Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Expatiation On The Mysteries Of Masonry In Malling Abbey Lodge, No. 1,063.
EXPATIATION ON THE MYSTERIES OF MASONRY IN MALLING ABBEY LODGE , No . 1 , 063 .
LONDON , SATURDAY , OCTOBER 5 , 1867 .
( Continued from page 182 . ) In the symbolism of [ the P . O . degree we are carried back to the period in the world's history between the exodus and the birth of Christ . Three remarkable events , each of which had an
important influence on Ereemasonry , occurred within this period , viz .: — I . The building of Solomon ' s temple . II . The voyages of the Phoenicians to the West of Europe . III . The introduction of the philosophy of Pythagoras .
It will be [ convenient to take each of these events successively into consideration . I . The first is set before us on the tracing board of the F . G . degree , on which is delineated an elaborate plan of Solomon ' s temple . This was
not the most ancient temple in the world ; but the magnificence of Solomon ' s temple , the circumstances under which it was built , the mode of its erection , the completeness of the architectural description of it in the Old Testament , and the
distinctly symbolicaFcharacter of every part of it , and of every incident in its history , have caused it o be made the prominent object in the second degree of Craft Masonry .
But the building of the temple is of further interest to Masons from the fact that it was a
direct cause of the union of operative and speculative Masonry . This may have commenced in the time of David , when his friend Hiram , king of Tyre , assisted him in the erect-ion of his palace at Jerusalem * but it was completed when Hiram
entered into league with Solomon , and brought all the skill of the Sidonian and Tyrian operative Masons to bear upon the work of building the temple . Chief amongst these was Hiram Abi , or Abiff , who is only called Hiram in the English
version ; his second name being rendered by its signification , which is master , or chief workman . Hiram Abiff may thus be regarded as a representative of a Master Mason , to whom his zeal and fidelity are held up for imitation in all ages .
Hiram Abiff had many worthy followers in the Middle Ages . Operative and speculative Masonry were then again united ; and under the hands of
Freemasons churches and cathedrals rose in the glory and beauty of Gothic architecture all over Europe , to the honour of the true God . We do not know whether Pope Innocent the Third was ever initiated into the Craft , but the letter which ,
he wrote concerning four rings sent to lying John proves his acquaintance with the principles of Masonic symbolism : — " We have prepared for yon four golden rings , with various precious stones , in which we
desireyou specially to understand their form , their number , their material , and their colour . Their roundness , therefore , signifies eternity , which is without beginning or end ; and royalty should have the virtue of this form , considering that
earth is a passage to heaven , and that temporality proceedeth out of eternity . Their number of four also , whose own number is ^ perfect square , signifies firmness of mind , which is neither depressed by adversity , nor' elevated by prosperity ; and what is
praiseworthy to be accomplished is commonly done by the four principal virtues , namely , justice ,, fortitude , prudence , -and temperance .
"Moreover , in the precious stones , note that the green of the emerald signifies faith ; the mildness of the sapphire , hope * the redness of the ruby , charity ; and the brilliancy of the topaz ,. good works—of which the Lord hafcli said "Let
your lights so shine . ' Erom these , therefore , yon have in the emerald what you should believe , in the sapphire what you should hope , in the ruby what you should love , and in the topaz what you should practise ; so that you may rise from
virtueto virtue until you come to the sight of the Lord of Lords in Sion . " The erection and decoration of our churches by Freemasons caused the introduction into them of
Masonic symbols and ritual . To take an instance of each . We are all . familiar with the ornament of the poppy head in churches . Its use by the Freemasons as an interior decoration was so general , that it has become
the ordinary name for carved work at the tops of the ends of benches and divisions of stalls . Now , this emblem had been used in the picture writing of Masonry , at least from the time of Pythagoras , to symbolise a city ; the multitude
of seeds representing a numerous population and the capsule , their comprehension within thesame walls . The Freemasons accordingly in . troduced this symbol into churches built by them , as the one most fit to represent the-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Expatiation On The Mysteries Of Masonry In Malling Abbey Lodge, No. 1,063.
EXPATIATION ON THE MYSTERIES OF MASONRY IN MALLING ABBEY LODGE , No . 1 , 063 .
LONDON , SATURDAY , OCTOBER 5 , 1867 .
( Continued from page 182 . ) In the symbolism of [ the P . O . degree we are carried back to the period in the world's history between the exodus and the birth of Christ . Three remarkable events , each of which had an
important influence on Ereemasonry , occurred within this period , viz .: — I . The building of Solomon ' s temple . II . The voyages of the Phoenicians to the West of Europe . III . The introduction of the philosophy of Pythagoras .
It will be [ convenient to take each of these events successively into consideration . I . The first is set before us on the tracing board of the F . G . degree , on which is delineated an elaborate plan of Solomon ' s temple . This was
not the most ancient temple in the world ; but the magnificence of Solomon ' s temple , the circumstances under which it was built , the mode of its erection , the completeness of the architectural description of it in the Old Testament , and the
distinctly symbolicaFcharacter of every part of it , and of every incident in its history , have caused it o be made the prominent object in the second degree of Craft Masonry .
But the building of the temple is of further interest to Masons from the fact that it was a
direct cause of the union of operative and speculative Masonry . This may have commenced in the time of David , when his friend Hiram , king of Tyre , assisted him in the erect-ion of his palace at Jerusalem * but it was completed when Hiram
entered into league with Solomon , and brought all the skill of the Sidonian and Tyrian operative Masons to bear upon the work of building the temple . Chief amongst these was Hiram Abi , or Abiff , who is only called Hiram in the English
version ; his second name being rendered by its signification , which is master , or chief workman . Hiram Abiff may thus be regarded as a representative of a Master Mason , to whom his zeal and fidelity are held up for imitation in all ages .
Hiram Abiff had many worthy followers in the Middle Ages . Operative and speculative Masonry were then again united ; and under the hands of
Freemasons churches and cathedrals rose in the glory and beauty of Gothic architecture all over Europe , to the honour of the true God . We do not know whether Pope Innocent the Third was ever initiated into the Craft , but the letter which ,
he wrote concerning four rings sent to lying John proves his acquaintance with the principles of Masonic symbolism : — " We have prepared for yon four golden rings , with various precious stones , in which we
desireyou specially to understand their form , their number , their material , and their colour . Their roundness , therefore , signifies eternity , which is without beginning or end ; and royalty should have the virtue of this form , considering that
earth is a passage to heaven , and that temporality proceedeth out of eternity . Their number of four also , whose own number is ^ perfect square , signifies firmness of mind , which is neither depressed by adversity , nor' elevated by prosperity ; and what is
praiseworthy to be accomplished is commonly done by the four principal virtues , namely , justice ,, fortitude , prudence , -and temperance .
"Moreover , in the precious stones , note that the green of the emerald signifies faith ; the mildness of the sapphire , hope * the redness of the ruby , charity ; and the brilliancy of the topaz ,. good works—of which the Lord hafcli said "Let
your lights so shine . ' Erom these , therefore , yon have in the emerald what you should believe , in the sapphire what you should hope , in the ruby what you should love , and in the topaz what you should practise ; so that you may rise from
virtueto virtue until you come to the sight of the Lord of Lords in Sion . " The erection and decoration of our churches by Freemasons caused the introduction into them of
Masonic symbols and ritual . To take an instance of each . We are all . familiar with the ornament of the poppy head in churches . Its use by the Freemasons as an interior decoration was so general , that it has become
the ordinary name for carved work at the tops of the ends of benches and divisions of stalls . Now , this emblem had been used in the picture writing of Masonry , at least from the time of Pythagoras , to symbolise a city ; the multitude
of seeds representing a numerous population and the capsule , their comprehension within thesame walls . The Freemasons accordingly in . troduced this symbol into churches built by them , as the one most fit to represent the-