The Pope And Freemasonry.

THE POPE AND FREEMASONRY .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JPEBUVAHY 3 , 1866 .

"We inserted , in our last , a letter from Bro . Milner , B . A ., Chaplain R . N ., upon the above subject , addressed to the editor of the Gorlc Constitution ; the following is the second of the series of four letters written by our able ancl much-respected brother :- ^ -

In my first letter , I stated that the ancient mysteries practised all over the world , having the same symbols , must have had one common origin . All divine truth was taught in the parent society—in every Masonic lodge—by means of symbols ; by

the same symbols , improperly interpreted , the ancient mysteries in the spurious Masonic lodges taught the same truths at first more or less distinctly , but subsequently ( after they had lost the key ) , they gave the most absurdly false

explanations of them , and the pure light of Masonry in those places became extinguished , and the dark and degrading rites of superstition usurped its place . " The first learning in the world ( says Stukeley )

consisted chiefly in symbols . The wisdom of the Chaldeans , Phoenicians , Egyptians , Jews , of Zoroaster ; Sanchoniathon , Pherecydes , Cyrus , Pythagoras , Socrates , Plato , of all the ancients that is come to our hand , is symbolic" Serranus

on Plato ' s Symposium , says that "it Avas the mode of the ancient philosophers to represent truth , by certain symbols and hidden images . " To give your readers some idea of the nature of those symbols , and the sort of teaching inculcated by their means , I will select a few of those used by Pythagoras , with their explanations : —

1 . The equilateral triangle , a perfect figure , referring to God , the principle and author of all sublunary things , who in His body resembles light , and in His soul truth , He was , and is , and shall be . " 2 . Right angle , or square , " comprehends the

union of the celestial and terrestrial capacities , and is an emblem of morality and justice . " 3 . The perfect square " represents the divine mind . " This was the Tetractys , Avhich I stated in my former letter was so difficult to explain .

" Stanley , Lives , " & c , p . 106 , thus remarks : — " The great Pythagoric symbol was one and tAvo , Avhich Avere used as the names of propagation , one being the father , two the mother . The multiplication of unity and duity ( once , tAvice tAvo ) make four , the Tetractys , the idea of all things , which

are consummated m the number ten . I hope your readers are edified by the explanation . 4 . The cube Avas ff a symbol of the mind of man after a well-spent life in acts of piety and devotion , which is thus perfectly prepared by

virtue for translation into the society of the celestial gods . " The tetragonos aner of Aristotle ' s Ethics , which has puzzled many an aspirant for classical honours at Oxford , may be freely translated " a regular brick , " as being more expressive

than the literal rendering usually adopted , " a four-square man . " 5 . A point Avithin a circle was " a symbol of the universe ; mesauranios , because the most excellent body ought to have the most excellent place , viz .,

the centre , " The central fire Avas esteemed by Pythagoras the mansion of Jove , 6 . The triple triangle ( formed of five lines returning into itself ) was " a symbol of health , and was called Hygeia . "

7 . The 47 th Prop , of the 1 st Book of Euclid Avas invented by Pythagoras , and is so extensively useful that it has been adopted in all lodges since his time , as a significant symbol of Masonry .

8 . The letter Y , often used as a symbol of tho Triune God , was also adopted as a symbolical character representing " the course of human life . Youth , arriving at manhood , sees tAvo Avays before him , and deliberates which , he shall choose . If he

meets with a guide that directs him to pursue philosophy , and he procures initiation , his life shall be honourable and his death happy . But if he omits to do this , and he takes the left hand path , Avhich appears broader and better , it will lead to

sloth and luxury ; AvillAvaste his estate , impair his health , and bring on an old age of infamy and misery . " But the principal symbols used in all the spurious

lodges- —in the cavern-lodges of Elephanta and Salsette of India , in Persia , in the mysteries of Eleusis , and other lodges of Greece—in Stonehenge , and other Celtic lodges of Britain—in the Gothic lodges of Odin , and in the American lodges

of Vitzliputzli—the principal symbols in all these Avere the serpent , the ark , & c . ; and the ceremonies in all cases bore a striking similarity to each other ; Avhile the doctrines taught were identically the same . They celebrated the death and resurrection

of some imaginary being in Avhom their affections were interested , and to Avhom their devotions were directed to be paid . Osiris and Isis in Egypt , Bacchus and Rhea in Greece , Adonis and Venus