Masonic Light.

the aspirant was always shrouded in darkness , as a preparatory step to the full light of knowledge . Among the Druids this lasted nine days and nights ; among the Grecians it was three times nine days and nights , while among the Persians

it was fifty days . In the beginning , light Avas esteemed aboye darkness , and the piimitive Egyptians worshipped " On " as the chief deity , under the character of all eternal light , but all was symbolical of heavenly light—of wisdom and

knowledge . We speak of " the God of Light , " I am that Light , " and many like expressions , which denote something more than material light . Ereemasonry has restored darkness to its proper place , as a state of preparation , the symbol of that

antemundane chaos from whence light issued at the Divine command ; of the state of nonentity before the reception of knowledge ; hence , in all ancient systems , the release of the aspirant from solitude and darkness was called the act of regeneration ; lie Avas said to be born again , and also to be raised from the dead . We too are raised from the dead

when we have received the light of truth , and we are taught that we cannot gain admittance into the Grand Lodge unless Ave be regenerate and born again . In Masonry , the dai-kuess which envelopes the mind of the uninitiated being removed

by the bright effulgence of Masonic light , Masons are appropriately called the " Sons of Light . " Light was the object , and its attainment the end of all the ancient mysteries—not material li ght , but Masonic light—the light of truthof

know-, ledge , and understanding . In the Grecian system the hierophant declared that all mankind except the initiated were in darkness—that is , they were in ignorance . In the Persian rites the divine lights were displayed before the aspirant at the

moment of illumination , and he was instructed , that at the end of the world the bad would be plunged into perpetual darkness , and that the good should asceud by a ladder to a state of eternal light , and so with Masons , at the moment of

illumination , the three great emblematic lights are displayed to the candidate . Freemasons , too , travel in search of spiritual light , which can be found only in the East—both material and spiritual , or Mason light

, came from the East—and having obtained its possession , are henceforth "Sons of Li ght . " The light of Masonry is pure , as emanating from the source of all purity and perfection , and Masons remembering that they are brought out of

darkness into light , are admonished to let the light that is in them so shine before all men , that their good works may be seen , and the great Fountain of that light be thereby glorified . David says , " The Lord is my light ; " and again , " God

is the Lord who has showed us light . " B y being ; in darkness we are reminded that man is by nature the child of ignorance and of error , and would have remained in the valley of darkness had it not pleased God to call him to light and immortality

by the revelation of his most holy will and word . Light in the East ( I speak now of material light ) has a clearness and brilliancy , accompanied with heat , and is followed in its influence by a largeness of good . This light easily and naturally

became in conseqence , with orientials , a representation of the highest human good . All the more joyous emotions of the mind , all the pleasing sensations of the frame , all the ^ kappy hours of domestic intercourse , were described under

imagery derived from light . The transition was natural from earthly to heavenly , from corporeal to spiritual things , and so light came to typify true religion and the felicity which it imparts . But as light not only came from God , but also

makes man ' s way clear before him , so it was employed to signify moral truth—and pre-eminently that Divine system of truth as set forth in our Sacred Law from its earliest gloamings onwarcl to the perfect day of the Great Sun of

Righteousness . The application of the term to religious topics is said to have had the greater propriety from the light in the Avorld being accompanied by heat ; it purifies , quickens , and enriches , Avhich efforts it is the peculiar province of true religion to produce

in the soul . Eastern nations beheld the sun Avhen it shined , and the moon Avalking in brightness .,, and their hearts became enticed , and their mouth kissed their hand in token of adoration . This iniquity the initiated avoided , and when they

considered the Avork of God ' s fingers , they learnt alesson of humility as Avell as of reverence , as we may read in the Sth Psalm . On the contrary , the entire residue of the east , with scarcely an exception , worshipped the sun as light ; primarily ,

perhaps , as symbols of Divine power and goodness , but in a more degenerate state , as themselves divine , whence , in conjnotion with darkness , —the negation of light—arose the doctrines of dualism—the one of light , the good power ; the other of darkness , the evil power ; a corruption which