The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.

their sacred hieroglyjihics b y a lmvk ' s head in the centre of a circle , and sometimes by an endless serpent inclosing an eye . * Ancl hence Osiris , the Sun , was propably called iro \\ voj , 9 a \ ij . os , in reference to its diverging rays . Butaccording to the double meaning

, of securing the secrets of his Spurious Freemasonry from the most penetrating observation , the point Avithin a circle was also made to refer to the heliacal rising of the canicular star which measured the era of 365 days six hours , ancl announced the

overflowing of the sacred river . This beneficent event Avas therefore recorded in all their systems , because it conveyed the means of existence to the inhabitants of that parched and otherwise barren country , and was attributed to Isis , the bestoiver ef blessings of agriculture , NOAV , a Star was a known symbol of the

Deity all over the Avorld . t Aa-rf / p wap ' Aiyu ; m ' ois ypaij ) 6 p . evos 9 tov cni } paiva . ' \ . The name of Bacchus was ^ 32 ( Cocab ) a star , read from left to right , with a Greek termination . The author of the Orphic hymns styles him " The Deity with tAvo

horns , having the head of a bull , even , even Mars Diomesus , reverenced in a double form , and adored in conjunction with a beautiful Star . " And according to the testimony of the Chaldee Paraphrasts , the star was also an emblem of the Messiah of

the Jews , || and of a corresponding Great Deliverer in every other ancient system of religion . And it also symbolized in Egypt the human soul , § from the belief that the souls of the hero gods Avere translated to the stars . Thus , in Henry VI ., Act 1 : — " A far more glorious star thy soul will make Than Julius Ccesar . "

On this passage Douce observes : % " This notion is borrowed -from the ancients , who expressed their mode of conferring divine honours and immortality on men by placing them among the stars . Thus on a medal of Hadrian , the adopted son of Trajan and Plotina , the divinity of his parents is

expressed by placing a star over their heads ; ancl in like manner the consecration medals of Faustina the elder exhibit her on an eagle , her head surrounded with stars . Other similar medals have the moon and stars , and some of Faustina the younger the inscriptionSIDERA RECEPTA . "

, Every star was supposed to be endowed by the Creator with an intelligence—a soul ancl a body . " The first capital error in religion was departing from the unity of the Godhead , i . e ,, worshipping more than one Deity , ancl the first thing that obtained

to be put on an equal footing with its Creator Avas the Sun—a body by its superior splendour and heat , by its apparent and orderly motion , most apt to mislead weak minds from surprise ancl admiration into reverence and worship . To

the sun , the moon and other planets were soon added , and all supposed to be actuated by souls or intelligent spirits of a middle nature between God and man . They Avere , therefore , concluded more proper to receive the addresses of Aveak ancl sinful man , whose petitions Avere too imperfect to reach the throne of the supreme God Avithout such a mediatorial introduction . "

Each particular star Avas supposed to possess its peculiar kind of influence over mundane affairs , according to the belief of the Chaldeans and their folloAvers . Diodorus tells us that from the motions and influences of the stars they foretell future events . They supposed the planets

to be particularly powerful in directing the affairs of men , and especially Saturn . But their chief confidence was placed in the Sun , from observations of which they could prognosticate Avith the greatest certainty . They called the planets by the name of

Interpreters , and supposed that every one of them had under it thirty inferior stars called Counsellors , one-half of which rules the earth ancl the other the heavens . A messenger star is despatched every ten days to ascertain what passes in both .

In later times the influences of the p lanets Avere more particularly specified . Thus Saturn was reputed to be the author of bad luck , Jupiter of happiness , and Mars of quarrels . The Sun denoted a long life ; Venus , fortunate marriages ; Mercury , a love of science ; Luna , authority , & c . ; and corresponding prayers Avere addressed