Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review.
by symbols , " ancl while Ave admit that it is very important and necessary that Ave should bave a full and spiritualized treatment both of " allegory " ancl " symbol" hi order to make such treatment of benefit ancl A alue to us all alikeyet Ave feel sure no brother
, could propose a more useful undertaking to himself , or to the Craft at large , than to work out ancl illustrate , by patient research and accurate investigation , the arct _ o _ ological history of our Masonic Symbolism .
What Non-Masons Say Of Us.
WHAT NON-MASONS SAY OF US .
MASONRY , AND WHAT AVE KNOAV REGARDING IT . [ From the "North British Advertiser , " <_ th September , 1873 . ] The folloAving extracts are from a Avork entitled " Illustrations of Masonry , " and
will be edifying as showing the general principles of the Order , besides satisfying some of the longings of the curious and inquisitive : —•
ODE I . [ l 5 Y Mil . CUNNINGHAM . ] Hail to the Craft ! at whose serene command The gentle Arts in glad obedience stand . Hail , Sacred Masonry ! of source divine . Unerring sov ' rcign of tli' unerring line , AVhose plumb of truth , with never failing sway ,
Makes the join'd parts of symmetry obey ; AVhose magic stroke bids fell confusion cease , And to the ( inish'd Orders gives a place ; Who rears vast structures from the womb of earth , And gives imperial cities glorious birth . To works of Art her merit not confin'd , She regulates the morals , squares the mind , Corrects with care the sallies of the soul ,
And points the tide of passions where to roll . On Virtue ' s tablet marks her moral rule , And forms her Lodge an universal school , A \ liere Nature ' s mystic laws unfolded stand , And sense and science join'd , go hand in hand . 0 may her social rules instructive spread , Till Truth erect her long-neglected head ! Till through deceitful night she dart her ray ,
Ancl beam full glorious in the blaze of day ! Till men by virtuous maxims learn to move , Till all the peopled world her laws approve , And Adam's race are bound in brother ' s love .
THE EXCELLENCY OF AtASONHY DISPLAYED . Whoever attentively obsen es the objects which surround him , Avill find abundant reason to admire tho Avorks of Nature , ainl . to adore the Being AVIIO directs such astonishing operations ; he Avill be convinced that infinite Avisdom coidd alone
design , and infinite poAver finish , such amazing works . Were a man placed in a beautiful garden , would not his mind be affected Avith exquisite delight on a cahn survey of its rich collections % Would not the grovesthe
, grottoes , the artful AAOICIS , the flowery parterres , the opening vistas , the lofty cascades , the Avinding streams , the Avhole variegated scene , aAvaken his sensibility , and inspire his soul Avith the most exalted ideas' !
When he observed the delicate order , the nice symmetry , and beautiful disposition of every part , seemingly complete hi itself , yet reflecting neAV beauties on the other , ancl all contributing to make one perfect Avhole , Avould not his mind be agitated Avith
the most beAvitchmg sensations , and Avould not the vieAV of the delightful scene naturally lead him to admire ancl venerate the happy genius AAdio contrived it 1 If the productions of art so forcibly impress the mind Avith admirationAvith IIOAV
, much greater astonishment and reverence must Ave behold the operations of Nature , Avhich presents to view unbounded scenes of utility and delight , in which divine ivisdom is most strikingly conspicuous ? These scenes are indeed too expanded for
tho narroAv capacity of man to comprehend ; yet Avhoever contemplates the general system from the uniformity of the plan , must naturally be directed to tho ori ginal source , the Supreme Governor of the Avorld , the
one perfect and unsullied beauty 1 _ Beside all the pleasing prospects that everywhere surround us , ancl Avith Avhich our senses are every moment gratified—besides the symmetry , good order , and proportion Avhich appear iu all the Avorks of creationsomething farther attracts the
re-, flecting mind , and draws its attention nearer to the Divinity—the universal harmony and affection among the different species of beings of every rank and denomination . These are the cements of the rational Avorldand by these alone it subsists .
, When they cease , Nature must be dissolved , ancl man , the image of his Maker ancl chief of His Avorks , be overwhelmed in the general chaos . In the Avhole order of beings , from the seraph which adores and burns CIOAVH to the
meanest insect , all , according to their rank in the scale of existence , have , more or less , implanted in them the principle of association Avith others of the same species .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review.
by symbols , " ancl while Ave admit that it is very important and necessary that Ave should bave a full and spiritualized treatment both of " allegory " ancl " symbol" hi order to make such treatment of benefit ancl A alue to us all alikeyet Ave feel sure no brother
, could propose a more useful undertaking to himself , or to the Craft at large , than to work out ancl illustrate , by patient research and accurate investigation , the arct _ o _ ological history of our Masonic Symbolism .
What Non-Masons Say Of Us.
WHAT NON-MASONS SAY OF US .
MASONRY , AND WHAT AVE KNOAV REGARDING IT . [ From the "North British Advertiser , " <_ th September , 1873 . ] The folloAving extracts are from a Avork entitled " Illustrations of Masonry , " and
will be edifying as showing the general principles of the Order , besides satisfying some of the longings of the curious and inquisitive : —•
ODE I . [ l 5 Y Mil . CUNNINGHAM . ] Hail to the Craft ! at whose serene command The gentle Arts in glad obedience stand . Hail , Sacred Masonry ! of source divine . Unerring sov ' rcign of tli' unerring line , AVhose plumb of truth , with never failing sway ,
Makes the join'd parts of symmetry obey ; AVhose magic stroke bids fell confusion cease , And to the ( inish'd Orders gives a place ; Who rears vast structures from the womb of earth , And gives imperial cities glorious birth . To works of Art her merit not confin'd , She regulates the morals , squares the mind , Corrects with care the sallies of the soul ,
And points the tide of passions where to roll . On Virtue ' s tablet marks her moral rule , And forms her Lodge an universal school , A \ liere Nature ' s mystic laws unfolded stand , And sense and science join'd , go hand in hand . 0 may her social rules instructive spread , Till Truth erect her long-neglected head ! Till through deceitful night she dart her ray ,
Ancl beam full glorious in the blaze of day ! Till men by virtuous maxims learn to move , Till all the peopled world her laws approve , And Adam's race are bound in brother ' s love .
THE EXCELLENCY OF AtASONHY DISPLAYED . Whoever attentively obsen es the objects which surround him , Avill find abundant reason to admire tho Avorks of Nature , ainl . to adore the Being AVIIO directs such astonishing operations ; he Avill be convinced that infinite Avisdom coidd alone
design , and infinite poAver finish , such amazing works . Were a man placed in a beautiful garden , would not his mind be affected Avith exquisite delight on a cahn survey of its rich collections % Would not the grovesthe
, grottoes , the artful AAOICIS , the flowery parterres , the opening vistas , the lofty cascades , the Avinding streams , the Avhole variegated scene , aAvaken his sensibility , and inspire his soul Avith the most exalted ideas' !
When he observed the delicate order , the nice symmetry , and beautiful disposition of every part , seemingly complete hi itself , yet reflecting neAV beauties on the other , ancl all contributing to make one perfect Avhole , Avould not his mind be agitated Avith
the most beAvitchmg sensations , and Avould not the vieAV of the delightful scene naturally lead him to admire ancl venerate the happy genius AAdio contrived it 1 If the productions of art so forcibly impress the mind Avith admirationAvith IIOAV
, much greater astonishment and reverence must Ave behold the operations of Nature , Avhich presents to view unbounded scenes of utility and delight , in which divine ivisdom is most strikingly conspicuous ? These scenes are indeed too expanded for
tho narroAv capacity of man to comprehend ; yet Avhoever contemplates the general system from the uniformity of the plan , must naturally be directed to tho ori ginal source , the Supreme Governor of the Avorld , the
one perfect and unsullied beauty 1 _ Beside all the pleasing prospects that everywhere surround us , ancl Avith Avhich our senses are every moment gratified—besides the symmetry , good order , and proportion Avhich appear iu all the Avorks of creationsomething farther attracts the
re-, flecting mind , and draws its attention nearer to the Divinity—the universal harmony and affection among the different species of beings of every rank and denomination . These are the cements of the rational Avorldand by these alone it subsists .
, When they cease , Nature must be dissolved , ancl man , the image of his Maker ancl chief of His Avorks , be overwhelmed in the general chaos . In the Avhole order of beings , from the seraph which adores and burns CIOAVH to the
meanest insect , all , according to their rank in the scale of existence , have , more or less , implanted in them the principle of association Avith others of the same species .