Origin And Beauty Of Masonic Symbolism.

he placed before them , it MIOAVS that the whole body of mere symbolism is exhausted without including the first great light , and if a first is to be found at all , it must be something more exalted than any symbol whatever ; and if soit must be something

, which conveys intelligence ( light ) directly , as writings or inscriptions . But all human Avritings are inferior to symbols , both in dignity and force ; therefore , if any Avritings could be found , they must be such as are held to be of divine

origin—speaking as from the mouth of the Grand Architect of the Universe himself , and such , and such only , could be placed first in a system which , from beginning to end , sets forth the divine order flowing in harmony through the three indispensable

and corresponding degrees of the universe , moral , intellectual and physical . From these considerations , it is clear to my mind that the Holy AVritings , that is , those received as such , Avhether the same we UOAV recognizeor some portion thereof

, , or some HOAV lost , Avere , from the very first creation of a masonic lodge , placed on the altar as the first of three great lights which Avere to illumine , not the corporeal eye , but the soul and mind of the seeker after wisdom .

It is only hy contemplating the lodges so " furnished" that Ave perceive it in its perfection and also in its completeness . Otherwise , its incompleteness Avould be apparent to all , and the beauty and richness and order of the Avork be changed to imperfectionpoverty and confusion .

, Therefore , let who will deny the character Avhich Masonry ascribes to the Holy AVritings , it must still be admitted that it Avas because they , or some portion of them , Avere deemed to be of divine ori gin that they Avere accepted as the first great

light , and this by men Avho , either by inspiration or otherwise , so far transcended in Avisdom all of the learned with whose works we are acquainted , that they Avere capable of discovering and organizing Ancient Craft Masonry .

These considerations should induce us to pause and reflect before we give up our judgment , with that of all the illustrious line of Masonic Masters who have gone before us , to the clamorous and self-sufficient demands of men who deem their special sciences—that is , Avhat they understand ol them—the al pha and omega of the

universe , and themselves the oracular expounders of all hidden things . Let us reflect that if masonry and its first great light Avere taken away to-day , there is among them no man , or body of menAvho could reconstruct the one

, in its wisdom and simplicity , or produce anything to be compared with the other , though they Avere granted the clays of a generation to prepare for the Avork . There are words which occur in Masonic

discourse more frequently than others . They represent three ideas Avhich are of special significance in Masonry . Take aAvay these , and Masonry Avould be as completely devastated as the temple of Solomon after the Baby Ionian conquest . These wo rds arelabourlightand harmony . They

, , , correspond to the three great supports , wisdom , strength , and beauty ; for strength is that by Avhich labour is effected , wisdom is light , and harmony is beauty , and because the excellence of any institution is the wisdom of its planthe strength of

, its materials and the harmony of its parts , by which all beauty exists and consists . These three are called supports . These three are all drawn from the order of the universe—from she wisdom , strength and harmony of the Avhole and of all its

parts . The idea of the lodge is Avork—Avork by the Master , Avork by the AVardens , work by the Craftsman , each according to his degree and station , and according to his light . AVork in subordinately carrying out the scheme of the universe , which is constant action . Work in imitation of the

Grand Architect of all , who is never weary in carrying on the amazing operations of his providence , Avhich is continual creation . Work in accomplishing uses of every conceiveable good ; uses of Avisdom , of charity , of truth , for in their uses only haA'e theseor aught elseany value to heaven

, , or to earth . Harmony , without Avhich all toil is worse than useless . That Avhich is in harmony is Masonic ; it conforms to the divine plan Avhich is ever carried out by bringing order from chaos . Harmony , by Avhich the sun

governs by day , and the moon by night ; by which creation , comes forth in its infinite stages of progress from that formless void , called in the first great light the tohn bohn . And light , that marvellous thing called light ! What would the Avorld be Avithout