Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The Spurious Freemasonry Of Ancient Times.
believed to be attainable by initiation only . The acquisition of this knowledge was reputed to convey a high degree of satisfaction and delight ; and the initiated were accustomed to boast that on them the LIGHT shone abundantly and exclusively ; that they only were entitled to exclaim , " Erpvyov KOKOV , evpov apeivon ; that all learning and knowledge , ancl
every other acquirement were theirs alone ; that the Mysteries were the only things of any value in this life ; and that in the next , the initiated were certain of admission into the happy gardens of Elysium . In a word , to say nothing of the fact that no person was capable of holding any office of trust without a previous knowledge of these orgies ,
initiation was reputed to convey absolute perfection ; ancl it was implicitly believed that the poor forlorn wretches who were not entitled to a participation of its privileges , were sure to lead aPiwrov ( iiov , a life of extreme misery and privation , and at last be condemned to eternal torment in the dark shades of Tartarus .
Warburton gathers , from a remark of Origen against Celsus , that nothing absurd was taur / ht in the Mysteries ; thus drawing a clear line of distinction between doctrine and practice . It is quite certain that the latter was extremely defective ; for these institutions contained much vice and abomination . Like the true Freemasonry , indeed ,
they encouraged the cultivation of science , which was hence practised with great success in those countries where initiation was most in request ; and thc hi g h degree of perfection which the fine arts attained in the heathen world
was owing , in a great measure , to the patronage and example of the chief officers of the mysteries . And such a princi p le of fraternal union appears to have subsisted amongst the initiated of every clime , that the Mysteries ol vanquished nations were ever respected , ancl in all public treaties were specially exempted from desecration .
When such was the veneration for these Rites , it may be easily conceived that initiation would be in great request . And accordingl y we find that all who had any regard for their personal reputation or future happiness were anxious to acquire a competent knowled ge of the Mysteries through that legitimate medium . This was a Freemasonry which
penetrated through all ranks of mankind except the very lowest ; because the requisites for initiation were , that a man should be a free bom denizen ofthe country , of mature age , sound judgment , and strict morality . Hence , neither
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The Spurious Freemasonry Of Ancient Times.
believed to be attainable by initiation only . The acquisition of this knowledge was reputed to convey a high degree of satisfaction and delight ; and the initiated were accustomed to boast that on them the LIGHT shone abundantly and exclusively ; that they only were entitled to exclaim , " Erpvyov KOKOV , evpov apeivon ; that all learning and knowledge , ancl
every other acquirement were theirs alone ; that the Mysteries were the only things of any value in this life ; and that in the next , the initiated were certain of admission into the happy gardens of Elysium . In a word , to say nothing of the fact that no person was capable of holding any office of trust without a previous knowledge of these orgies ,
initiation was reputed to convey absolute perfection ; ancl it was implicitly believed that the poor forlorn wretches who were not entitled to a participation of its privileges , were sure to lead aPiwrov ( iiov , a life of extreme misery and privation , and at last be condemned to eternal torment in the dark shades of Tartarus .
Warburton gathers , from a remark of Origen against Celsus , that nothing absurd was taur / ht in the Mysteries ; thus drawing a clear line of distinction between doctrine and practice . It is quite certain that the latter was extremely defective ; for these institutions contained much vice and abomination . Like the true Freemasonry , indeed ,
they encouraged the cultivation of science , which was hence practised with great success in those countries where initiation was most in request ; and thc hi g h degree of perfection which the fine arts attained in the heathen world
was owing , in a great measure , to the patronage and example of the chief officers of the mysteries . And such a princi p le of fraternal union appears to have subsisted amongst the initiated of every clime , that the Mysteries ol vanquished nations were ever respected , ancl in all public treaties were specially exempted from desecration .
When such was the veneration for these Rites , it may be easily conceived that initiation would be in great request . And accordingl y we find that all who had any regard for their personal reputation or future happiness were anxious to acquire a competent knowled ge of the Mysteries through that legitimate medium . This was a Freemasonry which
penetrated through all ranks of mankind except the very lowest ; because the requisites for initiation were , that a man should be a free bom denizen ofthe country , of mature age , sound judgment , and strict morality . Hence , neither