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On Freemasonry. The Spurious Freemasonry Of Ancient Times,
subjects of which Masonry treats , would transcend the powers of the brig htest genius ; * still , however , near approaches to perfection may be made ; and the man of wisdom will not check the progress of his abilities , though the task he attempts may at first seem insurmountable . Perseverance and application will remove each difficulty as it occurs ; every step he advances new pleasures will open to his view , and instruction of the noblest kind attend his researches .
In the diligent pursuit of knowledge great discoveries are made ; and the intellectual faculties are wisely employed in promoting the glory of God , and the good of mankind . Such is the tendency of all the illustrations in Masonry . Reverence for the Deity , and gratitude for the blessings of Heaven , are inculcated in every Degree . This is the plan of
our system , and the result of our inquiries . " Amongst the primitive professors of this holy science , the Creation of the world out of Chaos , formed a sublime subject of disquisition , in which were displayed those three prominent attributes ofthe Deity , WISDOM , STRENGTH , and BEAUTY . Wisdom was exemplified in the formation of our
planet , and its attendant orbs . Strength , in the nice adjustment of the balance by which they are mutuall y supported in their rapid and complicated
evolutions" For ever singing as they shine , The hand that made us is divine . " And Beauty , in the entire arrangement , as well as in the natural decorations with which the parts are so profusely adorned . Gradually were the vast effects displayed . Order succeeded ChaosDarkness vanished before the blessed
. radiance of Lig ht . The sea became dry land ; water , earth , and air teemed with their myriads of inhabitants . And last of all , man , the crown and glory of the Creation , appeared in the image of God—erect in stature — " infinite in faculties" —having " dominion over the fish of the sea , and over living thing that moveth upon the earth . " Thus
every Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty were triumphant ; " and God saw every thing that he had made , ancl behold it was very good . " The concave vault of heaven , like a superb coronet bespangled with brilliant gems , * equally with the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The Spurious Freemasonry Of Ancient Times,
subjects of which Masonry treats , would transcend the powers of the brig htest genius ; * still , however , near approaches to perfection may be made ; and the man of wisdom will not check the progress of his abilities , though the task he attempts may at first seem insurmountable . Perseverance and application will remove each difficulty as it occurs ; every step he advances new pleasures will open to his view , and instruction of the noblest kind attend his researches .
In the diligent pursuit of knowledge great discoveries are made ; and the intellectual faculties are wisely employed in promoting the glory of God , and the good of mankind . Such is the tendency of all the illustrations in Masonry . Reverence for the Deity , and gratitude for the blessings of Heaven , are inculcated in every Degree . This is the plan of
our system , and the result of our inquiries . " Amongst the primitive professors of this holy science , the Creation of the world out of Chaos , formed a sublime subject of disquisition , in which were displayed those three prominent attributes ofthe Deity , WISDOM , STRENGTH , and BEAUTY . Wisdom was exemplified in the formation of our
planet , and its attendant orbs . Strength , in the nice adjustment of the balance by which they are mutuall y supported in their rapid and complicated
evolutions" For ever singing as they shine , The hand that made us is divine . " And Beauty , in the entire arrangement , as well as in the natural decorations with which the parts are so profusely adorned . Gradually were the vast effects displayed . Order succeeded ChaosDarkness vanished before the blessed
. radiance of Lig ht . The sea became dry land ; water , earth , and air teemed with their myriads of inhabitants . And last of all , man , the crown and glory of the Creation , appeared in the image of God—erect in stature — " infinite in faculties" —having " dominion over the fish of the sea , and over living thing that moveth upon the earth . " Thus
every Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty were triumphant ; " and God saw every thing that he had made , ancl behold it was very good . " The concave vault of heaven , like a superb coronet bespangled with brilliant gems , * equally with the