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Remarks On The Symbolical Nature Of Jeavels As Connected With Freemasonry.
and therein fixed . Some , that the letters of the names of the tribes upon the Pirim and Thummim were allegorically styled jewels , and that the letters standing out , or by extraordinary illumination , marked such words as contained the answer of God to those who consulted this oracle .
However various their opinions , it is certain that the Urim and Thummim was pure in the sight of the Almighty , and paramount over all things , until the arrival of the jewel of jewels and perfection of precious stones , when the holy breastplate was condensed into one glorious light from Bethelem , and afterwards continued by the twelve Apostles , who handed down to the world the Word of God , wliich was the true seal of the wisest King . God ' s spirit in Hebrew is called a seal , because by
the gracious inhabitation and influence thereof , men are marked out for God ' s property , distinguished from the world at large , and secured against apostacy and ruin . There are a great many mysteries conveyed by stones . In referring to the sacred volume— " and Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan , "— " and Moses previously rose up early in the morning , and builded an altar under the hill , and twelve pillars , according to the twelve tribes of Israel , "—it must be remembered that Gilgal derived its name from unhewn stones . Exod . xxiv . 4 .
The pure Hebrew knife , for raising the altar , was made of stone , ( Tzur ); but this word signifies also edge . The use of graving tools , for erecting high altars , was forbidden , because no human inventions were acceptable in the worship of Jehovah ; and was intended to show symbolically that his true shrine was made without hands , being that of a purified heart . Our Saviour was the most perfect offering for man , and as a priest after the order of Melchizedekand as the chief corner-stoneconnecting and establishing the
, , church and all her concerns , and by which all , both Jews and Gentiles , angels and men , are as it were joined into one , he thus spiritually constituted the first and only perfect order and altar . It is this spiritual building which constitutes Freemasonry . By copying divine example , the fraternity allegorically rise above their mundane brethren as true workmen of stone and tile , and when thus masonically employed , they hew , cut , and square , new altars and
buildings to the Lord of Hosts , by perfecting his spiritual works . Freemasons should be engaged in promoting friendship , virtuous society , mutual assistance , and good fellowship . Although the world is indebted to Pythagoras for the demonstration
ot tlie 47 tn proposition of the first book ot Euclid s elements , relative to the square of the hypothenuse , and history tells us that he was so elated after making the discovery , that he made an offering of a hecatomb to the gods , yet it was reserved for a Christian to have the honour and triumph of explaining the true jewel and seal of Solomon . The figure appended to the Master Mason ' s square beautifully expresses the Trinity . We must in contemplating this problem feel persuaded that it conveys the idea of some self-existent and absolutel
y eternal power , continued by one equal square , immediately proceeding to two , then a third , and finally terminating in the central celestial figure . It shows us , that God necessarily in and of his own infinite , but simple and undivided essence , subsists in three distinct persons , —the Father , the Son , and the Holy Ghost . Here , indeed , by an emblem which sets at naught all irregular angles , and assists in bringing rude
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Remarks On The Symbolical Nature Of Jeavels As Connected With Freemasonry.
and therein fixed . Some , that the letters of the names of the tribes upon the Pirim and Thummim were allegorically styled jewels , and that the letters standing out , or by extraordinary illumination , marked such words as contained the answer of God to those who consulted this oracle .
However various their opinions , it is certain that the Urim and Thummim was pure in the sight of the Almighty , and paramount over all things , until the arrival of the jewel of jewels and perfection of precious stones , when the holy breastplate was condensed into one glorious light from Bethelem , and afterwards continued by the twelve Apostles , who handed down to the world the Word of God , wliich was the true seal of the wisest King . God ' s spirit in Hebrew is called a seal , because by
the gracious inhabitation and influence thereof , men are marked out for God ' s property , distinguished from the world at large , and secured against apostacy and ruin . There are a great many mysteries conveyed by stones . In referring to the sacred volume— " and Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan , "— " and Moses previously rose up early in the morning , and builded an altar under the hill , and twelve pillars , according to the twelve tribes of Israel , "—it must be remembered that Gilgal derived its name from unhewn stones . Exod . xxiv . 4 .
The pure Hebrew knife , for raising the altar , was made of stone , ( Tzur ); but this word signifies also edge . The use of graving tools , for erecting high altars , was forbidden , because no human inventions were acceptable in the worship of Jehovah ; and was intended to show symbolically that his true shrine was made without hands , being that of a purified heart . Our Saviour was the most perfect offering for man , and as a priest after the order of Melchizedekand as the chief corner-stoneconnecting and establishing the
, , church and all her concerns , and by which all , both Jews and Gentiles , angels and men , are as it were joined into one , he thus spiritually constituted the first and only perfect order and altar . It is this spiritual building which constitutes Freemasonry . By copying divine example , the fraternity allegorically rise above their mundane brethren as true workmen of stone and tile , and when thus masonically employed , they hew , cut , and square , new altars and
buildings to the Lord of Hosts , by perfecting his spiritual works . Freemasons should be engaged in promoting friendship , virtuous society , mutual assistance , and good fellowship . Although the world is indebted to Pythagoras for the demonstration
ot tlie 47 tn proposition of the first book ot Euclid s elements , relative to the square of the hypothenuse , and history tells us that he was so elated after making the discovery , that he made an offering of a hecatomb to the gods , yet it was reserved for a Christian to have the honour and triumph of explaining the true jewel and seal of Solomon . The figure appended to the Master Mason ' s square beautifully expresses the Trinity . We must in contemplating this problem feel persuaded that it conveys the idea of some self-existent and absolutel
y eternal power , continued by one equal square , immediately proceeding to two , then a third , and finally terminating in the central celestial figure . It shows us , that God necessarily in and of his own infinite , but simple and undivided essence , subsists in three distinct persons , —the Father , the Son , and the Holy Ghost . Here , indeed , by an emblem which sets at naught all irregular angles , and assists in bringing rude