MOSAIC TOKENS AND SIGNS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4577, 20 November 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

MOSAIC TOKENS AND SIGNS.

(From the Month.)

These tokens were originally the shapes of the implements in common use; and the original signs were made by placing hands and feet in imitation of those shapes. But Gnosticism, as I have said, introduced new signs and imitated those of the Christian Church. Now the most ancient Christian sign is that of the Cross. The first Christians made this sign at all hours of the day, and on all occasions. By this sign, as Tertvdlian witnesses, they recognised one another. This sign the Gnostic renegades imitated, and the imitation which has been handed down, and which is now practised by Masons, is exactly what an imitation would degenerate into, which had itself been learned from imitators. The Christian sign was, and is, made with the right hand touching the forehead first, then the breast, then the left shoulder, and then the right. The imitation omits the two first movements, and only imitates the latter in such a way as to illustrate the penalty of the entered Apprentice’* oath, of which ! shall treat presently. But a still closer imitation of the original will be found in the ceremony observed by Masons at their official banquets, which are themselves, probably, the continuance of, Gnostic Lovefeasts, in imitation, and in ridicule of the Christian agapro. The Masonic sign made on such occasions with the wine-glass (in response to a proposed toast), is precisely the same as that made by the celebrant at ■ Mass when he moves (according to the most ancient rite, and as still practised in the Boman Catholic and the Greek Church) the chalice from north to south, and from east to west in the form of a cross. The Mason, when drinking a masonic toast says, “ Point, left, right ; point, left, right,” moving his glass ,in front of him northwards, then to the right —that is, in the form of a cross. Of coarse most English Freemasons are ignorant of this practice in Western and Eastern ritual, which I take to he the origin of this convivial rite. Freemasonry has developed its ceremonies, in imitation of ancient Christian ceremonies, as is easily seen by a comparison of the admission of an Apprentice Mason with the ceremonies of baptism, i.e., of admission into the Catholic Church. The one will be found in any manual of Freemasonry; the other, concerning the most primitive form of admitting a catechumen, in a Catholic prayer-book. The candi-, dates (of course I speak of adult baptism, the the rule of the primitive Church) stands without ; is asked what he seeks ; is led into the church. In Freemasonry, the candidate (who is blindfolded, his breast bared,, and a cable tow placed round his neck, while a “ Brother ” holds the point of a sword to his breast) stands without, is led into the lodge, and is asked what he seeks. It is worthy of remark that in the Christian ceremonial the candidate ha* his eyes open, but in the Masonic ritual he is blindfolded.