Mystic masonry, or, The symbols of freemasonry and the greater ...

An Outline of Symbolism. 239
CHAPTER IX.
AN OUTLINE OF
SYMBOLISM.
A man standing by a horizontally revolving w^heel
might be taken as a symbol of every vessel made of
clay, whether for honor or dishonor. Every detail
of ornament or of shape might hold a legend, an
allegory, or a parable ; or indicate a use ; but the
Potter at his wheel vv^ould be a universal and allincluding
symbol; a pictorial expression of creative
thought in man. The Chinese written-language is
nothing more than symbolical writing, each of its
several thousand letters being a symbol. This pictorial
expression of an idea or a thought, this Artspeech,
is Symbolism. When the symbols are of
familiar things, and as various as human experience,
the knowledge conveyed is common. When the
symbols are few and simple, whether commonplace
or grotesque, like a point, a circle or a square, or a
dragon, or a man with horns, the knowledge conveyed
is not for the masses, but for him alone who
holds the key. Take the following simple series :
a