Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

220 KNIGHTS OF THE BUN.
be overlaid with fiction and error, and irretrievably lost.
Though masonry is identical with the ancient mysteries,
it is so in this qualified sense, that it presents but
an imperfect image of their brilliancy, the ruins only of
their grandeur and a system that has experienced,
progressive alterations, the fruits of social events and
political circumstances. Upon leaving Egypt, the mysteries
were modified by the habits of the different nations
among whom they were introduced. Though
originally more moral and political than religious, they
soon became the heritage as it were of the priests, and
essentially religious, though in reality limiting the
sacerdotal power by teaching the intelligent laity the
folly of the countries into which they were transplanted.
In Greece they were the mysteries of Ceres,” in Rome,
the good goddess, in Gaul, the school of Mars, in Sicily,
the academy of the sciences. Among the Hebrews, they
partook of the rights and ceremonies of a religion which
1)lilCed all the powers of a government and all the knowledge
in the hands of the priests and Levites.
‘Phe Pagodas of India, the retreats of the Magi of
Persia and Chaldca, and the pyramids of Egypt were
no longer the sources at which men drank in knowledge.
Each people, at alb informed, had its mysteries. After a
tinie the temples of Grecce and the school of Pythagoras
lost thcir reputation and freemasonry took their place.
IN1ai~onrv, when properly expounded, is at once the interpretation
of the great book of nature, the recital of
physical and astronomical phenomenon, the purcst
philosophy and the place of deposit, where, as in a treasurv,
are kept in safety all the great truths of the primi-
irate SBE—”Ceres. Among the Romans the goddess of agricuittire.
I.,,t amo,,g the more poetic Crocks she was worshiped utider the namc of
Deneter. as tue symbol of the prolific earth. To her is attributed the t,t~
stitati ii of the ~ieueinian Mysteries in Greece the most popular of iii
the anitent initiationa.”—3IAskei’5 Encyciopadla of Fr.emasonq. Axtiole
Cores.
INITIATION. 221
tive revelation, that form the basis of all religions. In
the modern degrees, three things are to be recognized:
The image of primeval times, the tableau of the
efficient causes of the universe, and the book in which
are written, the morality of all peoples, and the code by
which they must govern themselves if they would be
prosperous. 545 degree represents man, when he had
sunken The first from his original lofty estate, into what is most
improperly styled a state of nature. He represents in
that degree the rough ashler, unfit to form a part of the
spiritual temple, the pagan who had lost all the great
primitive truths of the original revelation. He maintained
the same character in the ancient mysteries. He
is emphatically a profane,”’ enveloped in darkness, poor
and destitute of spiritual knowledge, and emblematically
naked.
The material darkni~ss”’ which is produced by the
Nets 386.—”Although the gotered Apprentice is hut a rough ashier.
yet be is of good substance and sound at the c,,re The statue is in the
block, a figure more graceful the,, human gelilus can create ‘the En.
tered Apprentice has been J,,dged. by me,, expert in the ael,’ctiom, of
material, to be prepared in heart’; in theory he was a Mason even before
he entered at the northwest corner of the Lodge There ia nothing In
Masonic science that can do the work of heart-preparation, a,,d those
master builders who have attempted, not of inferior materiala. to constroct
the Freemasons’ wall, have ever and egregiously erred Therefore
is the gniered Apprentice one siready prepared in heart. Nor i~ this tyro
in Masonry altogether ignorant of the principies of the society into
which he desires to penetrate; some exoteric knowledge of Masonry
he must hsve had, for, in his petition, he declares that ‘he has long en.
tertained a favorahie opinIon of the ancient and honorable Institution.’
—Morris’s Kasonlo Dintin~, Aztiols Entered Apprentios.
Note 317.—‘Profane. There is no word whose technical and proper
meaning differs me,re than this, in its ordinary use profane signifies
one who is irreligious and irreverent. hut in its technical adaptation it
is spplied to one who is igs,orant of ss,’red rites. The word is coinof
the two Latin wor(ls pro and faannnn, and literally means
~fcreor
cients was
outside
one who
of the
was
temple;
not allowed
and hence
to enter
a profanne
the temple
among
and
the
behoid
an-
the mysteries. ‘Those. says yeast,,,. ‘were catted profane who were not
initiated in the sacred rites. h,,t to whom it was showed only to stand
before th~ temole—pro fano—not t., enter it and take part in the
solemnities ‘—haokeys Encynlopadia of Freemason,~., Article Profane.
Note 3U.—’The material darkness which ii preduced hi rtho hoodwinkj
is an emblem of the dark,,csa of his so,,i He is deprived of eyen~.
thing that has a vaine, and wherewith be could p,,rchasp food, to indicate
his utter desiitntton of the mental wealth of primitive truth.”
Pierson’s Traditions, lubject Entered Apprentice, page N.