ed; a mighty lustre, as Grotius hinteth, hovering, after the fashion of a dove, upon these waters of the second creation. On him the Holy Ghost dwelt, or rested, as God was said to do in the tabernacle. In him, as the law of God in the ark, and the will of God, known from the oracle of the Shekinah, were deposited all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He is the great oracle of God; whom by a voice from heaven, out of a bright cloud, or God's excellent glory, we are commanded to hear. The fathers will have it, that when in his childhood he went into Egypt, and was brought to Memphis, the Egyptian idols fell at his feet."26 66 This interpretation of the Shekinah or Light, appears to have been the mystery so frequently referred to in the New Testament. Thus Christ himself said: "I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world." St. Paul repeatedly expresses himself to the same effect. To the Romans he speaks of a mystery which was kept secret since the world began." To the Ephesians he also refers to "the mystery which, from the beginning of the world, hath been hidden." And the expression in the original does not vary, when he reminds the Colossians of a mystery that hath been hid from ages." The secret which so frequently constituted the subject of scripture prophecy, must have been of vast importance. It had been carefully concealed from all the world, except a select few in every age, and they were not favoured with a clear conception of its nature and end. Thus it continued an ineffable mystery which the angels of heaven desired to look into, from the beginning of time. The great exultation which was displayed amongst the hosts of heaven, is described in the Apocalypse, when Christ was declared worthy to open the BOOK OF SECRETS; into which neither angels, men, nor infernal spirits were thought worthy to look. This inviolable mystery was no other than the revelation of Light, or scripture morality, by the true Shekinah of God, during a visible and bodily appearance on earth. And to whom was this Light revealed? St. Paul tells us that it was first communicated to the Apostles, and from them it passed to all who should faithfully receive it. And thus Ten. Idol. p. 372, 374. was fulfilled a series of remarkable predictions uttered by the prophet Isaiah. "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great Light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the Light shined," And again, “he will destroy the covering cast over all people; and the veil that is spread over all nations." For this reason the Messiah was termed avaroin, the East; because in the prophetical style the East signified Revelation, or the moral light of God. The prophet Zechariah, according to the Septuagint, says: "Behold the man whose name is the EAST ;" and again: "I send my servant the East." The same phraseology is preserved by Zacharias, speaking under the influence of Light. "The day spring (the East) from on high hath visited us, to give Light to them that sit in darkness;" for the prophet Malachi had said that when the time was accomplished for the revelation of this ineffable secret, the Shekinah, or Sun of Righteousness "should arise (in the East) with healing on his wings." We have no reason to believe that the Shekinah was withdrawn at the ascension of Christ; although, so far as regards the science of Speculative Masonry, it forms a subject of sublime speculation and unceasing interest. This beatific principle continued to enlighten saints and holy men until the temple was finally destroyed, and true religion so firmly established as to need no visible manifestation from on high. It appeared in a glorious Light to the first martyr Stephen, who "saw the glory of God, and Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of God." It was manifested to Saul in so vehement a Light as for a time to deprive him of his vision. And at Pentecost the Holy Ghost was commissioned to be, as it were, a substitute for the Shekinah, and appeared in the form of fire hovering over the Apostles. Bishop Andrews, citing Eusebius, says: "the glory of Christ is now much greater than it appeared on the mount of transfiguration; with which, if his apostles were then dazzled, how can it be now expressed ?" And this glory is described by St. John as "the God Omnipotent; the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; appearing on his throne of Light crowned, and with eyes like flames of fire." 27 This word signifies not only the rising of the Sun, but the place where it first appears. The consecutive manifestations of the Deity, in the visible form of a Cloud, Fire, and Light, produced some very remarkable effects upon the nations of the earth. In their search after the true Light, which they had good reason to believe would contribute vitally to their spurious systems, the heathen fell into many grievous errors. The Light of Speculative Masonry was impalpable and intellectual; and hence, by the adoration of the sensible element of fire, the Gentiles forfeited the substance by cherishing the shadow. Their apprehensions being limited to material subjects of contemplation, they soon lost all vestiges of the true Light, and became incapable of comprehending mysteries which related exclusively to the immaterial world. And this may partly account for the introduction of polytheism; and for the very unimportant nature of the topics which pervaded their system of Spurious Freemasonry, on which Gentile philosophy was accustomed to exercise its ingenuity, or apply its reasoning powers. It is remarkable that, after the advent of Christ, the Shekinah did not appear in a thick cloud, as under the Jewish dispensation; because the true Light was now come which should illuminate all mankind. Thus, at the baptism, transfiguration and ascension, the cloud is uniformly denominated "bright;" although, perhaps, containing some degree of opacity; and the Shekinah which inspired the Apostles assumed the form of small tongues of lambent flame, accompanied by an invisible wind which filled the house where they were assembled. And it is ever present in the believer's heart by the Holy Ghost. Still, however, the Light which we have the happiness to enjoy is not absolutely clear, nor can it be in our present imperfect position. The Lectures of Freemasonry contain many allusions and references to the holy and sublime appearances of the Deity in the form of Light; and to its eternal existence as the Wisdom, or intellect, or glory, which, surpassing our conceptions, forms the object of our Faith and Hope, and which, united with Charity, is coeval with the Great First Cause. But when the invisible world shall be fully disclosed, and the Grand Lodge above opened for eternal enjoyment, then shall we be able to appreciate that full communication of supreme Light and unbounded knowledge which constitute the perfection of Charity, and form the true Freemasonry of heaven. "Now we see through a glass darkly; but then shall we see face to face. Now we know in part, but then shall we know even as we are known." 1928 And then shall the SECRET of the Lord be fully revealed to them that fear him.29 LECTURE II. VIEW OF SPECULATIVE MASONRY AS A SYSTEM OF CHARITY. Each other gift which God on man bestows, Nor bound by time, nor subject to decay, In happy triumph shall for ever live, And endless good diffuse, and endless praise receive. Prior. In all public Institutions, some form of admission has ever been adopted, with an approach to sublimity, proportioned to the rank and importance which each society may sustain in public estimation. In most cases the ceremony is preceded by a ballot, to ascertain whether the proposed candidate may be acceptable to the community at large; that harmony may not be interrupted, nor discord fomented by the introduction of improper persons. This being satisfactorily arranged, admission is accompanied with various degrees of solemnity, from the simple signature of a name, to the imposing rite of initiation into Masonry, or the solemn ceremony of appropriating a candidate for the ministry to God's service, by episcopal ordination. Such have been the usage of society from the earliest times; and I am persuaded that the pure Freemasonry of our antediluvian brethren was accompanied by a characteristic rite of initiation, which forcibly impressed upon the candidate's enquiring mind an historical legend or tradition, which it was of the utmost consequence |