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

NUMBERS. The symbolism of sacred numbers, which prevails very
extensively
in Freemasonry, was undoubtedly borrowed from the school of Pythagoras;
but it is just as likely that he got it from Egypt or Babylon, or from
both. The Pythagorean doctrine was, according to Aristotle (Met. xii.
8),
that all things proceed from numbers. M. Dacier, however, in his life
of
the philosopher, denies that the doctrine of numbers was taught by
Pythagoras himself, but attributes it to his later disciples. But his
arguments are not conclusive or satisfactory.
O
OATH OF SECRECY. It was always administered to the candidate in the
ancient Mysteries.
ODD NUMBERS. In the system of Pythagoras, odd numbers were symbols of
perfection. Hence the sacred numbers of Freemasonry are all odd. They
are
3, 5, 7, 9, 15, 27, 33, and 81.
OIL. An element of masonic consecration, and, as a symbol of prosperity
and happiness, is intended, under the name of the "oil of joy," to
indicate the expected propitious results of the consecration of any
thing
or person to a sacred purpose.
OLIVE. In a secondary sense, the symbol of peace and of victory; but in
its primary meaning, like all the other Sacred plants of antiquity, a
symbol of immortality; and thus in the Mysteries it was the analogue of
the acacia of the Freemasons.
OLIVER. The Rev. George Oliver, D.D., of Lincolnshire, England, who
died
in 1868, is by far the most distinguished and the most voluminous of
the
English writers on Freemasonry. Looking to his vast labors and
researches
in the arcana of the science, no student of masonry can speak of his
name
or his memory without profound reverence for his learning, and deep
gratitude for the services that he has accomplished. To the author of
this
work the recollection will ever be most grateful that he enjoyed the
friendship of so good and so great a man; one of whom we may testify,
as
Johnson said of Goldsmith, that "nihil quod tetigit non ornavit." In
his
writings he has traversed the whole field of masonic literature and
science, and has treated, always with great ability and wonderful
research, of its history, its antiquities, its rites and ceremonies,
its
ethics, and its symbols. Of all his works, his "Historical Landmarks,"