Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

AND HIS SECRET SOCIETY. 281
truths of morality. " It will readily be perceived that here is a
double meaning; for geometry does not really teach morality, and
no one can believe that the terms geometry and Masonry were
ever truly synonymous. The next instructions, concerning the
five orders of architecture, further confirm the notion that the
teaching is symbolic, and that it requires verbal elucidation.
The information on architecture is of the most elementary character,
and converts itself, at the end of the second page, into
" an analysis of the human faculties," where we are taught to
consider the five senses as the gifts of nature, " the channels by
which knowledge is conveyed."
In the treatment of the senses of hearing, seeing, and feeling, 1
the analogies between the bodily organs and the spiritual faculties
aue eVer present to the writer. It is " the ear, the gate of
the understanding; the eye, the gate of the affections;" 2 the
touch of nature which makes the whole world kin, which we
perceive shadowed in the architectural instructions of Masonry.
When these topics are proposed in Masonic assemblies, the
brethren " are not confined to any peculiar mode of explanation,
" which probably means that the eye may be
interpreted
the eye of the mind, as well as of the body; that the ear, in
that the Masonic
the same way, may be intellectual or physical;
signs may be palpable to the eye by symbols, gestures, or marks
in printing, engraving, and sculptures, or sensible (as they
have been found) to the touch, in the pages or edges of books;
that the contents of the books themselves may be tasted, chewed,
and swallowed, or their secrets smelt out by discerning initiates.
For, though " the senses are the gifts of nature, reason, properly
employed, confirms the documents of nature, which are always
true and wholesome; she distinguishes the good from the bad;
rejects the last, and adheres to the first. Hearing is the sense
by which we can best communicate to each other our thoughts
and intentions, our purposes and desires, while our reason is
capable of exerting its utmost power and energy. (The descrip-
1 See " Metaphors." Also of the book-marks, in which not only the sight,
but the touch, is appealed to.
2 Promus, 1137, where are many Shakespeare references.