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Article ON THE STUDY OF MASONIC ANTIQUITIES. ← Page 14 of 15 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
in contradistinction to the irregular nomadic habits of the less civilized and barbarian nations of Africa and Asia , to them adjacent . " Some of these judicial breastplates are still extant , others on the monuments contain the figures of Si and Thmi ; representing these divinities in heir double capacity : Rt- in that of physical and intellectual light , and Thmi : m that of Truth and Justice . °
It has been shown that in Hebresv the Sun is called AUR : in the same language Truth is called TIIME . The double capacity of anything- is expressed by the dual number . b Thus AUR in the dual becomes AURIM , And THME in the dual becomes THMIM . The derivation of these svords is thus clearly proved , and the analogies m the use of the breastplate are less perfect
no . Let us now turn to Exodus , chapter xxviii . svhere sve shall find the directions given for the formation ofthe ephod , girdle , and breastplate ot Aaron . In allusion to the two onyx stones the directions are , " with tlie work of an engraver on stone , like the ensravimrs of a signet <\ P in
symbolic , and not in alphabetical character ) , shalt thou engrave tlie two s ones ; and with regard to the breastplate , the chains at the ends svere directed to be made of svreathen svork of pure gold , which svere to be passed through tsvo golden rings ; the robe ofthe ephod svas directed to De made all of blue , and the breastplate svas to be bound by the rino-s thereof unto the rings of the ephod svith a lace of blue ; " and ( v 301 thou shalt put m the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummimand they shall be
; upon Aaron ' s heart svhen he goeth in before the fc ; ° , a » d Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon bis heart before the LORD continually . " Thus Aaron svas directed to bear upon his heart the breastplate of judgment , in precisely the same manner as the Egyptian judges ( svho svere all hi gh-priests ) ssere accustomed to wear their breastplates . In the edition ofthe sacred volume to svHicb I am now referring ( Brown ' Illustrated FamilBible
s y ) , the commentator observes , "svhat the Urim and Thummim , or lights and perfections svere , I cannot certainl y tell : perhaps God himself formed it , and by it the priest knew the mind of God . " This observation exemplifies most forcibl y the essential importance of our present investigation It lias been shosvn that the svords in question are precisely equivalent to the double symbolic capacity of Rd , or LIGHT , and the double symbolical character of Thmi , or PERFECTIONS .
. , 7 . , ' ms see adopted in the AURIM and THUMMIM of the Hebresv judicial breast plate , the symbolical method , and long anterior types used by tlie Egyptian high-priests ; and in allusion to this part of the subiect we may ask svith Mr . Gliddon , " Can we suppose this similarity to be the effect of chance ? Must we not attribute the identity to a common primeval and sacred source , more remote than the establishment of either nation t In both nations none but the arch-judges and high-priests could wear the breastplate of lihts and
g perfections . " I his is precisel y the point to svhich , as I apprehend , the study of Masonic antiquities , if properly directed , svill lead us . Our resditions are intended to lead us back to the common origin of religion literature , and scientific knosvledge , so as to reach a position from svhence sve may trace the elementary principles through their various gradations when subsequentl y dispersed among distant nations and thus be enabled to form a comprehensive history , uniting by mears ' of a common bond the different families ofthe human race This is ' -t
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
in contradistinction to the irregular nomadic habits of the less civilized and barbarian nations of Africa and Asia , to them adjacent . " Some of these judicial breastplates are still extant , others on the monuments contain the figures of Si and Thmi ; representing these divinities in heir double capacity : Rt- in that of physical and intellectual light , and Thmi : m that of Truth and Justice . °
It has been shown that in Hebresv the Sun is called AUR : in the same language Truth is called TIIME . The double capacity of anything- is expressed by the dual number . b Thus AUR in the dual becomes AURIM , And THME in the dual becomes THMIM . The derivation of these svords is thus clearly proved , and the analogies m the use of the breastplate are less perfect
no . Let us now turn to Exodus , chapter xxviii . svhere sve shall find the directions given for the formation ofthe ephod , girdle , and breastplate ot Aaron . In allusion to the two onyx stones the directions are , " with tlie work of an engraver on stone , like the ensravimrs of a signet <\ P in
symbolic , and not in alphabetical character ) , shalt thou engrave tlie two s ones ; and with regard to the breastplate , the chains at the ends svere directed to be made of svreathen svork of pure gold , which svere to be passed through tsvo golden rings ; the robe ofthe ephod svas directed to De made all of blue , and the breastplate svas to be bound by the rino-s thereof unto the rings of the ephod svith a lace of blue ; " and ( v 301 thou shalt put m the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummimand they shall be
; upon Aaron ' s heart svhen he goeth in before the fc ; ° , a » d Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon bis heart before the LORD continually . " Thus Aaron svas directed to bear upon his heart the breastplate of judgment , in precisely the same manner as the Egyptian judges ( svho svere all hi gh-priests ) ssere accustomed to wear their breastplates . In the edition ofthe sacred volume to svHicb I am now referring ( Brown ' Illustrated FamilBible
s y ) , the commentator observes , "svhat the Urim and Thummim , or lights and perfections svere , I cannot certainl y tell : perhaps God himself formed it , and by it the priest knew the mind of God . " This observation exemplifies most forcibl y the essential importance of our present investigation It lias been shosvn that the svords in question are precisely equivalent to the double symbolic capacity of Rd , or LIGHT , and the double symbolical character of Thmi , or PERFECTIONS .
. , 7 . , ' ms see adopted in the AURIM and THUMMIM of the Hebresv judicial breast plate , the symbolical method , and long anterior types used by tlie Egyptian high-priests ; and in allusion to this part of the subiect we may ask svith Mr . Gliddon , " Can we suppose this similarity to be the effect of chance ? Must we not attribute the identity to a common primeval and sacred source , more remote than the establishment of either nation t In both nations none but the arch-judges and high-priests could wear the breastplate of lihts and
g perfections . " I his is precisel y the point to svhich , as I apprehend , the study of Masonic antiquities , if properly directed , svill lead us . Our resditions are intended to lead us back to the common origin of religion literature , and scientific knosvledge , so as to reach a position from svhence sve may trace the elementary principles through their various gradations when subsequentl y dispersed among distant nations and thus be enabled to form a comprehensive history , uniting by mears ' of a common bond the different families ofthe human race This is ' -t