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Article THE FREEMASONS' LEXICON. ← Page 6 of 8 →
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The Freemasons' Lexicon.
Sic transit gloria mundi . Every thing vanishes like an extinguished fame . —A most important symbol for a Mason . No earthly glory should be able to captivate him ; for he must ever bear in mind the glory of a flame in comparison with which every other glory is vain . Life itself is like a flame , it can be extinguished before it has been scarcely perceived . This beautiful symbol has also been adopted by the English Knights of the Garter . When the helmet , sword , & c , of a departed brother are
solemnly lowered , the herald-at-arms exclaims , " Sic transit gloria mundi ! " Sieben . —Seven is an important number to a Freemason . In ancient times each brother was compelled to be acquainted with the seven liberal arts and sciences ; it is for this reason that seven brethren form a symbolical loclge . If two triangles £ \ are joined together they form X ^_ , or six-pointed star , ancl if this figure is enclosed in a circle , there are then
seven points , @ ; ancl it was with this figure that the ancients represented the seven subordinate powers of nature . Siegel der Logen . Lodge Seal . —Every lodge has its own seal , and a collection of these seals is a very interesting thing , for they each contain either a symbolical or an allegorical allusion to the name of the lodge . Every certificate is sealed with the seal of the Grand Lodge by which it
is granted , ancl as all Grand Loclge seals are well known it thus prevents false certificates from injuring the Craft . Sinnbild . Symbol . —Every Apprentice knows what to understand by this word , ancl he also knows that a pillar upon a good foundation may stand firm although nearly broken . The inscription further says to him , " Let no one despair under his trials , when his anxious strivings after the only true good are impeded at every step ; the man determined to advance in the paths of virtue must be firm as a well-founded illar
p , even when it is broken above half through . " Sinnliche und Aeusserliche Gebrauchen . Sensual and outward ceremonies *—A Freemason can neither become a gross sensualist nor profess to be stoically dead to all sensual pleasures ; for it is not necessary that he should deny himself the innocent enjoyments provided for the eye , the ear , and the taste . No man can maintain that he is entirely uninfluenced by sensual or outward impressions . To appeal to the
bodily feelings or passions is found the most effectual means of arousing the sympathy and securing the attention of the multitude . It is for this reason that among the ceremonies of Freemasonry we find outward forms calculated to work upon the inward feelings ; these ceremonies are , for the greater part , derived from ancient times , and it is very probable that they were more fitted for the state of society then existing than they are for that which now exists .
Sonne . Sun . —The sun rises in the east , and in the east is the place for the Worshipful Master , clothed in purple and gold . As the sun is the source of ail life and warmth , so should the Worshipful Master enliven ancl warm the brethren to their work . Among the ancient Egyptians the sun was the symbol of divine providence . Schiller says , " the sun darts his beams equally into every part of infinity . " Spanien . Spain . —From Spain Freemasonry is completely banished . The lodges , when first established , were opposed by Joseph Torrubia , preacher and apostolic missionary , revisor of the sacred office of the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Lexicon.
Sic transit gloria mundi . Every thing vanishes like an extinguished fame . —A most important symbol for a Mason . No earthly glory should be able to captivate him ; for he must ever bear in mind the glory of a flame in comparison with which every other glory is vain . Life itself is like a flame , it can be extinguished before it has been scarcely perceived . This beautiful symbol has also been adopted by the English Knights of the Garter . When the helmet , sword , & c , of a departed brother are
solemnly lowered , the herald-at-arms exclaims , " Sic transit gloria mundi ! " Sieben . —Seven is an important number to a Freemason . In ancient times each brother was compelled to be acquainted with the seven liberal arts and sciences ; it is for this reason that seven brethren form a symbolical loclge . If two triangles £ \ are joined together they form X ^_ , or six-pointed star , ancl if this figure is enclosed in a circle , there are then
seven points , @ ; ancl it was with this figure that the ancients represented the seven subordinate powers of nature . Siegel der Logen . Lodge Seal . —Every lodge has its own seal , and a collection of these seals is a very interesting thing , for they each contain either a symbolical or an allegorical allusion to the name of the lodge . Every certificate is sealed with the seal of the Grand Lodge by which it
is granted , ancl as all Grand Loclge seals are well known it thus prevents false certificates from injuring the Craft . Sinnbild . Symbol . —Every Apprentice knows what to understand by this word , ancl he also knows that a pillar upon a good foundation may stand firm although nearly broken . The inscription further says to him , " Let no one despair under his trials , when his anxious strivings after the only true good are impeded at every step ; the man determined to advance in the paths of virtue must be firm as a well-founded illar
p , even when it is broken above half through . " Sinnliche und Aeusserliche Gebrauchen . Sensual and outward ceremonies *—A Freemason can neither become a gross sensualist nor profess to be stoically dead to all sensual pleasures ; for it is not necessary that he should deny himself the innocent enjoyments provided for the eye , the ear , and the taste . No man can maintain that he is entirely uninfluenced by sensual or outward impressions . To appeal to the
bodily feelings or passions is found the most effectual means of arousing the sympathy and securing the attention of the multitude . It is for this reason that among the ceremonies of Freemasonry we find outward forms calculated to work upon the inward feelings ; these ceremonies are , for the greater part , derived from ancient times , and it is very probable that they were more fitted for the state of society then existing than they are for that which now exists .
Sonne . Sun . —The sun rises in the east , and in the east is the place for the Worshipful Master , clothed in purple and gold . As the sun is the source of ail life and warmth , so should the Worshipful Master enliven ancl warm the brethren to their work . Among the ancient Egyptians the sun was the symbol of divine providence . Schiller says , " the sun darts his beams equally into every part of infinity . " Spanien . Spain . —From Spain Freemasonry is completely banished . The lodges , when first established , were opposed by Joseph Torrubia , preacher and apostolic missionary , revisor of the sacred office of the