INTRODTJCTIOX. XXXIII 



caused tliè folio wing words to be engraved on nis bathing tub: //Every day renew thyself, 

 daiiy and daily renew thyself, and again renew thyself." ( l ) 



The masonic apprentice who enters the lodge is obliged to wear his left shoe slipshod, ov 

 properly, he should take off both his shoes. By thus taking off his shoes symbolically, he is re- 

 minded that he onght to approach pure and humbly the sacred place. Therefore he is, also, 

 dressed with a white apron and gloves, as a symbol that he ought to come with pure 

 hands, pure body, and pure clothes before the temple and altar of God. ( 2 ) 



Likewise the new Hung-member appears before the altar dressed in white ( 3 ), and even in li- 

 nen nr cotton clothes, and not in woolen, for wool is made of animals which are impure, and 

 whose spoils priests are not allowed to wear. 



The colour of mourning in China is white: instead of the gaudy red, blue or black silk, 

 white thread is plaited into the cue. Scrolls upon doors and visiting cards are of white paper, 

 and the mourners wear shoes made of white cloth or grass; whilst their head is envelopped in 

 a white kerchief or bonnet. The corpse of the deceased is shrouded in. a white cloth, and the 

 tablet on which the name of the deceased is written, is covered, immediately after the corpse 

 nas been coffmed, with white cloth. The Chinese do not explain why they have taken white 

 as the colour of mourning, but it is more than probable that it's symbolical meaning is that 

 the deceased has gone to Heaven, to the eternal light. 



Dr. Schauberg says: //the light-seeking masonic apprentice is symbolically purified, by 

 his three passages through the fire and water, of all impurity and evil; and only after this pu- 

 rincation, expiation and consecration, he is allowed to put on the white dress, the white apron 

 and the white gloves and, armed with the sword, enter among the knights of light." ( 4 ) 



Likewise the new Hung-member is only allowed to enter the league after the purification 

 by water. ( 5 ) At the reception in some masonic lodges the water is given to the novice with 

 these words: //As the water purifies your body, purify ye also your soul from perverted 

 desires and your life from impure blots". ( 6 ) To the Hung-member is said : // Wash clean the 

 dust of Tsing and the colour of your face will appear; do away with your corruptness and 

 perversity to sit in the temple of Ming." ( 7 ) 



One of the greatest symbols is the lighting of lamps. Light is the most important symbol 

 in Masonry as well as in the Hung-league; for when light was born , darkness dispersed it- 

 self, and so perversity and evils will disappear when the light of humanity appears. Therefore 

 the novice answers on the 29 Mh question Avhich runs: //What is held to be the highest in the 

 lodge?" — //The Hung-lamp is held to be the highest;" and in the quatrain it it said: //The 

 Hung-lamp shines high and the world is equalised" ( 8 ); and when the lamp is lighted it is 

 said again: //The Hung-lamp once lighted, illuminates the faithful" ( 9 ) The Hung-member au.s- 



( l ) ~fc ^, the Great Learnuig. ( 2 ) Symb. d. Premi., I, 453. 



( 3 ) See pag. 117. ( 4 ) Symb. d. Freim., I, 460. {*) Sce pag. 115. 



( 6 ) Symb. d. Freim., I, 468. ( 7 ) See pag. 115. 



( 3 ) See p. 105. ( 9 ) See p. 128. 



E 



