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

EIGHT
ELECT 235
that learned Mason, William S . Rockwell,
while preparing his Ahiman Rezon for the
State of Georgia, undertook, but beyond that
jurisdiction unsuccessfully, to introduce it as
a password to the veils .
Eight. Among the Pythagoreans the number
eight was esteemed as the first cube, being
formed by the continued multiplication of
2 X 2 X 2, and signified friendship, prudence,
counsel, and justice ; and, as the cube or reduplication
of the first even number, it was
made to refer to the primitive law of nature,
which supposes all men to be equal . Christian
numerical symbologists have called it the
symbol of the resurrection, because Jesus rose
on the 8th day, i . e . the day after the 7th,
and because the name of Jesus in Greek
numerals, corresponding to its Greek letters
is 10, 8, 200, 70, 400, 200, which, being added
up, is 888. Hence, too, they call it the
Dominical Number . As 8 persons were
saved in the ark, those who, like Faber, have
adopted the theory that the Arkite Rites pervaded
all the religions of antiquity, find an
important symbolism in this number, and as
Noah was the type of the resurrection, they
again find in it a reference to that doctrine .
It can, however, be scarcely reckoned among
the numerical symbols of Masonry.
Eighty-One. A sacred number in the
high degrees, because it is the square of nine,
which is again the square of three . The
Pythagorean, however, who considered the
nine as a fatal number, especially dreaded
eighty-one, because it was produced by the
multiplication of nine by itself.
El, 5K . One of the Hebrew names of God,
signifying the Mighty One. It is the root
of many of the other names of Deity, and
also, therefore, of many of the sacred words
in the high degrees . Bryant (Anc. Myth. i .,
16) says it was the true name of God, but
transferred by the Sabians to the sun, whence
the Greeks borrowed their helios.
Elai bent almanah (Hebrew '=5K ']D
'SK, Hue venue flit viduce) . Third Degree
A. A . Scottish Rite .
Elal bent emeth (Heb., tltK '» 'SK, Hue
venite flit veritatis) . Sometimes applied to
the Twenty-sixth Degree of the A . A. Scottish
Rite .
Elchanan, pth? . God has graciously
given. In the authorized version, it is improperly
translated Elhanan. Jerome says
that it meant David, because in 2 Sam . xxi .
19 it is said that Elchanan slew Goliath . A
significant word in the high degrees, which
has undergone much corruption and various
changes of form . In the old rituals it is
Elebam . Lenning gives Elchanam, and incorrectly
translates, mercy of God; Delaunay
calls it Eliham, and translates it, God of the
people, in which Pike concurs .
Elders . This word is used in some of the
old Constitutions to designate those Masons
who, from their rank and age, were deputed
to obligate Apprentices when admitted into
the Craft . Thus in the Constitutions of Masonrie,
preserved in the archives of the York
r
Lodge, No. 236 (York Roll No . 2), with the
date of 1704, we find this expression, Tum
unus ex Senioribus Teneat librum, etc., which
in another manuscript, dated 1693, preserved
in the same archives (York Roll No . 4), is thus
translated : "Then one of the elders takeing
the Booke, and that bee or shee that is to bee
made Mason shall lay their hands thereon
and the charge shall be given ." These old
MSS. have been published by W . J. Hughan
in Ancient Masonic Rolls of Constitutions,
&c ., 1894 .
Elect. See Elu .
Elect Brother . The Seventh Degree of the
Rite of Zinnendorf and of the National Grand
Lodge of Berlin.
Elect Cohens, Order of. See Paschalis,
Martinez.
Elect Commander. (Elu Commandeur .)
A degree mentioned in Fustier's nomenclature
of degrees .
Elect, Depositary . A degree mentioned
in Pyron's collection .
Elect, Grand . (Grand Elu.) The Fourteenth
Degree of the Chapter of the Emperors
of the East and West . The same as the
Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason of
the Scottish Rite .
Elect, Grand Prince of the Three. A
degree mentioned in Pyron's collection .
Elect, Irish . (Elu Irlandais .) The first
of the high grades of the Chapters of that
name.
Elect Lady, Sublime. (Dame, Elu Sublime
.) An androgynous degree contained in
the collection of Pyron .
Elect, Little English. (PetitElu Anglais .)
The Little English Elect was a degree of the
Ancient Chapter of Clermont . The degree is
now extinct .
Elect Master . (Maitre Elu .) 1 . The
Thirteenth Degree of the collection of the
Metropolitan Chapter of France . 2 . The
Fifth Degree of the Rite of Zinnendorf .
Elect of Fifteen . (Elu des Quinze .) The
Tenth Degree in the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite . The place of meetingg is called
a Chapter ; the emblematic color is black,
strewed with tears ; and the principal officers
are a Thrice Illustrious Master and two Ins
tors. The history of this degree develops
t e continuation and conclusion of the punishment
inflicted on three traitors who, just
before the conclusion of the Temple, had committed
a crime of the most atrocious character
. The degree is now more commonly
called Illustrious Elu of the Fifteen . The
same degree is found in the Chapter of Emperors
of the East and West, and in the Rite
of, Mizraim .
Elect of London. (Elus des Londres .)
The Seventieth Degree of the collection of
the Metropolitan Chapter of France .
Elect of Nine. (Elu des Neuf.) The
Ninth Degree of the Ancient and Accepted
Rite. In the old rituals there were two officers
who represented Solomon and Stolkin .
But in the revised ritual of the Southern Jurisdiction,
the principal officers are a Master and