the quarternary. The circle, he says, is the most perfect of curvilinear figures, containing the triangle in a concealed manner. The triangle is the principle of the generation and formation of bodies, because all bodies are reducible to this figure, and the elements are triangular. The square is the symbol of the divine

essence.

GIBALIM OR GIBLIM. These were the inhabitants of the Phenician city of Gebal, called by the Greeks Byblos. The Phenician word,,"gebal,” (of which, “gibalim,” or “giblim," is the plural,) signifies a Mason, or stone-squarer. Gesenius* says, that the inhabitants of Gebal were seamen and builders; and Sir William Drummond asserts that "the Gibalim were Master Masons, who put the finishing hand to Solomon's temple."+

GLOBE. In the Egyptian mysteries, the globe was a symbol of the Supreme and Eternal God. Among the Mexicans, it represented universal power. Among Freemasons, the globes, celestial and terrestrial, are emblems of the universal extension of the institution, and remind us also of the extensive claims of that charity we are called on to practise.

GLOVES. White gloves form a part of a Freemason's costume, and should always be worn in the lodge. An instance of the antiquity of this dress is given in this work, under the article "Clothed." In an institution so symbolical as ours, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the white gloves are to remind us, that "without a pure heart and clean hands," no one can "stand in the holy place." And this is the emblematic use of the gloves in the French rite, where every Apprentice, on his initiation, is

Heb. Lex. in voc.

† Origines, vol. iii., b. v., ch. iv., p. 192.

I regret to say, that this rule is too much neglected in our American lodges.

presented with two pair, one for himself, and one for his wife or mistress.

GOD. Freemasons have always been worshippers of the one true God. "This," says Hutchinson,* "was the first and cornerstone on which our originals thought it expedient to place the foundation of masonry." While the world around them was polluted with sun-worship, and brute-worship, and all the absurdities of polytheism, masonry, even in its spurious forms, as the ancient mysteries have appropriately been styled, was alone occupied in raising altars to the one I AM, and declaring and teaching the unity of the Godhead. Josephus, in his defence of the Jews against Apion, sums up in a few words this doctrine of the mysteries, and its conformity with the Jewish belief, which was, of course, identical with that of the Freemasons. "God, perfect and blessed, contains all things, is self-existent and the cause of existence to all, the beginning, the middle, and the end of all things."+

GOLGOTHA. A Hebrew word, signifying "a skull." It was the name given by the Jews to Mount Calvary, where Christ was crucified, and where his sepulchre was situated.

GOTHIC CONSTITUTIONS. Those regulations of the craft, which were adopted in 926, at the General Assembly in the city of York, under Prince Edwin, and to which additions were made from time to time, at other annual assemblies of the fraternity, are called the Gothic Constitutions, from the fact that they were written in the old Gothic character. Several copies of them were in existence at the revival of masonry in 1717. In 1721, they were digested by Dr. Anderson, in a new and better method, and form the foundation of the Book of Constitutions, the first edition of which was published in 1722.

Spirit of Masonry, p. 6.

Joseph. contra Ap., lib. ii., cap. 2.

GOOD SAMARITAN. See Samaritan.

GRAMMAR. One of the seven liberal arts and sciences, which forms, with Logic and Rhetoric, a triad, dedicated to the cultivation of language. "God," says Sanctius, "created man the participant of reason; and as he willed him to be a social being, he bestowed upon him the gift of language, in the perfecting of which there are three aids. The first is Grammar, which rejects from language all solecisms and barbarous expressions; the second is Logic, which is occupied with the truthfulness of language; and the third is Rhetoric, which seeks only the adornment of language."*

GRAND HONOURS. See Honours.

GRAND INQUISITOR. Grand inspecteur-inquisiteur-commandeur. The 31st degree of the Ancient Scotch rite. It is not a historical degree, but simply administrative in its character, the duties of the members being to examine and regulate the proceedings of the inferior lodges and chapters. Its place of meeting is called a tribunal, its decorations are white, and its presiding officer is called a President, who is elected for life.

GRAND LODGES, HISTORY OF. The present organization of Grand Lodges is by no means coeval with the origin of our institution. Every lodge was originally independent; and a sufficient number of brethren meeting together, were empowered to practise all the rights of masonry without a warrant of constitution. This privilege, as Preston remarks, was inherent in them as individuals. The brethren were in the custom of meeting annually, at least as many as conveniently could, for the purpose of conference on the general concerns of the order, and on this occasion a Grand Master, or superintendent of the whole

Sanct. Minut., lib. i., cap. 2, apud Harris, Hermes. I. c. i.

fraternity, was usually chosen. These meetings were not, however, called Grand Lodges, but "Assemblies." This name and organization are as old as the fourth century of the Christian era; for, in a MS.* once in the possession of Nicholas Stone, a sculptor under the celebrated Inigo Jones, it is stated that "St Albans (who was martyred in 306) loved Masons well, and cherished them much ****. And he got them a charter from the king and his counsell, for to holde a generall counsel and gave itt to name Assemblie." The privilege of attending these annual assemblies was not restricted, as it now is, to the Grand Officers, and Masters, and Wardens of subordinate lodges, but constituted one of the obligatory duties of every Mason. Thus, among the ancient masonic charges, in possession of the Lodge of Antiquity, at London, is one which declares that "every Master and Fellow shall come to the assemblie, if itt be within fifty miles of him, and if he have any warning. And if he have trespassed the craft, to abide the award of Masters and Fellows."

England. The next† charter granted in England to the Masons, as a body, was bestowed by King Athelstane, in 926, upon the application of his brother, Prince Edwin. "Accordingly, Prince Edwin summoned all the Masons in the realm to meet him in a congregation at York, who came and composed a General Lodge, of which he was Grand Master; and having brought with them. all the writings and records extant, some in Greck, some in Latin, some in French, and other languages, from the contents thereof that assembly did frame the constitution and charges of an English lodge."

From this assembly at York, the true rise of masonry in England is generally dated; from the statutes there enacted, are derived the English Masonic Constitutions; and from the place

Quoted by Preston.

And if the anecdote of St. Albans be not authentic, the first.
Elias Ashmole's MS.

of meeting, the ritual of the English lodges is designated as the "Ancient York Rite."

For a long time, the York assembly exercised the masonic jurisdiction over all England; but, in 1567, the Masons of the southern part of the island elected Sir Thomas Gresham, the celebrated merchant, their Grand Master. He was succeeded by the illustrious architect, Inigo Jones. There were now two Grand Masters in England who assumed distinctive titles; the Grand Master of the north being called Grand Master of all England, while he who presided in the south was called Grand Master of England.

In the beginning of the 18th century, masonry in the south of England had fallen into decay. The disturbances of the revolution, which placed William III. on the throne, and the subsequent warmth of political feelings which agitated the two parties of the state, had given this peaceful society a wound fatal to its success. Sir Christopher Wren, the Grand Master in the reign of Queen Anne, had become aged, infirm, and inactive, and hence the general assemblies of the Grand Lodge had ceased to take place. There were, in the year 1715, but four lodges in the south of England, all working in the city of London. These four lodges, desirous of reviving the prosperity of the order, determined to unite themselves under a Grand Master, Sir Christopher Wren being now dead, and none having, as yet, been appointed in his place. They, therefore, "met at the Apple tree tavern; and having put into the chair the oldest Mas ter Mason, (being the Master of a lodge,) they constituted themselves a Grand Lodge, pro tempore, in due form, and forthwith revived the quarterly communication of the officers of lodges, (called the Grand Lodge,) resolved to hold the annual assembly and feast, and then to choose a Grand Master from among themselves, till they should have the honour of a noble brother at their head."*

Anderson's Constitutions, p. 197.