M'Cosh's "Documents Upon Sublime Freemasonry."

K . H . P . S . R . Sovereign Grand Inspector General of tho 33 rd , and Lieutenant Grand Commander of tho United States of America . Tho above is followed by four more signatures , each accompanied by a somewhat similar string of inflated titles . I cannot howovei refrain here from adding my opinion , viz : —If faith is a sure passpon for heaven , then those who have faith in the high , grader * » history of

Freemasonry from the Creation , and that 27 , 000 Masons joined ii the Crusade ; thafc they got old Masonic MSS . from the Palestine-Jews ; that the periods of 5301 and 5311 are " dear to Masons ' hearts , " on account of discoveries made in those years ; that iu 5553 a Syrian Masonic record was discovered ; that Frederic of Prussia

was Grancl Commander of 52 degrees ; that he conferred on the Charlestnnians and their successors , the title of Sovereigns » n Masonry . & c , & c , I say , that those who can believe so much , not only deserve to get into heaven , but they further deserve to occupy tho best upholstered easy chairs in the upper regions .

Story Of An Emblem.

STORY OF AN EMBLEM .

"THE STAR—THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM !" FBOM THE VOICE OF MASONRY .

WHOE VER has enjoyed the privilege of admission to a lodge of Freemasons has observed among the emblems on the Trestle . board the figure of a peculiarly constructed Star , with five points , and frequently enclosing a letter G in the centre . It is conspicuous in the group of emblems ; and , as you first , approach , it seems to move forward toward the centre of the collection of emblems , and there assuming an important attitude , to give you an imperious look as if

to say , — " I , too , havo something important to reveal , —I , too , as well as my associate emblems around me , can suggest new thoughts and reveal hints of doctrines and dnties of high importance to all , and especially to every member and lover of our Royal Art . " It is well for tho candidate , as well as the Mason of maturer years , to make a note of this , and give attention to it at an early and fitting occasion .

The blazing star , in all Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry , is one of the " ornaments of a lodge , and this has been the character assigned it for tbe past century , if not longer . But mere ornaments are not , like the Great Light and the working tools , absolutely essential in constitnting a legal Lodge . We may have a Lodge without any ornaments ; we may have a legal Lodge without the Mosaic pavement or the tesse .

lated border ; bufc we can have no legal working Lodge without the Book of the Law , the square , the compasses , and the working tools of lesser magnitude and importance . The working tools are esspntial , and the work of the Lodge cannot be properly accomplished without their presence and their aid , but we mav do without the five pointed star . Indeed , in an emergency , we could work a Lodere if there were

nothing else present except tbe Charter , the Holy Scriptures , and the square and compasses , as a Lodge may hold its meetings out of doors , in emergent cases , and tbe work be as legal as though the meeting were held in the finest Hall in Christendom . We have known at least two such cases within our recollection , —one was held on the open prairie , and the other on a mountain crag or summit . Bnt what

business has this emblem in a Lodge , and what is its mission and object there ? For the satisfaction of our readers , therefore , we will call up this strange mysterious emblem and see what it has to say for itself , or what its friends can testify in exposition of its nature and mission , —what it foretells , and what it ultimately reveals , of truths ancl revelation that thrill the world . Let us firsfc " see what others , well able

to give information on Masonic matters , have to say on this question . The earliest tangible evidence existing of the use of this emblem , so far as the writer ' s knowledge extends , is a " Tracing-board , " which was published in the early part of the last century—now over one hundred and fifty years ago . In the centre of thafc venerable relic is a blazing star of five points , enclosing the letter G . Dr . Oliver , in

explaining this tracing-board , says , — " Over the centre pillar is a blazing star which forms one of the ornaments of a Lodge , and is an emblem of Prudence which ought to appear conspicuous in the conduct of every Mason , but it is more especially commemorative of that star which appeared in ihe east to guide the wise men to Bethlehem , to proclaim the birth ancl the presence of the SON OF GOD . Here we have

a direct reference to that divine Being who came into the world to drain the cup of sorrow for the purpose of reconciling us to GOD , and to die as a sacrifice that He might work out human redemption . Onr lessons of morality , thus invigorated by a brilliant object , ever present , like the Deity whom it represents , to quicken our faith , enliven our hope , and stimulate our charity , can scarcely fail to be effective both

to our temporal and eternal benefit . In this point of view the blazing star becomes a symbol of more than ordinary value . If the other emblems of Masonry be inestimable from their moral signification and universal application to regulate our conduct in the affairs of this World , this will far exceed them , because it bears a spiritual reference to a system of infinite value and surpassing grandeur—a system which is the delight of angels , and the souls of just men made perfect . "

Doctor Hemming says— " The Blazing Star , or glory in the centre ( of the Tracing-board ) , refers us to the sun , which enlightens tho earth With its refulgent rays , dispensing its blessings to mankind afc large , and giving light and life to all things here below . " We know not where the good Doctor obtained the information that this emblem represented the sun , for we have found the opinion expressed nowhere else in any of the Masonic writers that we have examined .

Rev . Doctor Ashe , an eminent English Mason , intimates that the " eading object of this emblem is to teach prndence , but that it also f ! « 0 tbe Star of Befchlehem - He says , " The emblem of prudence is the first and most exalted object that demands our attention in-the M ° iT " P laoed in tne centre , ever to be present to the eye of the ¦ uason , thafc his heart may be attentive to her dictates , and steadfast

Story Of An Emblem.

in her laws , for prudence is tho rule of all virtues ; prudence is the lath which leads to every degree of prosperity ; prudence is tho ¦ huunei whence solf-approbation flows for over ; sho leads ns forth to vorthy actions ; aud as a guiding star enlightens us through tho dreary md darksome ways of this life . * * * * We nay apply this emblem to a still more religious import ; it may bo

¦ said to represent tho star which led the wise men to Bethlehem , proclaiming to mankind the nativity of the Sox or GOD , and so conducting our spiritual progress to the Author of redemption . " In the twenty . eighth degree of tho French Rite , ancienet accepta , 'he Blazing Star is an emblem of truth , ancl is defined as " a trno Mason perfecting himself in tho way of truth , that ho may become

like a blazing star which shinoth with brilliancy even in tho thickest darkness ; and it is usofnl to thoso whom it illuminates , if they bo desirous of profiting by its light . " In the degree of Secret Master , pertaining to tho modern Rites , the Blazing Star represents the " light of Providence pointing out the way of truth . "

Doctor Oliver , in his Dictionary of Symbolical Masonry , says , — " The Blazing Star must bo considered merely as the creature whioh heralded the appearance of the Grancl Architect of the Universe , bufc the expressive symbol of that Great Being Himself , who is described by the magnificent appellations of the Day Spring , or Rising Sun ; the Day Star ; the Morning Star ; ancl the Bright or Blazing Star .

This , then , is the supernal reference of the Blazing Star of Masonry , attached to a science which , like the religion it embodies , is universal , and applicable to all times and seasons , and to every people that over did or ever will exist on our earth . " Doctor Mackey says of this emblem , — " Formerly ifc was said to be commemorative of the star which appeared to guide tho wise men of

tho East to the place of our Saviour ' s nativity . But as this allusion , however beautiful , interferes with the universal character of Masonry , ifc is now generally omitted , and the Blazing Star is said to be an emblem of Divine Providence . In the English ritual ifc is emblematic of prndence . So writers differ as to the meaning of this emblem . Doctor Mackoy ,

as stated above , says that in the English Lodge it teaches prudence ; but we have seen that Doctor Oliver , as well as Doctor Ashe , admits that it refers to the star which guided the Wise Men of the East to the Manger in Bethlehem , and at the same time the virtue of prudence as well . Iu this country , from Webb to the present time , the ritual used in almost every Lodge makes it emblematic of the Star of

Bethlehem . Doctor Mackey ' s objection to its reference to the star which led tho wise men -on their way to Bethlehem , we think , is not tenable . If everything that " interferes with the universal character of Masonry " must be excluded from our Lodges , strictly speaking , their dedication to the Saints John , and all allusions to Solomon and the Temple and

tbe Jewish rituals must also be omitted , and the New Testament must be removed from our altars , and the parallel lines destroyed , ancl a hundred other changes made . Indeed Masonry would present a sorry aspect if every jewel borrowed from the Christian Dispensation were torn from its robes . This " universal character of Masonry " is , after all , mere moonshine , —it has no such character , in the sense thafc

some would have it . We see Jew and Christian , Chinese and Parsee and Mahommedan , kneeling at the same altar , though we do refer to events in the history of Christianity ; yet these facts do not justify ns in declaring Masonry universal , or that all may be admitted to its privileges . If everything Christian about it must be removed for fear of destroying its universality , for the same reason all its Jewish

features must be destroyed ; and having lost the lineaments of both Jew and Christian , it would be exceedingly difficult to discover its parentage , its relations , or its nature . Instead of having a " universal character , " it would have no character at all ; and we should have the strange exhibition presented of that most beautiful structure despoiled of its attractions and all torn to fragments , because , forsooth , it is not

entirely of the Corinthian , Composite or Ionic order in architecture . Masonry is neither Judaism nor Christianity ; but , drawing its inspira . tion from tho revelation of GOD to man , it partakes of both . In its symbols and forms ancl ceremonies , it partakes largely of the elder dispensation , but like everything in ifc which was typical of better things to come , it also bears a spiritual application , and breathes the

living spirit of the New Testament revelation . The Blazing Star may be regarded as an emblem of prudence , and by somo has long been regarded as such , although we cannot see why that , more than a square , a circle , or any other object of a particular form , shonld be so regarded . It may also havo been thought to represent Divine Providence , and one or the other of these may have been the original

signification . Bufc as far back as any recorded evidence exists of its explanation , it has been commemorative of the star which led the wondering Magi to the cradle of the infant Redeemer at Bethlehem . This application of it , too , accords with the recognition of the Christian religion iu the dedication of our Lodges , ancl the festivals of the Baptist ancl the Evangelist , and many other kindred references . They

all point to tho same thing , and breathe tho same spirit , and are all born of that " life ancl immortality " from the grave of sin ancl death which wero brought to light by the introduction of a new and better dispensation . We are not willing , therefore , to rob this beautiful and expressive emblem of tho character ifc has borne for more than a hundred years .

Webb , among the earliest American Masonic writers on out * rituals , used ifc , and that too after he had thoroughly investigated its claims , with the facilities furnished for that purpose by the most illustrious of the Crafb in Europe and America ; ancl every Masonic writer in this country , since his day , with one or two exceptions , has conceded thafc Webb was correct . We are willing ifc shall teach us prudence , but we

have another and more expressive representation of that virtue . We will consent that it shall remind ns of that Divine Providence which watches over the pathway of frail humanity , and shelters it from a thousand dangers ; bat let this not be its only language , nor tho exclusive object of its mission . The wonderful artisan of Tyre was an expressive type of "The Man of Sorrows . " He , ancl He alone , of all