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  • March 15, 1862
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  • LIGHT.
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, March 15, 1862: Page 2

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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Light.

LIGHT .

( Concluded from page 122 . ) "When the divine command for the creation of the world and lig ht went forth , its accents echoed through the vast immense , and the whole unive rse awoke with the shock . Joy was in Heaven , for " Nor past uncelebrated nor unsung

By tbo celestial choirs , when orient light Exhaling first from darkness they beheld . Birthday of Heaven and earth ; with joy and shout , The hollow universal orb they filled , And touched their golden harps . "

The material light brought forth when darkness and chaos were dispersed , is a symbol of that intellectual illumination which it is the object of Freemasonry to create in the minds of those enrolled under its banners . Look , says Bro . Mackey , look at the moral and intellectual state of the candidate . There he sta dswithout

, our portals , on the threshold of the new life upon which he is soon to enter , in darkness , helplessness , and ignorance , justly is he called a profane , for he is indeed proeul a fano . Wandering thus amid the errors , and covered with the pollutions of the outer worldhe comes enquiringly to our doors , seeking the

, new birth ancl asking a withdrawal of the veil which conceals divine truth from his uninitiated si ght . This mental illumination of Masonry , this spiritual light , which , after his new birth , is the first demand of the candidate , is but another name for cbvine truth—the truth of God and the soul , the nature and essence of

both which constitute the chief design of all Masonic teaching . And as the chaos ? and confusion in which , in the beginning , the earth , without form and void , Avas enivrapt , were dispersed as they sat brooding over the abyss , and order ancl beauty were established by the supreme command which created material li ght ; so at the proper declaration and in due form , the intellectual chaos and confusion , in which the mind of the

Neophyte is involved are dispersed ; and the due knowledge of the science and philosophy—the faith a , nd doctrine of Masonry are developed . " A good Mason , " saysBro . Bosenberg , "is necessarily a virtuous man ; he searches for instruction in the study of science , because the one will be useful to him in this Avorldthe other in a better one . " The light he should

, look for is that which is presented to him when he passes from the profane world to tread the sacred floor of a lodge . When he first presents himself to be initiated , he is like an infant in the womb of his mother ; a mere embryo , ivith members and organs that can scarcely be discovered until he deveiopes

himself and assumes the perfect form of a human being . At this period he feels the need of light , frees himself from the narroAV circle that surrounds him , bursts open the prison doors and appears on the stage of the world ; although it is not Avitho at much pain and trouble that he passes through life . In like

manner the initiation is accompanied with pain and difficulty . He enters naked into the world and the lodge , and hy the aid of an unknown person who assists and supports him , until lie finally overcomes all difficulties . The light of a Masons' lodge consists of three greater and three lesser ones , bufc tiie light by AA'hich every Mason does , or should walk , is that which ever has been , and ever will be , a lantern

to the feet of the good and pious of all ages . The most prominent object in a lodge , and that which first attracts the attention , is the volume of Sacred Law . This is especially recommended to the notice and study of the newly-initiated brother , as from it he will learn his duty to God , to his neighbour , and to himself . The three senses most peculiarly essential

to a Mason are hearing , seeing , and feeling ; by hearing , he acquires a knowledge of the lectures ; b y seeing , he observes the symbols , which read a silent lesson to the observant brother ; and by feeling , he handles the implements of Masonry , and discovers a brother in the dark as well as the li ght . Of all the

faculties , sight is the noblest . The structure of the eye and its appurtenances evinces the admirable contrivance of nature for performing all its various external and internal functions , whilst the variety displayed in the eyes of various animals , suited to their several ivays of life , clearly demonstrate this organ to be nature ' s masterpiece . s . By this sense we

distinguish objects , traverse the earth , and find our way across the ocean ; nay more , by it we perceive the tempers and dispositions , the passions and affections of our fellow-men ; so that , though the tongue may lie and dissemble , the countenance displays the hypocrisy to the discerning eye . In fine , the rays of light ivhich administer to this sense are

tlie most astonishing parts of animated creation . He AA'ho has been temporarily deprived of his sight is reduced to the condition of a new-born babe , or of one of those unfortunates whose natural infirmity renders the presence of a conductor indispensabl y necessary ; but when there are no outivard objects to

distract his attention , it is then that with the eye of reflection he probes the deepest and darkest recesses of his own heart , and discovers his natural imperfections and impurities . "A man who has been deprived of his sight , " says Gadicke , " may be introduced into places ivhere he is surrounded by the strangest and rarest objects , without a possibiltiy of his becoming traitor . At the same time those who

are m possession of their sight , cannot feel the care of their guides so much as those who are hoodwinked , and AA'ho feel that without the constant attention of their conductors they would be much more helpless than they now are ; bufc however many proofs of attention and care they may receive , there is still something left to ivish forancl to the questionwhat

, , is your chief desire , the answer will ever assuredly be ' light . ' " The fixed lights in a loclge were formerly represented by three windoAi's , supposed to be in every room ivhere a lodge is held , referring to the cardinal points of the compass , according to the antique rules of Masonry . There ivas one in the E .,

another in the W ., and another in the S ., to light men to , afc , and from , labour ; but there ivas none in the li ., because the sun darts no rays from thence . The light of a Master Mason is darkness A'isible , serving only to express that gloom which rests rests on the prospect of futurity . It is that

mysterious veil which the Eureka of human wisdom cannot penetrate , unless assisted by that lig ht which is from above . One of the ancient names of Freemasonry was lux or lig ht ; this luminous princip le is represented in our lodges by the first great light , and symbolized by three lesser lig hts , Avhieh , being material , palpably point out a reference to the operation of light on the mind . The lights of Heaven in

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1862-03-15, Page 2” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 4 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_15031862/page/2/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
THE BOYS' SCHOOL. Article 1
LIGHT. Article 2
MASONIC FACTS. Article 3
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 6
HER MAJESTY. Article 6
ELIAS ASHMOLE. Article 6
THE MASONIC SCHOOLS. Article 6
GRAND LODGE. Article 7
WARDENS AND MASTERS. Article 7
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 8
METROPOLITAN. Article 9
PROVINCIAL. Article 10
CHANNEL ISLANDS. Article 13
SCOTLAND. Article 13
IRELAND. Article 14
INDIA. Article 14
ROYAL ARCH. Article 16
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 17
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. Article 17
MARK MASONRY. Article 18
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 18
NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA. Article 19
THE WEEK. Article 19
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Light.

LIGHT .

( Concluded from page 122 . ) "When the divine command for the creation of the world and lig ht went forth , its accents echoed through the vast immense , and the whole unive rse awoke with the shock . Joy was in Heaven , for " Nor past uncelebrated nor unsung

By tbo celestial choirs , when orient light Exhaling first from darkness they beheld . Birthday of Heaven and earth ; with joy and shout , The hollow universal orb they filled , And touched their golden harps . "

The material light brought forth when darkness and chaos were dispersed , is a symbol of that intellectual illumination which it is the object of Freemasonry to create in the minds of those enrolled under its banners . Look , says Bro . Mackey , look at the moral and intellectual state of the candidate . There he sta dswithout

, our portals , on the threshold of the new life upon which he is soon to enter , in darkness , helplessness , and ignorance , justly is he called a profane , for he is indeed proeul a fano . Wandering thus amid the errors , and covered with the pollutions of the outer worldhe comes enquiringly to our doors , seeking the

, new birth ancl asking a withdrawal of the veil which conceals divine truth from his uninitiated si ght . This mental illumination of Masonry , this spiritual light , which , after his new birth , is the first demand of the candidate , is but another name for cbvine truth—the truth of God and the soul , the nature and essence of

both which constitute the chief design of all Masonic teaching . And as the chaos ? and confusion in which , in the beginning , the earth , without form and void , Avas enivrapt , were dispersed as they sat brooding over the abyss , and order ancl beauty were established by the supreme command which created material li ght ; so at the proper declaration and in due form , the intellectual chaos and confusion , in which the mind of the

Neophyte is involved are dispersed ; and the due knowledge of the science and philosophy—the faith a , nd doctrine of Masonry are developed . " A good Mason , " saysBro . Bosenberg , "is necessarily a virtuous man ; he searches for instruction in the study of science , because the one will be useful to him in this Avorldthe other in a better one . " The light he should

, look for is that which is presented to him when he passes from the profane world to tread the sacred floor of a lodge . When he first presents himself to be initiated , he is like an infant in the womb of his mother ; a mere embryo , ivith members and organs that can scarcely be discovered until he deveiopes

himself and assumes the perfect form of a human being . At this period he feels the need of light , frees himself from the narroAV circle that surrounds him , bursts open the prison doors and appears on the stage of the world ; although it is not Avitho at much pain and trouble that he passes through life . In like

manner the initiation is accompanied with pain and difficulty . He enters naked into the world and the lodge , and hy the aid of an unknown person who assists and supports him , until lie finally overcomes all difficulties . The light of a Masons' lodge consists of three greater and three lesser ones , bufc tiie light by AA'hich every Mason does , or should walk , is that which ever has been , and ever will be , a lantern

to the feet of the good and pious of all ages . The most prominent object in a lodge , and that which first attracts the attention , is the volume of Sacred Law . This is especially recommended to the notice and study of the newly-initiated brother , as from it he will learn his duty to God , to his neighbour , and to himself . The three senses most peculiarly essential

to a Mason are hearing , seeing , and feeling ; by hearing , he acquires a knowledge of the lectures ; b y seeing , he observes the symbols , which read a silent lesson to the observant brother ; and by feeling , he handles the implements of Masonry , and discovers a brother in the dark as well as the li ght . Of all the

faculties , sight is the noblest . The structure of the eye and its appurtenances evinces the admirable contrivance of nature for performing all its various external and internal functions , whilst the variety displayed in the eyes of various animals , suited to their several ivays of life , clearly demonstrate this organ to be nature ' s masterpiece . s . By this sense we

distinguish objects , traverse the earth , and find our way across the ocean ; nay more , by it we perceive the tempers and dispositions , the passions and affections of our fellow-men ; so that , though the tongue may lie and dissemble , the countenance displays the hypocrisy to the discerning eye . In fine , the rays of light ivhich administer to this sense are

tlie most astonishing parts of animated creation . He AA'ho has been temporarily deprived of his sight is reduced to the condition of a new-born babe , or of one of those unfortunates whose natural infirmity renders the presence of a conductor indispensabl y necessary ; but when there are no outivard objects to

distract his attention , it is then that with the eye of reflection he probes the deepest and darkest recesses of his own heart , and discovers his natural imperfections and impurities . "A man who has been deprived of his sight , " says Gadicke , " may be introduced into places ivhere he is surrounded by the strangest and rarest objects , without a possibiltiy of his becoming traitor . At the same time those who

are m possession of their sight , cannot feel the care of their guides so much as those who are hoodwinked , and AA'ho feel that without the constant attention of their conductors they would be much more helpless than they now are ; bufc however many proofs of attention and care they may receive , there is still something left to ivish forancl to the questionwhat

, , is your chief desire , the answer will ever assuredly be ' light . ' " The fixed lights in a loclge were formerly represented by three windoAi's , supposed to be in every room ivhere a lodge is held , referring to the cardinal points of the compass , according to the antique rules of Masonry . There ivas one in the E .,

another in the W ., and another in the S ., to light men to , afc , and from , labour ; but there ivas none in the li ., because the sun darts no rays from thence . The light of a Master Mason is darkness A'isible , serving only to express that gloom which rests rests on the prospect of futurity . It is that

mysterious veil which the Eureka of human wisdom cannot penetrate , unless assisted by that lig ht which is from above . One of the ancient names of Freemasonry was lux or lig ht ; this luminous princip le is represented in our lodges by the first great light , and symbolized by three lesser lig hts , Avhieh , being material , palpably point out a reference to the operation of light on the mind . The lights of Heaven in

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