Scottish Rite Masonry Illustrated - The Masonic Trowel

130 PRINCE OP THE TAnERNACLE, INITIATION. 131
Level.
0 announcing
The Blazing ~ttar.
TIlE ROUGH STONE.
THE LEVEL.”’
Is a symbol o~ equality and equa.
nimity and teaches us that all men
are equal in the sight of Godand in
titi mysteries.
THE BLAZING STAR.”’
Represents Sirius, the dog star,
inundation of the the approach Nile, of to the
fore-fathers of the Hebrews when
Represents the profane, who
are ignorant o~ its m~ster;es. Tbc Rough Stone.
Note 275.—Level. In Freemasorry the level is a symbol of equality:
not of that social equality, which would destroy all dIstinctions of rank
and position and beget confusion. losubordiostlon and anarchy, hut .4
that fraternal equality ehi b rc.ognlriiig tIre fatherhood of God, admits
as a necessary corollary, the brotherhood of man It, therefore, teaches
us that, in the sight of the Grand Architeat of the Universe, his
creatures, who are at an lormesaurable distance from him move upon
the same plane, as the fir-moving stara. which though millions of
miles apart. Vet seem to abbe upon the same canopy of the sky In
this view, the level teaches is that all men are equal subject to tue same
infirmities, hastening to the same goal. and 1repsrlng to be judged hr
the same Inimutiabie law —Mackeys Encyc op3dla of Freemasonry.
Article Level,
Mats 2~Ie,—”nlastng Star, The blacing star must not be considered
merely as the creature ..bi.h heralded the appearance of T C A. 0
T U - but the expresoive symbol of that Crest Being himself, who is
described by the magnificent appellationa of the Day Spring. or Rising
Sue, the Day Star, the Morning Star, and the Bright, or Blazing Star
This, then, is the supernal reference of the Biasing Star of Masonry.
attached to a a’ lenee wbli b like the religion it embodies is universal
and applicable to all times and seasons, sad to every people Ihat e,er
did or eser will ealat on oar ephemeral globe of earth —Macny’s Encyclopedia
and Dictionary of Freemasunry, Article alasing Star.
Note 250.—” In Speculative Masonry we adopt the ashier in two different
states, as a~ muds is the Apprentice’s degree The Rough Ashier.
or stone, in its rode sod unpolished condition is emblematic of man in
his natural state—ignorant, uncultivated, and vicious “—Mackey’s Enc7.
clopmdsa of Freemasonry, Article Ashlar.
I
U
555
THE PEIWE6~T CUnE.
Is a symbol of the enlightened, to
whom they are known. (Senior Dea-
The Pcrfe, t’ube, con now blinds him and leads him to
the door of the second apartment, which is now hung
with scarlet; and. around in front of the hangings are
twelve columns, each having painted on it in brilliant
letters, one of the signs of the zodiac, which follow each
other in regular order as follows:)
Thrice Puissant—As Moses in the East, clothed with
all the insignia, between the eo]umns, on which are the
signs Taurits3 anti Aries.~
Aaron—In the West, between the Columns on which
are the signs Libra~ and Scorpio. iii
Bazaieel—In tile South,between the eolllinns on which
ar~ the signs Capricorniis~ and Aquaritis~
Akoliab—In the North, between the CoitImlis on which
are Uie signs Cancer~ and Leo-a In tile centre of the
room, by the chandelier, is a triangular altar, to which
candidate is now lcd when the Senior Deacon knocks
seven; 00 00 00 0.
Junior Deacom—(Opening the door.) Who seeks
admission to this inner chamber of the mysteries?
Senior Deacon—Eleazar, the son of Aaron, who having
been appointed to minister unto God in the Priest’s
office, desires first to know tile mysteries and receive
the Indispensable degree of Prince of tile Tabernacle.
Junior Deacon—Has he attained the degree of Chef
of the Tabernacle?
Senior Deacom—He has.
Junior Deacon—In that diaracter has he earnestly
Mats flI,—”Oiabe. The cube is a symbol of truth, of wisdom, of
boral perfection. The New Jerassiem promised by the Apocalypse is
equal in length. hreadth, and height.“—Maceye Encyolofladia and Dics
tima~ of 1reemaaonr~’, Article Cube.