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Article REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. ← Page 7 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
creted the mysteries of their relig ion from the vulgar , by symbols and hieroglyphics , comprehensible alone to those of their own order . The priests of Greece and Rome practised other subtleties , by which their divinations were enveiled , and their oracles were made intelligible only to their brethren , who expounded them to the people . ' Our author places the second stage of Freemasonry at the period ' when Moses purged divine worship of" its mysteries and images , and taught the
Jews the knowledge of the God of the Universe , unpolluted with the errors of the nations of the earth , and . uncorrupted with the devices and ludicrous ceremonies instituted by the people of the East , from whom he derived his first comprehension and knowledge of the Divinity . ' ' The Temple at Jerusalem , ' he adds , ' receives the probation of the Craftsmen , * The following remarks in this Lecture are striking and impressive :
c It is not to be presumed that the name of Mason , in this society i doth not denote that the rise of the society was solely from builders , architects , or mechanics : at the time in which Moses ordained the setting up of the sanctuary , and when Solomon was about to build the temple at Jerusalem , they selected out from the people those men who were enlig htened with the tine faith , and being full of wisdom and relig ious fervour , were found proper to conduct those works of iety . It was on those occcasions that our
predecesp sors appeared to the world as architects , and were formed into a body , under salutary rules , for the government of such as were employed in those great works : since which period the builders have adopted the name of Masons , as an honorary distinction and title to their profession . I am induced to believe the name of Mason has its derivation from a language , in which it implies some strong indication , or distinction , of the nature ot the society ; and that it has no relation to architects . The French word Maison
signifies a family or particular race of people : it seems as if the name was compounded of Maa-Yuat , £ > uero Salwum , and the title of Masonry no more than a corruption of Mta-avgxwu , Sum in Medio Coeli , or Mac ^ ovsoo 9 , Sigt ! a Coelestia . job xxxviii . 32 . which conjecture is strengthened by our symbols . ' I am led to determine , that the appellation of Mason implies a member of a religious sect , and a professed devotee of the Deity , " toho is seated in the centre of heaven . ' '' '
The second and third Lectures are , ' On the rites , ceremonies , and institutions of the ancients , and some of them from the remotest ages . ' Several curious institutions of the ancients are here described , and the affinity of some of them with this society is strongly marked out . ' The principal ofthese among the Jews are the Essenes . This sect chose retirement , were sober , were industrious ; bad all things in common ; paid the highest regard to the moral precepts of the law ; but neglected the
ceremonial , any further than what regarded bodily cleanliness , the observation of the sabbath , and making an-annual present to the temple at Jerusalem . ' '' They never associated with women , nor admitted them into their retreats . By the most sacred oaths , though they were in general averse to swearing , or to requiring an oath , they bound all whom they initiated among them to the observance of piety , justice , fidelity , and modesty ; to conceal the secrets of the fraternity , preserve the books of their instructorsand with great care to
, commemorate the names of the angels . They held , that God was . surrounded by spiritual beings , who were mediators with him , and therefore to be reverenced . Secondly , that the soul is defiled by the body , and that all ' bodil y pleasures hurt the soul , which they believed to be immortal , though they denied the resurrection of the body , as it would consequently give bsc . k
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Of New Publications.
creted the mysteries of their relig ion from the vulgar , by symbols and hieroglyphics , comprehensible alone to those of their own order . The priests of Greece and Rome practised other subtleties , by which their divinations were enveiled , and their oracles were made intelligible only to their brethren , who expounded them to the people . ' Our author places the second stage of Freemasonry at the period ' when Moses purged divine worship of" its mysteries and images , and taught the
Jews the knowledge of the God of the Universe , unpolluted with the errors of the nations of the earth , and . uncorrupted with the devices and ludicrous ceremonies instituted by the people of the East , from whom he derived his first comprehension and knowledge of the Divinity . ' ' The Temple at Jerusalem , ' he adds , ' receives the probation of the Craftsmen , * The following remarks in this Lecture are striking and impressive :
c It is not to be presumed that the name of Mason , in this society i doth not denote that the rise of the society was solely from builders , architects , or mechanics : at the time in which Moses ordained the setting up of the sanctuary , and when Solomon was about to build the temple at Jerusalem , they selected out from the people those men who were enlig htened with the tine faith , and being full of wisdom and relig ious fervour , were found proper to conduct those works of iety . It was on those occcasions that our
predecesp sors appeared to the world as architects , and were formed into a body , under salutary rules , for the government of such as were employed in those great works : since which period the builders have adopted the name of Masons , as an honorary distinction and title to their profession . I am induced to believe the name of Mason has its derivation from a language , in which it implies some strong indication , or distinction , of the nature ot the society ; and that it has no relation to architects . The French word Maison
signifies a family or particular race of people : it seems as if the name was compounded of Maa-Yuat , £ > uero Salwum , and the title of Masonry no more than a corruption of Mta-avgxwu , Sum in Medio Coeli , or Mac ^ ovsoo 9 , Sigt ! a Coelestia . job xxxviii . 32 . which conjecture is strengthened by our symbols . ' I am led to determine , that the appellation of Mason implies a member of a religious sect , and a professed devotee of the Deity , " toho is seated in the centre of heaven . ' '' '
The second and third Lectures are , ' On the rites , ceremonies , and institutions of the ancients , and some of them from the remotest ages . ' Several curious institutions of the ancients are here described , and the affinity of some of them with this society is strongly marked out . ' The principal ofthese among the Jews are the Essenes . This sect chose retirement , were sober , were industrious ; bad all things in common ; paid the highest regard to the moral precepts of the law ; but neglected the
ceremonial , any further than what regarded bodily cleanliness , the observation of the sabbath , and making an-annual present to the temple at Jerusalem . ' '' They never associated with women , nor admitted them into their retreats . By the most sacred oaths , though they were in general averse to swearing , or to requiring an oath , they bound all whom they initiated among them to the observance of piety , justice , fidelity , and modesty ; to conceal the secrets of the fraternity , preserve the books of their instructorsand with great care to
, commemorate the names of the angels . They held , that God was . surrounded by spiritual beings , who were mediators with him , and therefore to be reverenced . Secondly , that the soul is defiled by the body , and that all ' bodil y pleasures hurt the soul , which they believed to be immortal , though they denied the resurrection of the body , as it would consequently give bsc . k