Jeremy L. Cross
masonic lecturer of New Hampshire and Connecticut, 1783 to 1860, who compiled the chart and its monitor; the plates were engraved by Amos Doolittle of New Haven.
Master's Carpet
Jacob's Ladder
The Mosaic Pavement and the Blazing Star
The Point within a Circle
The Two Pillars
The Letter G
The Weeping Virgin, the Broken Column and Time
The Pot of Incense and the Beehive
The All-Seeing Eye, the Sun, the Moon, the Comet and the Heart
The Anchor and the Ark, the Forty-seventh Problem, the Hourglass and the Scythe
The Setting Maul, the Spade, the Coffin and the Sprig of Acacia
The cloud filling the Temple
The Burning Bush
The Arms of Royal Arch Masonry
The Vault and the Delta in Glory
Readings given
44 passages on 13 pictures in the archive, from The True Masonic Chart, or Hieroglyphic Monitor.
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engraved beneath the plate
“Masters Carpet.”
the monitor, Master Mason, third section, page 38
“Usually delineated upon the master's carpet, are emblematical of the three principal stages of human life, viz. youth, manhood, and age. In youth, as entered apprentices, we ought industriously to occupy our minds in the attainment of useful knowledge: in manhood, as fellow crafts, we should apply our knowledge to the discharge of our respective duties to God, our neighbors, and ourselves; that so, in age, as master masons, we may enjoy the happy reflections consequent on a well-spent life, and die in the hope of a glorious immortality.”
“The Pot of Incense is an emblem of a pure heart, which is always an acceptable sacrifice to the Deity; and, as this glows with fervent heat, so should our hearts continually glow with gratitude to the great beneficent Author of our existence, for the manifold blessings and comforts we enjoy.”
the monitor, Master Mason, the close of the third section, page 41
“Thus we close the explanation of the emblems upon the solemn thought of death, which, without revelation, is dark and gloomy; but the Christian is suddenly revived by the ever green and ever living sprig of Faith in the merits of the Lion of the tribe of Judah.”
the monitor, Master Mason, third section, page 39
“The Sword, pointing to a Naked Heart, demonstrates that justice will sooner or later overtake us; and although our thoughts, words and actions, may be hidden from the eyes of men, yet that All-seeing Eye, whom the Sun, Moon, and Stars obey, and under whose watchful care even Comets perform their stupendous revolutions, pervades the inmost recesses of the human Heart, and will reward us according to our merits.”
“whom the Sun, Moon, and Stars obey”
the monitor, Fellow Craft, second section, page 24
“The Globes are two artificial and spherical bodies; on the convex surface of which are represented, the countries, seas, and various parts of the earth, the face of the heavens, the planetary revolutions, and other particulars.”
the monitor, Entered Apprentice, page 16
“The Mosaic pavement is a representation of the ground floor of King Solomon's temple; the indented tessel, that beautiful tesselated border, or skirting, which surrounded it; and the blazing star in the centre, is commemorative of the Star which appeared, to guide the wise men of the East to the place of our Saviour's nativity.”
“The Mosaic pavement is emblematical of human life, chequered with good and evil; the beautiful border which surrounds it, those manifold blessings and comforts which surround us, and which we hope to enjoy by a faithful reliance on Divine Providence, which is hieroglyphically represented by the blazing star in the centre.”
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lettered on the three rungs of the ladder, from the ground up
“F. H. C.”
the monitor, Entered Apprentice, page 16
“The greatest of these is Charity; for our Faith may be lost in sight; Hope ends in fruition; but Charity extends beyond the grave, through the boundless realms of eternity.”
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The Mosaic Pavement and the Blazing Star
the monitor, Entered Apprentice, the ornaments of a lodge, page 16
“The Mosaic pavement is a representation of the ground floor of King Solomon's temple; the indented tessel, that beautiful tesselated border, or skirting, which surrounded it; and the blazing star in the centre, is commemorative of the Star which appeared, to guide the wise men of the East to the place of our Saviour's nativity.”
the monitor, page 16
“The Mosaic pavement is emblematical of human life, chequered with good and evil; the beautiful border which surrounds it, those manifold blessings and comforts which surround us, and which we hope to enjoy by a faithful reliance on Divine Providence, which is hieroglyphically represented by the blazing star in the centre.”
the monitor, Entered Apprentice, page 16
“Every well-governed Lodge is furnished with the Holy Bible, the Square, and the Compasses.”
“The Holy Bible is dedicated to God; the Square, to the Master; and the Compasses, to the Craft.”
“The Bible is dedicated to God, because it is the inestimable gift of God to man; *** the square to the master, because it is the proper masonic emblem of his office; and the compasses to the craft, because, by a due attention to their use, they are taught to circumscribe their desires, and keep their passions within due bounds.”
“The Ornaments of a Lodge, are the Mosaic pavement, the indented tessel, and the blazing star.”
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the monitor, Entered Apprentice, page 17
“There is represented, in every regular and well-governed Lodge, a certain point within a circle, embordered by two perpendicular parallel lines, representing St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist; and upon the top rests the Holy Scriptures. In going round this circle, we necessarily touch upon these two lines, as well as the Holy Scriptures; and while a mason keeps himself circumscribed within their precepts, it is impossible that he should materially err.”
the monitor, the footnote on the same page
“The point represents an individual brother; the circle is the boundary line, beyond which he is never to suffer his prejudices or passions to betray him.”
the monitor, Entered Apprentice, page 18
“An Explanation of the four Cardinal Virtues; which are, Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice.”
“Temperance is that due restraint upon our affections and passions, which renders the body tame and governable, and frees the mind from the allurements of vice.”
the monitor, Entered Apprentice, page 19
“Fortitude is that noble and steady purpose of the mind, whereby we are enabled to undergo any pain, peril, or danger, when prudentially deemed expedient.”
“Prudence teaches us to regulate our lives and actions agreeably to the dictates of reason, and is that habit by which we wisely judge, and prudentially determine, on all things relative to our present as well as to our future happiness.”
“Justice is that standard, or boundary of right, which enables us to render to every man his just due, without distinction.”
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engraved above the plate
“Section Second.”
the monitor, Royal Arch degree, on the sack of the temple
“and took away all the holy vessels, together with those two famous brazen pillars.”
the monitor, Fellow Craft, second section, page 24
“The Globes are two artificial and spherical bodies; on the convex surface of which are represented, the countries, seas, and various parts of the earth, the face of the heavens, the planetary revolutions, and other particulars.”
“Their principal use, beside serving as maps to distinguish the outward parts of the earth, and the situation of the fixed stars, is to illustrate and explain the phenomena arising from the annual revolution, and the diurnal rotation, of the earth round its own axis.”
“Contemplating these bodies, we are inspired with a due reverence for the Deity and his works, and are induced to encourage the studies of astronomy, geography, and navigation, and the arts dependent on them, by which society has been so much benefitted.”
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the single letter blazing in the glory over the master's chair
“G.”
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The Pot of Incense and the Beehive
the monitor, Master Mason, third section, page 38
“The Pot of Incense is an emblem of a pure heart, which is always an acceptable sacrifice to the Deity; and, as this glows with fervent heat, so should our hearts continually glow with gratitude to the great beneficent Author of our existence, for the manifold blessings and comforts we enjoy.”
“The Bee Hive is an emblem of industry, and recommends the practice of that virtue to all created beings, from the highest seraph in heaven, to the lowest reptile of the dust.”
the monitor, on the three steps at the top of the plate, page 38
“The Three Steps, usually delineated upon the master's carpet, are emblematical of the three principal stages of human life, viz. youth, manhood, and age.”
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The All-Seeing Eye, the Sun, the Moon, the Comet and the Heart
the monitor, Master Mason, third section, page 39
“The Sword, pointing to a Naked Heart, demonstrates that justice will sooner or later overtake us; and although our thoughts, words and actions, may be hidden from the eyes of men, yet that All-seeing Eye, whom the Sun, Moon, and Stars obey, and under whose watchful care even Comets perform their stupendous revolutions, pervades the inmost recesses of the human Heart, and will reward us according to our merits.”
“yet that All-seeing Eye, whom the Sun, Moon, and Stars obey”
“under whose watchful care even Comets perform their stupendous revolutions”
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The Anchor and the Ark, the Forty-seventh Problem, the Hourglass and the Scythe
the monitor, Master Mason, third section, page 39
“The Anchor and Ark are emblems of a well-grounded hope, and a well-spent life. They are emblematical of that divine Ark, which safely wafts us over this tempestuous sea of troubles, and that Anchor which shall safely moor us in a peaceful harbor, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary shall find rest.”
the monitor, page 40
“The Forty-Seventh Problem of Euclid. This was an invention of our ancient friend and brother, the great Pythagoras. It teaches masons to be general lovers of the arts and sciences.”
“The Hour-Glass is an emblem of human life. Behold! how swiftly the sands run, and how rapidly our lives are drawing to a close!”
“The Scythe is an emblem of time, which cuts the brittle thread of life, and launches us into eternity.”
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The Setting Maul, the Spade, the Coffin and the Sprig of Acacia
the monitor, Master Mason, the close of the third section, page 41
“Thus we close the explanation of the emblems upon the solemn thought of death, which, without revelation, is dark and gloomy; but the Christian is suddenly revived by the ever green and ever living sprig of Faith in the merits of the Lion of the tribe of Judah.”
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engraved above the plate
“Most Excellent Masters Degree.”
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engraved beneath the plate, the scripture it draws
“Exodus III. 1-6.”
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The Arms of Royal Arch Masonry
engraved above the plate
“Royal Arch Masonry.”