Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1837 edition. Excerpt: ... 1:30 LECTURE VII. ON THE THREE PILLARS, WISDOM, STRENGTH, AND BEAUTY. " When orient Wisdom beam'd serene, And pillar'd Strength arose; When Beauty tinged the glowing scene, And Faith her mansion chose; Exulting bands the fabric view'd, Mysterious powers adored, And high the Triple union stood, That gave the mystic Word." Stanfie.ld. The emblematical foundation of a Mason's Lodge is Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty. These three noble Pillars give it a stability which no exertion of art or ingenuity can subvert, no force can overthrow. They were thus named in allusion to the perfection with which our system has been endowed by the Almighty Architect; because without Wisdom to contrive, Strength to support, and Beauty to adorn, no structure can be perfect. And this is illustrated by a reference to the most splendid and awful images which can be presented to the human mind. The universe is the temple of the Deity whom we serve; Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty are about his Throne as Pillars of his work; for his wisdom is infinite, his strength is omnipotence, and his beauty shines forth through all his creatipn in symmetry and order. He hath stretched forth the heavens as a canopy, the earth he hath planted as his footstool; he hath crowned this superb temple with stars as with a diadem, and in his hand he extendeth the power and the glory; the sun and moon are messengers of his will, and all his laws are concord.* This universal harmony of nature and nature's works, emblematical of the peace and unity which subsists in a Mason's Lodge, is produced from the union of those sublime qualities by which our fabric is supported, Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty. The first Pillars used by the primitive inhabitants of the earth, were merely trunks of trees, ...
