Part 33 (1/2)
Q. What will a.s.sist you to bring forth this knowledge? A. A matter brought to perfection, this has been sought for under the name of the philosopher's stone.
Q. What does the globe represent? A. An information of philosophers, for the benefit of the art in this work.
Q. What signify the words, ”Lux ex tenebris?” A. That is the depth of darkness you ought to retire from, in order to gain the true light.
Q. What signifies the cross on the globe? A. The cross is the emblem of the true elected.
Q. What represent the three candlesticks? A. The three degrees of fire, which the artist must have knowledge to give, in order to procure the matters from which it proceeds.
Q. What signifies the word Stibium? A. It signifies antimony, or the first matter of all things.
Q. What signify the seven degrees? A. The different effectual degrees of Masonry which you must pa.s.s to come to the Sublime Degree of Knights of the Sun.
Q. What signify the divers attributes in those degrees? A. First. The Bible, or G.o.d's law, which we ought to follow. Second. The compa.s.s teaches us to do nothing unjust. Third. The square conducts us equal to the same end. 4th. The level demonstrates to us, all that is just and equitable. Fifth. The perpendicular, to be upright and subdue the veil of prejudice. Sixth. The tressle-board is the image of our reason, where the functions are combined to effect, compare and think.
Seventh. The rough-stone is the resemblance of our vices, which we ought to reform. Eighth. The cubic stone is our pa.s.sions, which we ought to surmount. Ninth. The columns signify strength in all things.
Tenth. The blazing star teaches that our hearts ought to be as a clear sun, among those that are troubled with the things of this life.
Eleventh. The key teaches to have a watchful eye over those who are contrary to reason. Twelfth. The box teaches to keep our secrets inviolably. Thirteenth. The urn learns us that we ought to be as delicious perfumes. Fourteenth. The brazen sea, that we ought to purify ourselves, and destroy vice. Fifteenth. The circles on the triangles demonstrate the immensity of the divinity under the symbol of truth. Sixteenth. The poniard teacheth the step of the elected, many are called, but few are chosen to the sublime knowledge of pure truth. Seventeenth. The word albra signifies a king full of glory and without blot. Eighteenth. The word Adonai signifies Sovereign Creator of all things. Nineteenth. The seven cherubims are the symbols of the delights of life, known by seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling, smelling, tranquility, and thought.
Q. What represents the sun? A. It is an emblem of Divinity, which we ought to regard as the image of G.o.d. This immense body represents the infinity of G.o.d's wonderful will, as the only source of light and good. The heat of the sun produces the rule of the seasons, recruits nature, takes darkness from the winter, in order that the deliciousness of spring might succeed. End of the physical lecture.
GENERAL LECTURE IN THIS DEGREE.
Question--From whence came you? Answer--From the centre of the earth.
Q. How have you come from thence? A. By reflection, and the study of nature.
Q. Who has taught you this? A. Men in general who are blind, and lead others in their blindness.
Q. What do you understand by this blindness? A. I do not understand it to be privy to their mysteries; but I understand under the name of blindness, those who cease to be ardent, after they have been privy to the light of the spirit of reason.
Q. Who are those? A. Those who, through the prejudices of superst.i.tion and fanaticism, render their services to ignorance.
Q. What do you understand by fanaticism? A. The zeal of all particular sects which are spread over the earth, who commit crimes by making offerings to fraud and falsehood.
Q. And do you desire to rise from this darkness? A. My desire is to come to the celestial truth, and to travel by the light of the sun.
Q. What represents that body? A. It is the figure of an only G.o.d, to whom we ought to pay our adoration. The sun being the emblem of G.o.d, we ought to regard it as the image of the Divinity; for that immense body represents wonderfully the infinity of G.o.d. He invigorates and produces the seasons, and replenishes nature, by taking the horrors from winter, and produces the delights of spring.
Q. What does the triangle, with the sun in the centre, represent? A.
It represents the immensity of the Supreme.
Q. What signifies the three S. S. S.? A. Sanct.i.tas, Scientia, and Syrentia, which signify the science accompanied with wisdom, and make men holy.
Q. What signifies the three candlesticks? A. It represents the course of life, considered in youth, manhood, and old age.
Q. Has it any other meaning? A. Yes, the triple light that s.h.i.+nes among us, in order to take men out of darkness and ignorance into which they are plunged, and to bring them to virtue, truth, and happiness, a symbol of our perfection.