Expatiation On The Mysteries Of Masonry In Malling Abbey Lodge,

EXPATIATION ON THE MYSTERIES OF MASONRY IN MALLING ABBEY LODGE ,

LONDON , SATURDAY , DECEMBER 1 , 1867 .

No . 1 , 003 . ( Continued from fnge 3 G 2 . ) We now come to the third degree of Craft Masonry . For this the other two are in a great

measure preparatory . From the Creation and fall of man to the Exodus , and again from the Exodus to the termination of the Jewish economy , many of the types and symbols of Masonry had reference to something future . Year after year ,

and century after century , commencing in the east and passing from thence to the west , and extending over a great portion of the inhabited world , mysterious ceremonies , "which had their origin in remote traditions , were carefully observed in Masonic lodges ; some of ivhich , as regards their

full purport ancl signification , must have been unintelligible to most of those who used them . In the three decrees there is something which i —• O is common to all ; yet each has something which is peculiar to itself . The first sets before us , more

especially , truths derived from the light of nature , and from the traditions of early revelations . The second brings us to the study of things cognisable by the understanding , ancl the principles of the moral law . Ancl the third decree calls us to the

consideration of all that may be acquired by the highest exercise of our reasoning- powers , and even invites us to the pursuit of something beyond this , the knowledge of things whicli transcend the limits of our natural faculties .

In the symbols ancl allegories of the third degree , when fully understood , we may find the type and the antitype ; the mystery ancl its development ; the sign ancl the thing signified ; the hidden wisdom , and the revelation which

enables us to comprehend it . It follows from this that whilst part of the symbolism of this degree is of the highest antiquity , setting forth the mystery so far as it was taught from the beginning , other parts of it are , comparatively speaking ,

modem ; inasmuch as they were introduced for the purpose of guiding us to that full- hiowlegc of the meaning of those ceremonies , which could only be obtained by means of light communicated in a later age . But as the things taught were in both cases the same , the older and the more

modern parts of the symbolism correspond so closely with each other , that they set before us a perfect ancl harmonious . system sf instruction . The name given by Pythagoras to Master Masons was " Physici . " This is very significant .

For the Physicists belonged to an earlier age of Grecian philosophy than the mathematicians . The former originated with Tholes , the father of Greek speculative philosophy . Pythagoras himself was a principal founder of the mathematical school , yet he

gave the name of " Mathematici" to the second , and that of " Physici" to the third degree . In this we have one of the important lessons of Masonry , viz ., that we must not venture far into speculation and contemplation , until we have first strengthened

and prepared our minds by observation , moral culture , and practical work . "We must here notice an error whicli has crepfc into the charge in the second degree , in which it is said that Masonry ancl geometry were originally

synonomous . "Whereas , geometry belongs to operative , ancl Masonry ( derived from the Greek Mesouranoii ) , to speculative Masonry . Tho former is more particularly an object of study for the " Mathematici" in the F . C . degree ; and the latter , for the " Physici" in the third degree .

The characteristic number of the third degree is three . This number in its most natural and and obvious application , represents the third period of intellectual development comprehended in the three years from thirteen to fifteen inclusive .

It is the stage of " Reason , by means of which , " says Algazzali , " the intellect perceives the necessary , the possible , the absolute , and all those higher objects whicli transcend the understanding . "

According to this , Masonry would fix the time of coming of age , so to speak , at fifteen ; which , to our modern ideas , ancl in our northern climate , appears very early . But Masonry camo to us from the East , and it is , therefore , not surprising that

it should contain traces of oriental views and customs . And we have , still remaining , evidence that even in Britainy the law was once in harmony with them . Under the law of Gavelkind , in Kent , persons are competent to convey estates at the

age of fifteen ; a custom which may have been originally introduced into this country by the Druidical Masons . More recently , English bishops have , perhaps unconsciously , followed this ancient Masonic practice by fixing fifteen as the age for confirmation .