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