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Article ANCIENT MASONS' MARKS. ← Page 4 of 9 →
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Ancient Masons' Marks.
philosopher , concerning the same subject : he says , " The philosophical and religious mysticism which penetrates and imparts life to the immense composition of Dante , assigns to every object , besides its real or material existence , an ideal one . It is like two worlds , of which the one is the reflection of the other . " The group of four stars represents
in the moral system the cardinal virtues—prudence , justice , virtue , and temperance ; they deserve on that account the name of "holy lights . " The three stars which light the Pole represent the theological virtues—faith , hope , and charity . The first of these beings themselves reveal to us their double nature , as they sing , " here we are nymphs ,
in heaven we are stars . " In the land of truth , the terrestrial Paradise , the seven nymphs are re-united . It is the reunion of the cardinal and theological virtues . But where are we , indulgent reader ? Among the stars ? Truly . Then whence that gathering gloom—that deep low voice , which summons us before the veiled chair of the editor , and trumpet-tongued proclaims an arraignment on three charges . First we are accused of violation of the rules of politeness , in having mounted an animal allied to the horse , but in
vulgar language yclept a hobby , while black care holds on by the mane ( having changed his seat since classical times ) and stuffs his ears to our jargon on " more Masonicas . " We have attempted to raise an edifice , and neglected " to se thair skaffolding and futegangis surelie set and placit , " Second , of having impudently and audaciously constituted
ourselves a guide , attempted to write , and succeeded in inveigling a few innocent persons into the same slough which was especially intended for our noble person . Thirdly , and lastly , we are accused , proh pudor ! of violating the landmarks of Masonry , inasmuch as we M . M . s have not made good use of an important jewelwhich teaches us " to keep
, within due bounds with all men , more particularly our Brother F . M . s , " but have on the contrary treasonably and maliciously so lengthened the radius since we commenced forming a circle , that the shadow of utter darkness has already fallen on 90 ° of the circumference , to the great and imminent peril and dismay of many of the lieges .
To the first charge we reply , that , having mounted ( leaving the propriety of that subjudice , and the zoological species of the animal to the uninitiated vulgar ) , it " was entirely a voluntary act on the part of the person or persons who accompanied us on our journey , and . listened or snored ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ancient Masons' Marks.
philosopher , concerning the same subject : he says , " The philosophical and religious mysticism which penetrates and imparts life to the immense composition of Dante , assigns to every object , besides its real or material existence , an ideal one . It is like two worlds , of which the one is the reflection of the other . " The group of four stars represents
in the moral system the cardinal virtues—prudence , justice , virtue , and temperance ; they deserve on that account the name of "holy lights . " The three stars which light the Pole represent the theological virtues—faith , hope , and charity . The first of these beings themselves reveal to us their double nature , as they sing , " here we are nymphs ,
in heaven we are stars . " In the land of truth , the terrestrial Paradise , the seven nymphs are re-united . It is the reunion of the cardinal and theological virtues . But where are we , indulgent reader ? Among the stars ? Truly . Then whence that gathering gloom—that deep low voice , which summons us before the veiled chair of the editor , and trumpet-tongued proclaims an arraignment on three charges . First we are accused of violation of the rules of politeness , in having mounted an animal allied to the horse , but in
vulgar language yclept a hobby , while black care holds on by the mane ( having changed his seat since classical times ) and stuffs his ears to our jargon on " more Masonicas . " We have attempted to raise an edifice , and neglected " to se thair skaffolding and futegangis surelie set and placit , " Second , of having impudently and audaciously constituted
ourselves a guide , attempted to write , and succeeded in inveigling a few innocent persons into the same slough which was especially intended for our noble person . Thirdly , and lastly , we are accused , proh pudor ! of violating the landmarks of Masonry , inasmuch as we M . M . s have not made good use of an important jewelwhich teaches us " to keep
, within due bounds with all men , more particularly our Brother F . M . s , " but have on the contrary treasonably and maliciously so lengthened the radius since we commenced forming a circle , that the shadow of utter darkness has already fallen on 90 ° of the circumference , to the great and imminent peril and dismay of many of the lieges .
To the first charge we reply , that , having mounted ( leaving the propriety of that subjudice , and the zoological species of the animal to the uninitiated vulgar ) , it " was entirely a voluntary act on the part of the person or persons who accompanied us on our journey , and . listened or snored ,