Symbolism, a treatise on the soul of things; ...

Front matter

A Treatise on the Soul of Things ; How the Natural World is

but a Symbol of the Real World ; the Modern Church,

with its Spire and Cross, and the Bible Account

Preface

N PRESENTING "Symbolism" to the world the author feels a sense of satisfaction in having accomplished a long cherished desire. The information contained herein, is not new to a few at least. Because of the prejudice of "the world,"

ftftW those who have been in possession of the light have hesitated to let it shine, knowing the time was not yet. It is expected that authorities will be searched to find the relation of Masonry to Playing Cards, but such authorities as the public will most frequently consult have themselves been misled. They have been obliged to assign some excuse for the existence of playing cards and not knowing the truth, have attributed their origin to the amusement of a foolish king, etc. One excuse is as good as another, however, when the real truth cannot be revealed, therefore the custodians of the light have permitted all sorts of misinformation to be circulated, knowing the true light would be revealed at the proper time. The truth teller is still in danger of social ostracism ; not in danger as to personal liberty and life, however, as of yesterday. Humanity claims to have made wonderful progress, yet we read of a Christian nation asking God to assist it, by means of warfare, in its endeavors to annihilate another equally Christian nation. Brother is still arrayed against brother: each still believes in a personal God, subject to bribery and barter. Each still thinks of heaven as a locality, of hell an alleyway leading thereto.

Science has already reached the border land of materiality, her past domain, and is now stretching forth her hand into the realm of the psychic. Humanity itself, however, is fast becoming synthetical

SYMBOLISM ix and scientific, and in order to retain their hold as teacher, and priest, and doctor, these professions must of a necessity find new fields of thought into which to lead their followers or lose their office.

Their cable tow of the past having about united with that of the immediate future they find themselves pushed off the mountain of error into the great realm of unknown truth — as yet unexplored — whose title may well be said to be "The Unknown Country/'

The layman now lays aside faith and demands of the man of God that he prove his title by his works.

The doctor, claiming for his profession a scientific basis, is commanded to cease "practicing" and give positive results.

Symbolism is offered the public as a simple key. Its study and perusal will open to the "ripe" mind a store of unfathomable riches. It is hoped that by it many a soul will "see" the light, then "seek" and in "secrecy" find the truth of his own being.

NOTICE.

The two large charts embraced in this work may become torn and otherwise disfigured by much use and reference. Should the owner ever desire to replace them, or want duplicates for more convenient reference, the same can be had by addressing the publisher. The price is 15 cents each or the two for 25 cents.

SYMBOLISM xi

CHAPTER II Page 33 DIVINE TRUTH

A Search for Truth — To Know Truth One Must Be Truth — What a Symbol Is — How the Ancients by Means op Symbols Have Perpetuated Their Knowledge of Universal Laws — The Church, Freemasonry and the People Each Entrusted With a Duty — Only the People Have Been True to the Charge — The Bible of the Ancients Is To- Day a Plaything and Known as a Pack of Playing Cards — The Discovery of America and Development of the United States Precludes the Necessity of Longer Keeping Secret the Real True Nature of This Sacred Book of Symbols — Beauty of Symbolism.

CHAPTER III Page 42 HUMANITY A UNIT

"I and My Father Are One" — "Ye and Me Are Brothers" — "If I Be Raised Up I Draw All Men Unto Me" — These Quotations From Christ Are Simple Truths Applicable to Every One — We Are All Saviors; We Are All Judases — They Are Symbolic Expressions of Laws Operating Within Every Person — Every Man a Prophet; Every Man the Fulfillment of a Prophecy— -All Are Criminals; All Are Executioners — Past, Present and Future Blended Into the Eternal Now — The Assassination of Lincoln, Garxii SYMBOLISM

FIELD AND McKlNLEY LAID AT THE DOOR OF HUMANITY'S

Thought — The United States a Light-Bearer to the World.

CHAPTER IV Page 54 SUBJECT OF SYMBOLISM

Nature Itself One Vast Symbol — Masonry and Catholicism Rich Fields in Symbolism for the Mystic Student — Soul, Spirit and Matter Defined — The Christian Cross in Symbolism a Picture of the Male Organ — The Circle and Square a Picture of the Female Organ — How Humanity Unconsciously Is Perpetuating the Old Phallic Religion — The Bible Account of Noah's Ark and the Two Pillars of Masonry Shown To Be a Kindergarten Story of the Perpetuation of the Animal Species Through the Blending of the Sexes.

CHAPTER VI Page 95

The Divine Language of the Pack of Playing Cards — As a Record of God's Sacred and Inspired Word Its Authenticity Is Second to None Other, Being Written in a Language Universal, Dealing With the Laws of Soul, Spirit and Body — The Four Suits as Emblems Refer to the Four Elements in Nature: Fire, Earth, Air and Water — The Diamond the Cross of Christ; the Spade, an Acorn; the Heart, a Flame of Fire; the Club, a Clover Leaf — The Four Kings Symbols of Life and Death.

SYMBOLISM xiii

CHAPTER VII Page 105

Woman a Ruler as Well as Man — Her Power to Rule Being the Law oe Conception — The Four Jacks Symbols oe the Neuter Element in Matter — Also Symbols oe the Soul, Conscience and Christ Principle — The Attitude oe the Court Cards Show a Desire eor the Principle Symbolized by the Suit.

CHAPTER VIII Page 115

King Solomon's Temple and the Human Body One and the Same — Diseases of" Women the Result oe Amorous Thoughts Directed Toward Them by Men — The Women oe America Have Recognized This Law and by Resolution Have Declared Against It — Consideration oe the Individual Cards — King oe Diamonds — King oe Spades — King oe Hearts — King oe Clubs — The King oe Clubs Wears Upon His Breast the Ancient Badge oe a Free and Accepted Mason.

CHAPTER IX Page 128

The Knave, Politician, Christ and the Conscience All One and the Same — Jack oe Diamonds, in Sign oe Libra, Symbol oe the Soul in Its First Embodiments; Also Symbol oe the Masonic Candidate — Jack oe Spades, in Sign Capricorn, Symbol oe the Advancement Made by the Candidate — The Origin oe the Expression, "Riding the Goat" — Overcoming Death — Jack oe Hearts, in Sign Aries, Teaches the Same Lesson as the Grand Degree oe the Royal Arch — When Divine Love Is Made a Mercantile Commodity It Brings Death to the Vendor — Jack oe Clubs, in Sign Cancer, the Candidate Makes the Grand Discovery.

xiv SYMBOLISM

CHAPTER X . Page 139

The Four Queens — The Flowers Carried by Them Symbolize the Nine Months of Gestation, the Twelve Months of the Year, the Signs of the Zodiac, Etc. — Queen of Spades, Symbol of Death and Resurrection — The Queen Card Also a Symbol of the Christ Principle — Birth of America the Birth of Woman's Freedom — The Important Part Woman Is Playing in the Evolution of the Race — The Duty of the United States — Its Relations With Other Nations Prophesied in the Cards — Physical Divisions of the Country, Number of States, Executive, Judiciary and Legislative Branches Seen and Read in the Cards — Even the District of Columbia Symbolized by One of the Cards — Vision of an International Flag.

CHAPTER XI Page 153

The Grand Archetypal Man — The Four Suits Co-ordinate With the Four Elements, Fire, Earth, Air and Water — Growth and Development of Our Bodies Shown To Be the Result of Planetary Influence — By the Chart Every One Can See the Nature of His Cross — It Is a Picture of the Masonic Grand Lodge or King Solomon's Temple — The Candidate Is Symbolized by the Jack of Diamonds in the Sign Libra, Quarter of Wealth — The Tramp and the Millionaire — The Kidneys Brains of Sexation — The Two Pillars of the Temple.

CHAPTER XII Page 161

Jack of Spades, Sign Capricorn, Quarter of Death — The Candidate Has Lost His Perfection — Learns the Lesson of

SYMBOLISM xv

Compensation — The Scapegoat — It Is in This Quarter the Soul Meets and Overcomes Death.

CHAPTER XIII Page 164

Jack of Hearts in Quarter of Love, Sign Aries — The Candidate Is Still Imperfect — Having Overcome Death He Is Now Taught the Lesson of the Evergreen Leaf — He Learns to Walk With God — The Debris of Solomon's Temple, Human Thought — The Discovery and Raising of the Grand Master by the Candidate Himself — The Three

T's.

CHAPTER XIV Page 170

Jack of Clubs, Quarter of Wisdom, Sign Cancer — The Candidate Takes the Degree of Perfection and Is Crowned With Life Everlasting — The True Lesson of the Cable Tow Is Revealed — The Legend of Osiris and Isis — The Zodiacal Sign of the Crab (Cancer) a Symbol Teaching the Same Lesson as the Cable Tow — The Candidate Soul Discovers and Lays Hold of His Own Heart — He Becomes the Word — An Ancient Badge of a Free and Accepted Mason.

CHAPTER XV Page 17^

A Brief Glimpse at the Esoteric Meaning of the Signs of the Zodiac — Aries, the Head, Signifies Strategy, Service and Soul Power; Also the Christ Principle — Cancer, the Breasts, Concentration, Service and Christ — Libra, the Reins, Teach Self Judgment, Service of an Unpleasant Nature — To Lose the Power of One's Kidneys Is to Lose One's Life — Why a Mason Should Protect His Kidneys — xvi SYMBOLISM

Capricorn, the Knees, Symbol of Rejection, Introspection — A Symbol of the Committee of Investigation — The Four Mental Signs, Homes of the Four Knaves, Combine to Make True Birthplaces for the Only Divine Calling, That of the Lawyer.

CHAPTER XVI Page 189

A Kabalistic Chart — Geometry and Masonry Synonymous — The Tarot — Evolution and War — Faith the Foundation of All Endeavor — The Heart a Picture of Love- —Gold and God Polar Opiposites — Hyram Abif and the Soul Shown To Be One and the Same.

CHAPTER XVII Page 196

Gender in Vegetation — The Wonderful Multiplying Powers of Cereals — The Vegetable Kingdom Expresses a Part of the Grand Word — Struggle and Strife Necessary to Growth — In the Animal World Only Does War Exist — When a Brain Has Been Evolved and Prepared, Then the Soul Takes Possession — The Human Soul Never Incarnated in Anything Less Than the Human Animal — Names as Symbols — Names Like the Grand Word in Three Parts.

CHAPTER XVIII Page 202

The Four Great Emblems — The Three Ruffians — Number Belongs to the Soul Realm and Is Expressed in Color Only — Name Is Characteristic of the Spirit Form — Owned by the World of Matter — The Esoteric Meaning of the Two Veils.

SYMBOLISM xvii

CHAPTER XIX Page 209 IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS

Atoms as Mirrors — Humanity Unconscious of Health, but Awake to Disease — The Human Family Covering the Surface of the Earth Likened Unto the Cuticle, or Skin, of the Individual — Each Individual Human a Center Creative, and the Entire Human Famly the Circumference — Masonry Conceals Its Secrets From Aix Except the Adepts — Using False Explanations and Misinterpretations — Truth a Deadly Thing — Man in Constant Communion With God.

CHAPTER XX Page 215 DIGITS

Symbolism of the Nine Digits and Cipher — Why Our Mathematical System Includes Only Ten Characters — Why They Are so Formed — A Defense of Lucifer — Why Masons Should Study Mathematics — Gender in Numbers — Every Breath We Breathe Is Numbered, Gendered and Named — A Scientific Explanation of Blessing Food — A Basis for the Science of Astrology — Why Masons Should Study Chemistry, Music and Architecture — The Christian Cross Shown in a New Light — The Double; Cross — Sealed by the Stars.

CHAPTER XXI Page 234 THE MASONIC TILED FLOOR

The Surface of the Earth the Tiled Floor of the Universal Lodge—Each Atom of Matter a White or a Black Square — How the Tiled Floor Teaches the Lesson of Evolution — Suns Like Individuals, Have Their Polar Opposites — xviii SYMBOLISM

How the Square Becomes a Circle — A Mason's Every Thought Is on the Square — Man a Creator of Life Within Himself — The Nature and Longevity of All Life Dependent Upon the Size of the Square Made by the Creating Soul, Whether It Be a Square of the Universe or Only a Man's Body — Five Points of Contact Illustrated by the Rose Croix.

CHAPTER XXII Page 244 MAN UNIVERSAL

Man's Mind Is Everywhere — Possible for Clairvoyants to See the Same Person in Different Places at the Same Time — The Reader Is Invited to Try a Simple Experiment and Prove the Universality of His Own Mind — Mental Acrobatics — Memory a Faculty of the Mind, Not of the Brain — Prophecy the Art of Reading the Mind — Matter a Vehicle of Mind — All Our Thoughts, Acts and Deeds, Now and Forever, Recorded in the Atomic World — A Stupendous Thought — A Glimpse at Our Own Future.

CHAPTER XXIII Page 250 THE LION'S GRIP

Misinterpretation by Masons of Their Symbols — The Lion's Grip Said To Be a Relic of Sun Worship — The Three Ruffians Claimed To Be the Three Winter Months — A Wide Guess at the Crux Ansata — Its True Meaning a Union of the Sexes — A Memento of the Phallic Religion Handed Down to Us — The Crux Ansata and the Figure Six Symbols of the Same Law — Why Woman Cannot Be a Mason — The Entire Lesson of Masonry Taught in the Three First Degrees, Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master.

SYMBOLISM xix

CHAPTER XXIV Page 261 THE ALL-SEEING EYE

The Human Sour, Born into Matter with the Five Senses Fully Developed for It — These Are Its Working Tools — The Trestle Board op the Soul — The Soul Like Hiram Abip, a Skilled Workman Among Metals — No Sound Except Metallic Sound — Psycho metry a Masonic Art — The Origin op Handshaking — Grips, Signs and Passwords May Be Counterfeited, but the Law op the Soul Is Unerring — The Intelligence op the Atom — The Importance op the Atom — Atoms Bear the Imprint and Name op the Form in Which They Are Incorporated — We Are Unconscious op Health, but Awaken to Hunger, Thirst, Disease and Pain — It Was the Sinners Who Were Nearest Approached by Christ — Each Human Being an Atom in the Divine Anatomy — Humanity as a Whole Forms the Skin or Cuticle op the World — The World Itself but an Atom in the Universe op Worlds — Each Individual a Center and the Human Family Its Circumference — How Masonry Intentionally Misleads Its Members — The Truth Is Not for Those Who Would Misuse It — Truth a Deadly Thing — Man in Constant and Conscious Communion with God.

CHAPTER XXV Page 268 PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE LAW

The Reader Is Invited to Test the Truthfulness of the Statements Made in the Preceding Pages by a Joint Exercise of the Will and Breath — A Realization of Life.

A NARRATIVE

Chapter I

The writer was raised in and about Chicago. In the month of March, 1884, President Arthur appointed me to take charge of the Indian school at Fort Hall, Ida., Mrs. Pottenger being named as matron. The position, it was stated, was non-political; my tenure of office would probably be of long duration since much difficulty had been experienced in getting a teacher to stay for any considerable period in that lonely locality. The only other white people at the fort were the sewing teacher and cook.

I took a deep interest in the work of teaching the Indian children ; indeed, I enjoyed the duties more than any work I ever had before or since. We had been in our new position only six months, however, when we were discharged by President Cleveland.

White people were not allowed to live on the Fort Hall reservation. Our nearest neighbor was a man named George Howell, who lived across the Blackfoot river and several miles from the fort. In some manner, having learned of our discharge, he invited us to make his log cabin our home until we could locate ourselves. In a few weeks the door of another log cabin opened. "Dud" Gramer, a bachelor cowboy living up the Blockfoot river several miles, allowed that "if we would keep house and 'tend the ranch while he rode the range he would do the fair thing by us," so we took up our abode with him on what was known at that time as the " Shoemaker Ranch," it being owned by Judge Shoemaker of Blackfoot. While living here I received my first lessons in cowboy life as well as the art of trapping beaver. We had been on the ranch but a short time, however, when "Dud" informed me that he had "thrown up his contract and was going to quit the ranch." This, again, threw me upon the world with my wife and two little boys.

Two days later I was in Blackfoot City talking with the postmaster, Joe Warren. In the course of our conversation I made known my condition. Mr. Warren said he had a good log house on a ranch down the river and placed it at my disposal. In a few days we moved from up the river fifteen miles above Blackfoot to down the river about five miles below that town. There was only one log cabin now between our house and the confluence of the Snake and Blackfoot rivers. At the point at which we lived the rivers were two miles apart. Along the Snake river there was a heavy growth of sycamore and cottonwood timber.

The cabin in which we lived, if still standing, will be found to contain six rooms, one built against the other. Doorways were cut from one room to the next. In early days Mr. Warren had built a toll bridge across the Blackfoot river at this point. He had erected a large log barn, and in his six-room house kept a supply of goods such as trappers, miners, cowboys, soldiers and Indians had need for. He also bought furs, gold dust, grain, vegetables and other products of the land.

In the very early days of Idaho Joe Warren's place was known for hundreds of miles. He was the justice of the peace, and as such was authorized to perform marriage ceremonies.

Being an illiterate man he had little regard for the English language and his marriage ceremony was unique if not the only one of its kind. In one of his six rooms Joe kept an excuse of a bar for the dissemination of "wet goods," and it was his wont to seal a trade or bargain of any kind by treating or being treated.

Marriages, of course, were few and far between on account of the great scarcity of the female sex ; when a marriage did occur cowboys, Indians, trappers and miners for many miles around would congregate to witness the ceremony.

The company having gathered in the large Common room, so called on account of the large fireplace, Joe would stand the bride and groom in the center of the room. Taking the hand of the bride he would place it in that of the groom and addressing himself to her would say:

"Do you take this man to be your husband?" After receiving the customary timid "Yes, sir," he would then address the groom :

"Will you take this woman to be your wife?" Upon an affirmative reply being made he would say, "Well, then, I pronounce you man and wife, and if any fellow says you ain't he's a damn liar. Let's take a drink."

We spent the winter of 1884-5 in this log house. The first work I did while there was to help an Indian, by name "Rube," to build a log hut, receiving as pay five sacks of potatoes.

We had as a near neighbor J. N. Stevens, prominent in that country because he owned a store in Blackfoot and was also a Commissioner.

Mr. Stevens one day told me he intended to have some wood chopped down on the "bottoms" of Snake river and said he would take all I could chop at $2.00 per cord. Seeing in this an opportunity to at least make a living for my family I eagerly accepted the offer.

The snow was very deep in Idaho that winter, ten or twelve inches on the level; however, none fell in that vicinity to "lay on" until about the middle of January.

On account of the sparsely settled condition of the country every man went armed, not because there was any real danger, but there was much imaginary danger from Indians and wild beasts.

The timber on Snake river where I labored was about two miles from our house. Provided with rubber boots to wade through the deep snow, a Winchester rifle, a 45 Colt's revolver, and my dinner pail and ax I set out every morning just before day for the timber. I was young, strong and athletic and have never enjoyed a winter any more in my life.

The first three days of my wood chopping were industrious ones; I enjoyed the solitude of the woods, naturally supposing myself to be the only man on the river bottoms for many miles.

The fourth day of my new work found me doing some investigating; I thought to "look around" a little and study the locality. I had only gone down the river about a quarter of a mile, following an old channel, when I was greatly surprised to discover a small log cabin ensconsed in a cluster of willows. The rear of the cabin butted up against the bank so that it might be taken for the entrance to a tunnel mine.

Judging from the surroundings the occupant had not been there long; yet the cabin did not have a "new" appearance; again it did not seem old. From the side on which I approached I could see no window. My first impression was that it must be the entrance to a gravel mine. This thought, however, was dispelled when I discovered a small bit of chimney projecting above the rear roof. I thought I could discern a faint streak of blue smoke ascending from it. My first impression was one of disappointment: for had I not supposed myself to be the only person on the river that morning? The sun was shining brightly, there was not a cloud in the sky, the thermometer was 5 degrees below zero. I had felt within myself that I was nearer to God than I had ever been in all my life.

The little structure was so hidden by willows that not until I was within twenty feet of it had I discovered it; so my contemplation was at short range. A wash pan, turned bottom side up on a stump just outside the door, told me the cabin was occupied. Thinking to make the acquaintance of my new neighbor I approached the door.

A short strap hung through a hole that had been burned through the door. Just above the strap were two words characteristic of frontier life. They had been burnt into the door : "Come in." I pulled the strap, and as the door swung open the long, lean, gaunt figure of a man slowly arose from a rude bunk made of poles covered with cedar boughs, blankets and fur skins. There was hardly room enough for him to stand erect between the dirt floor and the ceiling. In a rather stooping attitude, with hands hanging limp by his side he faced me, and in smooth and mellow tones he said :

"Brother Pottenger, I believe? Good morning."

"That is my name," I replied; "but you have the best of me in knowing it; I do not remember ever having seen you before."

"What matters it? We are neighbors and ought to be friends," he said; at the same time he pointed to> a chair before the fireplace.

This piece of furniture was so constructed as to do double duty, either as a chair in which to sleep or one on which to sit. He replenished the fire and, as I occupied the only chair in the house, sat on the floor with his back against the chimney. The side of his body next to the fire was very close to it; so close, in fact, that I momentarily thought his clothes would ignite. He did not seem to mind the heat in the least, notwithstanding I had to move my chair farther back in order to be comfortable.

He was glad of my company; this I saw and mentally resolved to learn all I could from him. With this object in view I began to question. What was his name? How long he had lived there? What was his business ? And was he a miner or trapper ? I had seen none of the working tools of either profession lying around, though I thought if he were the former he might be "laying off" for the day on account of the weather. He answered all my questions satisfactorily until I asked why the river upon whose pebbly bed we were then sitting was called the " Snake river/' Immediately a new light shone in his black eyes. Taking a pebble from the mantel over the fireplace he handed it to me with the very surprising reply: "Read your answer in that and, if its language is foreign, then turn your eyes within/ '

I took the pebble and at once saw a beautiful specimen of the moss agate in which the Snake river abounds. But the mute pebble spoke not a word. I turned to* my host with a questioning look.

"Man has within him the key to the process by which he may know all there is to know," he said, looking at me with his black penetrating eyes. I felt he had spoken a truth, the immensity of which I could not then comprehend. I felt, too, that those same words either had befallen my ears once before or that they were to be repeated to me some time in the future. I felt they were big with prophesy and the truth.

Seeing- my perplexity the stranger took the pebble and said, "I called you 'brother' when I addressed you a while ago because I recognize that the source of your life and mine are the same. Coming from the great city of Chicago — the acme of civilization — as you have recently, and now finding yourself in such surroundings as these I am not surprised that you should be astonished at finding a man of my appearance thus speaking to you; but, my brother, there is nothing strange in life; and there are no secrets in nature beyond man's ability to find out, because he has within him the key to the process by which he may know all there is to know.

"This pebble is a world.

"It is full of life.

"The source of its life is the same as that from which you and I draw our life.

"It will speak to us in its own language and tell us the history of this river, but in order to understand it one must be able to read the soul of things.

"It is a fractional part of the river.

"It is also a fractional part of this world and in that sense has for its source the same origin as your body and mine.

"This river's bed is made up of pebbles that seemingly lie so close together that there is no space between them, yet that space is filled with life, real living entities.

"This world of ours is only a pebble among other worlds — also pebbles — and the space between is not a vacuum only in so far as it contains no matter or earthy substance.

"The iron forming the beautiful tree, you see in that crystal was once held in solution and was free; it is now held by atomic attraction in that form. It has its counterpart in millions of pebbles and the tree you see pictured there is the image of trees on other worlds.

"As the body of the individual is the medium, or vehicle, through which the individual mind or spirit expresses itself, so the universe in its entirety is the body or medium through which the universal mind or spirit of God finds expression.

"By universe is meant not only the world upon which we live, but the sun and the entire starry heavens.

"As there are organs in the physical body having a special purpose, so there are worlds and systems of worlds in the great universal body performing special duties. Indeed, planetary systems have their special molecular construction the same as special organs and parts of our bodies have particular atomic and molecular make-up. For instance, the atomic and molecular construction of the planet Mars is no more similar to that of Saturn than the atomic and molecular construction of the heart is similar to that of the liver. The heart could not perform its function of contraction and dilation if it were composed of the material of which the liver is made. The atoms of matter that enter into the composition of the bones of our bodies could not possibly do duty as a part of the eye. The vibrations of the atoms of which the bones are composed are too low. A collection of bone atoms in the eye would soon cause ossification of that organ.