Blanchard J (anti-masonic) - Scotch Rite Masonry Illustrated Part I

222 SUBLIME KNIGHTS ELECTED. INITIATION. ~28The pair of scales you perceive to bean attribute of justice. It is here exposedSyour sight to make you remember thatt is with that you ought to weigh yourproceelng and projects if you are in-trace the image of God in this draft by the trianglewhich you see in the cloud; therefore it is very ~asy tomake from these two figures a jus1~ and true application.Our hearts are the living temple, where are erectedaltars which ought to receive the sacrifices which wemake to the Lora. It should always be a temple ivorthyof him. We can never know too much how to employour time for its construction, neither can we apply ourselvestoo much to carry offerings which may be agreeableto him.To render ourselves worthy of his favors, we ought tocompare to that miraculous cloud which spread itselfover the ark, by which God showed the favorablealliance he had made with his people, which is the chiefobject of the draft now before you. In that box whichhangs at the top of the draft, were deposited the heartsof the victims who were offered to the Lord and whichwerc accepted sacrifices.If the gift you make of your heart is pure, it will becomea true figure of it, and he will not reject the offeringof it if all that lies in it is worthy to be offered tohim.You also see the urn; it was therc Solomon orderedthe heart of Hiram Abiff15 to be deposited, as anauthcntic mark of esteem and tenderness he had for him,which is without doubt a very urgent lesson, which invitesus to re-inflame our endeavors in conducting ouractions of life, that we may be able to leave behind amemory worthy to be consecrated with respect, esteemand veneration.Vote 100.—”Xsaat of Hiram AblE. There Is a legend in dome of thehigh degrees and in continental Masonry thai the heart of Hiram AblEwas deposited in an urn and pieced upon a inOnnment neal the holy ofhofles, and in sonle of the tracing hoards it is represented as a eymhoLThe myth. for auch it is. was probably derlyed from the cery commoncustom in the Middle Ages of persons canaing their bodies to be diumem.bered after death for the purpose of havIng parts of them burled in achurch or some piace which bad been dear to them in Iife.”—2Ia~sy’aEnoyolopaedla of Freemasonry. hittols Ksszt of Hiram AblE.Oul.saG Sy’oit dined to deserve the glorious name ofEmeth. The sword with which you arc armed, andgiven you by the Thrice Puissant has been remittcd youless for a mark of honor and discretion, than to be employed~.toserve, thsn to be used in order to fulfill thesolemn obligation you have contracted.~ The key which you also see in the draftis a symbol to teach you to keep’religiouslyin your heart the secrets with which youare intrusted, as it is a sacred trust that these illustriousbrethren have reposed in you.The zealous charity you ought to have for your brcthren,is figured to you by the emblem of an inflamedheart, a true symbol. of it. As it is the principalobject, and most indispensable dutyof a mason to devote himself to practicevirtue, what care ought not anElected Sublime Mason to have, neverto depart from this principle. He who is in thesuperior degrees ought always to act effectually to renderhimself worthy of that distinction. Charity is of allvirtues, the principal one which satisfies humanity.Instead of the inflamed heart, which was worn (at thetime of the written law) ~s a distinctive mark of theSublime Elected, we wear a cross the form of whichis traced to you. It is the happy epoch of the law ofgrace we live in. Since upon the cross was spilled theprecious blood of the Sovereign Redeemer to whom weare all indebted, we are all obliged to wear it, not asa mark which may please our vanity or our affections,