THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

Messiah, appears, in its use in Masonry, to have had, unlike almost
every
other symbol of the order, an exclusively temple origin.
XXIV.
The Ineffable Name.
Another important symbol is the Ineffable Name, with which the series
of
ritualistic symbols will be concluded.
The Tetragrammaton,[122] or Ineffable Word,--the Incommunicable Name,-is
a symbol--for rightly-considered it is nothing more than a symbol--that
has more than any other (except, perhaps, the symbols connected with
sun-worship), pervaded the rites of antiquity. I know, indeed, of no
system of ancient initiation in which it has not some prominent form
and
place.
But as it was, perhaps, the earliest symbol which was corrupted by the
spurious Freemasonry of the pagans, in their secession from the
primitive
system of the patriarchs and ancient priesthood, it will be most
expedient
for the thorough discussion of the subject which is proposed in the
present paper, that we should begin the investigation with an inquiry
into
the nature of the symbol among the Israelites.
That name of God, which we, at a venture, pronounce Jehovah,--although
whether this is, or is not, the true pronunciation can now never be
authoritatively settled,--was ever held by the Jews in the most
profound
veneration. They derived its origin from the immediate inspiration of
the
Almighty, who communicated it to Moses as his especial appellation, to
be
used only by his chosen people; and this communication was made at the
Burning Bush, when he said to him, "Thus shalt thou say unto the
children
of Israel: Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the
God
of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this [Jehovah]
is
my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." [123]
And
at a subsequent period he still more emphatically declared this to be
his
peculiar name: "I am _Jehovah_; and I appeared unto Abraham, unto
Isaac,