Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, Or General And Complete Library.
way up to an observatory on the top , which was 600 feet from the ground . In the grand tower were apartments with afPched roofs , supported by pillars 75 feet high , intended for a temple , in which the idolatrous worship of the god Beltts was performed . As this was to make themselves a name , and prevent their dispersion , God for their vanity confounding their speech * , occasioned what they endeavoured to avoid . Hence this tower was called
Babel , or confusion . By the benefit of the observatory on the top of the tower it was that the Babylonians advanced their skill in astronomy beyond all other nations ; for when Alexander took Babylon -j-, Calisthenes the philosopher , who accompanied him thither , found they , had astronomical observations for 1903 years backward from that time ; which carry tip the account as high as the 115 th year after the
flood , and fifteen after the building of the tower of Babel . Alfwhich shews that , after the dispersion , they still preserved the knowledge of Masonry , and improved it to a great degree of perfection . NimrodJ , or Belus § , the son of Cush , the eldest son of Ham , kept possession of the plain ,, and founded this first great empire at Babylon . He built many splendid cities in Shinarand under him
, flourished those learned mathematicians whose successors were styled Magi , or -wise men , by way of eminence for their superior knowledge . The migration from Shinar commenced 53 years after they began to build the tower , or 154 years after the flood ; and they went off at various times , travelling north , south , east , and west , with their Masonical skilland found the good use of it in settling their
colo-, nies . From Shinar the science and the art were carried to the distant parts of the earth , notwithstanding the confusion of dialects , by the Masonic practice of conversing without speaking , and of knowing each other by signs and tokens ; -which expedient , according to an "ofti tradition , they contrived upon the dispersion , in case any of them should meet in distant parts who had been before in Shinar .
Thus the earth was again planted and replenished with Masons , whose various improvements we shall proceed to trace . ( To be continued . J '
Humanity Of Gelo, King Of Syracuse.
HUMANITY OF GELO , KING OF SYRACUSE .
THE noblest treaty of peace ever mentioned in history , is , in my opinion ( says- Montesquieu ) , that which Gelo made with the Carthaginians . He insisted upon their abolishing the . custom of sacrificing their children . Glorious indeed ! After having defeated three hundred thousand Carthaginians , he required a condition that was advantageous only to " themselves , or rather , he stipulated in favour of human nature .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, Or General And Complete Library.
way up to an observatory on the top , which was 600 feet from the ground . In the grand tower were apartments with afPched roofs , supported by pillars 75 feet high , intended for a temple , in which the idolatrous worship of the god Beltts was performed . As this was to make themselves a name , and prevent their dispersion , God for their vanity confounding their speech * , occasioned what they endeavoured to avoid . Hence this tower was called
Babel , or confusion . By the benefit of the observatory on the top of the tower it was that the Babylonians advanced their skill in astronomy beyond all other nations ; for when Alexander took Babylon -j-, Calisthenes the philosopher , who accompanied him thither , found they , had astronomical observations for 1903 years backward from that time ; which carry tip the account as high as the 115 th year after the
flood , and fifteen after the building of the tower of Babel . Alfwhich shews that , after the dispersion , they still preserved the knowledge of Masonry , and improved it to a great degree of perfection . NimrodJ , or Belus § , the son of Cush , the eldest son of Ham , kept possession of the plain ,, and founded this first great empire at Babylon . He built many splendid cities in Shinarand under him
, flourished those learned mathematicians whose successors were styled Magi , or -wise men , by way of eminence for their superior knowledge . The migration from Shinar commenced 53 years after they began to build the tower , or 154 years after the flood ; and they went off at various times , travelling north , south , east , and west , with their Masonical skilland found the good use of it in settling their
colo-, nies . From Shinar the science and the art were carried to the distant parts of the earth , notwithstanding the confusion of dialects , by the Masonic practice of conversing without speaking , and of knowing each other by signs and tokens ; -which expedient , according to an "ofti tradition , they contrived upon the dispersion , in case any of them should meet in distant parts who had been before in Shinar .
Thus the earth was again planted and replenished with Masons , whose various improvements we shall proceed to trace . ( To be continued . J '
Humanity Of Gelo, King Of Syracuse.
HUMANITY OF GELO , KING OF SYRACUSE .
THE noblest treaty of peace ever mentioned in history , is , in my opinion ( says- Montesquieu ) , that which Gelo made with the Carthaginians . He insisted upon their abolishing the . custom of sacrificing their children . Glorious indeed ! After having defeated three hundred thousand Carthaginians , he required a condition that was advantageous only to " themselves , or rather , he stipulated in favour of human nature .