introduces; but it cannot be wholly avoided, as the point within a circle, with an unequivocal allusion to the Phallic worship, was the principal object of devotion with every people in the world. In India, the adytum, or most holy place in the temples of the deity, always contained the Linga or Phallus, which had a prominent situation assigned to it, amongst the innumerable emblems with which the walls were covered. In Egypt, the same practice was observed." Belzoni says of the temple at Tentyra: "The shafts of the columns are covered with hieroglyphics and figures, in the front and lateral walls. On all the walls, columns, ceilings, or architraves, there is nowhere a space of two feet that is not covered with some figures of human beings, animals, plants, emblems of agriculture, or of religious ceremony." Amongst these, the Phallus is a conspicuous emblem. The places of initiation in Chaldea were precisely of the same nature. Ezekiel thus describes them: "The Spirit of God brought me to the door of the court, and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall. Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall; and when I had digged in the wall, behold, a door. And he said unto me, go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. So I went in and saw; and behold, every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about."29 In Greece, the Phallus was an universal amulet. It was thought to prevent every species of calamity; and was, accordingly, hung at the doors of houses, offices, and workshops. It was visible in every situation, and was even suspended from the necks of children, to preserve them from the effects of fascination.30 "The same indecencies," says Faber, "were practised in the rites of the Cabiric Ceres, as in those of Bacchus, Osiris, and Maha-Deva. Her deluded votaries vied with each other in a studied obscenity of language, and her nocturnal orgies were contaminated with the grossest lasciviousAnd Diodorus the Sicilian2 says that such language was used under the impression that it was ness.Si 26 Maur. Ind. Ant. vol. ii. p. 245. 27 Diod. Sic. l. i. c. 6. 29 Ezekiel viii. 7-10. Bibl. l. v. c. 1. "Fab. Mys, Cab. vol. ii. p. 93. pleasing and acceptable to the goddess. Even the Israelites themselves were not entirely free from the contamination of such abominable practices; for the Linga of the Hindus, the Phallus and the Priapus of the Greeks and Romans, and the Baal-Peor of the idolatrous Israelites, was one and the same monstrous emblem, which was equally represented by a point within a circle. Jerom says, that the idols, worshipped by the latter, were most of them dedicated to Baal-Peor, who was portrayed in a gross and indecent attitude. Denique interpretantur, Beelphegor idolum tentiginis, habens in ore, id est, summitate pellem, ut turpitudinem membri virilis ostenderet. This deity was chiefly honoured by female votaries. The good King Asa saw and lamented the wide-spreading abomination, which was even practised under the regal sanction; for his mother, Maacha, had, herself, actually erected an altar to this unnatural divinity. This worship was the last and lowest stage of human debasement, and evinces the strict propriety of those scripture phrases which refer to the universal depravity of mankind when given up to the defilements of idolatry.36 Mr. Maurice thinks this disgraceful emblem was derived from Egypt; for Diodorus deduces its origin from the search instituted by Isis for the body of her husband, which had been divided by Typhon into fourteen parts, and distributed over the face of the whole earth. For a long time the disconsolate widow could not succeed in finding the genitals of her dismembered husband, which had been committed to the waters of the Nile by his murderer. Being at length discovered, they were buried with great solemnity, and a commemorative festival was instituted, in which long poles, with figures of this emblem attached to the summit, were carried about in procession, It may be here remarked, as creditable to the ancient Druids, that obscene and improper language was disallowed in their mysteries. The candidates were forever disgraced if they "uttered one word of unseemly import." Song of Hywell, in the W. Archaiol. translated by Mr. Davies, Druids, p. 285. 34 In Ösee. c. ix. 251 Kings xv. 13. 36 Vid. Leviticus xviii. xix. and xx.-Deuteronomy xii. 31.-Patrick on 1 Kings xiv. 24.-Romans i. 18, ad fin. &c. 1. i. c. 2. and a legend to the same purpose was recited during the initiations.8 Captain Wilford gives another account of its origin. This gentleman says, it was believed in India that, at the general deluge, everything was involved in the common destruction, except the male and female principles, or organs of generation, which were destined to produce a new race, and to re-people the earth when the waters had subsided from its surface. The female principle, symbolized by the Moon, assumed the form of a lunette or crescent; while the male principle, symbolized by the Sun, assuming the form of the Linga, placed himself erect in the centre of the lunette, like the mast of the Ship. The two principles, in this united form, floated on the surface of the waters during the period of their prevalence on the earth, and thus became the progenitors of a new race of men. Hence they were received as objects of adoration, under the imposing names of the Great Father and Mother of mankind; and the acknowledged symbol of this mysterious union was, a Point within a Circle. The true origin of this infamous worship may, perhaps, be more correctly derived from the sin of Ham, who discovered and exposed his father's nakedness; and the use of the degrading symbol might proceed from the curse inflicted on his posterity, who were thus reduced below the level of their species. Such were the absurd and dangerous systems, founded, however, in truth, which deformed the religion of heathen nations, and degraded celestial reason to a level with brutal instinct. To the true Mason, on the contrary, this emblem points out the most useful and invaluable lessons; and while he keeps his wishes and hopes bounded by the rules and ordinances of the Sacred Code, he may be assured that his character will be venerated amongst men, and the fragrance of his virtue will ascend to the throne of his Father who is in heaven, like an evening sacrifice. And when the shades of age and imbecility shall have damped those energies which were once employed in the ardour of active virtue, his declin Psellus, ap. Taylor's Dissert. in Pamphleteer, vol. viii. ing strength shall be cheered by the retrospect of what his benevolence effected while health and vigour remained, and by the prospect of the bright reward which lies before him; and while he considers this life but as the very beginning of his existence, he looks forward to that smiling world he is about to enter, and anticipates, with inexpressible gratification, the cheering welcome he will receive from saints and angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect. If you would enjoy such happy anticipations when advanced in years, and your bosom is becoming dead to the fascinations of life, you must circumscribe your thoughts and actions by the instruction of this significant emblem. Even your reputation amongst mankind is principally dependent on the rectitude of your moral conduct. If you wish for the commendation of the wise and good, and, what is still of greater importance, the favourable testimony of your conscience, you must be honest and true, faithful and sincere, and practise all the virtues enjoined equally by Masonry and Christianity. You must keep within the compass, and act upon the square with all mankind; for your Masonry is but a dead letter if you do not habitually perform its reiterated injunctions. You may boast of its beauties (and you have just reason to do so); you may attend its lectures; you may be an enthusiast in its forms and ceremonies; but, unless you reduce it to practice, unless its incitements be brought to bear upon your moral conduct, you can enjoy no advantage over those who are still in darkness, and the benefits of Masonry have been extended to you in vain. Circumscribe your actions, then, within the boundary line of your duty to God and man, and convince the world that the System of Masonry is something more than a name. IECTURE X. ON THE MASONIC APRON "We know thee by thy Apron white, We know thee by thy trowel bright, Solomon's Temple, an Oratorio. THE chief business of Masonry is to direct and guide the judgment to the practice of virtue; for, it is chiefly by being able to distinguish between right and wrong, that depravity is avoided, and purity of mind cherished and ensured. The understanding is the parent of virtue; and by gradually nurturing the genius and improving the intellect, the brightest fruits of a good life may be reasonably anticipated; for, though worldly wisdom may exist in the absence of virtue, the instances are of very rare occurrence where virtue is found in a heart occupied by selfish prejudices, and contracted by sloth and habitual indolence. In advancing through the different degrees of Masonry, your stock of information is progressively increased, and the practice of virtue is enforced by a reference to the symbols in which masonic knowledge lies imbedded. With this illustration in view, a primary ceremony of the First Degree is, the investiture of the Apron, an unequivocal symbol, which accompanies every step of our progress. And, lest any misunderstanding should give an improper bias to the mind respecting its moral application, the candidate is told that it is an emblem of innocence, of high antiquity and unequalled honour. The great design of the Apron is to point out a figurative division of the human body into two distinct parts; separating the noble portion which contains the head and |