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Article HISTORY OF MASONRY. ← Page 5 of 6 →
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History Of Masonry.
Here , also , the curious craftsmen held stated and regular lodges , as in the days of Solomon ; associated with tlie master masons , giving lectures , and strictly adhering to good old usages . _ In this reign Zoroaster flourished , the Archimagus or grand master of the Magians , who worshipped the sun and fire made by his rays ; who became famous every where , called by the Greeks , The Teacher of all human and divine Knowledge : and his disci ples were great
• improvers of the liberal arts , erecting many palaces and temples throughout tlieE empire , and long flourished in- eastern Asia , even till the Mahometans prevailed . A remnant of them are scattered in those parts to this day , who retain many ofthe old usages of the Freemasons , for which they are here mentioned , and not for their religious -rites , which we do not interfere with . We leave every
brother to liberty of conscience ; but strictly charge him carefully to maintain the cement of the lodge , and the three articles of Noah . Zoroaster was slain by Argasp the Scythian , A . M . 3517 ; and Darius Flystaspes died in the following year . Xerxes his son succeeded , who encouraged the Magian Masons , and destroyed all the image templesexcept that of Diana at
Ehe-, p sus , in his way to Greece ) with an army of five millions , and ships innumerable . [ Before Christ 510 . 3 Ahasuerus , called Artaxerxes Longimanus , having married the beautiful Jewess , Queen Esther , became a favourer of the Jews . In the third year of his reign , he made a great
feast in his palace of Suza ; And the drinking was according to the law , none did compel ; for so the king had appointed to all the officers of bis house , that they should do according to every man ' s pleasure * . Pie appointed Ezra , the learned scribe , to succeed Zerubbabel in the direction ofthe craft ; wdio built many synagogues , as well in Jerusalem as in other cities of Judea ; and next to him Nehemiah , who built the strong walls of Jerusalem . [ Before Christ 4553 Hefor
. , that purpose , divided his workmen into classes , or more properly lodges , and assigned to each of them the quarter where they were to work , and their places of refreshment ; but reserved to himself the reviewal and direction of the whole , in which he laboured so effectually as to complete the work , notwithstanding the utmost efforts of his enemies , both within and without the wails , to retard his
design . While part of the craft were carrying on the building , the other stood to their arms to defend them against any sudden attack : all had their arms at hand , even while they worked , to be ready , at a signal given , to draw together to any part , where the enemy should be discovered approaching to molest them . [ Before Christ 408 . 3 Darius Nothus gave leave to Sanballatthe
, Horonite , the friend and advocate ofthe Samaritans , to build a temple upon Mount Gerizim , near Samaria , and so far insinuated himself into the favour of Darius , as to procure the high-priesthood for Manasses , his son-in-law , and brother to Jaddua the hi gh-priest of Jerusalem . This temple stood in splendour , till demolished b y John
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
History Of Masonry.
Here , also , the curious craftsmen held stated and regular lodges , as in the days of Solomon ; associated with tlie master masons , giving lectures , and strictly adhering to good old usages . _ In this reign Zoroaster flourished , the Archimagus or grand master of the Magians , who worshipped the sun and fire made by his rays ; who became famous every where , called by the Greeks , The Teacher of all human and divine Knowledge : and his disci ples were great
• improvers of the liberal arts , erecting many palaces and temples throughout tlieE empire , and long flourished in- eastern Asia , even till the Mahometans prevailed . A remnant of them are scattered in those parts to this day , who retain many ofthe old usages of the Freemasons , for which they are here mentioned , and not for their religious -rites , which we do not interfere with . We leave every
brother to liberty of conscience ; but strictly charge him carefully to maintain the cement of the lodge , and the three articles of Noah . Zoroaster was slain by Argasp the Scythian , A . M . 3517 ; and Darius Flystaspes died in the following year . Xerxes his son succeeded , who encouraged the Magian Masons , and destroyed all the image templesexcept that of Diana at
Ehe-, p sus , in his way to Greece ) with an army of five millions , and ships innumerable . [ Before Christ 510 . 3 Ahasuerus , called Artaxerxes Longimanus , having married the beautiful Jewess , Queen Esther , became a favourer of the Jews . In the third year of his reign , he made a great
feast in his palace of Suza ; And the drinking was according to the law , none did compel ; for so the king had appointed to all the officers of bis house , that they should do according to every man ' s pleasure * . Pie appointed Ezra , the learned scribe , to succeed Zerubbabel in the direction ofthe craft ; wdio built many synagogues , as well in Jerusalem as in other cities of Judea ; and next to him Nehemiah , who built the strong walls of Jerusalem . [ Before Christ 4553 Hefor
. , that purpose , divided his workmen into classes , or more properly lodges , and assigned to each of them the quarter where they were to work , and their places of refreshment ; but reserved to himself the reviewal and direction of the whole , in which he laboured so effectually as to complete the work , notwithstanding the utmost efforts of his enemies , both within and without the wails , to retard his
design . While part of the craft were carrying on the building , the other stood to their arms to defend them against any sudden attack : all had their arms at hand , even while they worked , to be ready , at a signal given , to draw together to any part , where the enemy should be discovered approaching to molest them . [ Before Christ 408 . 3 Darius Nothus gave leave to Sanballatthe
, Horonite , the friend and advocate ofthe Samaritans , to build a temple upon Mount Gerizim , near Samaria , and so far insinuated himself into the favour of Darius , as to procure the high-priesthood for Manasses , his son-in-law , and brother to Jaddua the hi gh-priest of Jerusalem . This temple stood in splendour , till demolished b y John