Ancient Symbolism Illustrated.

hieroglyphical figures ; and hence aroso the sacerdotal or fifth application of symbols to the use of man . With the increase of man his wants increased , fco be supplied only by his ingenuity and labour . Jabal was the father of such as live in tents , and was consequently the first of architects ; his brother Jubal was the inventor of tho harp ancl organ ; Tubal Cain was the first artificer of metallic

substances—ancl thus were instituted handicrafts , the value of which being in after time duly appreciated , they were preserved to their possessors by signs and symbols , understood only by themselves and such as they initiated into their mysteries ; ancl here ive perceive the sixth a 2 ) plication of symbols to the use of man . The very word mystery is derived from

the Greek fivara . the initiated , from { . ivia to close up , because they were bound to strict silence . Doctor Stukely , in his " Eemains of Druidical Antiquities , " states , " the first learning in the world consisted chiefly in symbols—the wisdom of the Chaldeans , Phoenicians , Egyptians , Jews—of Zoroaster , Sanchoniathon , Pherecydes , Cyrus , Pythagoras , Socrates ,

Plato , and of all the ancients that has come to our time—is symbolic ; " ancl it cannot fail to be interesting to us as Masons to know that we in our science did not employ one single emblem or symbol ivhich did not form a part of their varied mysteries . As operative Masons , such was the origin of our most ancient and honourable fraternitythe secrets of which

, were in the days of Solomon , ancl Pythagoras , as now , preserved by penal obligations , fresh on the memory of us all . Nor let us lightly esteem the knowledge attained in the arts and sciences by our ancient brethren , since in many respects we can have little doubt that they far surpassed the

present race of man . The beneficent Lord of the creation has ever fitted his creatures for their proper sphere of action , and when needful , has aided them with that light which cometh from above ; witness the beautiful and exact geometrical rules observed by the bee in the formation of its cell —the regularity with which each inmate of the hive works cannot possibly be the result of reason or of tuition—it is the

result of instinct given by the divine wisdom . Solomon , the wisest of men , declared that even in his clay there was nothing new under the sun ; and from all authorities on ancient history we find that the study of theology and science were combined in the teachings of secret associations . This knowledge was confined almost exclusively to the priests until the

days of Moses , who , skilled in all the learning of the Egyptians , separated theology from science and appropriated a distinct tabernacle for the worship of the Most High . While making the furniture for this building , Moses received the command , "Thou shalt build an altar for burnt offerings , and hang a grating of brass in the midst thereof ; under the compass of the altar shalt thou place it . "' Tho word translated " compass" is , in the original , careobh ; it occurs but twice

in the Bible , consequently some difficulty is experienced in arriving at its precise meaning for want of parallel passages ; all commentators , however , agree that it means a cincture or girdle which encompassed the top of the altar . Dr . Jennings , in his Jewish Antiquities , considers it to have been a metallic dome placed over the grate so as to concentrate tho flame and thereby make it consume the smoke and stench wliich would

otherwise arise from the burning of whole bullocks with their fat ancl flesh . Now where could such a contrivance be moro needed than in the area of the Tabernacle—and from whom could so scientific a direction proceed but from the Grand Geometrician of the universe , the author and finisher of all science 1 The court of the Tabernacle was a hundred cubits

long by fifty broad ; it was divided into three parts , at the end of the most easterly being this immense altar , nearly nineteen feet square , capable of consuming whole oxen , within a few feet of the officiating priest ( and but for some such contrivance as the above obscuring their view as well as that of the tribes , ) within fifty-eight feet of their pride and glory , tho beautiful veil of blue , of scarlet , and of purple , so covered in with curtains and badgers' skins as to prevent the escape of

Ancient Symbolism Illustrated.

smoke and ensure its combustion . If the careobh did mean such a compass or dome , wo at ouce see that the principle of tho patent solar lamp , consuming impure oil without smoke or sfceneli , was practised more than three thousand years ago ; affording ono instance of tho correctness of Solomon ' s observation . From the earliest date of speculative Masonrytho working

, tools nf the operative Masons have been u .- ; ..-. ! as emblems of our miral code , and symbols of our social duty . Pythagoras used 1 : > deliver a most excellent lecture on the emblem of an angle uf ninety degrees , or a square placed on a iilumb rule ,

forming a figure or letter , which symbolized the three stages of human life , and hacl a further reference to three steps or degrees of Masonry , on ivhich

I cannot . write . The first stage was youth , open to the impressions both of good and evil . Youth is thus supposed to pass along

the plumb line , or inferior limb of the figure , pursuing an upright course , and at present resting on the basis of good

instruction , till lie arrives at the square , or angle , whence two lines diverge , one to the right ,

SYIIBOI . OP THE SQUARE AND MUMP . KDI . E .

the other to the left , supposed to be the period of maturity ancl age of discretion . The right represented the narrow path of virtue , which , did he choose , his life would be honourable , his death glorious and full of hope ; but should he turn on the way of pleasure ancl carnal indulgence towards the left , which ajipears broader , more joyous ancl tempting , his course will be full of trouble and sorrows—loth ancl luxury

will enervate his body , debase his mind , and poison his enjoyments ; he will close his life iii ignominy , and his memory will be covered with reproach . In conformity with the custom of our master P ythagoras , we as speculative Masons have continued to employ our working tools as symbols of our moral code , attaching to

each a moaning which , though hidden from the uninitiated , conveys to the well-instructed Mason lessons of morality and rules for his social comfort . Thus tho square , tho compass , tho level , ancl tho plumb line have each , their separate significations , constituting a symbolical language too well understood by my readers to require elucidation . But as I propose to explain those emblems not generally understood , and to

afford move extended views to some of those whicli are partially so , I proceed to the consideration of our beautiful tracing boards , which , are strictly hieroglyphical symbols , composed of separate ancl individual parts , but forming a connected whole . In order to their being clearly understood , it will bo necessary for mo to revert to the astronomical opinions of our ancient brethrenand to explain tho doctrine

, of metempsychosis founded upon them . According to tho best authorities , the study of astronomy was most highly valued among tho ancients ; nor can we wonder at it when wo reflect on the pastoral lives they led , the constant ojiportuniti . es for watching tho motion of the heavenl y bodies , and tho little else which offered itself to occupy their attention

while keeping their flocks . O'Brien remarks that from this science were derived names for almost all periods of time by which to mark events . In tho ancient language of Ireland ( insisted on by this author to be same as that of Iran , or Persia , spoken three thousand years since ) there is scarcely a