Masonic Notes And Queries.

therefore necessary that the patterns of things m the heavens should be purified with these ; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these . For Christ has not entered into the holy places made with hands , which are the figures of the true ; but into heaven itself , now to appear in the presence of God for us" ( Hebrews is . 2324 ) ,

Seeingthere-, , , fore , that we find the antitype of the " Holy of holies , " in the heavenly world itself , and the antitype of the interceding high priest in the person of our glorified Saviour in the presence of God ; as the mercy-seat has its antitype in the throne of God in the heavens ; soto complete the parallelthe cherubim have their

, , antitypes in those glorious intelligences who stand in the divine presence , ministering to the fulfilling of his high behests , and worshi pping , with adoration , at his feet .

Our notice of these glorious beings would not be complete without briefly glancing at the attributes symbolised by the configuration of the cherubim . We have already quoted from the vision of Ezekiel a full and minute portraiture of these celestial beings , and the prophet tells us that from their form he knew them to be the cherubim . The description in

the apocalyptic vision is less minute , yet , Avith a general resemblance , it presents a few points of variety . The truth is that the existence of these beings was real , for they are expressly called " living ones , " but their configuration was symbolical . The cherubic formswhether elaborated by artistic skill—as in

, the golden and embroidered figures of the sanetury—¦ or as depicted in prophetic vision , were emblematical No such types of being have an actual existence ; but those extraordinary forms were symbols in which earthly images Avere combined to set forth the attributes and properties of real celestial beings . They

Avere 4 in number , indicative , it may be , of so many separate orders , rather than of so many individuals , each order distinguished by some characteristic mental excellence . They are called living ones , because they are immortal in their nature ; not , like man , subject tp death and dissolution , but endowed ivith

unfading vital energy and immortality . They have 4 faces— " the face of a man , " to denote their intelligence and wisdom— "the face of a lion , " to denote boldness and courage— "the face of an ox , " to denote strength and firmness— "the face of an eagle , " to denote activity . They had each 4 wings to denote their readiness and swiftness in obeying the

commands and performing the will of God . " Their feet were straight , " denoting rectitude . The soles of their feet were " like the foot of a calf , " i . e ., they were not like the feet of beasts of prey ,, but of those offered to God in sacrifice—clean and harmless , denoting purity and innocence . "They had hands

under their Avings , " denoting that usefulness was combined with activity . They " were full of eyes , within and without , " denoting quickness of perception , intuitive knowledge , and comprehensive views ; their mental vision looking through vast cycles of time and a wide circumference of events . "Their

colour Avas like burnished brass , " denoting their glory and majesty . They were connected with might y " wheels , " denoting their agency in the events of Providence . They acted in concert with God ' s " Spirit , " denoting the rectitude of their will , their spotless holiness , and entire conformity to God .

" They turned not when they went , denoting that their actions were direct , and when once performed , were effectual , for they were neither crooked in the policy , negligent in their obedience , nor inefficient ia their operations ; they had no need to do a thing over again because it was imperfectl y or improperly performed . "They ran and returned as the

appearance of li ghtning , " denoting the quickness of- their obedience ; and having performed the will of God among men , they immediately returned to the presence of God , with whom was their supreme delight . - The cherubim , noble specimens of creative wisdom , strength , and goodness , have ever been , in some way

connected with the manifestations of the divine presence , and the worship of God . They were located at the east of Eden , Avith the flaming symbol of the presence of God . In the tabernacle their emblematic forms were placed on the mercy-seat , in juxtaposition with the Shekinah . They had the same position in . the Temple built by Solomon , and the same figures were also embroidered on the veil , and carved on the walls of the sanctuary . Thus connected with the

divine presence and the consecrated places of man ' s worship , they were intended to symbolise the angelic inhabitants of the temple above . They pointed man to an upper world ; they spoke of the regions of the blessed ; they told of the existence of beings superior to those of the earth , more exalted and dignified hy

man . Their contemplative attitude , their sublime , yet calm and benignant , aspect , their outstretched wings , their marvellous and significant forms , their dazzling radiance , their nearness to God , their constant abode amidst the splendours of Jehovah ' s presence , spoke of the holy and the divineattesting the

, existence of the unseen , and unfolding the glories of the heavenly world . How far these symbols were then understood cannot be ascertained in our day . The contemplative , the devout , the spiritual-minded mi ght have been able to pierce far into those symbolised truths which were veiled and hidden from the

sensual and the profane ; and , like Enoch , whilst walking with God , to believe in the invisible , and anticipate the societ y and enjoyments of the heavenly world . !

FKEEMASOK ' BT PUOM A NOBTHEENEB , S POINT 03 VIEW . During the unhappy strife in America ihe Craft has been cajoled , rated , entreated , and villified , according to the side which some of its members have taken in the contest . One of the most quiet and

gentletlemanly of these effusions—in favour of the Northseeks , of course , to insinuate the Southerners to be rebels , and consequently out of the pale of Freemasonry . An article , in a Masonic periodical , now diecontinued , says : — " There is no disguising the fact that at the present time there exists a feeling of

hostility among the people of the United States , arising from a conflict of opinion in regard to the peculiar institution of slavery , and in this feeling the members of the Masonic fraternity , as individuals and citizens , no doubt participate according to their OAvn particular predelictions . We have neverand we do not now

, , intend to discuss questions of a political nature in the columns of this paper , but in view of the agitated state of the public mind , Ave would simply remind the members of the Masonic order to reflect upon