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Article MASONIC SYMBOLS. THE HIVE. ← Page 4 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Symbols. The Hive.
individual" kind of creature , small ancl contemptible in outward aspect , and clothed in sober dress . This little creature , * of Avhom no bee-master can think Avithout mentally shaking his fist , comes to the hive-door . There stand the guards , their SAVords sharpened and ready for action . One thrust Avould settle him at onceso he comes humbly and imploringly and
, seeks for admission . " Ho ! " say the guards , " get along Avith you . We are not going to be bothered with such an insignificant little felloAV among us . " So he goes aAvay accordingly . But he is only Avatching his opportunity ; for seeking a time Avhen the bees are off their guard , in he slips . Ancl with his entrance the peace of the hive is gone . He runs about from one part of
the hive to another ; he pokes his nose into every cell ; he examines the quality of the honey ; he worries the bees until the } ' are half distracted ; and all with an air of the most profound humility . It is no use for the bees to blame those who let him in—the mischief is done—and although they would give their antenn * to get him out againthey must resign
them-, selves to their fate . Nor is this all . If one such an insect has made good its entrance , it is but the precursor of many others , who annoy the bees in such a manner that they not unfrequently leave the hive in disgust . So far for these kinds of foes . Now let us see what the bees
themselves are . Of these there are three kinds;—the ruler , the workers , and the drones . The ruler is altogether of a more majestic aspect than any of the subjects . It lives in a larger cell than those of the other bees . It is possessed of a singular poAver of producing a sound Avhich instantly quiets all the bees in the hive , although they may be in the most excited state .
It suffers no one to share its throne , but if another evinces a determination to contest the post , it either boldly opposes its adversary , or leaves the hive , taking with it a sufficient number of bees to found a UCAV colony . It is all-important ; for if it dies or vacates its post , the bees are at once beivildered , and know not hoAV to proceed Avith their tasks . After a feAV days ,
if no neAv ruler appears , the affairs of the hive go to ruin , and the entire establishment is broken up . The second kind of bee is the Avorker . They , as the name implies , are the real poAver by Avhich the hive is Avorked . The ruler is nothing AA'ithout an effectual staff of Avorkers . Their business is manifold . To some is intrusted the charge of the young bees ; some find the scene of their labours among the combs ; some form themselves into gangs of excavators , Avhose
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Symbols. The Hive.
individual" kind of creature , small ancl contemptible in outward aspect , and clothed in sober dress . This little creature , * of Avhom no bee-master can think Avithout mentally shaking his fist , comes to the hive-door . There stand the guards , their SAVords sharpened and ready for action . One thrust Avould settle him at onceso he comes humbly and imploringly and
, seeks for admission . " Ho ! " say the guards , " get along Avith you . We are not going to be bothered with such an insignificant little felloAV among us . " So he goes aAvay accordingly . But he is only Avatching his opportunity ; for seeking a time Avhen the bees are off their guard , in he slips . Ancl with his entrance the peace of the hive is gone . He runs about from one part of
the hive to another ; he pokes his nose into every cell ; he examines the quality of the honey ; he worries the bees until the } ' are half distracted ; and all with an air of the most profound humility . It is no use for the bees to blame those who let him in—the mischief is done—and although they would give their antenn * to get him out againthey must resign
them-, selves to their fate . Nor is this all . If one such an insect has made good its entrance , it is but the precursor of many others , who annoy the bees in such a manner that they not unfrequently leave the hive in disgust . So far for these kinds of foes . Now let us see what the bees
themselves are . Of these there are three kinds;—the ruler , the workers , and the drones . The ruler is altogether of a more majestic aspect than any of the subjects . It lives in a larger cell than those of the other bees . It is possessed of a singular poAver of producing a sound Avhich instantly quiets all the bees in the hive , although they may be in the most excited state .
It suffers no one to share its throne , but if another evinces a determination to contest the post , it either boldly opposes its adversary , or leaves the hive , taking with it a sufficient number of bees to found a UCAV colony . It is all-important ; for if it dies or vacates its post , the bees are at once beivildered , and know not hoAV to proceed Avith their tasks . After a feAV days ,
if no neAv ruler appears , the affairs of the hive go to ruin , and the entire establishment is broken up . The second kind of bee is the Avorker . They , as the name implies , are the real poAver by Avhich the hive is Avorked . The ruler is nothing AA'ithout an effectual staff of Avorkers . Their business is manifold . To some is intrusted the charge of the young bees ; some find the scene of their labours among the combs ; some form themselves into gangs of excavators , Avhose