Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

AND HIS SECRET SOCIETY. 323
wood-cuts than in the paper -marks, is an evergreen, figuring
eternity. This tree was sacred to Minerva, wisdom. From it
was distilled the ambrosia, drink of the gods, " divinest olive
oil, " with which Achilles was anointed in order to make him
invulnerable. " My friends, chew upon this. " Try to realise
the deep symbolism of that pretty water-mark. See how, by a
few well- chosen outlines, within two square inches of paper, it
calls up the thought of one specially endowed for the benefit and
service of the whole human race, of winning for it all provinces
of learning;
winning, "not as a combatant," but with sweet,
smooth, and winning words of divinest poesy— that "oil of
gladness" with which he was anointed above his fellows.
Songs of joy and gladness are for times of peace, and " the olive
is symbolical of the joy which peace diffuses. The leaves of the
olive (as a wreath) suggest the thought of its oil, used for the
anointing of the head. Thou anointest my head with oil, says
David, recounting the abundant blessings which he had received
from God; and the aucients were accustomed to anoint
the head with oil on all festive occasions. " l
" Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed
are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children
of God." 2 Gentle, conciliating, peace- making, and peace-loving:
endowed with powers and knowledge beyond all other men,
ye't modest, retiring, and totally free from dogmatism and intolerance
; a herald, not a trumpeter of his own learning — such was
Francis Bacon. Apparently, in his own day, and with some of his
biographers, he would have beeu more highly esteemed, had he
and
asserted himself, defended himself, stood upon his rights,
refused to be thought wrong or to confess an error even for carelessness.
By nature we know that he was, according to his
own showing, hasty, impatient, disposed to be over-impetuous
in his zeal, and exhibiting, though at rare intervals, " the flash
and outbreak of a fiery mind. " But before setting forth to con-
1 Free Masonry, C. I. Paton, 1S73, p. 158.
2 Quoted 2 Hen. VI. li. 1.