Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Lights.
LIGHTS .
HERE again we must ga back to the remotest antiquity to discover the beautiful symbolic teaching of one of the earliest instructions given to a newly admitted member of the Order , but rairely explained to him . In the dawn of that
civilisation which unquestionably existed in Asia and Africa some thousands of years ago , it would appear that men commenced by revering or adoring the visible forces and operations of Nature , and by the contemplation of these sent forth migratory off-shoots to settle upon or conquer
territories occupied by less civilised tribes , and these off-shoots naturally carried with them the faiths and worship of their ancestors . Hence , in every part of the world in which we find evidences of a common faith , - we may reasonably conclude that it originally came from one centre . The sun ,
which " gives light and lustre to all within its reach , " and to the light and heat of which man owes his means of sustenance , naturally became a prominent object of adoration , and this appears to have been the earliest worship practised by man . The endeavour to give expression to this adoration led to
what is now known as Phallic worship , which , although it ultimately degenerated amongst the masses into gross and sensual superstition and idolatry , was originally intended as the worship of the mighty sell-producing , self-begetting , and generative or creative principle in Nature , which was beyond
human comprehension , but of which the sun was a type , and its rites were originally simple and solemn . This worship , in varied forms , prevailed amongst the ancient Hindoos , Assyrians , Babylonians , Egyptians , Mexicans , Peruvians , the Greeks and Romans , and other nations .
Fire , as the most material representation of the sun and the sun ' s Creator , was adopted as a symbol , and as flame ascends in straight , waved , or pyramidal forms , ail these were embodied in the emblems used to represent it . Some nations adopted the actual fire , as the Magians , Guebers , Iranians ( or
Parsees , as they are now termed ) , the Mexicans and Peruvians , and the Greeks and Romans , and these sacred fires must never be extinguished . Other nations or tribes adopted emblems , of which the earliest was the stone pillar or monolith . This idea developed into round towers , obelisks and pyramids . It
may here be noted that what we know as the Tower of Babel is properly the Tower of Belus , or " the fire , '' and that the first three letters of the word " pyramid " are the Greek word for " fire . " ( You have this again in " pyrotechnics . " ) But wherever found , or in whatever age they were erected , all
upright stones , obelisks , tall towers , pyramids , minarets , spires , and other architectural perpendiculars , have the one original origin—the idea of representing the generative principle in nature , the source of fertility and increase , and thus , figuratively , the Great Creator . To this day exists these Phallic
monuments in the stone pillars of Brittany and Normandy , and the Celtic and Druidic monuments of Great Britain and Ireland . They are also found in Italy , Spain , Scandinavia , Germany , India , Egypt , America ( North and South ) , Japan , and even in some of the Islands of the Melagan Archipelego ( Pelew Isles ) .
Just reflect for a moment on the varied symbolism attached , even in this materialistic 19 th century , to fire . Fiire is emblematic of light , heat , and warmth ; of love and warm affection of the heart ; of force , for fire destroys and consumes ; of purification , for by it we smelt metal and get rid
of the dross ; and of spirit , for man knows nothing more akin to spirit than the living , moving fire . " For our God is a consuming fire . " " Thy word is a lamp unto my feet , " " The word of life , '' " m Him was light , and the life was the life of men . " Freemasons call themselves the children , or sons , of
light , and reckon from Anno Lucis , the " Year of Light , " " The Volume of the Sacred Law is that Great Light , '' " What is the predominant wish of your heart ? " " Li g ht . " What light—materia ] , intellectual or spiritual ? What do we still desire ? More light—that light " which is from above . " The
Roman priests were termed " Flamens " ( fiamen—flame ) , and a road they once traversed daily in Rome is ta-day known as the Flamian Way ( The Priests' Walk . ) From the Sacred Volume which ever lies open in a Masonic Lodge we may
gam an inkling of how deeply this idea of light and fire , as emblematical of the Divine Creator , had become a popular belief . In the year 149 1 B . C ., Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt . Trained for forty years by an Egyptian priest ( J ethro , priest in Midian ) , the record of Moses proves that
Lights.
the secret learning of the Egyptian priesthood could fit a man to become a ruler and a lawgiver , without tainting him with the idolatry practised by the masses . But the fire creed is dominant . Every manifestation of the one true God of the Semetic race is veiled in fire . A pillar
of fire guided the Israelites by nignt ; the Lord descended on Mt . Sinai in fire ; an angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a burning bush , but the bush was not consumed ( the spiritual fire ) . Fire came from the Lord to consume the sacrifices of Aaron , Gideon and David ; of Elijah when he
confronted the priests of r ^ aal ( the Sun God ); of King Solomon at the dedication of the Temple . From the Sacred Volume we learn ( Gen . hi . 24 , Ex . xiii . 21 , Deut . iv . 24 ; Gen . xv . 17 , Ex . xix . 18 , Deut . ix . 3 ) that the first manifestations of the G . A . O . T . U . were in light or fire , and can we wonder therefore that earlier Eastern nations fell into the adoration
of fire as the symbol of the Creator , and worshipped the Unknown , Eternal , Omnipotent , in or by fire . Fire was not the Supreme Architect , but it represented the brightness and glory that concealed Him from mortals . These ancients came to recognise two forms of fire—one
material , but which was only the shadow of the spiritual fire , that unpalpable fire which could cover the glory seen by Moses when " the bush was not consumed . " They believed this spiritual fire gave life to mortals and returned to its source when mortal life was ended . You can now gain an
idea why , in modern times , the Christian religion still preserves the altar and its mysterious lights , the candles and tapers blazing in the broad daylight , or borne in procession in the sunshine , as a primaeval witness and attestation—though their symbolic meaning be forgotten—as emblems of the spirit
light , the Soul of the World . In hi gher degrees of Masonry the altar and lights symbolise several triune combinations taught in the ceremonies of Masonry and in those of the ancient mysteries . Measuring the unknown by the limit of human wisdom , the ancients could conceive of no creative
principle—first evolved as a symbol of fertility for fruits and flocks—except in the dual form of male and female . Having symbolised the sun as the male principle , the moon was made feminine , and became emblematic of the watery or female
principle in nature , which , united with the sun ' s warmth and light , produced the fruits of the earth . The crescent horns of the moon became incorporated with religious ceremonies , and were introduced into architecture .
In old Masonic drawings the two great Pillars at the porch of the Temple are represented as being surmounted by the sun and moon , and the wioard " Jachin" is almost identical with the Syrian name for the moon . Now , as then , the sun and moon are emblems of the Creator . The very
colours of the regalia in a Craft Lodge are emblematic of ancient symbols . Silver ( argent ) is the white of the moon ' s rays , and blue represents the sea , or watery element associated witn the moon ' s influence , both being feminine attributes . In higher degrees other colours are used . In
the development of ancient worship the greatest teachers and leaders in religion came to be regarded as divine , and were held to be an incarnation of one of the gods into which popular superstition had changed the beautiful emblems or symbols on which that worship was based . Following the
aincient idea , die W . M . figuratively placed upon a level with the symbol of the great Eternal , generative and creative power in nature , and you will remember in that impressive , though symbolic lesson taught in the third degree , it is the Master ' s hand alone that can raise the Brother " from a figurative
death to a reunion with the companions of his former toil . " Let each Brother think who it is the W . M . then figuratively represents . The third lesser , though emblematic " light , " symbolises not only an earthly ruler , but the Ruler of the Grand Lodge above . — " Masonry . "
****************** THE Isle of Thanet presents many greater attractions at the present season of the year than the busy haunts of Freemasonry , and not the least attractive among them is the house of Bro . F . W . Wood , tiie Railway- Hotel , Broadstairs . Brother Wood is
probably known to a large number of metropolitan Brethren as the late proprietor of the Crown and Anchor Hotel , Long Ditton , but it will be readilv conceded that his later quarters are more suitable for the enjoyment of the present delightful summer
weather . The Broadstairs Railway Hotel has good accommodation ; cleanliness and moderate charges are special features ; and every effort is made to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of visitors , either for brief stays or longer holidays .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Lights.
LIGHTS .
HERE again we must ga back to the remotest antiquity to discover the beautiful symbolic teaching of one of the earliest instructions given to a newly admitted member of the Order , but rairely explained to him . In the dawn of that
civilisation which unquestionably existed in Asia and Africa some thousands of years ago , it would appear that men commenced by revering or adoring the visible forces and operations of Nature , and by the contemplation of these sent forth migratory off-shoots to settle upon or conquer
territories occupied by less civilised tribes , and these off-shoots naturally carried with them the faiths and worship of their ancestors . Hence , in every part of the world in which we find evidences of a common faith , - we may reasonably conclude that it originally came from one centre . The sun ,
which " gives light and lustre to all within its reach , " and to the light and heat of which man owes his means of sustenance , naturally became a prominent object of adoration , and this appears to have been the earliest worship practised by man . The endeavour to give expression to this adoration led to
what is now known as Phallic worship , which , although it ultimately degenerated amongst the masses into gross and sensual superstition and idolatry , was originally intended as the worship of the mighty sell-producing , self-begetting , and generative or creative principle in Nature , which was beyond
human comprehension , but of which the sun was a type , and its rites were originally simple and solemn . This worship , in varied forms , prevailed amongst the ancient Hindoos , Assyrians , Babylonians , Egyptians , Mexicans , Peruvians , the Greeks and Romans , and other nations .
Fire , as the most material representation of the sun and the sun ' s Creator , was adopted as a symbol , and as flame ascends in straight , waved , or pyramidal forms , ail these were embodied in the emblems used to represent it . Some nations adopted the actual fire , as the Magians , Guebers , Iranians ( or
Parsees , as they are now termed ) , the Mexicans and Peruvians , and the Greeks and Romans , and these sacred fires must never be extinguished . Other nations or tribes adopted emblems , of which the earliest was the stone pillar or monolith . This idea developed into round towers , obelisks and pyramids . It
may here be noted that what we know as the Tower of Babel is properly the Tower of Belus , or " the fire , '' and that the first three letters of the word " pyramid " are the Greek word for " fire . " ( You have this again in " pyrotechnics . " ) But wherever found , or in whatever age they were erected , all
upright stones , obelisks , tall towers , pyramids , minarets , spires , and other architectural perpendiculars , have the one original origin—the idea of representing the generative principle in nature , the source of fertility and increase , and thus , figuratively , the Great Creator . To this day exists these Phallic
monuments in the stone pillars of Brittany and Normandy , and the Celtic and Druidic monuments of Great Britain and Ireland . They are also found in Italy , Spain , Scandinavia , Germany , India , Egypt , America ( North and South ) , Japan , and even in some of the Islands of the Melagan Archipelego ( Pelew Isles ) .
Just reflect for a moment on the varied symbolism attached , even in this materialistic 19 th century , to fire . Fiire is emblematic of light , heat , and warmth ; of love and warm affection of the heart ; of force , for fire destroys and consumes ; of purification , for by it we smelt metal and get rid
of the dross ; and of spirit , for man knows nothing more akin to spirit than the living , moving fire . " For our God is a consuming fire . " " Thy word is a lamp unto my feet , " " The word of life , '' " m Him was light , and the life was the life of men . " Freemasons call themselves the children , or sons , of
light , and reckon from Anno Lucis , the " Year of Light , " " The Volume of the Sacred Law is that Great Light , '' " What is the predominant wish of your heart ? " " Li g ht . " What light—materia ] , intellectual or spiritual ? What do we still desire ? More light—that light " which is from above . " The
Roman priests were termed " Flamens " ( fiamen—flame ) , and a road they once traversed daily in Rome is ta-day known as the Flamian Way ( The Priests' Walk . ) From the Sacred Volume which ever lies open in a Masonic Lodge we may
gam an inkling of how deeply this idea of light and fire , as emblematical of the Divine Creator , had become a popular belief . In the year 149 1 B . C ., Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt . Trained for forty years by an Egyptian priest ( J ethro , priest in Midian ) , the record of Moses proves that
Lights.
the secret learning of the Egyptian priesthood could fit a man to become a ruler and a lawgiver , without tainting him with the idolatry practised by the masses . But the fire creed is dominant . Every manifestation of the one true God of the Semetic race is veiled in fire . A pillar
of fire guided the Israelites by nignt ; the Lord descended on Mt . Sinai in fire ; an angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a burning bush , but the bush was not consumed ( the spiritual fire ) . Fire came from the Lord to consume the sacrifices of Aaron , Gideon and David ; of Elijah when he
confronted the priests of r ^ aal ( the Sun God ); of King Solomon at the dedication of the Temple . From the Sacred Volume we learn ( Gen . hi . 24 , Ex . xiii . 21 , Deut . iv . 24 ; Gen . xv . 17 , Ex . xix . 18 , Deut . ix . 3 ) that the first manifestations of the G . A . O . T . U . were in light or fire , and can we wonder therefore that earlier Eastern nations fell into the adoration
of fire as the symbol of the Creator , and worshipped the Unknown , Eternal , Omnipotent , in or by fire . Fire was not the Supreme Architect , but it represented the brightness and glory that concealed Him from mortals . These ancients came to recognise two forms of fire—one
material , but which was only the shadow of the spiritual fire , that unpalpable fire which could cover the glory seen by Moses when " the bush was not consumed . " They believed this spiritual fire gave life to mortals and returned to its source when mortal life was ended . You can now gain an
idea why , in modern times , the Christian religion still preserves the altar and its mysterious lights , the candles and tapers blazing in the broad daylight , or borne in procession in the sunshine , as a primaeval witness and attestation—though their symbolic meaning be forgotten—as emblems of the spirit
light , the Soul of the World . In hi gher degrees of Masonry the altar and lights symbolise several triune combinations taught in the ceremonies of Masonry and in those of the ancient mysteries . Measuring the unknown by the limit of human wisdom , the ancients could conceive of no creative
principle—first evolved as a symbol of fertility for fruits and flocks—except in the dual form of male and female . Having symbolised the sun as the male principle , the moon was made feminine , and became emblematic of the watery or female
principle in nature , which , united with the sun ' s warmth and light , produced the fruits of the earth . The crescent horns of the moon became incorporated with religious ceremonies , and were introduced into architecture .
In old Masonic drawings the two great Pillars at the porch of the Temple are represented as being surmounted by the sun and moon , and the wioard " Jachin" is almost identical with the Syrian name for the moon . Now , as then , the sun and moon are emblems of the Creator . The very
colours of the regalia in a Craft Lodge are emblematic of ancient symbols . Silver ( argent ) is the white of the moon ' s rays , and blue represents the sea , or watery element associated witn the moon ' s influence , both being feminine attributes . In higher degrees other colours are used . In
the development of ancient worship the greatest teachers and leaders in religion came to be regarded as divine , and were held to be an incarnation of one of the gods into which popular superstition had changed the beautiful emblems or symbols on which that worship was based . Following the
aincient idea , die W . M . figuratively placed upon a level with the symbol of the great Eternal , generative and creative power in nature , and you will remember in that impressive , though symbolic lesson taught in the third degree , it is the Master ' s hand alone that can raise the Brother " from a figurative
death to a reunion with the companions of his former toil . " Let each Brother think who it is the W . M . then figuratively represents . The third lesser , though emblematic " light , " symbolises not only an earthly ruler , but the Ruler of the Grand Lodge above . — " Masonry . "
****************** THE Isle of Thanet presents many greater attractions at the present season of the year than the busy haunts of Freemasonry , and not the least attractive among them is the house of Bro . F . W . Wood , tiie Railway- Hotel , Broadstairs . Brother Wood is
probably known to a large number of metropolitan Brethren as the late proprietor of the Crown and Anchor Hotel , Long Ditton , but it will be readilv conceded that his later quarters are more suitable for the enjoyment of the present delightful summer
weather . The Broadstairs Railway Hotel has good accommodation ; cleanliness and moderate charges are special features ; and every effort is made to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of visitors , either for brief stays or longer holidays .