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On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
ON FREEMASONRY . EVIDENCES , DOCTRINES , AND TRADITIONS .
( No . 2 . ) BY THE REV . G . OLIVER , D . D . IN the rapid sketch of the Evidences of Freemasonry which falls within the compass of a quarterly periodical , I
pass on to the middle ages , when we find the Craft flourishing in its Operative state ; but imbued with the true spirit of Speculative Masonry ; without which the vast designs , and ornamental details of the art ,- which distinguish this period , and still exist in our ecclesiastical edifices * could scarcely have been accomplished . Nothing can be more
systematic than the construction of Freemasonry in these times . And a correct arrangement was necessary , for the purpose of concentrating the privileges which the Brethren had received from the Roman Pontiffs ; and confining the exclusive enjoyment of them to their own Order . We learn from Wren's " Parentalia , " that when any great work was in hand , temporary buildings were erected in its immediate neighbourhood , for Lodges of Masters , Wardens , and
Brethren . The architect was the Master of the work—every division of labour had its Warden , who reported daily to the Master the conduct of his Lodge ; and none who had not been initiated , were permitted to engage in any thing but servile employments . The splendid specimens of genius and talent produced by
these masons , are exhibited in our cathedral and collegiate churches ; some of which , I am inclined to think , surpass the finest architectural works of antiquity . Having , in a former series , borne ample testimony to the brilliant results which attended the efforts of our ancient Brethren in the sciences and arts , I am bound to assign some reasons which
induce me to entertain the opinion that they were excelled , if not eclipsed , by the Christian masons of the middle ages ; who succeeded , by reducing to practice the pure principles of our art , in constructing edifices which spontaneously excite a reverential awe , and dispose the heart to piety and devotion . VOL . VII . *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
ON FREEMASONRY . EVIDENCES , DOCTRINES , AND TRADITIONS .
( No . 2 . ) BY THE REV . G . OLIVER , D . D . IN the rapid sketch of the Evidences of Freemasonry which falls within the compass of a quarterly periodical , I
pass on to the middle ages , when we find the Craft flourishing in its Operative state ; but imbued with the true spirit of Speculative Masonry ; without which the vast designs , and ornamental details of the art ,- which distinguish this period , and still exist in our ecclesiastical edifices * could scarcely have been accomplished . Nothing can be more
systematic than the construction of Freemasonry in these times . And a correct arrangement was necessary , for the purpose of concentrating the privileges which the Brethren had received from the Roman Pontiffs ; and confining the exclusive enjoyment of them to their own Order . We learn from Wren's " Parentalia , " that when any great work was in hand , temporary buildings were erected in its immediate neighbourhood , for Lodges of Masters , Wardens , and
Brethren . The architect was the Master of the work—every division of labour had its Warden , who reported daily to the Master the conduct of his Lodge ; and none who had not been initiated , were permitted to engage in any thing but servile employments . The splendid specimens of genius and talent produced by
these masons , are exhibited in our cathedral and collegiate churches ; some of which , I am inclined to think , surpass the finest architectural works of antiquity . Having , in a former series , borne ample testimony to the brilliant results which attended the efforts of our ancient Brethren in the sciences and arts , I am bound to assign some reasons which
induce me to entertain the opinion that they were excelled , if not eclipsed , by the Christian masons of the middle ages ; who succeeded , by reducing to practice the pure principles of our art , in constructing edifices which spontaneously excite a reverential awe , and dispose the heart to piety and devotion . VOL . VII . *