Review.

Review .

Freemasonry : its Symbolism , Religious Nature , and Law of Perfection , by Bro . Chalmers I . Paton . Eeeves ancl Turner , 198 , Strand , London . WE opened' Bro . Paton ' s goodly-sized book Avith the hope that Ave might find in

it a standard Avork on Masonic Symbolism alike in its archa . ological history , its esoteric signs , and its exoteric teaching . For knoAving something of Masonic Symbolism ourselves from old researches , and having

long felt both its great AMUO and reality as an illustration of our entire Masonic history , Ave have long felt Avhat a " desideratum " such a Avork Avould be in our Masonic literature ancl , IIOAV important and useful an aid to every Masonic student . The title of the work , AVO confess at the

outset , first began to make us fear that our able Brother either underrated himself the importance and the extent of the subject of Masonic Symbolism in itself , or in his zeal in the good cause of Masonic literature generally , had undertaken too AA'ide a field , by the addition of other and not cognate subjects . The religious nature of

Freemasonry , and its " LaAv of Perfection , " are very Avicte ancl debateable subjects indeed , and not only are entirely separated in themselves from Masonic Symbolism qua Symbolism , but are questions confessedly on which very Avidely divergent A ieAvs are

entertained amongst our Brethren . In truth the subject of Symbolism , as part and parcel of our Masonic history and teaching , of our outward organization ancl inner " disciplina arcaui , " is such an extensive field in itself , alike for enquiry ancl

illustration , that it needs no adjuncts or separate questions either to cleA r elope its importance or demonstrate its reality . Hence , Avith all clue respect to Bro . Paton , AA e venture to think that he has onl y encumbered his orig inal idea , his

actual work , by the addition of the " Eeli gious Nature " and " the Law of Perfection of Freemasonry , " Avhich entirely distinct from Masonic Symbolism—at any Kite , as an arclueological study , ancl deserve Avell , for they have an intrinsic importance of their OAVU , Ave quite feel , to be treated and discussed as a separate question m a special Ai r ork devoted to their treatment

ancl consideration . While , too , Bro . Paton Avas no doubt quite correct in giving us a history ancl definition of Symbolism as a most important fact in the history of the world and of man , as Avell as of Freemasonry , AA e cannot profess to understand ,

nor do Ave see AAdry ho has introduced the fifty pages relative to tho JeAidsh Festivals , which , though no doubt symbolical in their outAvard appearance and form , in their mystical teaching belong , as it seems to us , too clearly to the region of theology to be

really ancl truly much to the point in a Masonic treatise on . Masonic Symbolism . Frcm page 70 to page 442—in all three hundred ancl seventy-tAvo pages — Bro . Paton ' s Avork is occupied by the Masonic Symbols as suchthough , many of the

so-, termed symbols can hardly be said to be " symbols " in the correct use of the Avorcl , such as "Prudence , " "Fortitude , " " . Temperance , " " Justice , " " Charity , " on Avhich our good brother dilates so Avell . The "Tassels" to Avhich Bro . Paton

alludes , may be symbols hi our Lodges to suit special virtues , but the thing sj'mbolized can hardly ever be considered as a " symbol , " ancl wo . think Bro . Paton has

someAvhat Aveakened the force of his remarks , and affected the clearness of his description , by not pointing out the difference between the symbol itself and the grace or virtue symbolized . NOAV AVO do not AAUSII to appear

hypercritical , but Ave feel bound , as honest revieAvers , seeking for the information ancl improvement of the Craft at large , to point out some slight defects in Bro . Paton ' s elaborate work , AAdiich are pretty sure to be noticed by others as Avell as ourselves .

Bro . Paton ' s Avork , moreover , does not profess to be an archa . ological Avork properly at all , ancl into that part of his subject he has not entered—or at any rate , only with a very passing glance , so to say . We should rather term it a serio-didactic exposition of the spiritualized as Avell as moral teaching of our Symbols , Avhich as

freemasons Ave know so Avell m their out-AA'ard appearance , ancl are hi the habit of constantly employing . Thus Bro . Paton ' s Avork may be said o be adapted to tho use of all lecturers and teachers amongst us AVIIO are in the ivant of constantly educing a spiritual a 23 plication and a moral meaning from our symbolical representations ancl operative emblems