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Post by Tamrin on Jul 8, 2008 7:29:04 GMT 10
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 8, 2008 20:53:29 GMT 10
Only one faint light is illuminated during the ‘ordeal’ of the third degree, apart from which the darkness prevails. A five-pointed star (pentagram) shines above the Worshipful Master and the candidate is exhorted to join in as all, ‘ lift our eyes to that bright Morning Star, who rising bring peace and salvation…’ Here we may remember that the goddess was also called Astarte, who was especially associated with the Morning Star (Venus), as was the pentagram. Indeed, a five pointed star or other illuminations often features above feminine personifications of Freemasonry. The illustration above depicts a vista formerly associated with the twenty-sixth degree (Prince of Mercy or Scottish Trinitarian) of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, of which we read: ‘ By the altar is a statue or statuette of white marble, the naked figure of a virgin. Over it is a drapery of thin white gauze. This represents Truth, and is the palladium of the Order of Princes of Mercy.’ In his novel She: A History of Adventure, H. Rider Haggard, a Freemason, wrote of a similar statue as the central figure of the Temple of Truth in his fictional city of Kôr, ruled by Ayesha (a.k.a., She Who Must be Obeyed), saying: And there, in the centre of the inmost court, that might have been some fifty yards square, or a little more, we stood face to face with what is perhaps the grandest allegorical work of Art that the genius of her children has ever given to the world. For in the exact centre of the court, placed upon a thick square slab of rock, was a huge round ball of dark stone, some twenty feet in diameter, and standing on the ball was a colossal winged figure of a beauty so entrancing and divine that when I first gazed upon it, illuminated and shadowed as it was by the soft light of the moon, my breath stood still, and for an instant my heart ceased its beating.
The statue was hewn from marble so pure and white that even now, after all those ages, it shone as the moonbeams danced upon it, and its height was, I should say, a trifle over twenty feet. It was the winged figure of a woman of such marvellous loveliness and delicacy of form that the size seemed rather to add to than to detract from its so human and yet more spiritual beauty. She was bending forward and poising herself upon her half-spread wings as though to preserve her balance as she leant. Her arms were outstretched like those of some woman about to embrace one she dearly loved, while her whole attitude gave an impression of the tenderest beseeching. Her perfect and most gracious form was naked, save--and here came the extraordinary thing-- the face, which was thinly veiled, so that we could only trace the marking of her features. A gauzy veil was thrown round and about the head, and of its two ends one fell down across her left breast, which was outlined beneath it, and one, now broken, streamed away upon the air behind her.
"Who is she?" I asked, as soon as I could take my eyes off the statue.
"Canst thou not guess, oh Holly?" answered Ayesha. "Where then is thy imagination? It is Truth standing on the World, and calling to its children to unveil her face. See what is writ upon the pedestal. Without doubt it is taken from the book of Scriptures of these men of Kôr," and she led the way to the foot of the statue, where an inscription of the usual Chinese-looking hieroglyphics was so deeply graven as to be still quite legible, at least to Ayesha. According to her translation it ran thus:--
"Is there no man that will draw my veil and look upon my face, for it is very fair? Unto him who draws my veil shall I be, and peace will I give him, and sweet children of knowledge and good works."
And a voice cried, "Though all those who seek after thee desire thee, behold! Virgin art thou, and Virgin shalt thou go till Time be done. No man is there born of woman who may draw thy veil and live, nor shall be. By Death only can thy veil be drawn, oh Truth!"
And Truth stretched out her arms and wept, because those who sought her might not find her, nor look upon her face to face. "Thou seest," said Ayesha, when she had finished translating, "Truth was the Goddess of the people of old Kôr, and to her they built their shrines, and her they sought; knowing that they should never find, still sought they."
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Post by Tamrin on Jul 26, 2008 6:47:29 GMT 10
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Post by Tamrin on Aug 25, 2008 21:20:15 GMT 10
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Post by Tamrin on Sept 24, 2008 19:21:30 GMT 10
Deus Nobis Sol et Scutum"God is our Sun and our Shield"Smith's Pocket Companion was mostly a simple reprint of Anderson's 1723 Constitutions, necessitated by the growth of the fraternity and the desire of Masons for a handbook. Although W. Bro. Anderson was displeased by the imitation, the Pocket-Companions proved to be popular and were frequently expanded. The Latin attending the image (on the title page) is from Psalm 84:11. Masonic sources often emphasize the Sun as a philosophical symbol. Features of this image which should not be overlooked are the possible Royal Arch motif in the lower part of the picture as well as the peculiar scene to which the hand of the figure on the left is pointing. Notes by Shawn Eyer, P:.M:.
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Post by Tamrin on Sept 24, 2008 19:39:18 GMT 10
Descendit E CæloThis was published as the frontispiece (illustration facing the title page) of the 1784 edition of James Anderson's Constitutions of Freemasory. It was designed and drawn by Giovanni Battista Cipriani and Paul Sandby (brother of the famous architect). The actual engraving is by Francesco Bartolozzi and James Fittler. An unnumbered page within the book offers this explanation of the piece: "The architectural part represents the inside of Free-masons' Hall.The uppermost figure is Truth, holding a mirror, which reflects its rays on divers ornaments of the Hall, and also on the Globes and other Masonic Furniture and Implements of the Lodge. Truth is attended by the three Theological Virtues, Faith, Hope and Charity: under these, the Genius of Masonry, commissioned by Truth and her Attendants, is descending into the Hall, bearing a lighted Torch; she is decorated with some of the Masonic Emblems, and on her arm hangs a ribbon with a Medal pendant, with which she is to invest the Grand Master, in token of the Divine approbation of a Building sacred to Charity and Benevolence." Despite this explanation, there is no question that the descending figure is male. Still, his identity as the Genius (guiding spirit or angel) of Masonry is obvious. He was referred to frequently in the songs of the Craft. For example, as Brother John Bancks as aptly penned in circa 1730: Genius of Masonry! descend, In mystic Numbers while We sing: Enlarge Our Souls; the Craft defend; And hither all Thy Influence bring. With social Thoughts Our Bosoms fill, And give Thy Turn to every Will! The Genius of the Craft and the figure of Uriel, angel of the Sun, played similar roles in early Masonic imagery. A close examination of the picture reveals an interesting double meaning on the Latin title, which means "It (or he) descends from heaven." While the initial interpretition is that the angel Uriel is the one descending, one must also pay attention to the ashlar held by the tripod. The idea of the stone descending from heaven is key in Solomonic and kabbalistic symbolism. And it is surely worth noting that Elias Ashmole—who became the second documented British Freemason in 1646—included this ancient, anonymous alchemical poem in the his 1652 collection entitled Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum: I figure now howr besset Stone, Fro Heven wase sende downe to Solomon: By an Angele bothe goude and stylle, The wych wase than Christis wylle. (p. 350)
(In today's language: "I now describe how our blessed Stone from Heaven was sent down to Solomon, by an Angel more good and peaceful both than even the will of Christ was needful.") Notes by Shawn Eyer, P:.M:.
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Post by Sambrina on Sept 8, 2012 6:24:25 GMT 10
Wow, I think I will find the book of She a history of adventure, why did they choose the name Ayesha? isn't it an Islamic name? My name is Ayshia my father is Turkish my mother Scottish I had never given much thought to it. What are the true roots of this name is it older?
Blessings
Ayshia
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Post by Sambrina on Sept 8, 2012 6:25:32 GMT 10
Why is Lucifer always related to the Star or Light bringer? Why is Lucifer viewed as sinister or evil?
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Post by Tamrin on Sept 8, 2012 8:43:27 GMT 10
New religions commonly incorporate preexisting customs and demonize local gods. For example, Satan's horns, tail and cloven hooves seems to be modeled on Pan.
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Post by Sambrina on Sept 8, 2012 8:58:13 GMT 10
Understandable, its curious though as Lucifer was an angel?
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