The Left Side.
The Right Hand, by our ancient brethren, was deemed the seat of fidelity. The ancients worshiped a deity named Fides, sometimes represented by two right hands joined, at others by two human figures holding each other by the right hand.
The Lamb has in all ages been deemed an emblem of innocence. The lambskin is therefore to remind you of that purity of life and conduct which is so essentially necessary to your gaining admission to the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.
Northeast Corner.
It is customary at the erection of all Masonic edifices to lay the first or foundation stone in the northeast corner of the building. The first instructions which the candidate receives symbolizes the cornerstone, and on it he constructs the moral and Masonic temple of his life.
THIRD SECTION.
This section explains the manner of const.i.tuting and the proper authority for holding a Lodge. Here, also, we learn where lodges were anciently held, their Form, Support, Covering, Furniture, Ornaments, Lights and Jewels, how situated, and to whom dedicated, as well in former times as at present.
A Lodge.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
A Lodge is an a.s.semblage of Masons, duly congregated, having Holy Bible, Square and Compa.s.ses, and a dispensation or charter, authorizing them to work.
Ancient Lodges--Where Held.
Our ancient brethren held their Lodges on high hills or in low vales, the better to observe the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers, ascending or descending.
Lodge meetings at the present day are usually held in upper chambers--probably for the security which such places afford. This custom may have had its origin in a practice observed by the ancient Jews of building their temples, schools and synagogues on high hills, a practice which seems to have met the approbation of the Almighty, who said unto the Prophet Ezekiel, "Upon the top of the mountain, the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy."
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Form and Dimension.
Its form is * * * Its dimension, from east to west, embracing every clime between north and south. Its universal chain of friendship encircles every portion of the human family and beams wherever civilization extends.
A Lodge is said to be thus extensive to denote the universality of Freemasonry, and teaches that a Mason"s charity should be equally extensive.
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The Supports of a Lodge.
A Lodge is supported by three great pillars, denominated Wisdom, Strength and Beauty; because there should be wisdom to contrive, strength to support, and beauty to adorn all great and important undertakings. They are represented by the three princ.i.p.al officers of the Lodge: The pillar Wisdom, by the W. M. in the East, who is presumed to have wisdom to open and govern the Lodge; the pillar Strength, by the Senior Warden in the West, whose duty it is to a.s.sist the W. M. in the discharge of his arduous labors; and the pillar Beauty, by the Junior Warden in the South, whose duty it is to call the craft from labor to refreshment, superintend them during the hours thereof, carefully to observe that the means of refreshment are not perverted to intemperance or excess, and see that they return to their labor in due season.
Its covering is no less than the clouded canopy or starry-decked heaven, where all good Masons hope at last to arrive, by the aid of that theological ladder which Jacob, in his vision, saw extending from earth to heaven; the three princ.i.p.al rounds of which are denominated Faith, Hope and Charity; which admonish us to have faith in G.o.d, hope of immortality and charity to all mankind. The greatest of these is Charity; for Faith may be lost in sight, Hope ends in fruition, but Charity extends beyond the grave through the boundless realms of eternity.
Furniture.
The furniture of a lodge consists of the Holy Bible, Square and Compa.s.ses.
The Holy Bible is dedicated to G.o.d; because it is the inestimable gift of G.o.d to man. The Square to the Master, because it is the proper Masonic emblem of his office; and the Compa.s.ses to the craft, because, by a due attention to their use, they are taught to circ.u.mscribe their desires, and keep their pa.s.sions within due bounds.
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Ornaments.
The Ornaments of a Lodge are the Mosaic Pavement, the Indented Tessel and the Blazing Star.
The Mosaic Pavement is a representation of the ground floor of King Solomon"s Temple; the Indented Tessel, of that beautiful tessellated border or skirting which surrounded it. The Mosaic Pavement is emblematical of human life, checkered with good and evil; the Indented Tessel, or tessellated border, of the manifold blessings and comforts which constantly surround us, and which we hope to enjoy by a firm reliance on Divine Providence, which is hieroglyphically represented by the Blazing Star in the centre.
Lights.
A Lodge has three symbolic lights; one in the East, one in the West and one in the South, represented by the W. M., S. W. and J. W. There is no light in the north, because King Solomon"s Temple, of which every lodge is a representation, was so far north of the elliptic that the sun could dart no rays into the northern part thereof. The north, therefore, we Masonically call a place of darkness.
Jewels.
A Lodge has six jewels; three of these are immovable and three movable.
The Immovable Jewels are the Square, Level and Plumb. The Square inculcates morality; the Level, equality, and the Plumb, rect.i.tude of conduct. They are called immovable jewels, because they are always to be found in the East, West and South parts of the Lodge, being worn by the officers in their respective stations.
The Movable Jewels are the Rough Ashlar, the Perfect Ashlar and the Trestle-Board.
The Rough Ashlar is a stone, as taken from the quarry, in its rude and natural state. By it we are reminded of our rude and imperfect state by nature.
The Perfect Ashlar is a stone made ready by the hands of the workmen, to be adjusted by the working tools of the fellow craft; and reminds us of that state of perfection at which we hope to arrive by a virtuous education, our own endeavors and the blessing of G.o.d.
The Trestle-Board is for the master workman to draw his designs upon. By it we are reminded that, as the operative workman erects his temporal building agreeably to the rules and designs laid down by the master on his trestle-board, so should we, both operative and speculative, endeavor to erect our spiritual building agreeably to the rules and designs laid down by the Supreme Architect of the Universe, in the great books of nature and revelation, which are our spiritual, moral and Masonic trestle-boards.
How Situated.
A Lodge is situated due east and west, because King Solomon"s Temple was so situated; and also because, when Moses crossed the Red Sea, being pursued by Pharaoh and his hosts, he erected a Tabernacle by Divine command, and placed it due east and west to receive the first rays of the rising sun, and to commemorate that mighty east wind by which the miraculous deliverance of Israel was effected.
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Dedication of Lodges.