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  • June 25, 1864
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  • THE HIDDEN MYSTERIES OF NATURE AND SCIENCE.—PART IV.
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    Article THE HIDDEN MYSTERIES OF NATURE AND SCIENCE.—PART IV. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Hidden Mysteries Of Nature And Science.—Part Iv.

THE HIDDEN MYSTERIES OF NATURE AND SCIENCE . —PART IV .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JUUE 25 , 186 i .

( Continued from Page 502 , Vol . VIII . ) The foregoing examples are lessons taken from the Book of Nature , ancl adopted "b y science for furthering the arts of peace , but examples may be given which will show that the fierce warrior did not disdain to learn from Mother Nature . The

tertudo , or tortoise , was a military machine moving upon wheels and roofed over , used in besieging cities , under which tho soldiers worked in undermining the walls ; the name sufficiently implies whence the idea was taken . The

batteringram , aries , was used to shake and batter down walls . It consisted of a large tree , to one end of which was fastened a mass of bronze or iron , which resembled in its form the head of a ram ; and it is evident that this shape of the extremity of the engine , as well as its name , was given to it on account of the resemblance of its mode of

action to that of a ram butting with his forehead . An infinity of further examples might be cited , but I trust sufficient has been said to show the intimate connection between nature and science . The progress of knowledge which has led from the

first rude attempts of barbarous ages to present civilisation , has gone on by certain steps , which may easily be ascertained , and which it is very useful to consider , as we thereby discover the nature of human knowledge , and the relations and

importance of its different branches , while we obtain greater facilities for stud ying science and aiding its onward progress . Let ns now see IIOAV all this appertains to

Freemasonry . The lodge when revealed to an entering Mason discovers to him a representation of the world , for the universe is the temple of the Deity whom we serve ; wisdom , strength , and beauty are about his throne as pillars of his works ; for his

wisdom is infinite , his strength omnipotent , and beauty shines throughout the whole of the creation . In symmetry and order , the heavens has he stretched forth as a canopy ; the earth he has planted as his footstool ; he crowns his temple with

stars as with a diadem ; and his hands extend their power and glory ; the sun and moon are messengers of liis will , and all his law is concord . The covering of the tabernacle , and the veil of the Temple at Jerusalem were representations of the heavens ,

and were " of blue , of crimson , and purple " ( Exod . xxvi . 1 ., 2 Chron . iii . 14 ) , and such should be the covering of the lodge . "When the Creator made the heavens in then * splendour , he also spread the earth with a beauteous carpet , adorned

with various colours , fruits , and flowery meads , and " vallies glad with smiling corn ; " mountains with nodding forests for a crown , and lakes glittering like diamonds in their bosom . "While interspersed amidthe beauteous scene some giant ,

stormbeaten , arid mountain stands ; or further off , a parched desert striking horror and dismay into the heart of the weary traveller whose path lies over it , yet even here , far as the eye can see ,, nay , perhaps beyond the vision , there lies a

sweet and peaceful oasis , a resting-place with sweet , refreshing springs . All this the Mosaic pavement which represents the ground-floor of King Solomon ' s temple depicts . And is there no . analogy , no lesson to be learnt here , brethren ?

Does not a voice seem , trumpet-tongued , to cry from beneath your feet , " Life is uncertain . " Our passage through existence , though , sometimes

prosperous , is oft beset with ill ; all things here below are precarious . To-day , our feet may tread in prosperity ; to-morrow , we may totter on the uneven paths of weakness , temptation , and adversity . AVith this emblem before us , we are

morally taught not to boast of anything ; to take heed unto our ways ; to walk upright and with humility before God , for such is this existence , that there is no station in which pride can bestably founded . All men have birth , yet some are

borne to more elevated stations than others ; but , when in the grave , are all upon a level , death destroying all distinction , Then , while our feet tread on the Mosaic work , let our ideas return to the original from which we copy it ; and let every

Mason act as the dictates of reason prompt him , and live in brotherly love , faith , hope , and charity . But if some ill should still beset us , then let us cast our eyes on high , and with our hearts and minds penetrating the bright canopy above us , let us

turn for succour and support to that bright , morning star whose rising brings healing and consolation to the faithful of the human race .

Whatever , says a distinguished writer , turns the soul inward on itself , tends to concentre its forces , and fit it for greater and stronger flights of science . By looking into physical causes our minds are opened and enlarged ; and in this pursuit , whether we take or whether we lose our

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1864-06-25, Page 1” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_25061864/page/1/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
THE HIDDEN MYSTERIES OF NATURE AND SCIENCE.—PART IV. Article 1
Untitled Article 2
CLASSICAL THEOLOGY.—LXXVII. Article 3
THE INTERIOR OF A GOTHIC MINSTER. Article 4
ON SOME PECULIAR FEATURES IN THE ECCLESIASTICAL SCULPTURED DECORATIONS OP THE MIDDLE AGES. Article 6
ANTIQUITY OF THE THIRD DEGREE. Article 8
MASONIC NOTES AMD CtUERIES. Article 10
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 11
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 12
ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED FREEMASONS AND THEIR WIDOWS. Article 12
METROPOLITAN. Article 12
PROVINCIAL. Article 13
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE. Article 15
Poetry. Article 17
Untitled Article 17
THE WEEK. Article 18
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Hidden Mysteries Of Nature And Science.—Part Iv.

THE HIDDEN MYSTERIES OF NATURE AND SCIENCE . —PART IV .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JUUE 25 , 186 i .

( Continued from Page 502 , Vol . VIII . ) The foregoing examples are lessons taken from the Book of Nature , ancl adopted "b y science for furthering the arts of peace , but examples may be given which will show that the fierce warrior did not disdain to learn from Mother Nature . The

tertudo , or tortoise , was a military machine moving upon wheels and roofed over , used in besieging cities , under which tho soldiers worked in undermining the walls ; the name sufficiently implies whence the idea was taken . The

batteringram , aries , was used to shake and batter down walls . It consisted of a large tree , to one end of which was fastened a mass of bronze or iron , which resembled in its form the head of a ram ; and it is evident that this shape of the extremity of the engine , as well as its name , was given to it on account of the resemblance of its mode of

action to that of a ram butting with his forehead . An infinity of further examples might be cited , but I trust sufficient has been said to show the intimate connection between nature and science . The progress of knowledge which has led from the

first rude attempts of barbarous ages to present civilisation , has gone on by certain steps , which may easily be ascertained , and which it is very useful to consider , as we thereby discover the nature of human knowledge , and the relations and

importance of its different branches , while we obtain greater facilities for stud ying science and aiding its onward progress . Let ns now see IIOAV all this appertains to

Freemasonry . The lodge when revealed to an entering Mason discovers to him a representation of the world , for the universe is the temple of the Deity whom we serve ; wisdom , strength , and beauty are about his throne as pillars of his works ; for his

wisdom is infinite , his strength omnipotent , and beauty shines throughout the whole of the creation . In symmetry and order , the heavens has he stretched forth as a canopy ; the earth he has planted as his footstool ; he crowns his temple with

stars as with a diadem ; and his hands extend their power and glory ; the sun and moon are messengers of liis will , and all his law is concord . The covering of the tabernacle , and the veil of the Temple at Jerusalem were representations of the heavens ,

and were " of blue , of crimson , and purple " ( Exod . xxvi . 1 ., 2 Chron . iii . 14 ) , and such should be the covering of the lodge . "When the Creator made the heavens in then * splendour , he also spread the earth with a beauteous carpet , adorned

with various colours , fruits , and flowery meads , and " vallies glad with smiling corn ; " mountains with nodding forests for a crown , and lakes glittering like diamonds in their bosom . "While interspersed amidthe beauteous scene some giant ,

stormbeaten , arid mountain stands ; or further off , a parched desert striking horror and dismay into the heart of the weary traveller whose path lies over it , yet even here , far as the eye can see ,, nay , perhaps beyond the vision , there lies a

sweet and peaceful oasis , a resting-place with sweet , refreshing springs . All this the Mosaic pavement which represents the ground-floor of King Solomon ' s temple depicts . And is there no . analogy , no lesson to be learnt here , brethren ?

Does not a voice seem , trumpet-tongued , to cry from beneath your feet , " Life is uncertain . " Our passage through existence , though , sometimes

prosperous , is oft beset with ill ; all things here below are precarious . To-day , our feet may tread in prosperity ; to-morrow , we may totter on the uneven paths of weakness , temptation , and adversity . AVith this emblem before us , we are

morally taught not to boast of anything ; to take heed unto our ways ; to walk upright and with humility before God , for such is this existence , that there is no station in which pride can bestably founded . All men have birth , yet some are

borne to more elevated stations than others ; but , when in the grave , are all upon a level , death destroying all distinction , Then , while our feet tread on the Mosaic work , let our ideas return to the original from which we copy it ; and let every

Mason act as the dictates of reason prompt him , and live in brotherly love , faith , hope , and charity . But if some ill should still beset us , then let us cast our eyes on high , and with our hearts and minds penetrating the bright canopy above us , let us

turn for succour and support to that bright , morning star whose rising brings healing and consolation to the faithful of the human race .

Whatever , says a distinguished writer , turns the soul inward on itself , tends to concentre its forces , and fit it for greater and stronger flights of science . By looking into physical causes our minds are opened and enlarged ; and in this pursuit , whether we take or whether we lose our

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