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Article THE MASONRY OF FLOWERS. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonry Of Flowers.
of course , prove this , but you Avill , I dare say , plead guilty . NOAV I do not blame you at all for doing so , for I think you are quite right , literally and figuratively . For as the flowers are raised from the earth of this green w orld by the more visible form of the same power , so were the first shoots and buds of Masonry called into being in Adam ( the red earth ) , by the Great Source of Light and
Life . I believe you will not deny that to be a very Masonic truth , though from a Avoman ' s pen . We cannot define what the extent of the usefulness contained in herbs and flowers may be , familiar as AA e are Avith their valuable medicinal properties . But beyond all these even , there is a world of beautiful teaching curled up in their fragile cups and delicate leaves . Of course I do not allude to the sentimentalso called" Language
, , of Flowers ; " I mean the beautiful and even hol y symbolism that may be found in them . Indeed , Mr . Editor , I will boldly assert that you Masons may be very glad to study from them a little . Look , for instance , at the Solomon's Seal , which contains a whole volume of " Landmarks" in it . Perhaps you will be able to find out the graceful spring of the Arch worthyin honour of its own beauty and
, its Avise and kingly namesake , to be called " Royal . " Do not forget to notice the perfect intersected triangle in its elegant green-tipped petals , of the unusual number of six , Avhich doubtless gave it its name . There would be a valuable flower for you , and it is easily grown and propagated . The rose , too , what a pretty and poetical
help it would be to you m tyling a Lodge!—the emblem of secrecy from time immemorial . How very much you might add to the beaut y of your Masonic Festivals , did you pay a little attention to this . I do not mean that you could do so at every Lodge meeting , as the flowers you wished for might be out of season , but on the event of any Grand Festival . If they were combined and arranged in appropriate devicesthey
, Avould indeed add much to the general effect of the scene , though I am afraid you would have to demand the aid of some tasteful feminine fingers , and a little womanly taste in grouping them . I have had a little opportunity of seeing village school-rooms arranged for tea-drinkings and holydays , and really the very beautiful effect of a few flowers , some coarse pasteboard , and needles and thread , was
wonderful , w hen you considered the materials . The acacia , a very Masonic tree , can always help much , by its very appropriate foliage , as a background to the more brilliant hues of the flowers . The hyacinth , with its mournful and mysterious " Ai ; " tbe columbine , Avith its little doves ; and others , too numerous to mentionwould involve a Avorld of hidden meanings to the initiated . One
, only flower I would exclude from festive purposes , which , Avith a kind of reverent Avatchfulness over the sacred symbols it bears in its bosom , closes over them at nightfall , and deigns not to unfurl for any lighted revel in the Avorld , —I mean the Passion-flower , which being honoured by bearing the symbols of the Redeemer ' s sufferings on earth , should not be lightly taken to any assembly of human joy and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonry Of Flowers.
of course , prove this , but you Avill , I dare say , plead guilty . NOAV I do not blame you at all for doing so , for I think you are quite right , literally and figuratively . For as the flowers are raised from the earth of this green w orld by the more visible form of the same power , so were the first shoots and buds of Masonry called into being in Adam ( the red earth ) , by the Great Source of Light and
Life . I believe you will not deny that to be a very Masonic truth , though from a Avoman ' s pen . We cannot define what the extent of the usefulness contained in herbs and flowers may be , familiar as AA e are Avith their valuable medicinal properties . But beyond all these even , there is a world of beautiful teaching curled up in their fragile cups and delicate leaves . Of course I do not allude to the sentimentalso called" Language
, , of Flowers ; " I mean the beautiful and even hol y symbolism that may be found in them . Indeed , Mr . Editor , I will boldly assert that you Masons may be very glad to study from them a little . Look , for instance , at the Solomon's Seal , which contains a whole volume of " Landmarks" in it . Perhaps you will be able to find out the graceful spring of the Arch worthyin honour of its own beauty and
, its Avise and kingly namesake , to be called " Royal . " Do not forget to notice the perfect intersected triangle in its elegant green-tipped petals , of the unusual number of six , Avhich doubtless gave it its name . There would be a valuable flower for you , and it is easily grown and propagated . The rose , too , what a pretty and poetical
help it would be to you m tyling a Lodge!—the emblem of secrecy from time immemorial . How very much you might add to the beaut y of your Masonic Festivals , did you pay a little attention to this . I do not mean that you could do so at every Lodge meeting , as the flowers you wished for might be out of season , but on the event of any Grand Festival . If they were combined and arranged in appropriate devicesthey
, Avould indeed add much to the general effect of the scene , though I am afraid you would have to demand the aid of some tasteful feminine fingers , and a little womanly taste in grouping them . I have had a little opportunity of seeing village school-rooms arranged for tea-drinkings and holydays , and really the very beautiful effect of a few flowers , some coarse pasteboard , and needles and thread , was
wonderful , w hen you considered the materials . The acacia , a very Masonic tree , can always help much , by its very appropriate foliage , as a background to the more brilliant hues of the flowers . The hyacinth , with its mournful and mysterious " Ai ; " tbe columbine , Avith its little doves ; and others , too numerous to mentionwould involve a Avorld of hidden meanings to the initiated . One
, only flower I would exclude from festive purposes , which , Avith a kind of reverent Avatchfulness over the sacred symbols it bears in its bosom , closes over them at nightfall , and deigns not to unfurl for any lighted revel in the Avorld , —I mean the Passion-flower , which being honoured by bearing the symbols of the Redeemer ' s sufferings on earth , should not be lightly taken to any assembly of human joy and