Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
which they thought ivere the residences of their gods . At the entrance of these they 2 * aised their altars , and performed their vows . Porphyry takes notice how much this mode of worship prevailed among the first nations upon the earth . When , hi process of time , they began to erect temples , they were still determined in their situation bthe vicinity of
y these objects , which they comprehended within the limits of the sacred inclosure . These melancholy recesses were esteemed p laces of the highest sanctity ; ' and so greatly did this notion prevail , that , in after times , when this practice had ceased , still the innermost part of the Temple was denominated the cavern . "
The Cuthites of Shinar preserved the custom , although the reasons for it were greatly obscured ; and being destitute of the religious advantages supposed to be afforded by the lofty mountain in the flat level of those extensive plains , they endeavoured to form by art a transcript of the holy elevation , on which they might be preserved from the effects of
another deluge . And this idea shows that the true interpretation of the symbol of protection which the Almighty vouchsafed to Noah , when he placed his bow in the clouds , was lost , even at this early period . In the upper apartments of this gigantic edifice , the remains of which have excited the astonishment of travellers ;* or on " the hihest of hills "
g , were private apartments for the celebration of the mysterious J'ites of their religion ; and in vaults beneath the foundations —or "in the lowest of valleys "—were ranges of caverns for the convenience of initiation into their spurious Freemasonrv , or mysteries of Belus . The pyramids of Egypt were another stupendous
contrivance of human art to imitate the natural sacred hill . The summit of one of these massive structures is five hundred feet from the ground ; and here we find a square platform , of thirteen feet , accessible by a series of stages , running round the pyramid in a level line , by which the top may be
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
which they thought ivere the residences of their gods . At the entrance of these they 2 * aised their altars , and performed their vows . Porphyry takes notice how much this mode of worship prevailed among the first nations upon the earth . When , hi process of time , they began to erect temples , they were still determined in their situation bthe vicinity of
y these objects , which they comprehended within the limits of the sacred inclosure . These melancholy recesses were esteemed p laces of the highest sanctity ; ' and so greatly did this notion prevail , that , in after times , when this practice had ceased , still the innermost part of the Temple was denominated the cavern . "
The Cuthites of Shinar preserved the custom , although the reasons for it were greatly obscured ; and being destitute of the religious advantages supposed to be afforded by the lofty mountain in the flat level of those extensive plains , they endeavoured to form by art a transcript of the holy elevation , on which they might be preserved from the effects of
another deluge . And this idea shows that the true interpretation of the symbol of protection which the Almighty vouchsafed to Noah , when he placed his bow in the clouds , was lost , even at this early period . In the upper apartments of this gigantic edifice , the remains of which have excited the astonishment of travellers ;* or on " the hihest of hills "
g , were private apartments for the celebration of the mysterious J'ites of their religion ; and in vaults beneath the foundations —or "in the lowest of valleys "—were ranges of caverns for the convenience of initiation into their spurious Freemasonrv , or mysteries of Belus . The pyramids of Egypt were another stupendous
contrivance of human art to imitate the natural sacred hill . The summit of one of these massive structures is five hundred feet from the ground ; and here we find a square platform , of thirteen feet , accessible by a series of stages , running round the pyramid in a level line , by which the top may be