The Symbolism & Significance Of Numbers.

unity , and , heiroglypmcally , the dogma of Hermes , that "the superior is analogous to the inferior . " This letter has two arms , one of which points to the earth and the other to the heavens . ^ the second letter of Agla and the third of the

alphabet , expresses numerically the ternary , and heiroglyphically fecundity . ¦*¦" , the third letter of Agla and the twelfth of the alphabet , is the expression of the perfect cycle ; as a hieroglyphic sign , it represents perpetual motion and the relation of

the radius to the circumference . N , the last letter of Agla , repeated , is the expression of the synthesis . The name Agla , then , signifies—( i ) Unity , which , by tlie ternary , accomplishes the cycle of numbers ancl returns to unity- ( 2 )

the fruitful principle of nature , which is one with it ; ( 3 ) the first truth , which makes knowledge fruitful , and brings it back to unity- ( 4 ) syllepsis , analysis , knowledge , and synthesis ; ( 5 ) the three Divine Persons who are one God ; and ( 6 ) the

secret of the great work , i . e ., the fixation of the astal light by an emission of the sovereign will , which the adepts symbolise by a serpent pierced by an arrow , and with it form the letter j ^ , The three operations—dissolving , subliming , and

fixing , which correspond with the three substances salt , sulphur and mercury , are all expressed by the letter ;* ., Then , the twelve keys of Basil are expressed hy 7 , Finally , the work accomplished , in conformity with its principle , and reproducing itself , w

Such is the origin of this Cabalistic tradition , which contains the whole of magianism in a single word . To know how to read ancl pronounce—that is to say , to understand — its mysteries , and to express in action its absolute

truths , is to possess the key of the marvels . To pronounce the name Agla , we must , we are told , turn towards the East ; i . e ., unite ourselves in intention and knowledge with the Oriental traditions . We must not forget that , according

to the Cabala , tlie perfect word is the word realised by acts ; whence comes the expression found in the Bible , to make a word , in the sense

of accomplishing an action . To cabalistically pronounce the word Asfa is , then , to undergo all the trials of initiation , ancl to achieve all its works .

One other example and I have clone with this use of the arithmetical value of letters as employed by the Cabalists . I am indebted for this example to Dr . Mackey . The Hebrew substantive verb I AM , which is n * li"lM , ' s said to be

equivalent to miT ; and the four letters of which it is formed arc represented to possess peculiar properties , j **; is , in Hebrew , numeri . cally equivalent to 1 , ancl 1 to 10 , which is equal to 11 , a result also obtained by taking the second

and third letters of the holy name , or | "i and - ** which are 5 and 6 , amounting to 11 . But thc 5 and 6 invariably produce the same number in

multiplication by themselves , for 5 x 5 = 25 , ancl 6 x 6 == 3 6 ; ancl this invariable product of n and 1 was said to denote the unchaiigeableness of the First Cause . Again , I AM , rY-i "" TN , commences

with N , or 1 , the beginning of numbers , and rTin * with ¦ * , or 10 , the end of numbers , which signified that God was the beginning and the end of all things . This method of treating letters ancl numbers

is thc result of inconceivable labour and ingenuity ; and one can hardly help wishing that it had been expended upon something more useful . But , as already observed , the significative or symbolic use of numbers was not confined to

the Jews . Almost all tlie founders of the thcosophic schools and teachers of theosophy and morals have , in like manner , used them . As Bro . Paton observed in 'I'm ; FUF . KMASON of

the 15 th of April—in the system of Pythagoras , odd numbers were symbols of perfection ; and in Masonry they are all sacred , as 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 . 5 . 47 , 33 . Si-Let us now look at each number and observe its various uses or mystic significations : —

The Symbolism & Significance Of Numbers.

1 ( one ) denoted the monad ; also God and the male creative principle—the generative principle of nature . In Masonry it is the symbol of existence , identity and equality as also of concord , love , piety and friendship , because it is indivisible . As we cannot divide 1 by another whole number , so we cannot multiply 1 by itself , for 1 x 1 is only 1 .

The number 2 ( two ) signifies incompleteness and changeableness , and was therefore the female number , ever changing by addition , subtraction or multiplication . All these things indicate inincompleteness , notwithstanding that 2 is also used to symbolise combination , companionship

and agreement ; which , however , is not inconsistent with its other significations , for these imply that the things or beings combined , companionized , or agreed , are each in an imperfect condition without it The author of the book of Ecclesiastes says ( iv . 9-12 ) : "Two are better

than one ; because they have a good reward for their labour . For if they fall , the one will lift up his fellow : but woe to him that is alone when he falleth ; for he hath not another to lift him up . " Again , "If two be together , then they have heat ; but how can one be warm alone ? ancl if one prevail against him , two shall Avithstand him . "

3 ( three ) is the most simple compound figure in geometry , the equilateral triangle , ancl implies completion in both heaven and earth . It is called the majeslic number , as it refers to the triple essence of the Deity . As 3 is composed of 1 + 1 + 1 , three numbers , each of which in itself

is one , and which multiplied together still make only one , so 3 represents the Trinity , each of which is in himself God , or 1 , and yet tlie three together make only 1 . Tims we see in the equation 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 , 'he two ideas of the Trinity in Unity , the three ones in one three ;

and the Unity m Trinity , the three composed of only one . The same may be seen in the two equations 1 x 1 x 1 = 1 , and 1 = 1 x 1 x 1 . Hence we have three equations for the Trinity , all centering in the number 3 , ancl we represent it by the most simple compound figure in

geometrywhich has all its sides equal and all its angles equal . From the life of Sethos , an Egyptian prince , we learn that this triangle was called tlie " sacred delta "; ancl the hierophant in the mysteries of Osiris required all candidates to take the oath of secresy with both his hands

extended over the divine symbol . The attributes of God are three—omniscience , omnipresence and omnipotence . The name of God , in His complete Unity , is three — I . A . H ., GOD . Man consists of three—body , soul ancl spirit . Man ' s life is threefold—youth ,

manhood ancl old age . All life is three—animal , vegetable and mineral . There are three stages of life—life , death and resurrection . The biblical universe is three—earth , air and water . The firmament is three—sun , moon and stars . Time is three—past , present and future . The heavenly

bodies move in three figures—ellipse , parabola ancl hyperbola . Inanimate creation is threethe grass , the herb yielding seed , and the fruittree yielding fruit . Animate creation is threefish , flesh and fowl . The flesh creation is three —the beast of the earth , the cattle ancl the

creeping thing . The fowl creation is threebirds of prey , birds of song , and domestic fowl . There arc three zones—the torrid , tlie temperate and the frigid . The crust of the earth is in three divisions—tlie primary , secondary and tertiary ; and these , again , are

three—hypozoic , paleozoic and penman ; triassic , girassic and cretaceous ; eocene , mioccne and pliocene . All these cases of individual completion are in triads . Zoroaster found in the multiplication of the triad by itself , the absolute reason of the number 9 , and the universal key to all numbers and all

forms . What wc call the three Divine Persons he calls the three profundities ; the first , or personal , is the source of faith ; the second , or word , the source of truth ; the third , or creative action , the source of love . On this ladder of

nine degrees , Zoroaster establishes the celestial hierarchy ancl all the harmonics of nature . He counts by three everything emanating from mind , and by four everything attached to form , which gives him him the number 7 for the type of creation . Aristotle said the number 3 was com-

The Symbolism & Significance Of Numbers.

plete , because it included beginning , middle and end ; and almost all pagan nations regarded it , on this account , as the chief of the mystical numbers . The thunderbolt of Jove was threeforked ; the sceptre of Neptune was a trident , and the Cerberus three-headed . There were

three Fates and three Furies ; the sun had three names , ancl the moon three . Among Masons 3 is an important number . There are three degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry , three principal officers of a lodge , three supports , three ornaments , three greater and three lesser lights ,

three moveable and three immoveable jewels , three principal tenets or virtues , three rounds of Jacob ' s ladder , three working tools of a Fellow Craft , three principal orders of architecture , three important human senses , three ancient Grand Masters , and three recreant Fellow Craft .

4 ( four ) is a worldly number , representing form . It also denotes the earth , which is the fourth body in the solar system , and is divided into four great parts or quarters . On the fourth day of creation the earth first had day and night . There are four elements and four seasons . There

were four great monarchies—the Babylonian , Persian , Grecian , and Roman , represented in Daniel ' s vision by four beasts , and the four metals—gold , silver , brass , and iron ; and the fourth of these monarchies conquered the whole world . In some of the ancient philosophies , 4

was used to indicate the operative influence of the four elements . Under this number Pythagoras communicated the ineffable name of God to his chosen disciples . Among the Egyptians , tlie triangular pyramid , square at its base , represented metaphysics based on the science ot

nature ; and this science of nature has for its symbolic key the gigantic form of the great Sphynx , which has made itself a bed in tlie sand , watching at the foot of the pyramids . In Arch Masonry 4 is a perfect number . S ( five ) is an important number in Masonry ,

the five points of fellowship being very comprehensive in our relation to others ; and if their symbolic signification were fully realised and acted upon , society would be delivered from a mass of vice and misery under which it now suffers . In the school of Pythagoras , 5 denoted

light , and a triple triangle , forming the outline of a five-pointed star , was a symbol of health , because , being alternately conjoined within itself , it constitutes a figure of five lines . It has been noticed that the elementary world has water , air , fire , earth , and a mixed body ; that

there are five senses ancl five powers of the soul ; ancl that the names of God ancl of Jesus , are composed of five letters each . 6 ( six ) denotes antagonism , and , hence , evil . It has been called the Satanic number , and is the worst of all numbers .

7 ( srocu ) is the perfect or crowning number , because it unites the triangle with the squarethe triangle of mind with the square of form . The disciples of Pythagoras called it the venerable number , because it had reference to the Creation , ancl because , as I have said , it was

made up of the triangle and the square . In Hebrew , seven , yy & shebang , is sufficiency or fulness , and the number seven was thus denominated , because on the seventh day God rested from His work of creation . This tradition of thc creation having been finished within seven

days seems to have obtained universally , being carried , no doubt , from thc plain of Shinar , after tlie dispersion of Noah ' s descendants , for everywhere tlie 7 has been esteemed as complete , perfect , ancl sacred , although various myths are connected with it . There were seven ancient

planets , seven Pleiades , and seven Hyadcs ; seven altars were kept burning before the god Mithras ; the Hindoos supposed the world to be enclosed within the compass of seven peninsulas ; the Arabians had seven holy temples ; the Goths hacl seven deities , from whom we derive our names of thc seven days of the week ;

the Persians had seven caverns in their sacred mysteries , through which the aspirant had to pass j ancl in the Gothic mysteries the candidate met with seven obstructions , called " the road of the seven stages . " Cicero calls 7 " the binding knot of all things ; " and Plato alleges that the soul of the world was generated out of the nunv