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Article THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON AS A SYMBOL OF FKE... ← Page 3 of 15 →
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The Temple Of Solomon As A Symbol Of Fke...
in the Egyptian religion than in the Jewish—more in the Jewish than in the Christian—more in the Christian than in the Mohammedanand lastly , more in the Eomish than in the Protestant . But symbolism is not only the most ancient and nniyersal , but it is also the most practically useful of sciences . We have ate how actively it operates in the early stages of life and of society ,
"We have seen how the first ideas of men and of nations are impressed upon their minds by means of symbols . It was thus that the ancient peoples were almost wholly educated . " In the simpler stages of society , " says one writer on this subject , u mankind can be instructed in the abstract knowledge of truths only
by symbols and parables . Hence , we find most heathen religions becoming mythic , or explaining their mysteries by allegories or instructive incidents . Nay , God himself , knowing the nature of the creatures formed by him , has condescended , Jii the earlier revelations that he madeof . ' himself , 'to' teach by symbols : and the greatest of all
teachers instructed the multitudes by parables . * The great exemplar of the ancient philosophy , and the grand archetype of modern philosophy , were alike distinguished by their possessing this faculty in a high degree , and have told . us that man was best instructed by similitudes . " Such is the system adopted in freemasonry for the development
and inculcation of the great religious and philosophical truths of which it was , for so many years , the sole conservator . And it is for this reason that I have already remarked that any inquiry into the symbolic character of Freemasonry must be preceded by an investigation of the nature of symbolism in general , if we would properly appreciate its particular use in the organization of the masonic
institution . And now , let us apply this doctrine of symbolism to an investigation of the nature of the speculative science as derived from an operative act ; for the fact is familiar to every one , that Freemasonry is of two kinds . "We work , it is true , in speculative
Masonry only , but our ancient Brethren wrought in both operative and speculative ; and it is now well understood that the two branches are widely apart in design and in character—the one a mere useful art , intended for the protection and convenience of man and the gratification of his physical wants , f the other a profound science , entering into abstruse investigations of the soul and a future
* Between the allegory , or parable , and the symbol , there is , as I have already said , no essential difference . The Greek verb naoapaWio , whence comes the word parable , and the verb ( TVfi / 3 aX \ o > in tlic same language , which is the root of the word symbol , both have the synonymous meaning " to compare . " A parable is only a spoken symbol . The definition of a parable given by Adam Clarke , is equally applicable to a symbol , viz : — " A comparison or similitude , in which one thing is compared with another , especially spiritual things with natural , by which means these spiritual things are better understood , and make a deeper impression on the attentive mind . " t "By operative Masonry , we allude to a proper application of the useful rules of architecture . "— -Lecture on F . C . . Degree .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Temple Of Solomon As A Symbol Of Fke...
in the Egyptian religion than in the Jewish—more in the Jewish than in the Christian—more in the Christian than in the Mohammedanand lastly , more in the Eomish than in the Protestant . But symbolism is not only the most ancient and nniyersal , but it is also the most practically useful of sciences . We have ate how actively it operates in the early stages of life and of society ,
"We have seen how the first ideas of men and of nations are impressed upon their minds by means of symbols . It was thus that the ancient peoples were almost wholly educated . " In the simpler stages of society , " says one writer on this subject , u mankind can be instructed in the abstract knowledge of truths only
by symbols and parables . Hence , we find most heathen religions becoming mythic , or explaining their mysteries by allegories or instructive incidents . Nay , God himself , knowing the nature of the creatures formed by him , has condescended , Jii the earlier revelations that he madeof . ' himself , 'to' teach by symbols : and the greatest of all
teachers instructed the multitudes by parables . * The great exemplar of the ancient philosophy , and the grand archetype of modern philosophy , were alike distinguished by their possessing this faculty in a high degree , and have told . us that man was best instructed by similitudes . " Such is the system adopted in freemasonry for the development
and inculcation of the great religious and philosophical truths of which it was , for so many years , the sole conservator . And it is for this reason that I have already remarked that any inquiry into the symbolic character of Freemasonry must be preceded by an investigation of the nature of symbolism in general , if we would properly appreciate its particular use in the organization of the masonic
institution . And now , let us apply this doctrine of symbolism to an investigation of the nature of the speculative science as derived from an operative act ; for the fact is familiar to every one , that Freemasonry is of two kinds . "We work , it is true , in speculative
Masonry only , but our ancient Brethren wrought in both operative and speculative ; and it is now well understood that the two branches are widely apart in design and in character—the one a mere useful art , intended for the protection and convenience of man and the gratification of his physical wants , f the other a profound science , entering into abstruse investigations of the soul and a future
* Between the allegory , or parable , and the symbol , there is , as I have already said , no essential difference . The Greek verb naoapaWio , whence comes the word parable , and the verb ( TVfi / 3 aX \ o > in tlic same language , which is the root of the word symbol , both have the synonymous meaning " to compare . " A parable is only a spoken symbol . The definition of a parable given by Adam Clarke , is equally applicable to a symbol , viz : — " A comparison or similitude , in which one thing is compared with another , especially spiritual things with natural , by which means these spiritual things are better understood , and make a deeper impression on the attentive mind . " t "By operative Masonry , we allude to a proper application of the useful rules of architecture . "— -Lecture on F . C . . Degree .