Section 33

Dionysus. Or Bacchus; mythologically said to be the son of
Zeus and Semele. In his Mysteries he was identified with
Osiris, and regarded as the sun. His Mysteries prevailed
in Greece, Rome, and Asia, and were celebrated by the
Dionysiac artificers — those builders who united with the
Jews in the construction of King Solomon's temple. Hence,
of all the ancient Mysteries, they are the most interesting
to the Masonic student. 45

Disseverance. The disseverance of the operative from the
speculative element of Freemasonry occurred at the begin-
ning of the eighteenth century 66

Discalceation, Rite of. The ceremony of uncovering the
feet, or taking off the shoes; from the Latin discalceare. It
is a symbol of reverence. See Bare Feet 125

336 Synoptical Index

Druidical Mysteries. The Celtic Mysteries celebrated in
Britain and Gaul. They resembled, in all material points,
the other mysteries of antiquity, and had the same design.
The aspirant was subjected to severe trials, underwent a
mystical death and burial in imitation of the death of the
god Hu, and was eventually enlightened by the communi-
cation to him of the great truths of God and immortality,
which it was the object of all the Mysteries to teach. . 154

Dualism. A mythological and philosophical doctrine, which
supposes the world to have been always governed by two
antagonistic principles, distinguished as the good and the
evil principle. This doctrine pervaded all the Oriental
religions, and its influences are to be seen in the system of
Speculative Freemasonry, where it is developed in the
symbolism of Light and Darkness. 153

E

East. That part of the heavens where the sun rises; and as
the source of material light to which we figuratively apply
the idea of intellectual light, it has been adopted as a symbol
of the Order of Freemasonry. And this symbolism is
strengthened by the fact that the earliest learning and the
earliest religion came from the east, and have ever been

traveling to the west 165

In Freemasonry, the east has always been considered the
most sacred of the cardinal points, because it is the place
where light issues; and it was originally referred to the
primitive religion, or sun-worship. But in Freemasonry it
refers especially to that east whence an ancient priesthood
first disseminated truth to enlighten the world; wherefore
the east is Masonically called "the place of light." . . 204

Egg. The mundane egg is a well-recognized symbol of the
world. "The ancient pagans in almost every part of the
globe, were wont to symbolize the world by an egg. Hence
this symbol is introduced into the cosmogony of nearly all
nations; and there are few persons, even among those
who have not made mythology their study, to whom the
Mundane Egg is not perfectly familiar. It was employed
not only to represent the earth, but also the universe in
its largest extent." Faber, "Origin of Pagan Idolatry,"
i. 175 107

Synoptical Index 337

Egg and Lunette. The egg was a symbol not only of the
resurrection, but also of the world rescued from destruction
by the Noachic ark. The lunette, or horizontal crescent,
being a symbol of the Great Father, was represented by
Noah. The egg and lunette combined, the hieroglyphic
of the god Lunus, at Heliopolis, was a symbol of the world
proceeding from the Great Father 107

Egypt. Egypt has been considered as the cradle not only of the
sciences, but of the religions of the ancient world. Al-
though a monarchy, with a king nominally at the head of
the state, the government really was in the hands of the
priests. They were the sole depositaries of learning, and
were alone acquainted with the religious formularies that in
Egypt controlled all the public and private actions of the
life of every inhabitant. 78

E-HO. See Ho-hi.

Elephanta. An island in the Bay of Bombay, celebrated
for the extensive caverns artificially excavated out of the
solid rock. These caves were appropriated to the initia-
tions in the ancient Indian Mysteries. .... 106

Eleusinian Mysteries. Of all the Mysteries of the ancients
these were the most popular. They were celebrated at the
village of Eleusis, near Athens, and were dedicated to
Demeter. In them the loss and the restoration of Perse-
phone were scenically represented, and the doctrines of the
unity of God and the immortality of the soul were taught.
See Demeter 35

Entered Apprentice. The First Degree of Ancient Craft Ma-
sonry, analogous to the initial progress of the aspirant in

the Lesser Mysteries 94

This Degree is viewed as a symbol of childhood, and is con-
sidered as a preparation and purification for something
higher 220

Epopt. (From the Greek iwoTTT-qs, a looker-on, an eye witness.)
One who, having been initiated in the Greater Mysteries of
paganism, has seen the aporrheta. 44

Era op Freemasonry. The legendary statement that the
origin of Freemasonry is coeval with the beginning of the
world, is only a philosophical myth to indicate the eternal
nature of its principles 213

338 Synoptical Index

Erica. The tree heath; a sacred plant among the Egyptians,
and used in the Osirian Mysteries as the symbol of immor-
tality, and the analogue of the Masonic acacia. . . 261

EssENES. A society or sect of the Jews, who combined
labor with religious exercises. Their organization par-
took of a secret character, and they have been claimed
to be the descendants of the builders of the temple of
Solomon 19

Euclid. The Masonic legend which refers to Euclid is alto-
gether historically untrue. It is really a philosophical
myth intended to convey a Masonic truth. . . . 209

EuRESis. (From the Greek evpeais, a discovery.) That part
of the initiation in the ancient Mysteries which represented
the finding of the body of the god or hero whose death was

the subject of the initiation. 44

The euresis has been adopted in Freemasonry, and forms an
essential part of the ritual of the Third Degree. . . 236

Evergreen. A symbol of the immortality of the soul. . . 253
Planted by the Hebrews and other ancient peoples at the

heads of graves. 254

For this purpose the Hebrews preferred the acacia, because its
wood was incorruptible, and because, as the material of the
ark, it was already considered a sacred plant. . . . 253

Eye, All-seeIng. A symbol of the omniscient and watcMul
providence of God. It is a very ancient symbol, and is
supposed by some to be a relic of the primitive sun-worship.
Volney, "Les Ruines," p. 186, says that in most of the
ancient languages of Asia, the eye and the sun are expressed
by the same word. Among the Egyptians the eye was the
symbol of their supreme god, Osiris, or the sun. . .191

F

Faber. The works of the Rev. G. S. Faber, "Origin of Pagan
Idolatry," and *'Cabiri," are valuable contributions to
the science of mythology. They abound in matters of
interest to the investigator of Masonic symbolism and
philosophy, but should be read with a careful view of the
preconceived theory of the learned author, who refers
everything in the ancient religions to the influences of the
Noachic flood, and the arkite worship which he supposes
to have resulted from it. 260

Synoptical Index 339

Fellow Craft. The Second Degree of the Ancient Craft,

analogous to the mystes in the ancient Mysteries. . . 95
The symbol of a youth setting forth on the journey of life. . 222

Fetichism. The worship of uncouth and misshapen idols,
practised only by the most ignorant and debased peoples,
and to be found at this day among some of the least civil-
ized of the negro tribes of Africa. ''Their fetiches," says
Du Chaillu, speaking of some of the African races, "con-
sisted of fingers and tails of monkeys; of human hair, skin,
teeth, bones; of clay, old nails, copper chains; shells,
feathers, claws, and skulls of birds; pieces of iron, cop-
per, or wood; seeds of plants, ashes of various sub-
stances, and I cannot tell what more." "Equatorial
Africa," p. 93 24

Fifteen. A sacred number, symbolic of the name of God, be-
cause the letters of the holy name T\^, jah, are equal, in the
Hebrew mode of numeration by the letters of the alphabet,
to fifteen; for *< is equal to ten, and H is equal to five.
Hence, from veneration for this sacred name, the Hebrews
do not, in ordinary computations, when they wish to express
the number 15, make use of these two letters, but of two
others, which are equivalent to 9 and 6 227

Forty-seventh Problem. The forty-seventh problem of the
first book of Euclid is, that in any right-angled triangle the
squajre which is described upon the side subtending or
opposite to the right angle is equal to the squares described
upon the sides which contain the right angle. This propo-
sition is said to have been discovered by Pythagoras while
in Egypt, but was most probably taught to him by the
priests of that country, in whose rites he had been initiated.
It is a symbol of the production of the world by the gener-
ative and prolific powers of the Creator; hence the Egyp-
tians made the perpendicular and base the representatives
of Osiris and Isis, while the hypothenuse represented their
child Horus. Dr. Lardner, "Commentary on Euclid," p.
60, says, of this problem, "Whether we consider the forty-
seventh proposition with reference to the peculiar and
beautiful relation established by it, or to its innumerable
uses in every department of mathematical science, or to
its fertility in the consequences derivable from it, it must
certainly be esteemed the most celebrated and important

340 Synoptical Index

in the whole of the elements, if not in the whole range of
mathematical science." 193

Fourteen. Some symbologists have referred the fourteen
pieces into which the mutilated body of Osiris was divided,
and the fourteen days during which the body of the builder
was buried, to the fourteen days of the disappearance of
the moon. The Sabian worshippers of "the hosts of
heaven" were impressed with the alternate appearance and
disappearance of the moon, which at length became a
symbol of death and resurrection. Hence fourteen was a
sacred number. As such it was viewed in the Osirian
Mysteries, and may have been introduced into Free-
masonry with other relics of the old worship of the sun
and planets 39

Freemasonry, Definition of. See Definition.

Freemasons, Traveling. The traveling Freemasons were a
society existing in the middle ages, and consisting of learned
men and prelates, under whom were operative workmen.
The operatives performed the labors of the Craft, and
traveling from country to country, were engaged in the
construction of cathedrals, monasteries, and castles.
"There are few points in the history of the middle ages
more pleasing to look back upon than the existence of the
associated masons; they are the bright spot in the general
darkness of that period; the patch of verdure when all
around is barren," — Godwin, "Builder," ix. 463. . . 62

G

G. The use of the letter G in the Fellow Craft's Degree is an
anachronism. It is really a corruption of, or perhaps
rather a substitution for, the Hebrew letter "^ (yod),
which is the initial of the ineffable name. As such, it is
a symbol of the life-giving and life-sustaining power of
God 190

G /. A .*. O .*. T .*. U .*. A Masonic abbreviation used as a symbol of
the name of God, and signifying the Grand Architect of the
Universe. It was adopted by the Freemasons in accordance
with a similar practice among all the nations of antiquity of
noting the Divine Name by a symbol. .... 190

Gavel. What is called in Freemasonry a common gavel is a
stonecutter's hammer; it is one of the working tools of an

Synoptical Index 341

Entered Apprentice, and is a symbol of the purification of
the heart 93

Gloves. On the continent of Europe gloves are given to
candidates at the same time that they are invested with
the apron. The same custom formerly prevailed in Eng-
land; but although the investiture of the gloves is aban-
doned as a ceremony both there and in America, they are
worn as a part of the formal Masonic clothing. . .136
They are a symbol of purification of life. . . . .137

In the middle ages gloves were worn by operative workmen. 140

God, Name op. See Name.

God, Unity of. See Unity of God.

Golgotha. In Hebrew and Syriac the word means a skull and
is a name of Mount Calvary, which was so-called, probably,
because it was the place of public execution. The Latin
Calvaria, whence Mount Calvary, means also a skull. . 244

Grave. In the Master's Degree a symbol which is the

analogue of the pastos, or couch, in the ancient Mysteries. 241
The symbolism has been Christianized by some Masonic
writers, and the grave has thus been referred to the sepul-
chre of Christ 243

Grips and Signs. These are valuable only for social purposes

as modes of recognition. 215

H

Hand. The hand is a symbol of human actions. Pure hands
symbolize pure actions, and impure or unclean hands sym-
bohze impure actions 137

Hare. Among the Egyptians the hare was a hieroglyphic of
eyes that are open, and was the symbol of initiation into the
Mysteries of Osiris. The Hebrew word for hare is n^DIi^,
ar-neh-beth, and while this is of uncertain origin the claim
has been made that the words of which it is compounded
signify to behold the light. The connection of ideas is
apparent. 149

Hellenism. The religion of the Helles, or ancient Greeks who
immediately succeeded the Pelasgians in the settlement of
that country. It was, in consequence of the introduction of
the poetic element, more refined, than the old Pelasgic wor-
ship for which it was substituted. Its myths were more
philosophical and less gross than those of the religion which
it succeeded 47

342 Synoptical Index

Herm^. Stones of a cubical form, which were originally un-
hewn, by which the Greeks at first represented all their
deities. They came in the progress of time to be especially
dedicated by the Greeks to the god Hermes, whence the
name, and by the Romans to the god Terminus, who pre-
sided over landmarks. . 163

Hermetic Philosophy. The system of the alchemists, the
adepts, or seekers of the philosopher's stone. No system
has been more misunderstood than this. It was secret,
esoteric, and highly symbolical. No one has so well re-
vealed its true design as E. A. Hitchcock, who, in his de-
hghtful work entitled "Remarks upon 'Alchemy and the
Alchemists," says, "The genuine Alchemists were religious
men, who passed their time in legitimate pursuits, earning
an honest subsistence, and in religious contemplation,
studying how to realize in themselves the union of the
divine and human nature, expressed in man by an enlight-
ened submission to God's will; and they thought out and
published, after a manner of their own, a method of at-
taining or entering upon this state, as the only rest of the
soul." There is a very great similarity between their
doctrines and those of the Freemasons; so much so that
the two associations have sometimes been confounded. . 276

Hero Worship. The worship of men deified after death. It
is a theory of some students, both ancient and modern
writers, that all the pagan gods were once human beings,
and that the legends and traditions of mythology are mere
embellishments of the acts of these personages when alive.
It was the doctrine taught by Euhemerus among the
ancients, and has been maintained among the moderns
by such distinguished authorities as Bochart, Bryant,
Voss, and Banier 28

Hierophant. (From the Greek lepoj, holy^ sacred, and ^atVoj,
to show.) One who instructs in sacred things; the ex-
plainer of the aporrheta, or secret doctrines, to the initiates
in the ancient Mysteries. He was the presiding officer, and
his rank and duties were analogous to those of the Master of
a Masonic Lodge 146

HiRAM Abip. The architect of Solomon's temple. The word
"Abif" signifies in Hebrew "his father," and is used by the
writer of Second Chronicles (iv. 16) when he says, "These

Synoptical Index 343

things did Hiram his father [in the original Hiram Ahif]

do for King Solomon." 56

The legend relating to him is of no value as a mere nar-
rative, but of vast importance in a symboUcal point of
view, as illustrating a great philosophical and reU-
gious truth; namely, the dogma of the immortahty of

the soul 208

Hence, Hiram Abif is the symbol of man in the abstract sense,
or human nature, as developed in the life here and in the
life to come 233

Hiram of Tyre. The king of Tyre, the friend and ally of
King Solomon, whom he supplied with men and materials
for building the temple. In a recent symbolism of Free-
masonry (a sort of symbolism for which Bro. Mackey had
very httle veneration), Hiram of Tyre is styled the symbol
of strength, as Hiram Abif is of beauty. But Bro. Mackey
doubted the antiquity or authenticity of any such sym-
bolism. Hiram of Tyre in Bro. Mackey's opinion can
only be considered, historically, as being necessary to
complete the myth and symbolism of Hiram Abif. The
king of Tyre is a historical personage, and there is no neces-
sity for transforming him into a symbol, while his historical
character lends credit and validity to the philosophical
myth of the Third Degree of Freemasonry. . . .51

Hiram the Builder. An epithet of Hiram Abif. For the full

significance of the term, see the word Builder. . , 56

Ho-Hi. A cabaUstic pronunciation of the tetragrammaton, or
ineffable name of God; it is most probably the true one;
and as it hterally means he-she, it is supposed to denote
the hermaphroditic essence of Jehovah, as containing with-
in Himself the male and the female principle, — the gen-
erative and the prolific energy of creation. . . . 188