Masonic Emblems.

make still further exertions for the attainment of his noble wishes . According to the English system , it is in the smooth or perfect Ashlar , i . e ., a polished cubic stone , that the enlightened Mason sees pourtrayed

his present highly cultivated state , to which said state of intellectual advancement he has arrived through the benefits he has received from a liberal education , and the good example of those around him .

THE EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE . Morsdorf , in his communications to the reflective Mason , printed in Dresden , 1811 , p . 248 , says : By means of an equilateral triangle , illuminated or otherwise , the Egyptians symbolised

thenidea of the Supreme Being , it has also the same meaning in Masonry . This figure is most imiportant to the Masonic fraternity , and as has been already stated was to the Egyptians the image of Godhead , and in unity with the triangles used to

typify fire and water , represented the exacting poAvers of nature . This holy sign Avas held in great veneration by the Jews , and in this feelingmany of the early Christian sects participated . An equilateral triangle , says Bro . Born , had the

same meaning with the Egyptians as it has in modern chemistry . Such a triangle Avith another within its highest angle , signifies fire : with points sideways or doAvnward surrounding it , water . Fire and water Avere also the great workingelements in the formation of the Avorld from chaos .

According to Plutarch , the myth of Osiris , Isis and Horus , is but a delineation of the operations of the great Avorking powers of nature . The Egyptian priests gave the precedence to Avater in their worship of the elements . "Fire , " say they ,

" is scorching and Avithering in its operations , and the natural enemy of water , " and further to exemplify their meaning , they liken one to the good and the other to the evil genius , Avhich by them were believed to be constantly striving for the

mastery . Water , Avhich is the source of all vegetation , they regarded as a symbol of the beneficent Osiris ; but fire , that in its fierce strength destroys all , to Typhon , the malignant spirit , and the sworn foe of Osiris .

THE SQUARE . Iu the Egyptian hieroglyphics , this emblem , the parallelogram , as well as the circle and triangle , occupy a distinguished place , as a species of

geometrical alphabet ; Palin has devoted much time , and has made quite clear many of the hitherto hidden meanings of this ancient picture alphabet ; especially has he succeeded in rendering luminous the before obscure manner of

employing the numericals , 2 , 3 , and 14 . According to this same author's account , the tAvo angles on one side of the triangle , signify the sun and moon ; the quadrant typifies the material body of the universe , and the continual increase

thereupon , and the endless march of groAvth and decay . The square and triangle Avere much esteemed by Pythagoras as symbols , whereby to render intelligible to his pupils the great religious , moral ,

and natural truths he wished particularly to impress upon their minds ; these two signs were often placed by him one Avithin another , and so combined , Avere to the esoterically taught most powerful in their meaning . In the modern lodges ,

these figures , so arranged , are often to be met with and are a fruitful source of reflection to the intelligent Mason .

The letter T Avas also a favourite sirnbol Avith the great philosopher ( Pythagoras ) . He caused it to typify the Avhole life of man ; the stem part of the letter represented the innocent happy days of childhood ; the point where this line ceases and

and the tAvo lines of the upper part of the letter commence , the point Avhere youth ceases and manhood begins ; the line to the right is the path of virtue , and happy is the youth whose footsteps move therein ; that to the left is that of vice , and

woe to the unhappy one who treads her flowery but deceitful paths—from , this consideration this letter is often called the Pythagorean letter . Y was also to the disciples of this great Master a holy numerical emblem , it being a species of

triad , for , in it , from I proceed IIY . The great aim of this learned man seemed to be to impress the most valuable truths upon the minds of his disciples through the medium of emblems drawn here , and those from objects found in the natural

world , or in the Avorld of letters ; he seemed impressed with the idea that the emblematic manner of conveying instructions made the profounclest impression upon the memory , and that knoAvledge so acquired would be longer retained than by any

other method . THE PENTALPHA Has also a great reputation among scholars for