The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.

" With an interest perhaps stronger than Ave had ever felt in wandering amongst the ruins of Egypt , Ave followed our guide ivho , sometimes missing his Avay , Avith a constant and vigorous use of his machete , conducted us through the thick forest among half-buried fragments to

fourteen monuments of the same character and appearance ; some Avith more elegant desigus , ancl some in workmanshi p equal to the finest monuments of the Egyptians . One displaced from its pedestal by enormous roots , another locked in the close embrace

of branches of trees , and almost lifted out of the earth , another hurled to the ground and bound down by huge vines ancl creepers , and one standing with its altars before it in a grove of trees which grew around itseemingly to shade and shroud

, it as a sacred thing in the solemn stillness of the woods . It seemed a divinity mourning over a fallen people . " * An Egyptian hieroglyphic published by

Rischer exhibits the figure under our consideration , viz ., the three sides of a square but it is conjoined with a scorpion , the former being a symbol of the solar deity under the name of Osiris as the great Father of the human race , ancl the

compound hieroglyphic bore a reference to the deluge , which happened according to Egyptian tradition when the son was in Scorpio . Modern discovery has assigned this symbol to represent the letter M , Avhich accordingly conveys an idea of water

multitude and number , t The series which I have attempted to explain in the present chapter , combines in its aggregate form many useful lessons in morality , which would doubtless be strongly insisted on bthe hierophant

y while delivering instructions to the aspirant which were to form the future guides of his life and conduct as a member of the mysterious order into which he had been formally received .

CHAPTER VIII . SECOND SERIES OF SYMBOLS . " Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years , 0 house of Israel ? But ye have borne the Tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun , your images , the star of your God which ye made to yourselves . " AMOB . Ill a line between the angles of the

right and left of the Tracing Board , Ave find two compound ancl three simple emblems . These are two larger semicircles connected by a smaller circle and a right line , the implement of architecture called a square , a circle , the circle and point , and

a sceptre or lotus flower joined to a circle . The analogy of different nations in the use of corresponding symbols to designate the deity and his attributes is very remarkable , and tends to establish a common origin , and the existence of such a method

of communicating knowledge Avhen all mankind lived together as one family , practising the same rites , and using the same language . The Indian and Chinese , the Celts and Saxons , as well as the Egyptians , and all the various nations and

people whicli mi ght trace their ori gin to that country adopted the circle and point , the crescent ancl square as sacred hieroglyphics with the same interpretation attached to them , viz ., as emblems of the chief deities the sun and moon . Diogenes Laertius * informs us that the Egyptians had a respect for the four elements and Avorshipped the Sun and

Moon as gods , under the names of Osiris and Isis , which they represented under the forms of the scarab , the haAvk , the serpent , ancl other animals . " He had probably seen the compound hieroglyphic prefixed to this dissertation , or something nearly

resembling it . To the same effect , Diodorus says that " the most ancient inhabitants of the world , contemplating the vast expanse above their heads , were filled with admiration and astonishment at the nature of the universe , and expressed their firm belief

that there Avere eternal gods , the two chief of which were the sun and the moon , called b y them Osiris and Isis . "t In most countries the circle was not only a symbol of the sun , but also of Eternity . In Greece it was called the

Ring of Gyges , and was reputed to render the wearer invisible , and in Britain it was presented to the view in the form of gigantic temples of the deity , Avhile the crescent appears not only attached to the figures of Isis or Astarte and at the

upper termination of the E gyptian sceptres , but also in the lunette of the Grecian Juno , the Ada of the Bab ylonians , and is