Origin And Beauty Of Masonic Symbolism.

light ! The earth a corpse , floating in the silent abyss , without inhabitant , without production—silent , lifeless , void ! As to man , Avithout the inner light , Avhat better Avould be his soul or mind ? Could anything be more purposeless ,

Avorthless or useless 1 It is because the sun , which is by its light and heat the soul of the material Avorld , corresponds to the divine presence , Avith its love and Avisdom , that the term light , and no other , can express divine , angelic or human intellectual communication .

Hence the Deity is compared to the sun , as the most adequate expression of his character and attributes as Avell as his presence , as in these Avords : " The Father of Lights , Avith Avhom is no parallax or shadoAv of variance . " The search for light is that which has

occupied the masonic or philosophic students of all time . And Avhat is li ght when it is obtained 1 Is it not , according to its degree , either knowledge , intelligence or Avisdom 1

But hoAV can these , which are internal , compare with the solar light , Avhich is regarded as external ? Let us see . The truth is , as we will find upon examination , they perfectly correspond , for all light is internal .

The common idea is that the solar light is everywhere around us Avithout , like a sea of brightness , filling all space ; but the truth is , that all light is in the eye , and noAvhere else , just as all sound is in the ear .

The hearing is in the ear , and that is Avhere the sound is , although it seems to be at a distance—the hearing does not go out of the ear to find the sound , but the sound , which is nothing but a motion , enters the ear and affects its nerves , and it is that affection of the nerves in the ear

which we call sound . So with light , the sight does not go out of the eye to the object , but the light , which is another and more subtile motion , enters the eye and affects its nerves , and creates a picture thereand this is called

, vision . The li ght and the sound are in the eye and ear , the real hearing and si ght are in the mind itself , and so are wholl y internal . It is the same Avith knowledge , intelligence and Avisdom , all of which are called

light ; they enter the intellect , the eye of tbe mind , and form themselves there by affecting it , and it is the same mind which perceives and understands in tlie one case as in the other . These considerations serve to shoAv the similarity betAveen physical and intellectual

things , and consequently the perfection and truthfulness of the symbolism of Masonry , which is in accordance Avith the order of nature and is , in fact , more accurate and reliable than any human reasoning Avithout symbolic demonstration can possibly be . While other ancient and similar

institutions have disappeared under the influence of advancing civilization , Ancient Craft Masonry advances and increases most where society has attained its most advanced position . Though it has seen the beginning and end of empires , churches , and even of racesit seems possessed of all

, the elements of vitality and progress , and spreads its tesselated pavement , and sets up its altars and jewels in the seats of modern learning and refinement , as it did in the days of antiquity on the lonely hills and in the moon-lit valleys of barbaric lands .

Even in this remote and mountain land , Avhere lately was but a Avilderness , a Grand Lodge , representing many hundreds of Craftsmen , and those amongst the most enlig htened of the Avorld , assembles in due and ancient form , sets up its lights and jeAvelsunites in the simple but Avise and

, ancient observances taught by kings and prophets in olden lands , and opens and considers messages from half a hundred sister bodies , Avhose members outnumber the grand army of an empire . From these mountain gates Ave can send

greetings to our fellows and brothers alike assembled in the capitals of all ch'ilized nations , assuring them that we , too , are searching for the most ancient landmarks , and Avill maintain the excellent tenets of our Craft with the dignity and

honour of our ancient brotherhood , and that we understand how and Avhy the " lambskin , " or badge of a Mason , more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman eagle , is , when Avorthily worn , more honourable than Star or Garter , or any

other badge which king , prince or potentate can bestow , except he be a Mason .