Review.

in the lodge ancl in our Ritual , and applying such teaching , personally , to our progress ancl edification as Freemasons . No doubt such a work has a considerable value and importance in itself , ancl Bro . Paton has treated it most fully and most carefully . Not that indeed the subject is a IIOAV one

in itself , but Bro . Paton ' s is no doubt the fullest Avork on Masonic Symbolism Avhich has yet appeared . Masonic students , for instance , Avill remember good old Ashe ' s book in days gone bybetween Avhich and Bro . Paton there is

, no doubt a considerable similarhy of treatment and idea ; Avhile others may call to mind Calcott ' s Disquisition , Green ' s Sermon , " The ' Beauties of Masonry Developed : by an Ancient Brother , " Oliver ' s longer ¦ worksand several tracts ov single volumes

, published at various periods during the last hundred years . We must , hoAvever , do Bro . Paton the justice of saying that he may fairly claim

the credit of having introduced to the notice of our modern Brotherhood much that has been forgotten of our symbolical " formulas " and our mystical teaching , ancl having explained and developed that teaching most carefully ancl calmly ancl fully . His style is clearlucid ancl animatedfull

, , ancl forcible , and after Ave lrave perused his explanation of some Avell-knoAvn symbol of our Order , AVO feel at once IIOAV much may be said on subjects so common to us that Ave pass them by often almost unnoticed and unregarded .

Many of us whom long familiarity has accustomed to the well-known symbolism of our lodge-rooms , Avill find a good deal in Bro . Paton ' s Avork to thi'OAV much interest and neAV meaning OA er " signs and symbols" Avhich Ave knoAV so Avell ancl see so

, often that Ave often hardly trouble ourselves to ask the question what they mean , or whether they have a further and inner meanins for us .

While thus Ave fully admit the didactic excellence of Bro . Paton ' s explanation and commentaries , Ave must express our regret that he has not treated the subject , as he Avas so fully competent to do , from an archaaological point of view . In the present position of Masonic enquiry and

research , Ave Avant facts— -Ave require a clear and distinct treatment of each part of our Masonic system , Avhether historical , symbolical , archaeological or doctrinal , on the sure

and only safe basis of authentic eAadence , of genuine dissertations , on the clear ancl convincing testimony of accurate investigation and . indubitable authority . The time seems to have passed away , Ave think , for addresses " ad personam ; " Ave

rather Avant treatises " ad rem "—that is to say , Ave must give up the tendency to confuse the IAVO distinct branches of Masonic study—that , for instance , Aidiich relates merely to the personal and moral bearing of assumed truthsand that winch refers

, to the critical ancl careful study of fact and evidence , Bro . Paton has not apparentl y turned his attention to the archaeology of Masonic Symbolism further than its spiritual application to us as individuals and brethrenancl Ave feel that any Avork on

, symbolism AA'hich passes by that most important portion of its history , is like a goodly building raised hastily on a very frail—rather , actually no real foundation at all .

Bro . Paton makes one mistake we feel bound to correct . He confounds the " Pentalpha , " or " Pentads , " as it is sometimes called , Avith Solomon ' s Seal , Avhereas the Pentalpha was first a sign of JeAvish Cabbalistic use ,

though afterwards adopted by the Christians , and Solomon ' s Seal Avas the double triangle , the Avell-knoivn symbol of our Royal Arch . It is somewhat strange that Bro . Paton apparently altogether ignores the double

triangle , though it is really one of the earliest of our Masonic Symbols , ancl Avas even used as a Mark The history of Masonic Symbolism , arch Ecologically considered , is indeed most interesting in itself , and is a v . ork Avorthy of investigation ancl treatment by some brother Avho -will devote himself to the subject ,

While , then , Ave Avelcome gladly every addition to our Masonic literature , ancl all such Avorks especially as tend to illustrate and develope alike the outAvard organization and inner teaching of our Order , and while AVP admit that Bro . Paton has summed up and put before us the didactic expression

of our symbolism very completely , we trust that we are not out of place in expressing ' the hope that he may be yet induced to supply us with an archaeolog ical history of this interesting subject . We have often been told that our Freemasonry is "veiled in allegory , " and " illustrated