The Pythagoreans described the heptad-the number as worthy of veneration. It was held to be ther number of religion, because man is controlled by seven celestial spirits to whom it is proper for him to make offerings.
The Elohim of the Jews were supposedly seven in number. Tehy were the Spirits of the Dawn, more commonly known as the Archangels controlling the planets. The seven Archangels, with the three spirits controlling the sun in its threefold aspect, constitute the 10, the sacred Pythaorean decad.
10 was the most sacred number.
The Pythagoreans declared arithmetic to be he mother of the mathematical sciences. This is proved by the fact that geometry, music and astronomy are dependent upon it but it is not dependent upon them.
Here is a piece written a few months ago...
The Newsletter Oct 2007
c/o Iain Mackenzie
2366 Cavendish Drive
Burlington, ON L7P 3B4
Sir,
Regarding Vol.21 No.4 Questions to the Fraternity
My simple answers for your information:
Explain the significance of the seven stars. Why are they place over the SW’s chair?
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn her Seven Pillars.
In the Tracing-Board of the Seventeenth Degree, or Knight of the East & West, is the representation of a man clothed in a white robe, with a golden girdle round his waist, is right hand extended and surround with seven stars. The Seventeenth is an apocalyptic Degree and this symbol is taken for the passage in Revelation (I 16)” and he had in his right hand seven stars.” It is a symbol of the seven churches of Asia.
Seven Stars in the west: like the seven stars of the Pleiades reminds us of the Vernal Equinox. Summer Solstice, Midsummer’s Night is one of the 4 celebrated ancient and scared days. when day is longest, light of the sun at it’s most powerful; Winter Solstice, the shortest day when the sun is “reborn” of darkness, celebrates new beginning; Autumnal Equinox,” the dark night of the soul, is celebration of the harvest. And the Vernal Equinox, when day and night are in perfect balance, celebrates new life and that reminds us of the symbol with which the Senior Warden is invested, the level. Seven, the sacred number representing to the Hebrew, completion and perfection.
For stars to be seen we wait until the sun sets. Rising in the east our star sets in the west and brings the necessary darkness. “Any old sailor knows, you need night to see the stars”.
Why does “Charity” comprehend the whole?
The Socratic Method; isn’t it amazing what it does to the mind. This is an excellent question and we need to prepare to answer it but understanding more about the term charity, especially why freemasonry reveals comprehension of the whole depends on it.
The canon of freemasonry includes a path for those who wish to achieve the heights. In the JW lecture we are taught that the highest rung on the connection between heaven and earth is charity. It is an element of the character which fulfills a man and part of what enables him to live a content, wholesome and meaningful life.
I think we should not be too critical of those who have not thought in depth about charity. Throughout history, there are examples of the misery and suffering of poverty. Many pious people have been taught that charity is demeaning, somehow wrong and how often have we listened to a clever boy tell us, the hungry single mother and her children want or deserve their lot in life. He has not seen the world through the eyes of someone in need or has become cold to suffering. Therein is a demonstration of a form of charity; compassion and empathy.
Philanthropy or a foundation fund is a wonderful act for those who realize how deeply satisfying to care for someone who may never know the source. Some masons who say it is they who benefit. Others would say it is a selfless act and become suspicious of the motive behind silence when meagre self promotion is so rampant. Charity involves currency of a different sort. In this bank, we hold the riches of insight. When faced with starvation a person can and should do anything to survive. We have all heard that statement. But there are limits and who judges those limits; those who have starved or the affluent? Another form of charity is to accept the starving man’s justification for acting in uncommon ways and not criminalize him. Leniency is another word for charity.
One definition of charity is benevolence toward those in need of disfavour. When we experience forgiveness we are seeing an expression of charity. When we express non- sexual and unselfish love such as brotherly love between masons, it is a charity or giving of deep feeling to another. In English the word agape more often replaces charity.
Such strong reactions are prompted by the politics of charity. Fortunately carrying out the acts can be done without talking about it. Darn that Jacob, for dreaming about a ladder connecting the sublunary abode with the eternal mansions. Darn those dreamers who understand charity is not about giving, that it is about receiving much more in return that we can give to others.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have he gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I cold remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing.
a esse ad posse
Thank you for the opportunity.
W.Bro. Dale Graham F.C.F.,
North Star Lodge No. 322 Grey Masonic District
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