Q. What is the mineral? A. All that is generated and secreted in the earth.
Q. What do we understand by this name? A. That which we call metals and demi-metals and minerals.
Q. What is it that composes the minerals? A. The air penetrating by the celestial influence into the earth, meets with a body, which, by its softness, fixes, congeals, and renders the mineral matter more or less perfect.
Q. Which are the perfect metals? A. Gold and silver.
Q. Which are the imperfect metals? A. Brass, lead, tin, iron and quicksilver.
Q. How come we by the knowledge of these things? A. By frequent observations and the experiments made in natural philosophy, which have decided to a certainty that nature gives a perfection to all things, if she has time to complete her operations.
Q. Can art bring metal to perfection so fully as nature? A. Yes; but in order to do this, you must have an exact knowledge of nature.
Q. What will assist you to bring forth this knowledge? A. A matter brought to perfection, this has been sought for under the name of the philosopher's stone.
Q. What does the globe represent? A. An information of philosophers, for the benefit of the art in this work.
Q. What signify the words, "Lux ex tenebris?" A. That is the depth of darkness you ought to retire from, in order to gain the true light.
Q. What signifies the cross on the globe? A. The cross is the emblem of the true elected.
Q. What represent the three candlesticks? A. The three degrees of fire, which the artist must have knowledge to give, in order to procure the matters from which it proceeds.
Q. What signifies the word Stibium? A. It signifies antimony, or the first matter of all things.
Q. What signify the seven degrees? A. The different effectual degrees of Masonry which you must pass to come to the Sublime Degree of Knights of the Sun.
Q. What signify the divers attributes in those degrees? A. First. The Bible, or God's law, which we ought to follow. Second. The compass teaches us to do nothing unjust. Third. The square conducts us equal to the same end. 4th. The level demonstrates to us, all that is just and equitable. Fifth. The perpendicular, to be upright and subdue the veil of prejudice. Sixth. The tressle-board is the image of our reason, where the functions are combined to effect, compare and think. Seventh. The rough-stone is the resemblance of our vices, which we ought to reform. Eighth. The cubic stone is our passions, which we ought to surmount. Ninth. The columns signify strength in all things. Tenth. The blazing star teaches that our hearts ought to be as a clear sun, among those that are troubled with the things of this life. Eleventh. The key teaches to have a watchful eye over those who are contrary to reason. Twelfth. The box teaches to keep our secrets inviolably. Thirteenth. The urn learns us that we ought to be as delicious perfumes. Fourteenth. The brazen sea, that we ought to purify ourselves, and destroy vice. Fifteenth. The circles on the triangles demonstrate the immensity of the divinity under the symbol of truth. Sixteenth. The poniard teacheth the step of the elected, many are called, but few are chosen to the sublime knowledge of pure truth. Seventeenth. The word albra signifies a king full of glory and without blot. Eighteenth. The word Adonai signifies Sovereign Creator of all things. Nineteenth. The seven cherubims are the symbols of the delights of life, known by seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling, smelling, tranquility, and thought.