Notes On The Symbolism Of The Rose.

NOTES ON THE SYMBOLISM OF THE ROSE .

BY THE EDITOR . TO give any account of the Rose , as a flower , or its diffusion over the whole earth , would be to compile a volume . Yet some notice of it is absolutely necessary towards an elucidation of the style of the eighteenth degree . Whether the name Rose-Croix is derived or no from Rouge Croix ( Red-Cross ) it is no business of mine to speculate on here . We know it as

Rose-Croix , or as the Free-Masons of the last century called themselves , Rosycrucians , i . e ., disciples of the Rosy-cross , the cross decorated by the rose . Then it follows to the rose we must turn our attention for a time . It is , after the Cross , the most touching and beautiful of the emblems of Free-Masonry . The Cross , of course , speaks to us of higher views and hopes , but the rose is the most graceful emblem Free-Masonry can show , because it is natural

and so highly distinguished that even with those who are hut little given to Botanical studie it has received the titles of Queen of flowers—the perfume of the Gods—the clothing of the Graces —and the ornament of the earth . It is the symbol of the most diverse sentiments , for not only is it the flower of love and the emblem of beauty , but it is also considered to be the symbol of secrecy . Temples and churches were and are adorned with it

by the hands of pious persons ; love and pleasure made garlands of it ; grief strewed it on tombs and graves ; modesty and charity receive it as a graceful prize and the ancients termed it the splendour of plants . The priests in all countries and ages have celebrated their rites and admitted the rose as one of the chief ornaments whose presence was natural , beautiful , and pure , and yet the symbolism recalls the most outre comparisons and extends to the secret symbols of natural religion . In that sense it was the emblem of woman and , like the cross or triple phallus

which symbolised the membvum virile—or the sun in all its power—the conjunction of these two emblems offer another sense and expresses the union of the sexes—a symbol of universal regeneration . Sub rosa is then a term of no mean significanceunder the rose many things are done in secrecy which are not only allied to love but to matters of private gain , hope , rewards , or punishments . Old Sir Thomas Brown says— "When we

desire to confine our words we commonly say they are spoken under the Rose , which expression is commendable , if the rose from any naturall property may be the symboll of silence , and is also tolerable , if by desiring a secrecy to words spoke under the rose , we only mean in society and compotation , from the antient custome in Symposiacke meetings to wear chapters of roses about their heads , and so we condemn not the Germane custome , which

over the table , describeth a rose in the seeling , but more considerable it is , that the rose was the flower of Venus , which Cupid consecrated unto Harpocrates the God of silence , and therefore is an emblem thereof . " Rose Sunday , the fourth in Lent , is one of the pretty minor festivals of the Romish Church . On that day the Pope annually blesses a golden rose which is given , or sentto some monarch

, or person of distinction as . a reward for his love to the Church . At Boutan , in Asia , when the priests are called in to visit the sick they carry with them little pyramids ornamented with the cross and roses . The latter are cultivated specially for this purpose and irrigated with sacred water . The object of carrying these pyramids—which are elevated before the sick in the same

manner as the host is in Romish churches—is to cure the invalid . It appears to have been with reference to the attribute of secrecy that the Rose was adopted , not only as a -part of the blazon on the arms , but likewise as a designation of the Rosycrucians—philosophers who appeared in Germany about 1614 and presently spread themselves through most of the countries of Europe , and out of which has sprang the present system of

Free-Masonry . The opinion that the Rose was assumed as the symbol of secrecy and the Cross to represent the solemnity of the oath by which the vow of secrecy was ratified is defended by a writer of authority on the subject . Against this it is , however , asserted that the armorial bearings of the family of John Valentine [

Notes On The Symbolism Of The Rose.

Andrea , were a St . Andrew ' s cross and four roses , from which he was suspected to have obtained the idea and fabricated the legend of Father Rosy-cross . One of the writers of the sect gives us another definition . He says— "It is a very childish objection that the brotherhood have promised so much and performed so little . With them , as elsewhere , many are called but few are

chosen ; the masters of the order hold out the rose , the secret , as a remote prize , but they impose the cross , the labour , on those who are entering . " Another derivation of the name , applied to the alchemical section is that it comes from the Latin ros , signifying dew , which is stated to be the most powerful solvent of gold , and crux , the cross , a chemical hieroglyphic of light . In Holy Scripture the rose is frequently applied as a figurative

type of Our Blessed , Lord . In the old French rite there was a peculiar set of emblems used , viz . three squares on the outsidethree circles within triangles on the inside—said to symbolise Mount Calvary , and on the centre was placed an old stone on which was laid a rose , emblematic of the sweetness of Christ . Take all or any of the foregoing and I think it will be evident that a Rose on a Cross is one of the simplest methods of writing the " secret of immortality . "

Words Of Wisdom.

WORDS OF WISDOM .

SECRECY . —Secrecy is the cement of friendship . When Ulysses departed to repair to the siege of Troy , in his charge to his friends in respect to their care of Telemachus , who was then in his infancy , he among other thus entreats them , " Above all forget not to render him just , beneficent , sincere , and faithful iu keeping a secret . " And it is afterwards made a part in the character

of Telemachus , that he knew how to keep a secret without telling any untruth ; and yet could lay aside that close mysterious air which is so common to people that are reserved . He did not seem oppressed with the burthen of the secret which he kept ; he always seemed easy , natural , open , as one that carried his heart upon his lips . But at the same time that he would tell you everything that was of no consequence , he knew how to stop

just in the proper moment , and without proceeding to those things which might raise some suspicion , and give a hint of his secret . By this means his heart was impenetrable and inaccessible ; nay , he never communicated , even to his best friends , but just so much as he thought was necessary , in order to have their good advice . He did indeed place a confidence in some other friends , but then he observed different degrees of confidence ,

according as he had met with proofs of their friendship and discretion . He that discovers secrets , says Solomon , is a traitor , and he that conceals them is a faithful brother . —BRO . WELI . INS CALLCOTT .

THE AIM OF EVERY TRUE FREEMASON . — To learn , to attain knowledge , to be wise , is a necessity for every true , noble soul ; to teach , to communicate that knowledge , to share that wisdom with others , and not churlishly to lock up his exchequer , and place a sentinel at the door to drive away the needy , is equally an impulse of a noble nature and the worthiest work of man . —BRO . DR . A . G . MACKEY , XXXIH .

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRIFLES . —It is not the great things of this life over which mortals stumble . A rock we walk around , a mountain we cross ; it is the unobserved , unexpected , unlookedfor little sticks and pebbles which cause us to halt on our journey . The blind may 11 m against a rock and not fall ; but put a small matter in his way and he will stumble over it . BEREAVEMENTS . —When engineers bridge a stream they carry

out at first but a single cord . With that they stretch a wire across . Then strand is added to strand , until a foundation is laid for planks , on which the bold workman finds a safe footway and walks from side to side . So God takes from us golden-threaded pleasure , and stretches it hence into heaven . He takes a child , and then a friend . Thus he bridges death , and teaches the thoughts of the most timid to find their way hither and thither between the shores .