Masonic Light.

of the heaven , to divide the day from the night ;" therefore the day was not made until then—this expression of dividing the light from the darkness is used on the fourth day , as Ave read in the 18 th verse , also in dividing the light from the darkness

on the first day . If the light made on the first day was material light , what need Avas there to make material light again on the fourth day ? We will now endeavour to ascertain what this light was , formed by the omnific Avord of God on

the first day . My object in bringing this before you is , that it is peculiarly in the province of Masons to study God's Sacred LaAV , and both Masons and non-Masons appear to read this book without giving it that earnest attention so

necessary to the understanding of these passages . This first opening of our Sacred Law is the especial duty of Masons to study , because the first thing God made was " Masonic light . " We read ' - In the beginning Avas the Word , and the Word

was God . " We also read that the Word which you see was God—was the Light of the World . This , I think , will enable us more clearly to understand what the first day's light was . Tou perceive this light was created before the heaven and the earth were made , for it Avas made on the first

day , heaven on the second day , and earth on the third day , and the sun and the moon to give light , that is material light , not until the fourth day . It is true that it is recorded in the fifth verse , that " God called the light day , and the darkness he

called night , " but this day is " that day-spring from on high , " as night is the darkness of ignorance , error , and death . The first day and night were no more material day and night than the first day's light was material light , nor was heaven

and earth first made . Light on the first day is represented as the immediate result and offspring of a Divine command . The earth Avas void and dark when God said , " Let there be light , " " and light was "— " Fiat lux et lux fuit . " This light

is represented as having preceded the placing of lights in the firmament of heaven , " the greater light to rule the day , and the lesser light to rule night ; He made the stars also . " Whatever opinion may be entertained as to the facility with

which these two separate acts may be reconciled , it cannot be questioned that the origin of li ght , as of every other part of the universe , is thus rereferred to the exertion of the Divine Will . As little can it be denied that the narrative is so simple , yet at the same time so majestic and

impressive both in thought and diction , as to fill the heart with a lofty and pleasurable sentiment of awe and wonder . Our first day ' s lig ht was—the Divine Intelligence—it was spiritual light—it Avas Masonic

knowledge—it Avas an emanation from the Deity . " God is light , and in Him is no darkness at all . " We read that" God dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto- " There the idea intended by the imagery is the incomprehensibleness of the

self-existent and eternal God . We also read , " The people who sat in darkness saw a great light . " This was not material light ; they sat not in material darkness , but in ignorance , and saw Him who is called the True Light , for He

himself said , "I am the Light of the World . ' We re ? d too , that " Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light , " and our patron saint , the holy St . John the Baptist , Avas a burning and a shining light , and ye are called the light of the

world . The first light Avas then , as I have said , our Masonic light—the light of truth , wisdom , and understanding ; it was the first gift to man

as it is to a Masou , for the first thing he sees is the great emblematic light of Masonry , —God ' s LaAV . It teaches us to believe on that Great Light of the World , and to let our light—that is , our spiritual' knoAvledge and goodness—so shine

before men , that they , seeing our good works ( theresult of that heavenly knoAvledge ) , may glorify our God . Masonically , Ave all represent darkness till enlightened ; the first thing we receive is light ; our motto is " Lux in

tenebris "—light out of darkness . Freemasonry anciently received , among other names , that of lux , or light , because it is regarded as the doctrine of truth , and in this sense may be said to be coeval

Avith the world . But of the Light of the World it has been said , " Before ever the earth or world Avere made , thou art God from everlasting and Avorld without end ;" hence we may say that light—Masonic

light—Avas coeval Avith creation , as any emanation from the Divine intelligence . Darkness , as I have said , and as all systems allow , first existed . Now , as light is knowledge , so darkness is ignorance ; for as our science has been technically called lux , or

light , absence of light must be absence of knowledge . Hence our rule , that the eye should not .see until the heart has conceived the true nature of those beauties Avhich constitute the mysteries of our Order . In the mysteries of the ancients