Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
Jewish rulers . The attempt to repair the walls and fortifications met with a formidable resistance from these people , who conspired to attack the Jews while engaged in labour , and consequently unarmed ; and to this they were encouraged by some traitors within the city . The prudent vigilance of Nehemiah frustrated this cowardly scheme : he
directed the work to be vigorously prosecuted by armed men , protected also by bands of warriors , placed at convenient distances round the city , to receive the enemy at every point . Thus prepared , the Samaritans ancl their allies abandoned every hostile attempt , ancl contented themselves with mockery and derision ; untilafter much ineffectual
, opposition , the fortifications were completed , the gates set up , ancl the whole dedicated with solemn ceremonies . Thus rebuilt ancl peopled with inhabitants , under the wise government of Nehemiah , assisted by the prudent councils of Ezra ,
Jerusalem soon recovered a portion of its former splendour . A profound peace , attended with a course of uninterrupted prosperity of long continuance , was favourable to the practice of all those arts and sciences which embellish , and stamp a value on the enjoyment of social life , and amongst the rest , the comprehensive science of Freemasonry
received distinguished marks of attention . The encouragement afforded by Zerubbabel , the prince ; Haggai , the prophet ; and Jeshua , the high priest of tlie Jews ; seconded by Ezra , Nehemiah , ancl their successors , to the sublime science , which united religion ancl morals in a band of social harmonygave a new stimulus to the exertions of those
, worthy and faithful few , who had been the conservators of Freemasonry in Babylon , ancl their energies were assisted by an extraordinary occurrence , which particularly marks the beginning of this period as a distinguishing epoch in the liistory of our science .
About this time died the prophet Malachi ; and with him the spirit of prophecy ceased , until the appearance of John the Baptist , the forerunner of Jesus Christ . At his death , a Masonic sect amongst the Jews rose into notice , the members of which distinguished themselves by a strict adherence to the letter of their moral lectures ; and
incorporating all the precepts ancl injunctions of Freemasonry with their religion , reduced them to the practice of common life . During the captivity , and amidst the idolatries of Babylon , the worthy members of this society resolved to live , how difficult soever a task , in conformity with the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
Jewish rulers . The attempt to repair the walls and fortifications met with a formidable resistance from these people , who conspired to attack the Jews while engaged in labour , and consequently unarmed ; and to this they were encouraged by some traitors within the city . The prudent vigilance of Nehemiah frustrated this cowardly scheme : he
directed the work to be vigorously prosecuted by armed men , protected also by bands of warriors , placed at convenient distances round the city , to receive the enemy at every point . Thus prepared , the Samaritans ancl their allies abandoned every hostile attempt , ancl contented themselves with mockery and derision ; untilafter much ineffectual
, opposition , the fortifications were completed , the gates set up , ancl the whole dedicated with solemn ceremonies . Thus rebuilt ancl peopled with inhabitants , under the wise government of Nehemiah , assisted by the prudent councils of Ezra ,
Jerusalem soon recovered a portion of its former splendour . A profound peace , attended with a course of uninterrupted prosperity of long continuance , was favourable to the practice of all those arts and sciences which embellish , and stamp a value on the enjoyment of social life , and amongst the rest , the comprehensive science of Freemasonry
received distinguished marks of attention . The encouragement afforded by Zerubbabel , the prince ; Haggai , the prophet ; and Jeshua , the high priest of tlie Jews ; seconded by Ezra , Nehemiah , ancl their successors , to the sublime science , which united religion ancl morals in a band of social harmonygave a new stimulus to the exertions of those
, worthy and faithful few , who had been the conservators of Freemasonry in Babylon , ancl their energies were assisted by an extraordinary occurrence , which particularly marks the beginning of this period as a distinguishing epoch in the liistory of our science .
About this time died the prophet Malachi ; and with him the spirit of prophecy ceased , until the appearance of John the Baptist , the forerunner of Jesus Christ . At his death , a Masonic sect amongst the Jews rose into notice , the members of which distinguished themselves by a strict adherence to the letter of their moral lectures ; and
incorporating all the precepts ancl injunctions of Freemasonry with their religion , reduced them to the practice of common life . During the captivity , and amidst the idolatries of Babylon , the worthy members of this society resolved to live , how difficult soever a task , in conformity with the