Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
gradually ascended , on ivhich the Egyptian priests held their secret assemblies , the purport of which was professedly astronomical , and founded on the helio arkite superstition . The pyramids were also furnished with subterraneous caverns for initiation . Mr . Greaves , in his Pyramidographia , observes ,
that " these caverns i * ange along at a convenient distance , parallel to the two sides of the pyramid , meeting at a right angle , and making a very fair and graceful prospect . " To this Mr . Maurice adds , that " the entrance into them is by square openings , hewn out of the rock , not exceeding in magnitude those which Mr . Gi'eaves had described before
as forming the entrance to the first pyramid , and which he had represented as narrow and quadrangular . The chambers within are likewise of a square form , and well-proportioned , covered and arched above with the natural rock ; in most of which there was a passage , opening into an interior chamber , but so obstructed with rubbish , and so involved in darkness ,
as to forbid all penetration into their recesses . These chambers , it can scarcely be doubted , had some secret communication with the interior apartments of the pyramid , the entrance into which has , if ever known , been long since forgotten . " Here we have again a perfect specimen of " the highest of hills and the lowest of valleys , " artificially constructed for the convenience of celebrating the spurious Freemasonry of Egypt .
From these facts it is evident that such situations were associated with the religious feelings of the people ; and here they held their most secret assemblies , because in these places the Divinity was considered , in an especial manner , present . Thus Hesiod says , " the gods dwell on the snowy summit of Olympus , and are not excluded from the dark
caverns of the earth . " We have already seen that mountain-worship was common amongst the antediluvian patriarchs ; and that the example was followed by Noah on the high mountains where the ark rested , and where the parents of mankind resided after their deliverance from danger ; by Abraham , who performed an
act of worship on Mount Moriah at the express command of God ; ancl by Moses on the mountains of Horeb and Sinai . This custom was soon imitated by the idolatrous nations with which the Israelites were surrounded . The Moabites instituted rites to Baal of the most disgusting kind , on the summit of Mount Peor ; which deity was hence denominated Baal Peor ; and his worship became famous throughout the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
gradually ascended , on ivhich the Egyptian priests held their secret assemblies , the purport of which was professedly astronomical , and founded on the helio arkite superstition . The pyramids were also furnished with subterraneous caverns for initiation . Mr . Greaves , in his Pyramidographia , observes ,
that " these caverns i * ange along at a convenient distance , parallel to the two sides of the pyramid , meeting at a right angle , and making a very fair and graceful prospect . " To this Mr . Maurice adds , that " the entrance into them is by square openings , hewn out of the rock , not exceeding in magnitude those which Mr . Gi'eaves had described before
as forming the entrance to the first pyramid , and which he had represented as narrow and quadrangular . The chambers within are likewise of a square form , and well-proportioned , covered and arched above with the natural rock ; in most of which there was a passage , opening into an interior chamber , but so obstructed with rubbish , and so involved in darkness ,
as to forbid all penetration into their recesses . These chambers , it can scarcely be doubted , had some secret communication with the interior apartments of the pyramid , the entrance into which has , if ever known , been long since forgotten . " Here we have again a perfect specimen of " the highest of hills and the lowest of valleys , " artificially constructed for the convenience of celebrating the spurious Freemasonry of Egypt .
From these facts it is evident that such situations were associated with the religious feelings of the people ; and here they held their most secret assemblies , because in these places the Divinity was considered , in an especial manner , present . Thus Hesiod says , " the gods dwell on the snowy summit of Olympus , and are not excluded from the dark
caverns of the earth . " We have already seen that mountain-worship was common amongst the antediluvian patriarchs ; and that the example was followed by Noah on the high mountains where the ark rested , and where the parents of mankind resided after their deliverance from danger ; by Abraham , who performed an
act of worship on Mount Moriah at the express command of God ; ancl by Moses on the mountains of Horeb and Sinai . This custom was soon imitated by the idolatrous nations with which the Israelites were surrounded . The Moabites instituted rites to Baal of the most disgusting kind , on the summit of Mount Peor ; which deity was hence denominated Baal Peor ; and his worship became famous throughout the