The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.

intended as a geomantic tablet , the invention of which is ascribed to Hermes . If so , it was an instrument of divination , ancl probably occupied the place of the TJrim and Thummim amongst the Jews . It was painted white , to represent knowledge ; for

ignorance was symbolised by darkness ancl the colour of black . " White , " says M . Portal , * " being the symbol of absolute truth , black should be that of error , of an assertion of that which is not . God alone possesses self-existence . The world is an

emanation from Him . White reflects all luminous rays . Black is the negation of light , and was attributed to the author of evil and falsehood . Genesis ancl the cosmogonies mention the antagonism of light and darkness . The form of this fable varies

according to each nation , but the foundation is everywhere the same . The creation of the world presents a picture of regeneration and initiation . The word < f > v \ o , said to have been inscribed on this tablet , does not appear in any copy of the anaglyph that I have seen

unless , indeed , it is expressed hieroglyphically ; and this may be the case because it is said to have been written in the Egyptian language . Now Champollion asserts that there was " a diversity of the dialects spoken in the UpperMiddle and Lower

, Egypt , aud a different mode of pronouncing the words in each of these departments ; but , by allowing one hieroglyphic to stand for two consonants , the difference existing in these dialects will disappear as in

writing . " Each people , in fact , would consider this hieroglyphic as the sign of the consonant they used , and express it accordingly . The letter H ( P ) for instance , of the dialect of Thebes , was changed into F , or cb ( Phi ) , in the dialect of Memphis ; and in the

table exhibited by Champollion , we find that one ancl the same bieroglyphical character expressed both these consonants , the P and the F , and sometimes the V . According to this bieroglyphical alphabet we may find the letters which form the

above word , by using a ' little latitude of construction . Thus the square tablet was the phonetic sign of < f > , its handle stood for K the circle ancl point for v , ancl the circle and line for o . It bad a meaning similar to the Greek word < j > ikia , and intimated that the whole frame of the universe is

The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.

cemented by magnetic love , that invisible harmony which unites together its discordant and estranged parts .

Sonnet.

SONNET .

0 Cynthia , queen of night , whose double sway To nights and tides doth equal influence lend , And wand ' ring streams , ancl me no less , befriend

With light , as on our lated paths we stray ; As ' neath the splendour of thy full-orb'd ray , I homeward from my monthly lodge do bend My silent steps , I hear a loud noise

rend Night ' s startled ear , and mine , with hideous bay . 'Tis but a cur ; aud yet with jaws distent , I see him , howling , mock thy lofty beam ,

Whose calm , regardless , silent-scorning gleam Deigns not his idle railing to resent . So ultramontanes , like this baying whelp , Now ' gainst our Craft ' s pure light , unheeded , yelp . Bro . REV . M . GORDON .

The Meaning And Derivation Of Symbol.

THE MEANING AND DERIVATION OF SYMBOL .

ALTHOUGH a great deal has been written , time and again , on the symbolism of Masonry , yet very few have the remotest idea of the derivation of the word " symbol , " or of the nature and meaning of the term .

The word " symbol" is composed of two Greek ones , sum-ballqui , which , taken in their literal sense , mean the placing or casting together of two things in juxtaposition , for the sake of contrast . This , as a natural consequence , brings our reasoning

faculties into activity , for the purpose of identifying and individualizing one of , thesetwo objects thus collated by the other , whence , in the onward process of our reasoning powers , the idea of representation only , pure and simple , follows ; but especially of those hidden or occult things , by those more familiar ; of ideas , by sensi-