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

324 HIBBUT
HIGH
Stieglitz, in an essay on the symbols of Freemasonry,
published in 1825, in the Altenburg
Zeitschrift, says that the hexagon, formed
by six triangles, whose apices converge to a
point, making the following figure,
r
is a symbol of the universal creation, the six
points crossing the central point ; thus assimilating
the hexagon to the older symbol of the
point within a circle .
Hibbut-Hakkeber. (Beating of the sepulcher
.) A Mohammedan belief as to the state
of the soul after death. The form and mode
of judgment is explained in Al Koran . The
sarcophagus of an orthodox Moslem is so constructed
that the deceased can sit upright
when notified by his angel of the approach
of the examiners, who question him as to
his faith in the unity of God and the mission
of Mohammed . Satisfactory answers insure
peace ; but if to the contrary, he is beaten on
the temples with iron maces until he roars
with anguish . The two angels, Monker and
Nakfl, then press the earth upon the body,
which is gnawed and stung by ninety-nine
seven-headed dragons until the day of resurrection
. As the Mohammedan was an imitative
religion, we naturally look for the origin
of its customs and beliefs in older faiths ; thus
the Hibbut-Hakkeber is found in the Jewish,
which taught that the angel of death would
sit on a new-made grave, the soul would return
to the body, which would stand up, the
angel striking it thrice with a chain, half iron
and half fire ; at the first blow all the limbs
were loosened, at the second the bones were
dispersed, but gathered again by angels, and
the third stroke reduces it to dust . This need
not occur to those who died on the Sabbath
or in the land of Israel . (See Gilgul.)
Hieroglyphics. From two Greek words
which signify the engraving of sacred things .
Hieroglyphics are properly the expressions of
ideas by representations of visible objects,
and the word is more peculiarly applied to
that species of picture-writing which was in
use among the ancient Egyptians, whose
priests by this means concealed from the profane
that knowledge which they communicated
only to their initiates . Browne says
(Master Key, p . 87), "The wages amongst
Masons have ever corresponded with those
of the ancientEgyptians . Their Philosophers,
unwilling to expose their Mysteries to vulgar
Curiosity, couched the Principles of their
Learning and Philosophy under Hieroglyphical
Figures and Allegorical Emblems, and expressed
their notions of Government by Signs
and Symbols, which they communicated to
the Magi, or wise Men only, who were solemnly
obligated never to reveal them ."
Hierogrammatists . The title of those
priests in the Egyptian mysteries to whom
were confided the keeping of the sacred records
. Their duty was also to instruct the
neophytes in the ritual of initiation, and to
secure its accurate observance .
Hieronymites . A hermit order established
in the fourteenth century, formed
from the third Order of St . Francis . Followers
of Thomas of Siena, who established
themselves among the wild districts of the
Sierra Morena, and so forming a community,
obtained approval of Pope Gregory XI. in
1374.
Hierophant. From the Greek, iepo*dvrgr,
which signifies one who explains the sacred
things . The Hierophant was, in the Ancient
Mysteries, what the Master is in a Masonic
Lodge-he who instructed the neophyte in
the doctrines which it was the object of the
mysteries to inculcate .
Hierophant or Mystagog. The Chief
Priest of the Eleusinians, selected from the
grade of Eumolpidens . He was selected for
his imposing personal presence, and his
dignity was sustained by the grandeur of
his attire, his head encircled with a costly
diadem. He was required to be perfect in
animal structure, without blemish, and in the
vigor of life, with a commanding voice . He
was presumed to be surrounded by a halo
of holiness. His duty was to maintain and
also expound the laws . He was the introductor
of the novices into the Eleusinian
Temple, and passed them from the lesser
into the greater mysteries, where he became
the Demiurg, and impressed the initiate
while instructing him by his manner and
voice . His title of Nystagog was awarded
because he alone revealed the secret or
mystery .
Hierophylax. Title of the guardian of
the holy vessels and vestments, as used in
several Rites .
High Degrees . Not long after the introduction
of Freemasonry on the Continent,
in the beginning of the eighteenth century,
three new degrees were invented and named,
Ecossais, Novice, and Knights Templar .
These gave the impulse to the invention of
many other degrees all above the Master's
Degree. To these the name of hautes grades
or high degrees was given . Their number
is very great. Many of them now remain
only in the catalogues of Masonic collectors,
or are known merely by their titles ; while
others still exist, and constitute the body
of the different Rites. The word is not
properly applicable to the Royal Arch or
degrees of the English and American systems,
which are intimately connected with the
Master's Degree, but is confined to the
additions made to Ancient Craft Masonry
by continental ritualists. These degrees
have, from time to time, met with great
opposition as innovations on Ancient Masonry,
and some of the Grand Lodges have