BABYLONISH CAPTIVITY.  When the city and temple of Jerusalem were destroyed by the army of Nebuchadnezzar, and the inhabitants conveyed as captives to Babylon, we have a right to suppose,—­that is to say, if there be any truth in masonic history, the deduction is legitimate,—­that among these captives were many of the descendants of the workmen at the temple.  If so, then they carried with them into captivity the principles of Masonry which they had acquired at home, and the city of Babylon became the great seat of Speculative Masonry for many years.  It was during the captivity that the philosopher Pythagoras, who was travelling as a seeker after knowledge, visited Babylon.  With his ardent thirst for wisdom, he would naturally hold frequent interviews with the leading Masons among the Jewish captives.  As he suffered himself to be initiated into the Mysteries of Egypt during his visit to that country, it is not unlikely that he may have sought a similar initiation into the masonic Mysteries.  This would account for the many analogies and resemblances to Masonry that we find in the moral teachings, the symbols, and the peculiar organization of the school of Pythagoras—­resemblances so extraordinary as to have justified, or at least excused, the rituals for calling the sage of Samos “our ancient brother.”

BACCHUS.  One of the appellations of the “many-named” god Dionysus.  The son of Jupiter and Semele was to the Greeks Dionysus, to the Romans Bacchus.

BARE FEET.  A symbol of reverence when both feet are uncovered.  Otherwise the symbolism is modern; and from the ritualistic explanation which is given in the first degree, it would seem to require that the single bare foot should be interpreted as the symbol of a covenant.

BLACK.  Pythagoras called this color the symbol of the evil principle in nature.  It was equivalent to darkness, which is the antagonist of light.  But in masonic symbolism the interpretation is different.  There, black is a symbol of grief, and always refers to the fate of the temple-builder.

BRAHMA.  In the mythology of the Hindoos there is a trimurti, or trinity, the Supreme Being exhibiting himself in three manifestations; as, Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Siva the Destroyer,—­the united godhead being a symbol of the sun.

Brahma was a symbol of the rising sun, Siva of the sun at meridian, and Vishnu of the setting sun.

BRUCE.  The introduction of Freemasonry into Scotland has been attributed by some writers to King Robert Bruce, who is said to have established in 1314 the Order of Herodom, for the reception of those Knights Templars who had taken refuge in his dominions from the persecutions of the Pope and the King of France.  Lawrie, who is excellent authority for Scottish Masonry, does not appear, however, to give any credit to the narrative.  Whatever Bruce may have done for the higher degrees, there is no doubt that Ancient Craft Masonry was introduced into Scotland at an earlier period.  See Kilwinning.  Yet the text is right in making Bruce one of the patrons and encouragers of Scottish Freemasonry.