Its interpretation has been involved in mystery. Nor do the general discussions which prevail amongst the Brethren tend to elucidate the subject in a manner that is perfectly satisfactory. The Tau Cross T, which distinguishes the Master Mason's apron, has been referred to the Three Great Lights of Masonry, which represent the Sacred Word, expressive of his creative, preserving, and destroying power. These lights are placed in the form of an equilateral triangle, each of the lesser intersecting the line formed by the two greater. Thus geometrically dividing the greater triangle into three lesser triangles, at its extremities; and by their union form a fourth triangle in the centre; all of them being equal and equilateral; emblematical equally of the Tetragrammaton and the Four Degrees of Masonry. This symbolical arrangement appears to correspond with the mysterious Tau Cross triplified, which forms two right angles on each of the exterior lines, and'' another at the centre by their union; for the three angles of each triangle are equal to two right angles. This illustrates the jewel worn by the Companions of the R. A., which, by its intersection, forms a given number of angles. These may be taken in five several combinations; and being reduced, their amount in right angles will be found equal to the five Platonic bodies which represent the four elements and sphere of the universe.

But this has been deemed no satisfactory explanation of the precise meaning of the symbol.

The letter Tau is translated from the Chaldaic Hebrew, to signify the mark or sign spoken of by the angel, which Ezekiel saw in the spirit, when the man with the writer's inkhorn was recommended to go through the cities of Jerusalem, and set the mark of God on those who sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.* And by this mark they were preserved when, by the wrathful displeasure of Jehovah, the idolatrous people were slain. Hence, in ancient times, this mark T was set on those who had been acquitted by their judges, in token of their innocence. The military commanders placed it on those who

"I have elsewhere observed," says Maurice," the very singular manner after which the Latin Vulgate, and probably the more ancient copies of the Septuagint, have rendered the original of that passage in Ezekiel, ix. 4: I will set a mark upon their forehead,' rendering it in their version, I will mark them on the forehead with the letter TAU,' which affords room to suppose it was a symbol of a more sacred import than is generally imagined, in the early patriarchal age."

escaped unhurt from the field of battle, as a symbol of safety under the divine protection. For these causes it has been designated an emblem of LIFE. And in our own island, it was highly venerated in connection with the oak, which was a tree sacred amongst all nations, and considered as peculiarly sanctified by the gods, if not their immediate residence. The fairest tree in the grove+ was solemnly consecrated with many superstitious ceremonies. Sometimes it was divested of some of its collateral branches, and one of the largest was preserved, and so constructed as to exhibit the form of the Tau Cross. On the back of the tree they inscribed the word Tau, by which, says Borlase, they meant God. On the right arm was inscribed Hesus, on the left, Belenus, and on the middle of the trunk, Tharamis.§ This was to represent the sacred triad.

It is rather curious, and displays the workings of an overruling Providence, that the Jews and Romans should have condemned Jesus to die by the very instrument which, in all nations, had been previously esteemed the symbol of eternal life. And hence it appears that this emblem T, amongst Christians, was not altogether primitive. But it is by no means clear that the early converts were acquainted with its use amongst their heathen neighbours; although at Rome the statue of Osiris was distinguished by it; and in Egypt the same figure was sculptured on gems, and signified vitam eternam. And when the Temple of Osiris, at Alexandria, was destroyed at the command of Theodosius, crosses were found cut in stone, which, as we are informed by Socrates, || occasioned many of the people to become Christians. "The

*

-Robora numinis instar. (Claud in Const. Stilich, 1. 1.) † This represented the central tree in the Garden of Eden, and was a transcript of a similar superstition all over the world. Isaiah (lxvi. 17) gives a curious illustration of this practice, as used by the idolators for purification.

Probably from an old tradition of the trees of knowledge and life, (Gen. iii. 5, 22); for it is certain that the ideas of science and immortality were combined in the sacred tree.

§ Forsitan pro Taranys. To this ancient way of inscribing names on sacred symbols, St. John seems to allude in Rev. iii. 12: "Him that overcometh I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and I will write upon him the Name of my God; and I will write upon him my new Name." And again, xiii. 1: "I saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads, and upon his heads the names of blasphemy; and upon his forehead was a name written-Mystery-Babylon the Great." Ib. xvii. 3.

|| Hist. Eccles., l. 5, c. 17.

sign of the cross," says Edmonstone, "amongst the Egyptians, signified Life; and was the mark by which they expressed the number Ten, which was a perfect number, denoting Heaven, and the Pythagorean Tetractys, or incommunicable Name of God. The symbolical pagan cross was originally the Tautic, not the compound figure with four arms; for this last, I apprehend, was more modern than the former, being, in fact, merely a double T.

This symbol, as I have already observed, is interpreted by some of our Brethren to allude to the temple at Jerusalem, (Templum Hierosolyma), who think that the T is placed over the H to denote the superiority of the place which was the habitation of God, over that which was only the dwelling-place of man; for though the city was holy, the temple exceeded it in holiness. Others consider it, I apprehend with greater reason, to be the Tau Cross of heathen nations triplified. Count de Gebelin informs us, that this symbol was carried by the Egyptian priests during the processions attending their most sacred rites; and therefore, was not unknown to the Israelites in their wanderings, and was consequently a Jewish emblem in existence before the Temple of Solomon was erected. It is, indeed, inserted as a sacred symbol on the Isiac Table; and hence, has been taken by some for a Nilometre, or key of the Nile, to measure the increase and decrease of its fructifying waters. This latter opinion is, I am persuaded, erroneous; for the Nilometre would scarcely have been considered of sufficient importance to be stamped on the forehead of the Egyptian Epopts: nor could it have been imitated in Persia; and the Tau, as Tertullian informs us, (and he is an unexceptionable authority, because he had himself been initiated before his conversion to Christianity), was inscribed on the forehead of every person who had been admitted into the mysteries of Mithras.

Other opinions have been delivered, which it would be improper to introduce here.

How true soever it may be that the Tau Cross was used by the Hebrews before their deliverance from Egyptian bondage, and continued through the entire period of their history, I shall treat it, in its triplifical character, as a symbol peculiarly adapted to Christian Freemasonry; thus partaking of the typical nature and application of all other parts of the Jewish mode of worship; for although the single

VOL. I.

D

Tau Cross is found amongst the symbols of many ancient nations, we have no certain evidence that the Triple Tau, combined in this form, as a single symbol, existed till after the Crucifixion of Christ. And I am inclined to think, that it was adopted in some very early age of the church, as a monogram to represent the Great I A M, by whom the gloomy and shapeless masses of chaos were changed into order, regularity, and beauty, and probably used as the sign or mark of some eminent ecclesiastical architect, and thence perpetuated in the system of Freemasonry as a Master's Mark; for it is the precise form which was anciently termed the Greek Cross. coins.

And thus we find it represented on

Of one of the coins on which this symbol appears, Dr. Walsh writes thus: "Justinian erected a statue in the Augusteion, to which he gave the globe and cross which others had confined to their coins. He seemed ambitious of distinction in minor points. He modified the form of the cross into that which still continues in the eastern church to be peculiarly called the Greek Cross; and he bent down. the tiara, so as to give it the shape of the modern crown surmounted by a cross, as used at present by Christian monarchs. These circumstances are commemorated on his coins. The above represents the Greek Cross standing on a pedestal of steps."

MASONIC OFFERING TO DR. OLIVER.*

AT a meeting of the Committee, held in the Freemasons' Hall, Lincoln, on Thursday, January 19, 1843,

PRESENT:

Brothers-Henry Goddard (in the chair), Harvey, (Treasurer), E. A. Bromhead, J. Nicholson Drury, Taylor Middleton, Webber, Greathead, (Secretary), and others, it was

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY,—

"That Brothers W. A. Nicholson, Goodacre, and Jepson, be a SubCommittee, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions among the Brethren in Lincoln, and the neighbourhood thereof.

"That Brother W. H. Adams, (Mayor of Boston), and the W. M. of the Lodge of Harmony, be requested to act as a Sub-Committee in their own neighbourhood.

"That Brother Malim be requested to act at Grantham, and Brother Smedley at Sleaford.

"That Brother R. T. Crucefix, M.D., P. G. Deacon, and Brother J. Lee Stevens, P.G. Steward, be requested to communicate with the various Lodges, Chapters, and Encampments, beyond the province of Lincoln, inviting them to form Committees, to obtain subscriptions, and to communicate the result with the least possible delay."

(Signed)" HENRY GODDARD, Chairman."

We have received a considerable number of letters on the subject of the " Oliver Offering"-creditable to the writers, and breathing sentiments of gratitude and esteem for the venerated Brother to whom the presentation is about to be made. In our advertising columns will be found an additional list of Subscribers; and we have to apologise to some friends whose names came too late to be included in the Report. Time, as yet, does not permit returns from India and other distant parts, where the "Masonic Light" which Dr. Oliver has imparted, burns as brightly as here; so that it is possible the day of presentation may be delayed somewhat longer than could be wished; but, come when it will, it will be a day of joy and rejoicing.

* It is necessary to apprize such of our new Subscribers as may not be aware of the circumstance, that our esteemed Brother, the Rev. George Oliver, D.D., has passed upwards of forty years of a most valuable life in the practice of Masonic principles; that he has adorned Freemasonry by a life of unsullied purity-has enriched it by the most precious gift of an exalted literature: to do him honour, as the historian of our order, is the pride of a great number of those who have profited by his labour, and benefited by his example.