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Article LEGEND OF THE M.M. DEGREE. ← Page 2 of 5 →
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Legend Of The M.M. Degree.
God—a Temple called , in Holy Writ , HEKAL ADONAI ( " THE PALACE OF JEHOVAH" )—unless they possessed a knowledge of His name and attributes , and were free from the gross superstitions which darkened the minds of the uninitiated . Their artificial skill , as builders , would not have been rendered subservient to a purpose so holy , if they hud been entire strangers to the fear and worshi p of the Most High . In this we perceive a striking exemplification of the fact—a fact , indeed , now clear and apparent , that the mysteries , in their origin , were pure ; that they contained the elements of the patriarchal faith , and conveyed a system of morals and religious belief , which , when rightly understood ,
ivas in accordance with the truths of revelation . A body of Idolaters would not have been selected , as the principal artificers at the building of the Temple . Let us , therefore , ascertain ivho these Syrian artificers were , and see what peculiar p hase of the mysteries was practised by them . Hi HAM , tbe King of Tyre , ivas at that time Grand Master of the Dio . vrsiAjj BRETHKEX—those skilful architects , who impressed their
art upon the world , and formed the source from whence the architects of Greece aud Rome subsequently derived their knowledge . It is interesting to remark upou this body , that their knowledge was originally derived from the land of mystery , of art , and science , and ancient civilisation—the land of . Egypt . It does not lie within the scope of the present observations ; to trace this peculiar connection—a research of itself abundantly interesting , and opening up an investigation of peculiar interest . It is sufficient now to state , from the
testimony of contemporary historians , lhat " the Society of Dionysian Artificers''' existed in Asia Minor , previously to the building of the Temple ; that they possessed the exclusive privilege of constructing all temples and public buildings ; and , that they were unquestionably the most skilful artificers then existing . They were invested with great privileges , and were exempt from taxes and talliages . This fraternity was , in fact , the depository of all geometrical , scientific , and architectural knowledge ; and the principles ivhich regulated the design and
ornamentation of all religious as well as public structures , were known to them alone . It is also particularly interesting to know , that the Fraternity were distinguished by many peculiarities , assimilating most strongly to our Order . They were divided into lodges , each governed by a Master and Wardens in their ceremonial observances ; the implements used in their operative work , were spiritualised ; they had a knowledge of certain secret signs and tokens , by ivhich one Brother
could distinguish another in the dark as well as the li ght ; and they possessed an universal language or mode of communication , whicli , notwithstanding the difference of long tie , and birth , and race , united in one common brotherhood all the members of the Fraternity , though scattered through Syria , and Persia , and India . They were also peculiarly distinguished by their strong feelings of fraternal regard , and , in the exercise of all charitable worksthe ' ¦' more opulent were sacredl
, y bound to provide for the exigencies of their poorer Brethren . " Such were our ancient Brethren , the Dionysian Artificers ;* and it is gratify ing now to perceive how truly the great princi ples of our Order have been preserved from a period so remote , ami descended so faithfully to the present time .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Legend Of The M.M. Degree.
God—a Temple called , in Holy Writ , HEKAL ADONAI ( " THE PALACE OF JEHOVAH" )—unless they possessed a knowledge of His name and attributes , and were free from the gross superstitions which darkened the minds of the uninitiated . Their artificial skill , as builders , would not have been rendered subservient to a purpose so holy , if they hud been entire strangers to the fear and worshi p of the Most High . In this we perceive a striking exemplification of the fact—a fact , indeed , now clear and apparent , that the mysteries , in their origin , were pure ; that they contained the elements of the patriarchal faith , and conveyed a system of morals and religious belief , which , when rightly understood ,
ivas in accordance with the truths of revelation . A body of Idolaters would not have been selected , as the principal artificers at the building of the Temple . Let us , therefore , ascertain ivho these Syrian artificers were , and see what peculiar p hase of the mysteries was practised by them . Hi HAM , tbe King of Tyre , ivas at that time Grand Master of the Dio . vrsiAjj BRETHKEX—those skilful architects , who impressed their
art upon the world , and formed the source from whence the architects of Greece aud Rome subsequently derived their knowledge . It is interesting to remark upou this body , that their knowledge was originally derived from the land of mystery , of art , and science , and ancient civilisation—the land of . Egypt . It does not lie within the scope of the present observations ; to trace this peculiar connection—a research of itself abundantly interesting , and opening up an investigation of peculiar interest . It is sufficient now to state , from the
testimony of contemporary historians , lhat " the Society of Dionysian Artificers''' existed in Asia Minor , previously to the building of the Temple ; that they possessed the exclusive privilege of constructing all temples and public buildings ; and , that they were unquestionably the most skilful artificers then existing . They were invested with great privileges , and were exempt from taxes and talliages . This fraternity was , in fact , the depository of all geometrical , scientific , and architectural knowledge ; and the principles ivhich regulated the design and
ornamentation of all religious as well as public structures , were known to them alone . It is also particularly interesting to know , that the Fraternity were distinguished by many peculiarities , assimilating most strongly to our Order . They were divided into lodges , each governed by a Master and Wardens in their ceremonial observances ; the implements used in their operative work , were spiritualised ; they had a knowledge of certain secret signs and tokens , by ivhich one Brother
could distinguish another in the dark as well as the li ght ; and they possessed an universal language or mode of communication , whicli , notwithstanding the difference of long tie , and birth , and race , united in one common brotherhood all the members of the Fraternity , though scattered through Syria , and Persia , and India . They were also peculiarly distinguished by their strong feelings of fraternal regard , and , in the exercise of all charitable worksthe ' ¦' more opulent were sacredl
, y bound to provide for the exigencies of their poorer Brethren . " Such were our ancient Brethren , the Dionysian Artificers ;* and it is gratify ing now to perceive how truly the great princi ples of our Order have been preserved from a period so remote , ami descended so faithfully to the present time .