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

An Outline of Symbolism. 247
and three lesser lights, and the play made in many
places on the word Light itself, in conjunction with
the Lost Word, all these references and uses constitute
a complicated Symbolism working in and
toward a common center or glyph, which, taken in
conjunction with the building and restoration of the
Temple, constitute the secret Symbolism of Masonry,
and illustrate the whole process of Initiation.
What real initiation is has been outlined in a previous
chapter. These symbols, when correctly interpreted,
serve two purposes. First: they reveal a
complete philosophy of the Creation of the Universe
and of Man, unfolding all essences, powers,
and potencies, and their mutual relations and correlations.
Second: they unfold the process of Initiation
as synonymous with the uninterrupted evolution
of man guided by knowledge and design along
the lines of least resistance. In the third degree the
candidate impersonates Hiram, who has been shown
to be identical with the Christos of the Greeks, and
with the Sun-Gods of all other nations. The superiority
of Masonry at this point over all exoteric
ReHgions consists in this: All these religions take
the symbol for the thing symbolized. Christ was
originally like the Father. Now He is made iden-