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.Plu-tarch speaks of mathematical instruments used byArchimedes "to manifest to the eye the largeness of thesun." Pythagoras and Archimedes both studied in Egyptand Phoenicia, and probably in Chaldea.Pythagoras,who lived in the sixth century before Christ, is said tohave "visited Egypt and many countries of the East" inpursuit of knowledge; and Archimedes, who lived afterthe time of Alexander, spent much time in Egypt, "andvisited many other countries."It appears that, in the time of Pythagoras, "optic glasses,"contrived to increase the power of vision, were so com-mon as not to be regarded as objects of curiosity, andthere can be no reasonable doubts that they were firstinvented by the great men who created that profoundscience of astronomy for which people of Cushite originwere everywhere so preeminently distinguished, andwhich was so intimately connected with religion.(Bald-win's "Prehistoric Nations," pp.178-179)The authorities above quoted, and the considerationsadvanced, render it certain that the ancients not only pos-sessed the telescope, or its full equivalent, but also hadattained a proficiency in astronomy abundantly sufficient forthem to have originated the philosophical astronomical allego-ries ascribed to them in the course of this work.Their religion,says Mr.Baldwin, was intimately connected with astronomy.Having thus disposed of matters which were deemed to benecessary preliminaries to our subject, the consideration of theconnection between the astronomical ideas of the ancientsand their religion, and the origin and true meaning of themasonic traditions, legends, symbols, and emblems, will nolonger be delayed.What we have to say will be embodied in aseries of questions and answers.This is a mode of instruction61 Stellar Theology and Masonic Astronomymade familiar to all brothers of the fraternity by the masoniclectures pertaining to the various degrees.It is thereforebelieved that this mode will be the most acceptable tomasonic readers, and not displeasing to others.It has the addi-tional merit of permitting a degree of condensation and brev-ity not inconsistent with clearness of explanation, which noother method possesses.62 Part SecondChapter 5.Masonic AstronomyChapter 6.The Astronomical Allegory of the Death andResurrection of the SunAppendix.To Part SecondArranged in the Form of a Masonic Lecture,and illustrated by a Zodiacal Diagram. Chapter 5MASONICASTRONOMYName of the OrderQ.By what name were masons anciently known?A.Long before the building of King Solomon's temple,masons were known as the "Sons of Light." Masonrywas practiced by the ancients under the name of Lux(Light), or its equivalent, in the various languages ofantiquity.Q.What is said to be the origin of the word"masonry"?A.We are informed by several distinguished writersthat it is a corruption of the Greek word mesouraneo,which signifies "I am in the midst of heaven," alludingto the sun, which, being "in the midst of heaven," is thegreat source of light.Others derive it directly from theancient Egyptian Phre, the sun, and Mas, a child: Phre-Massen i.e., Children of the Sun, or, Sons of Light.64 Chapter 5.Masonic AstronomyAstronomy and GeometryQ.What two sciences have always been held in especial rev-erence by masons?A.Astronomy and geometry, the latter because it is the foun-dation of the formerThe LodgeQ.How ought every lodge to be situated?A.Due east and west.Q.Why So?A.Because, in the language of Dr.Hemming, a distinguishedbrother and masonic writer, "the sun, the glory of the Lord,rises in the east and sets in the west."Q.What are the dimensions and covering of a lodge?A.Its dimensions are without limit, and "its covering no lessthan the clouded canopy or starry-decked heavens." In thelanguage of Oliver,Boundless is the extent of a mason's lodge in heightto the topmost heaven in depth to the central abyssin length from east to west in breadth from north tosouth.Q.How many lights has a lodge?A.According to Dr.Oliver, in his Dictionary of SymbolicalMasonry, a lodge has three lights one in the east, another inthe west, and another in the south.Q.Why are they so situated?A.Dr.Oliver, in his work just named (see page 163, "LesserLights"), says they are so situated "in allusion to the sun,which, rising in the east, gains the meridian in the south, anddisappears in the west." These luminaries, says Dr.Oliver, inthe same place, "represent, emblematically, the sun, the moon,and the master of the lodge." The same authority informs us65 Stellar Theology and Masonic Astronomythat a lodge "has no light in the north, because the sun dartsno rays from thence." (See p.109, "Fixed Lights.")Q.Of what is a lodge therefore emblematic?A.The whole earth illuminated by the sun, shining from theeast, south, and west; covered by day with a "clouded canopy"and at night by "the starry-decked heavens." Says Hutchinson,a standard masonic author, "The lodge, when revealed to anentering mason, discovers to him the representation of theworld."The Officers' StationsQ.Why stands the Junior Warden in the south, the SeniorWarden in the west, and the Master in the east?A.Because the sun rises in the east to open and govern theday, and sets in the west to close the labors of the same; whilethe sun in the south admonishes the weary workman of hismidday meal, and calls him from labor to refreshment.Dr [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.Plu-tarch speaks of mathematical instruments used byArchimedes "to manifest to the eye the largeness of thesun." Pythagoras and Archimedes both studied in Egyptand Phoenicia, and probably in Chaldea.Pythagoras,who lived in the sixth century before Christ, is said tohave "visited Egypt and many countries of the East" inpursuit of knowledge; and Archimedes, who lived afterthe time of Alexander, spent much time in Egypt, "andvisited many other countries."It appears that, in the time of Pythagoras, "optic glasses,"contrived to increase the power of vision, were so com-mon as not to be regarded as objects of curiosity, andthere can be no reasonable doubts that they were firstinvented by the great men who created that profoundscience of astronomy for which people of Cushite originwere everywhere so preeminently distinguished, andwhich was so intimately connected with religion.(Bald-win's "Prehistoric Nations," pp.178-179)The authorities above quoted, and the considerationsadvanced, render it certain that the ancients not only pos-sessed the telescope, or its full equivalent, but also hadattained a proficiency in astronomy abundantly sufficient forthem to have originated the philosophical astronomical allego-ries ascribed to them in the course of this work.Their religion,says Mr.Baldwin, was intimately connected with astronomy.Having thus disposed of matters which were deemed to benecessary preliminaries to our subject, the consideration of theconnection between the astronomical ideas of the ancientsand their religion, and the origin and true meaning of themasonic traditions, legends, symbols, and emblems, will nolonger be delayed.What we have to say will be embodied in aseries of questions and answers.This is a mode of instruction61 Stellar Theology and Masonic Astronomymade familiar to all brothers of the fraternity by the masoniclectures pertaining to the various degrees.It is thereforebelieved that this mode will be the most acceptable tomasonic readers, and not displeasing to others.It has the addi-tional merit of permitting a degree of condensation and brev-ity not inconsistent with clearness of explanation, which noother method possesses.62 Part SecondChapter 5.Masonic AstronomyChapter 6.The Astronomical Allegory of the Death andResurrection of the SunAppendix.To Part SecondArranged in the Form of a Masonic Lecture,and illustrated by a Zodiacal Diagram. Chapter 5MASONICASTRONOMYName of the OrderQ.By what name were masons anciently known?A.Long before the building of King Solomon's temple,masons were known as the "Sons of Light." Masonrywas practiced by the ancients under the name of Lux(Light), or its equivalent, in the various languages ofantiquity.Q.What is said to be the origin of the word"masonry"?A.We are informed by several distinguished writersthat it is a corruption of the Greek word mesouraneo,which signifies "I am in the midst of heaven," alludingto the sun, which, being "in the midst of heaven," is thegreat source of light.Others derive it directly from theancient Egyptian Phre, the sun, and Mas, a child: Phre-Massen i.e., Children of the Sun, or, Sons of Light.64 Chapter 5.Masonic AstronomyAstronomy and GeometryQ.What two sciences have always been held in especial rev-erence by masons?A.Astronomy and geometry, the latter because it is the foun-dation of the formerThe LodgeQ.How ought every lodge to be situated?A.Due east and west.Q.Why So?A.Because, in the language of Dr.Hemming, a distinguishedbrother and masonic writer, "the sun, the glory of the Lord,rises in the east and sets in the west."Q.What are the dimensions and covering of a lodge?A.Its dimensions are without limit, and "its covering no lessthan the clouded canopy or starry-decked heavens." In thelanguage of Oliver,Boundless is the extent of a mason's lodge in heightto the topmost heaven in depth to the central abyssin length from east to west in breadth from north tosouth.Q.How many lights has a lodge?A.According to Dr.Oliver, in his Dictionary of SymbolicalMasonry, a lodge has three lights one in the east, another inthe west, and another in the south.Q.Why are they so situated?A.Dr.Oliver, in his work just named (see page 163, "LesserLights"), says they are so situated "in allusion to the sun,which, rising in the east, gains the meridian in the south, anddisappears in the west." These luminaries, says Dr.Oliver, inthe same place, "represent, emblematically, the sun, the moon,and the master of the lodge." The same authority informs us65 Stellar Theology and Masonic Astronomythat a lodge "has no light in the north, because the sun dartsno rays from thence." (See p.109, "Fixed Lights.")Q.Of what is a lodge therefore emblematic?A.The whole earth illuminated by the sun, shining from theeast, south, and west; covered by day with a "clouded canopy"and at night by "the starry-decked heavens." Says Hutchinson,a standard masonic author, "The lodge, when revealed to anentering mason, discovers to him the representation of theworld."The Officers' StationsQ.Why stands the Junior Warden in the south, the SeniorWarden in the west, and the Master in the east?A.Because the sun rises in the east to open and govern theday, and sets in the west to close the labors of the same; whilethe sun in the south admonishes the weary workman of hismidday meal, and calls him from labor to refreshment.Dr [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]