The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.

frequently depicted with a key upon hei shoulder . The hidden meaning of this portraiture was not confined to any system or country but prevailed throughout the Avorld , and was as peculiar to the true as the false

religion , thus when Eliakim was invested with the regal authority , the external symbol of his power was a Key upon his shoulder . * It was called the Key of David that openeth and no man shutteth , and that shutteth and no man openeth . t

In reference to this divine power as alluded to by the prophet Isaiah ,: }; the Talmudists affirm that Jehovah holds three keys as symbols of his universal dominion , the key of the Avomb , the rain and the grave . || That sublime description of the Prince of

Peace by the same prophet has an allusion to this custom , ancl the Key is put for government— " The government shall be upon his shoulder . " § In like manner Christ communicated his authority by using the same symbol

Avhen he committed to Peter " the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven , " 1 T reserving to himself " the Keys of , '' or power over " hell and death . " ** The power of which the Key was an emblen the Jews refused to assign to Jesus , and attributed it to the

Tetragrammaton which they accused him of stealing from the . Foundation Stone of the Temple . ft To the fortunate possessor of this Key various promises are made . " He shall eat of the tree of life and of the hidden

manna , and I will give him , " says the Redeemer of mankind , " a tvhitestone and in the stone a new name written , which no man knoweth saving he that reeeiveth it ; and I Avill give him the Morning Star , I Avill make him a pillar in the temple of my

God , and he shall go no more out , ancl I will write upon him the name of my God , and the name of the city of my God , Avhich is New Jerusalem , which cometh down out of heaven from my God , ancl I will write upon him my New Name . " . } ' }'

The next figure to the right-hand denoted Architecture , and hence we find it in the Egyptian monuments borne in the hand of Orus , who was an incarnation of Osiris , the architect or builder of the universe , together Avith the Tau cross and circle , and

therefore the latter Avhich also hermeticall y signifies Spirit , follows immediatel y after the square which represented Justice ancl Avas accordingly borne in the Egyptian processions by an officer called Stolistes , whose duty it was to exhibit this symbol

as the insigna of his office , and to keep hidden from the si ght of the profane the more secret ancl ineffable symbols of the Spurious Freemasonry , which they therefore carried in procession in covered baskets . They had the direction of all the

ceremonies , and the performance of the sacred drama of Osiris ancl Typhon during the initiations , Avas entirely entrusted to their management . In the Egyptian hieroglyphics , as explained by Ohampollion ancl other , antiquaries of our OAVU times , a dark circle and the circle and point , which are here placed in juxtaposition represent the

letter L or R , and denoted motion , swiftness and strength ; as the square [_ in the Ancient Hebrew , as well as the Greek and Roman alphabets stood for the letter L , ancl referred to the number Four , the Tetragrammaton or Tetractys . It has alread y been said that the point

within a circle was an emblem of the first member of the Hypostasis of the divine triad . It symbolized the deity surrounded by eternity , of which he was said to be the author , the ornament and the support . The Samothraciaus hacl a great veneration

for this hieroglyphic Avhich they considered to be like the Urim and Thummim of the Jews , consecrated by the perpetual presence of the deity , and hence rings Avere distributed to the aspirant at his initiation , as armlets possessing the power of averting

danger , * A similar notion of the mysterious pz-operties of the circle was entertained by all other idolatrous nations , and all their solemn ceremonies were accordingly accompanied by a circular dance ; for Plato says

that the gods were honoured when the Avorshippers danced round about their altars , ancl he recommended the authorities