Masonic Symbolism.

Solomon came to the throne , however , there was " neither adversary nor evil occurrent , " so that time and leisure were afforded him to accomplish the stupendous design of his father . It seems that before Solomon sent to Tyre for the " widow ' s son of the tribe of Naphtali , " to superintend the work upon the Temple and draw designs upon the trestleboard , he had placed Adoniram , a native of Jerusalem ancl his trusted friendin command over his levy of

, thirty thousand men who worked by courses—a month at Lebanon and two months at home . Adoniram was thus in full ancl direct charge of the entire work , and when he gave way to the superior talents and ability of his successor , who was perhaps the greatest Mason and one of the noblest men who ever lived , it is said he was placed in charge of the quarries and of the works on Mount Libanus , or Lebanon , where he thenceforward superintended the

preparation of the timbers ancl the working of the stone which finally gave the magnificent building the appearance of being the handiwork of the Supreme Architect of the Universe , so perfectly were the several parts fitted to each other . Yet in our lodges we hear nothing of the genius of this man , great though he must have been . We are instructed that the stones for the Temple were hewnsquared and numbered in the quarries where they were raised

, , and that the timbers were felled and prepared in the forest of Lebanon , but nowhere is Adoniram mentioned ; and yet it is a historical fact that all that magnificent work was performed under his immediate superintendence ancl direction . He was not one of the trio to whom were entrusted the sublime

secrets of the Order , nor was he , so far as appears , admitted to their councils ; yet he must have been a superior man , and it is not unlikely that but for the untimel y death of one of the Grand Masters before the completion of the Temple he would have taken an equal station with them , and have come down to us through Masonic tradition on a plane with them . The oblivion which has fallen upon this distinguished man , in a comparative sense , is an evidence

that an excellent life is not always awarded the reputation it deserves . Yet his name may symbolize deserving merit awaiting recognition , which when it comes , will be all the more to the credit of its recipient . In his character we find in a hi gh degree the virtues of modest worth , successful industry , and uncomplaining patience . Finally , in Masonic history , tradition , and work we find exemplified these

truths , viz .: that the symbolism of Masonry , the philosophy of the ancients , the character of the early patrons of our Order , and the pure teachings which have come to us from them , all tend to prove , by evidence which we cannot doubt , the existence of God , the immortality of the soul , the reward of virtue and punishment of vice , the value of morality and true religion , and the ultimate happiness of man . Whoever lacks these elements of belief has

failed to receive light in Masonry . There is not , in Masonry , a symbol or a ceremony which does not teach and has not always taught some beautiful and useful moral lesson . No man can stndy and reflect upon the work of either degree without being the better for it . Nor can he ever reach perfection in it , since to arrive at perfection in Masonry is but another way of stating a man ' s arrival at perfection in

manhood—and that is a stage which humanity may not attain this side of the grave . But probation presupposes progress , progress advancement , and advancement perfection in the end : so that every true Mason may hope , if he shall here fit himself in some degree for the occupancy of "that spiritual building—that house not made with hands , eternal in the heavens , " that in the world to come he may prove hiniself to be " worthy and well qualified , duly

and trul y prepared , " to be raised by the Supreme Architect of the Universe to the sublime degree of Mastership in that celestial lodge above , beyond which and above which nothing is , and within which is perfect bliss .