The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.

THE ORIGIN AND REFERENCES OF THE HERMESIAN SPURIOUS FREEMASONRY .

BY REV GEO . OLIVER , D . D . CHAPTER VII . FIRST SERIES OP SYMBOLS . ( Continued fom page 485 . ) THE remaining portion of the series

before us is a figure formed of three sides of a square . This was an hieroglyphic of the stem ancl stern of the sacred ship of Isis , or rather the A'essel itself , which Avas a highly , venerated emblem amongst the Egyptians , ancl was consecrated by an annual festival .

It Avas equally esteemed in other countri es and introduced into the Roman calendar for March . Calendarium rusticum mense Martio habit Isidis navigium quod est Egyptiorum festum , a Romanis admissum . * Under the name of Barisit Avas carried

, about in procession as a representation of the ark of Noah . Sometimes it contained a third perpendicular line in the centre , forming the trident , ancl symbolizing the Great Father in the sacred vessel , navigating the boundless waste of Avatevs which

overwhelmed the earth at the deluge . Wilford says that " during the flood the generative powers of nature were reduced to their simplest elements , the Linga and the Youi , the latter of Avhich assumed the hull of a shipsince typified by the

, Argha , whilst the Linga became the mast . Maha-DeA'ais sometimes represented standing erect in the middle of the Argha in the room of the mast . "f

We find the same figure repeated not only upon the rod or sceptre of Neptune , but also on the summit of the pyramids of Incliaand America , to represent heavenorthe abode of the celestial deities ; being used also as an observatory for astronomical purposes . Hence , every mountain with two peats like

Ararat , was esteemed holy ; while that Avith three peaks wasA'enerate . l as most holy . The two peaks of Ararat are inaccessible according to Sir R . K . Porter , AVIIO says , "these summits have never been trodden by the foot of man siuce the clays of Noah , if even then , for my idea is that the ark rested in

the space between these heads , and not on the top of either . Various attempts have been made in different ages to ascend these tremendous mountain pyramids , but in vain ; their form , snows , and glaciers are insurmountable obstacles ; the distance being

so great from the commencement of the icy regions to the highest points , that cold alone Avould be the destruction of any person Avho should have the hardihood to persevere . " In Central America many instances

occur of Chapels being erected on the summit of a pyramid . One of these is thus described by a modern traveller : — " The Avail Avas of cut stone , Avell laid , ancl in a good state of preservation . We ascended by large stone stepsin some

, places perfect , and in others thrown down by trees Avhich had groAvn up between the crevices , ancl reached to a terrace , the form of which it Avas ¦ impossible to make out from the density of the forest in Avhich it was enveloped . Our guide cleared a Avay

Avith his machete , ancl we passed a large fragment of stone elaborately sculptured , and came to the angle of a structure Avith steps on the sides , in form and appearance

like the sides of a pyramid . Diverging from the base ancl working our way through the thick woods , Ave came upon a square stone column about 14 feet high and 3 feet on each side , sculptured in bold relief on all four of the sides from the base to the top . The front Avas the figure of a man

curiously and richly dressed , ancl the face , evidently a portrait , solemn , stern , ancl well fitted to excite terror . The back was of a different design , unlike anything vre hacl eA'er seen before , and the sides Avere coA'ered Avith hieroglhicsThis our guide

yp , called an Idol , and before it , at a distance of three feet , was a large block of stone , also sculptured with figures and emblematical devices which he called an altar . The sight of this unexpected monument put at rest at once and for ever in our minds all

uncertainty in regard to the character of American Antiquities , and gave us the assurance that the objects we were in seach of were interesting , not only as the remains of an unknown people , but as works of art , jwoving like newly discovered historical records , that the people who formerl y occupied the continent of America were not saA'ages .