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Article BASILICA ANGLICANA—IV. ← Page 3 of 3 Article THE SYMBOLISM OF LIGHT IN MASONRY. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basilica Anglicana—Iv.
of windows , m which are represented a number of apostles ancl saints ancl at the top a splendid specimen of a marigold window—until you arrive at the organ screen , in which are represented tho statues of the kings of England from William the Conqueror to Henry VI . inclusive . The statue of the last named king ivas once displaced , and a statue of James I .
substituted , whicli certainty , one may well believe , hacl not the same odour of sanctity . All these statues are in regal costume . You pass under a beautifull y carved canopfed recess , when you see with full advantage the great east window , through whose stained compartments the li ght streams in subdued but many coloured lustre . This window
is seventy-five feet in height , by thirty-two in breadth . It is formed of upwards of two hundred compartments of painted glass , each about a yard square , and each filled with figures of about two feet in hei ght . Tho number of scri pture incidents recorded in this manner is very great , and the execution is ex-quisitel y beautiful and delicate—the Redeemerangels
, , saints , apostles , confessors , martyrs , the creation , the temptation , the deluge , the story of Jacob , of Joseph , of Moses , the scene on Sinai , tho history of Abraham , of David , of Sampson , the seals , tho vials , and trumpets of the Apocalyptic visions , all are illustrated with wonderful delicacy ; and the effect produced standing in "this dim religious
light , " with the effi gies of kings , prelates , nobles and kni ghts on _ every side , is little , if at all , short of the sublime . This splendid work of art was begun in 1405 , by one John Thornton , of Coventry , whose agreement was to complete it in three years , during which time he was to have a salary of four shillings a week , with one hundred shillings additional
per annum , and ten pounds on finishing his work , should it be done to the satisfaction of his employers . This mao-nificent work had well ni gh . been destroyed in 1829 , when a fanatic , named Jonathan Martin , set fire to the choir , ancl completely destroyed it . In less than two months however £ 00000 were subscribedand the building letel
, , comp y restored b y the late Sir Eobert Smirke , who laboured solely to reproduce its many beauties , without recommending or suggesting new ones . But the great Peter , biggest of bells , sounds from the southwestern tower , ancl his voice echoes in the aisles , seeming thence to steal behind the necks of tho effiiesto run along
g , tho clerestory , in and out the stalls , and then to descend to the crypt , where it dies away in a silvery murmur . We must withdraw . The white headed old verger with his wand approaches . Again the voice of the great Peter swells and dies away , having searched every crevice ancl corner . "Before parting , howeverwe must say something about tbe bellThe
, . monster is seven feet two inches in hei ght , weighs twelve tons and a half , and is seven inches at the sounding curve . He consumed no less than seventeen tons of metal , and after this enormous meal took fourteen days to cool . He is richly adorned with gothic design and tracery , aud around his collaris tho inscription : —
"In Sancfw et reternm Trinitatis Pccunia sponte collata Eboraeenscs Faciendum curaverunt in usum Eceleske Metrop . B . Petri , Ebor . " The tongue of the great Peter wei ghs four hundredwei ght . It takes fifteen men to make his voice heard , and when he sings his note is P : he is deepmellowand richHe cost
, , . his patrons altogether about two thousand pounds , and though ho is a deserved favourite ivith his fellow citizens , he is modest and unpresuming , and has never , like some of his inferiors who have less reason to be proud , taken leave of his senses .
The Symbolism Of Light In Masonry.
THE SYMBOLISM OF LIGHT IN MASONRY .
BY ALBERT O . MACKEY , M . D . iiiEBE is an important period in the ceremony of Masonic initiation , when the candidate is about to receive a full communication of the mysteries through which he has passed , and
to which the trials and labours which he has undergone can only entitle him . This ceremony is technically called " the rite of intrusting , " because it is then that the aspirant begins to be intrusted with that for the possession of which he was seeking . '" ' It is equivalent to what , in the ancient mysteries , was called the " autopsy , "f or the seeing of what none , but the
initiated were permitted to behold . The rite of intrusting is of coul-se divided into several parts or periods ; for the apporeta , or secret things of Masonry , are not to be given at once , but in gradual progression . It begins , however , with the communication of light , which , although but a preparation for the development of the
mysteries which are to follow , must be considered as one of the most important symbols in the whole science of Masonic symbolism . So important indeed is it , and so much does it pervade with its influence and its relations the whole Masonic system , that Preemasonry itself anciently received among other appellations that of lux , or light , to signify that it is to
be regarded as that sublime doctrine of divine truth by which the path of him who has attained it is to be illuminated in his pilgrimage of life . The Hebrew cosmogonist commences his description of the creation by the declaration that "God said , Let there be light , and there was light" —a phrase which , in the more emphatic
form that it has been received in the original language of "Belight , and light was , "j is said to have won the praise , for its sublimity , of the greatest of Grecian critics . " The singularly emphatic summons , " says a profound modern writer , § " by which light is called into existence , is probably owing to the preeminent utility ancl glory of that element , together with its mysterious nature , whicli made it seem as
' The God of this new world , ' ancl won for it the earliest adoration of mankind . " Light was , in accordance with tliis old religious sentiment , tho great object of attainment in all the ancient religious mysteries . It was there , as it is now in Masonry , made the symbol of truth and knowledge . This was always its ancient
symbolism , and wc must never lose sight of this emblematic moaning , when wo are considering the nature and signification of Masonic light . When tlie candidate makes a demand for light , it is not merely for that material light which is to remove a physical darkness ; that is only the outward form , whicli conceals the inward symbolism . He craves an
intellectual illumination which will dispel the darkness of mental aud moral ignorance , and bring to his view , as an eye witness , the sublime truths of religion , philosophy , and science , which it is the great design of Preemasonry to teach . In all the ancient systems this reverence for light , as the symbol of truth , was predominant . In the mysteries of every
nation the candidate was made to pass , during his initiation , through scenes of titter darkness , and at length terminated his trials b y an admission to the splendidly illuminated aeclluni or sanctuary , where he was said to have attained pure and perfect light , and wher-e he received the necessary instructions which were to invest him with that knowledge of the divine truth which it had been the object of all his labours to gain , and tho design of the institution into which he had been initiated to bestow .
Light , therefore , became synonymous with truth and knowledge , and darkness with falsehood and ignorance . We * Dr , Oliver , referring to the "twelve grand points in Masonry , " which formed a part of the old English lectures , says : — " When the candidate was intrusted , he represented Asher , for he was then presented with the glorious fruit of Masonic knowledge , as Asher was represented by fatness and royal dainties . "—Jlisl . Landm . vol . i . lect . xi
, ., p . oio . t From the Greek aliro-d / ia , signifying a seeing with one's own eyes . The candidate , who had previously been failed a " mystes" or a blind man , from jivio , to shut the eyes , began at this point to change his title to that of an " epopt , " or eye witness . : | : YK WI TIN W Yehianr myehiaur . § Robert William Mackay ; Progress of Ike Intellect , vol , i , p . 03 ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Basilica Anglicana—Iv.
of windows , m which are represented a number of apostles ancl saints ancl at the top a splendid specimen of a marigold window—until you arrive at the organ screen , in which are represented tho statues of the kings of England from William the Conqueror to Henry VI . inclusive . The statue of the last named king ivas once displaced , and a statue of James I .
substituted , whicli certainty , one may well believe , hacl not the same odour of sanctity . All these statues are in regal costume . You pass under a beautifull y carved canopfed recess , when you see with full advantage the great east window , through whose stained compartments the li ght streams in subdued but many coloured lustre . This window
is seventy-five feet in height , by thirty-two in breadth . It is formed of upwards of two hundred compartments of painted glass , each about a yard square , and each filled with figures of about two feet in hei ght . Tho number of scri pture incidents recorded in this manner is very great , and the execution is ex-quisitel y beautiful and delicate—the Redeemerangels
, , saints , apostles , confessors , martyrs , the creation , the temptation , the deluge , the story of Jacob , of Joseph , of Moses , the scene on Sinai , tho history of Abraham , of David , of Sampson , the seals , tho vials , and trumpets of the Apocalyptic visions , all are illustrated with wonderful delicacy ; and the effect produced standing in "this dim religious
light , " with the effi gies of kings , prelates , nobles and kni ghts on _ every side , is little , if at all , short of the sublime . This splendid work of art was begun in 1405 , by one John Thornton , of Coventry , whose agreement was to complete it in three years , during which time he was to have a salary of four shillings a week , with one hundred shillings additional
per annum , and ten pounds on finishing his work , should it be done to the satisfaction of his employers . This mao-nificent work had well ni gh . been destroyed in 1829 , when a fanatic , named Jonathan Martin , set fire to the choir , ancl completely destroyed it . In less than two months however £ 00000 were subscribedand the building letel
, , comp y restored b y the late Sir Eobert Smirke , who laboured solely to reproduce its many beauties , without recommending or suggesting new ones . But the great Peter , biggest of bells , sounds from the southwestern tower , ancl his voice echoes in the aisles , seeming thence to steal behind the necks of tho effiiesto run along
g , tho clerestory , in and out the stalls , and then to descend to the crypt , where it dies away in a silvery murmur . We must withdraw . The white headed old verger with his wand approaches . Again the voice of the great Peter swells and dies away , having searched every crevice ancl corner . "Before parting , howeverwe must say something about tbe bellThe
, . monster is seven feet two inches in hei ght , weighs twelve tons and a half , and is seven inches at the sounding curve . He consumed no less than seventeen tons of metal , and after this enormous meal took fourteen days to cool . He is richly adorned with gothic design and tracery , aud around his collaris tho inscription : —
"In Sancfw et reternm Trinitatis Pccunia sponte collata Eboraeenscs Faciendum curaverunt in usum Eceleske Metrop . B . Petri , Ebor . " The tongue of the great Peter wei ghs four hundredwei ght . It takes fifteen men to make his voice heard , and when he sings his note is P : he is deepmellowand richHe cost
, , . his patrons altogether about two thousand pounds , and though ho is a deserved favourite ivith his fellow citizens , he is modest and unpresuming , and has never , like some of his inferiors who have less reason to be proud , taken leave of his senses .
The Symbolism Of Light In Masonry.
THE SYMBOLISM OF LIGHT IN MASONRY .
BY ALBERT O . MACKEY , M . D . iiiEBE is an important period in the ceremony of Masonic initiation , when the candidate is about to receive a full communication of the mysteries through which he has passed , and
to which the trials and labours which he has undergone can only entitle him . This ceremony is technically called " the rite of intrusting , " because it is then that the aspirant begins to be intrusted with that for the possession of which he was seeking . '" ' It is equivalent to what , in the ancient mysteries , was called the " autopsy , "f or the seeing of what none , but the
initiated were permitted to behold . The rite of intrusting is of coul-se divided into several parts or periods ; for the apporeta , or secret things of Masonry , are not to be given at once , but in gradual progression . It begins , however , with the communication of light , which , although but a preparation for the development of the
mysteries which are to follow , must be considered as one of the most important symbols in the whole science of Masonic symbolism . So important indeed is it , and so much does it pervade with its influence and its relations the whole Masonic system , that Preemasonry itself anciently received among other appellations that of lux , or light , to signify that it is to
be regarded as that sublime doctrine of divine truth by which the path of him who has attained it is to be illuminated in his pilgrimage of life . The Hebrew cosmogonist commences his description of the creation by the declaration that "God said , Let there be light , and there was light" —a phrase which , in the more emphatic
form that it has been received in the original language of "Belight , and light was , "j is said to have won the praise , for its sublimity , of the greatest of Grecian critics . " The singularly emphatic summons , " says a profound modern writer , § " by which light is called into existence , is probably owing to the preeminent utility ancl glory of that element , together with its mysterious nature , whicli made it seem as
' The God of this new world , ' ancl won for it the earliest adoration of mankind . " Light was , in accordance with tliis old religious sentiment , tho great object of attainment in all the ancient religious mysteries . It was there , as it is now in Masonry , made the symbol of truth and knowledge . This was always its ancient
symbolism , and wc must never lose sight of this emblematic moaning , when wo are considering the nature and signification of Masonic light . When tlie candidate makes a demand for light , it is not merely for that material light which is to remove a physical darkness ; that is only the outward form , whicli conceals the inward symbolism . He craves an
intellectual illumination which will dispel the darkness of mental aud moral ignorance , and bring to his view , as an eye witness , the sublime truths of religion , philosophy , and science , which it is the great design of Preemasonry to teach . In all the ancient systems this reverence for light , as the symbol of truth , was predominant . In the mysteries of every
nation the candidate was made to pass , during his initiation , through scenes of titter darkness , and at length terminated his trials b y an admission to the splendidly illuminated aeclluni or sanctuary , where he was said to have attained pure and perfect light , and wher-e he received the necessary instructions which were to invest him with that knowledge of the divine truth which it had been the object of all his labours to gain , and tho design of the institution into which he had been initiated to bestow .
Light , therefore , became synonymous with truth and knowledge , and darkness with falsehood and ignorance . We * Dr , Oliver , referring to the "twelve grand points in Masonry , " which formed a part of the old English lectures , says : — " When the candidate was intrusted , he represented Asher , for he was then presented with the glorious fruit of Masonic knowledge , as Asher was represented by fatness and royal dainties . "—Jlisl . Landm . vol . i . lect . xi
, ., p . oio . t From the Greek aliro-d / ia , signifying a seeing with one's own eyes . The candidate , who had previously been failed a " mystes" or a blind man , from jivio , to shut the eyes , began at this point to change his title to that of an " epopt , " or eye witness . : | : YK WI TIN W Yehianr myehiaur . § Robert William Mackay ; Progress of Ike Intellect , vol , i , p . 03 ,