the following manner : —It was generally known to the profane—i . e ., the uninitiated—that those who were admitted to the " Mysteries " were entrusted with a certain sacred word , under a most solemn pledge not to reveal it to the world ; and as the scientific knowledge , also secretly imparted to those who were initiated , gave those

who took the higher degrees the power to work apparent miracles , the ignorant and superstitious multitude naturally thought , and were perhaps taught to believe , that it was by the use of this " word , " so sacredly concealed , that the

priests were able to perform all their wonderful works . This word was , however , nothing but the " password , " which went with the " sign , " by which the initiated could make themselves known to one another . This idea of an

all-powerful word was very prevalent among the Jews , no doubt derived from their long stay in Egypt . The notion was that this " word " consisted of the true name of God , together with a knowled ge of its proper pronunciation , and

that tho fortunate possessor of this knowledge became thereby clothed with supernatural power—that by the speaking of this word he could perform all sorts of miracles , ancl even raise the dead . According to the Cabalists , " the very heavens shook , and the angels themselves were filled

with terror and astonishment when this tremendous word was pronounced . " Jewish tradition states that God himself taught Moses

The Legend Of The Lost Word.

his true name and its correct pronunciation at the " burning bush . " And they believed that Moses , being thus possessed of the " Word , " used it to perform all his miracles , and to confound and overthrow Pharaoh and his hosts . The Jews of a later date , seeking to account for the wonderful works of Christ , asserted that he unlawfully entered the " holy of

holies , " and clandestinely obtained the word used by Moses , which was engraved upon the stone upon which the ark rested . The superstition in relation to a wonder-working word also prevailed among the Arabians , who said ^ thafc

King Solomon was in possession of this " grand ommhc word , " and by its use subdued the genii who rebelled against God , many of whom Solomon imprisoned by the use of his magical seal , upon which the word , contained in a pentacle , was engraved .

It was from these , and other similar legends thus widely diffused among the ancient Oriental nations , that the veneration for a particular word arose , together with an earnest desire to obtain ifc , and a laborious search for it , by

ambitious believers in its power . All the magicians , enchanters , and wonder-workers of the East , and the adepts of the West , were supposed to have , in some mysterious way ,

become possessed of this " word , ' and were known to the aspirants and students of the occult sciences ( not yet so fortunate ) by the name of " masters , " ancl the " word " was called by them the " master ' s word . " This ancient

superstition seems to have left its impress on our ritual , for the word , " of which we hear so often therein is assumed to be , omething more than a mere " password , " although we , as , Masons , now use the phrase " master ' s word " in a very

different sense from that of the adepts of formei

times . In former and less enlightened times the possession of the true name of God and its proper pronunciation , or some substitute for-it , authorized by divine command , were even

supposed requisite in order to worship him aright ; for it was ignorantly thought that if God was not addressed by his own proper name he would not attend to the call , nor even know that the prayers of his worshipper were really

addressed to him , and not to Baal , Osiris , or Jupiter ; or , if knowing , would indignantly reject them . In the East , to address even an earthly potentate by any other than his own

proper , high and ceremonious title , was considered both irreverent and insulting . Among the Jews , however ,

the pronunciation of the true name was supposed to bo the pronunciation of the true name was supposed to bo followed by such tremendous effects that a substitute , for

which they believed they had the divine sanction , was enjoined . Accordingly , we find in the Old Testament that whenever the name of God occurs , the substitute is used instead of the true name . The word substituted is generally " Adonai" or Lord , unless the name follows that word , and then " Mohim " is used ; as " Adonai Elohim" meaning

Lord God . From this long-continued use of a sttbstitute for the real word , the latter , or at least its correct pronunciation , was thought to be lost . A trace of all this is found in our ritual , and perhaps furnishes the true

reason why a substitute ( as Dr . Mackey informs us in the extract we have quoted above from his " Symbolism " ) was adopted . ( To be confcnned . )

The Fifteen Sections

THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS

WILL BE WORKED Afc the United Mariners Lodge of Instruction , afc the Lngard Tavern , Peckham , on Wednesday evening , the 4 th February . Bro . Walter Martin , S . W . of the Southwark Lodge , the able Preceptor of this Lodge of Instruction , will preside , and a very enjoyable evening is anticipated . Brethren are cordially invited to attend , and they may be assured of a welcome .

The members of the Lodge of Israel , No . 205 , will hold a ball at the Cannon-street Hotel , on the 4 fch February , under the patronage of the Rt . Hon . the Lord Mayor , Bro . Alderman Nottage , and the Lady Mayoress . A special

dispensation has been granted for the brethren to appear in Masonic clothing . An efficient Board of Stewards has been appointed . Bros . A . J . Henochsberg P . M . 1562 J . W . 205 and J . Da Silva P . M . will be President and Vice-President respectively . Gentlemen ' s tickets 15 s ; ladies 12 s 6 d ; double tickets 25 s , to include refreshments and

supper . It is anticipated a large attendance will be the result .