PERIOD IV.

CHAP. VII.

ON SYMBOLICAL INSTRUCTION.

THE great end and design of Masonry is to make men virtuous and happy by the inculcation of moral precepts, enforced by the most engaging considerations that can be presented to the mind. The medium of instruction used by our ancient brethren, and still preserved pure and unimpared, was by visible symbols, in which precepts of morality were curiously enfolded, and veiled from common observation. Thus, in the Egyptian hieroglyphics, a child, an old man, a hawk, a fish, and a river horse, properly arranged, 'were intended to express this precept: "Let all mankind, from youth to old age, know that the gods hate impudence."

"In this hieroglyphic system the hero gods not only represented, and were symbols of the supreme gods and subordinate deities, but they had each their animal symbol to represent their peculiar power, energy, and administration; and their figures were compounded of one part or other

of their symbols, to express more sensibly the natural effects of divine energy attributed to them. Thus Osiris, when he represented the power and all-seeing providence of the Supreme Being, had a human body with a hawk's head, and a sceptre in his hand, and decorated with the other regalia or ensigns of royalty. Orus was represented with a staff or pillar, the capital of which was surmounted by the head of the upupa, to signify, by the variegated feathers of that bird, the beautiful variety of the Creation. In one of his hands he held a lituus, to denote the harmony of the system; and a gnomon in the other, to shew the perfect proportion of its parts. Behind him was a triangle inscribed in a circle, to signify that the world was made by the unerring wisdom of God. He had sometimes a cornucopia in his hand, to denote the fertility and production of the earth.”*

This method of communicating instruction was absolutely necessary in the Pythagorean school, where each probationer was enjoined a five years' silence. A great precept of this school was xvaμwr anexa, abstain from beans. This was principally intended as a persuasive to continence, and to refrain from the contagion of illicit amours : for Pythagoras inculcated science upon his disciples as the best incentive to the practice of moral

Smith's Use and Abuse of Masonry.

virtue. This emb.ematical species of instruction was equally delicate and just, and served to inspire the mind with the noble ardour of emulation, and love of truth and virtue. The precepts of Pythagoras were, indeed, all veiled in allegory; for Jamblichus saith," he used to propound an infinite number of significations to his disciples by short and pithy sentences, in a symbolical manner. The most divine Pythagoras wrapped up sparks of truth, for such as could kindle them, in a concise way of speech, treasuring up in hidden sentences most abundant theories, as φιλότης, ἰσότης, friendship, equality; nóμ, world or heaven, and the famous word tetractys." Some of the most celebrated symbols of Pythagoras are thus explained by Jamblichus. "Sacrifice and worship barefoot" signifies that, in the worship of God, we ought to divest ourselves of those passions which degrade our nature, and go into his presence pure and uncontaminated by any human defilement. "Keep a tongue of good report, following the gods," carries its own explanation with it. "Take off your right shoe first, but put your left foot first into the bason," is an earnest recommendation to prudence and activity; that good actions may be performed, and bad ones rejected. "Pass not over a balance," recommends justice and tempe

* Jamblichus, cap. 29, p. 146.

rance in every pursuit. "Engrave not the image of God in a ring," refers to the immateriality of the gods, who ought to be worshipped without any visible symbol. "Take not every one by the right hand," that is, contract not friendship with the uninitiated, but confine your esteem to those who, by long trial and probation, have been found faithful and worthy of your confidence.

"The first Hermes," says the Chevalier Ramsay, "invented the ingenious art of expressing all sorts of sounds by the different combinations of a few letters; an invention most wonderful for its simplicity, but not sufficiently admired, because it is common: besides this manner of writing, there was another, which was consecrated to divine things, and which few persons understood. Trismegistus expressed the virtues and the pas-, sions of the soul, the actions and the attributes of the gods, by the figures of animais, insects, plants, stars, and divers other symbolical characters: hence it is that sphynxes, serpents, birds, and crocodiles were placed in their ancient temples, and upon their obelisks; but these were not the objects of their worship. Trismegistus concealed the mysteries of religion under hieroglyphics and allegories, and exposed nothing to the eyes of the vulgar, but the beauties of his morality. This has been the method of the sages in all times, and of the great legislators in all countries; these

divine men were sensible that corrupted minds could have no relish for heavenly truths, till the heart was purified from its passions; for which reason they spread over religion a secret veil, which opens and vanishes when the eyes of the understanding are able to support its brightness."*

The same system of instruction was practised by the Jews under the Patriarchal as well as under the Mosaic dispensation. The prophecies were frequently delivered symbolically. Thus the Holy Land is termed God's vineyard by Isaiah and other prophets. The hiding of Jeremiah's girdle implied the destruction of idolaters,† as the breaking of a bottle did that of Jerusalem in general.‡ Ezekiel pourtrayed the filthiness of the Jews by the scum of a boiling pot;§ and the union of Judah and Israel by joining together two sticks.|| The series of prophecies uttered by Daniel, comprehending every material transaction which should take place in the world to the end of time, are all delivered in the same manner; and the Founder of Christianity explained to his disciples the mysteries shadowed beneath his symbols, but he spake unto the rest of the world in parables, which, without embracing his faith, they were unable to understand.¶