Masonic Symbolism,

MASONIC SYMBOLISM ,

LOXLOX , SATURDAY , JASVJ 3 ZY 12 , ISO ! .

TFlTIT IiEFIBE ^ CE TO - THE ZUEAXXN Cr 1 ST ) OB I KEY OI THE WOBDS "jTEEEirASOy" ASD " CO AA'AS " . " PAHT IV . { Continued from page oQZ , Vol . ILL . ) Cowan seems to lie a corruption of covin , Avliicli Pritchard substitutes for it . This word is thus defined

by AVebster ; covin ( query , Arabic , to defraud ) . More probably this word belongs to some verb in Greek , signifying to conceal , or to agree ( Fellows ) . In jNTorman French , coveyne is a secret place or meeting . In modem French , coyan , n . s . m ., means a dastard . "In our

time a ' cowan , ' or over curious , uninitiated person , who was detected in the fact of listening or attempting to procure , by any undue means , a knowledge of the peculiar secrets of Freemasonry , was termed an eavesdropper , from tbe nature of the infliction to which he was subjected . He was placed under the eaves of a

house in rainy weather , and retained there till the droppings of the Ai'ater ran in at the collar of his coat , and out at his shoes ; and therefore the phrase , it rains , indicates that a cowan is present , and the proceedings must be suspended ( Oliver ' s Hevelations of a Square ) . The French rather extend this punishment : — "Oule met

sons line goutiere nne pompe , ou line fontaine , jusqu' a ce-qu'il soit mouille depuis la tete jus ^ u'ciu . * pieds . " In the Manx language , which , is a branch , of the Celtic , "ith cow" signifies , it rains . Another derivation which here appears pertinent is o-Kovav , the Greek " I hear ;" anovav , hearing , or one who hears , hy a simple ellipsis

becomes KOVW , cowan ; either of the two latter derivations are applicable to cowan as an eaves-dropper . A Scottish brother , writing in THE FEEEMASOXS MAGAZINE , says , " 1 think that our Cowan is of Scotch origin , but derived from the Erse or Gaelic stock rather than

the Saxon . Sir Walter Scott makes a Gael use it as a term of reproach against the then Duke of Argyle , well known to be no lazy bun gler at any work he undertook , but a skilful , deep , and politic personage , nototorious for his JPunica fides among the Highland clans ,

and an ally of the Hanoverian Government for the purpose of breaking up the Celtic feudal princi ples and clan combinations . NOAV , the Gaelic or Erse , as spoken near Inverness , has the word couachan , pronounced Teooa-chan ( the clt , gutter ally ) , which means literally a base ,

faithless , aucl contemptible felloiv , void of moral worth , and is applied to a coward , also to a traitor ; in both cases because of the character who wants courage , aud cannot be trusted . Tbe force of couachan beino-

increased by its being itself a diminutive , couachan , pronounced softly , and not gutterally , would be cow ' an , and here , I believe , we have the very word cowan of om-Scotch Masonic formula in the same sense—a base man , in whom trust cannot be reposed , one , in short , void of all moral worth , and who cannot seek the tyled recess nfl uenced by mercenary or other unworthy motives ;

literally a couachan , and therefore the interdicted and anathematised cowan of Masonry . " I have now briefly glanced at symbolism , which is , in fact , the language of Freemasonry , ancl shown that itconsists not only in outward tangible shapes , as depicted

by the brush or the chisel , but also that it consists of emblems , tropes , or similes , actions aud figures of speech , mentally bringing before the speaker and him Avho hears or reads them the picture or symbol of the thing alluded to . In the preceding pages will be found the definitions of Freemason and Cowan , as given by

various authors , and also some new ones never before , I believe , published . Let us UOAV . then , again revert to the definition of Freemasonry , which I have selected as my text , and let us also consider some of the definitions already gii * en .

Symbolism being the language of Freemasonry , the words Freemason and Cowan must be considered Masonically . Freemasonry is both operative and speculative . Masonry , according to the general acceptation of the term , is an art founded upon the princip les of geometry , and directed to the service ancl convenience of

mankind . But Freemasonry , embracing a wider range , and having a nobler object in view , -i . e ., the cultivation and improvement of the human mind , may with more propriety be called a science , inasmuch as , availing itself of the terms of the former , it inculcates the principles of the purest morality . As operative masons ive are taught

to hew , square , aud lay stones , and prove horizontals . AVe allude , by operative masonry , to a proper application , of the useful rules of architecture , whence a building , derives figure , strength , and beauty , resulting in a due proportion and just correspondence in all its parts-Speculative Masonry adopts and symbolises for its use

the implements ancl materials used by the operative . To rule and direct our passions , to have faith and hope in God , and charity towards man , are the great objects of speculative Masonry . In the words of Bro . Mackey , " The Operative Mason constructs Ms edifice of material substances ; the Speculative Mason is taught

to erect a spiritual building pure ancl spotless , and fit for the residence of Him who divelleth only with the good . The operative mason works according to the designs laid doAvn for him on the trestle-board hy the architect ; the speculative Mason is guided by the great trestle-board on ivhich is inscribed het revealed will of

God , the Supreme Architect of heaven ancl earth ; the operative mason tries each stone and part of the building by the square , level , aud p lumb ; the speculative Mason examines every action of his life by the square of morality , seeing that no presumption nor vain glory has caused him to transcend the level of his allotted destiny ,

and no vicious propensity has led him to swerve from the plumb line of rectitude . Aud , lastly , as it is the business of every operative mason , AA'hen his work is clone , to prove everything 'true and trusty / so it is the object of the speculative Mason , by a uniform tenour of virtuous' conduct , to receive , when his allotted course of