Mackey A G - Encylopedia of Freemasonry - The Grand Masonic ...

106 BLACK
BLAZING
which the names of applicants for admission
are inscribed, so that every visitor may make
the necessary in quiries whether they are or
are not worthy of acceptance .
Black Brothers, Order of the. Lenning
says that the Schwarze Bri der was one of the
College Societies of the German Universities .
The members of the Order, however, denied
this, and claimed an origin as early as 1675 .
Thory (Act . Lat ., i ., 313) says that it was
largely spread through Germany, having its
seat for a long time at Giessen and at Marburg,
and in 1783 being removed to Frankfort
on the Oder . The same writer asserts that at
first the members observed the dogmas and
ritual of the Kadosh, but that afterward the
Order, becoming a political society, gave rise
to the Black Legion, which in 1813 was commanded
by M . Lutzow .
Blayney, Lord . Grand Master of the
English Grand Lodge of the "Moderns,"
1764-6 .
Blazing Star. The Blazing Star, which is
not, however, to be confounded with the Five-
Pointed Star, is one of the most important
symbols of Freemasonry, and makes its appearance
in several of the degrees. "It is,"
says Hutchinson, "the first and most exalted
object that demands our attention in the
Lodge." It undoubtedly derives this importance,
first, from the repeated use that is
made of it as a Masonic emblem ; and secondly,
from its great antiquity as a symbol derived
from other and older systems .
Extensive as has been the application of
this symbol in the Masonic ritual, it is not surprising
that there has been a great difference
of opinion in relation to its true signification .
But this difference of opinion has been almost
entirely confined to its use in the First Degree .
In the higher degrees, where there has been
less opportunity of innovation, the uniformity
of meaning attached to the star has been carefully
preserved .
In the Twenty-eighth Degree of the Ancient
and Accepted Scottish Rite, the explanation
given of the Blazing Star, is, that it is symbolic
of a true Mason, who, by perfecting himself in
the way of truth, that is to say, by advancing
in knowledge, becomes like a blazing star,
shining with brilliancy in the midst of darkness
. The star is, therefore, in this degree, a
symbol of truth .
In the Fourth Degree of the same Rite, the
star is again said to be a symbol of the light
of Divine Providence pointing out the way
of truth.
In the Ninth Degree, this symbol is called
"the star of direction" ; and while it primitively
alludes to an especial guidance given
for a particular purpose expressed in the
degree, it still retains, in a remoter sense, its
usual signification as an emblem of Divine
Providence guiding and directing the pilgrim
in his journey through life .
When, however, we descend to Ancient
Craft Masonry, we shall find a considerable
diversity in the application of this symbol .
In the earliest rituals, immediately after
the revival of 1717, the Blazing Star is not
mentioned, but it was not long before it was
introduced . In the ritual of 1735 it is detailed
as a part of the furniture of a Lodge,
with the explanation that the "Mosaic Pavement
is the Ground Floor of the Lodge, the
Blazing Star, the Centre, and the Indented
Tarsel, the Border round about it I" In a
primitive Tracing Board of the Entered
Apprentice, Copied by Oliver, in his Historical
Landmarks (i., 133), without other date than
that it was "published early in the last
century," the Blazing Star occupies a prominent
position in the center of the Tracing
Board. Oliver says that it represented
BEAUTY, and was called "the glory in the
centre ."
In the lectures subsequently prepared by
Dunckerley, and adopted by the Grand Lodge,
the Blazing Star was said to represent "the
star which led the wise men to Bethlehem,
proclaiming to mankind the nativity of the
Son of God, and here conducting our spiritual
progress to the Author of our redemption ."
In the Prestonian lecture, the Blazing Star
with the Mosaic Pavement and the Tesselateci
Border, are called the Ornaments of the Lodge,
and the Blazing Star is thus explained :
"The Blazing Star, or glory in the centre,
reminds us of that awful period when the
Almighty delivered the two tables of stone,
containing the ten commandments, to His
faithful servant Moses on Mount Sinai, when
the rays of His divine glory shone so bright
that none could behold it without fear and
trembling . It also reminds us of the omnipresence
of the Almighty, overshadowing us
with His divine love, and dispensing His blessings
amongst us ; and by its being placed in the
centre, it further reminds us, that wherever
we may be assembled together, God is in the
midst of us, seeing our actions, and observing
the secret intents and movements of our
hearts ."
In the lectures taught by Webb, and very
generally adopted in this country, the Blazing
Star is said to be "commemorative of the star
which appeared to guide the wise men of the
East to the place of our Saviour's nativity,"
and it is subsequently explained as hieroglyphically
representing Divine Providence .
But the commemorative allusion to the Star
of Bethlehem seeming to some to be objectionable,
from its peculiar application to
the Christian religion, at the revision of
the lectures made in 1843 by the Baltimore
Convention, this explanation was omitted, and
the allusion to Divine Providence alone retained
.
In Hutchinson's system, the Blazing Star
is considered a symbol of Prudence . "It is
placed," says he, "in the centre, ever to be
present to the eye of the Mason, that his
heart may be attentive to her dictates and
steadfast in her laws ;-for Prudence is the
rule of all Virtues ; Prudence is the path which
leads to every degree of propriety ; Prudence is
the channel where self-approbation flows for
ever ; she leads us forth to worthy actions, and,