Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
world , as the very lowest and most debased superstition that ever polluted reasonable beings , even to an unnatural mixture of beasts with the human kind . * Thus Strabof says , that at Mendes , Tpayoi evravda yvvatgi piyimvrai . And Hei'Odotus testifies to the same fact . J These were the customs by which the Israelites in the wilderness were contaminated ,
under the counsels of Balaam . § The rites were not only practised on " the highest of hills , " but were further protected by the secresy of a shady grove . So universal did this custom become , that Servius , on the iEneid , || says , " nunquam est Lucus sine religione . " Abraham had planted a grove on the summit of a hillin the centre
, of which he built an altar , and inclosed it with a high fence , as a place of private devotion . These groves were generally of oak , because this tree was considered holy , from the oak of Abraham at Mamre , which was in existence , and retained its sacred character in the reign of Constantine , when it was visited annually for religious purposes by Jews , Christians ,
and Gentiles .-fl The oak was indeed generally reverenced , and planted profusely in most sacred places . When Jacob purged his house of idols , he buried them under an oak , at Shechem . And this was evidently esteemed holy , because Joshua , many years afterwards , fixed upon it as a place of public
worship for the Israelites . Gideon also had a divine communication under the same tree . But sacred groves were not always composed of oaks ; for , in many instances , when any deity had a particular tree consecrated to him , his grove abounded in that tree . Thus , the laurel was devoted to Apollo , whence the grove at Delphi was of laurel . In like
manner the olive was dedicated to Minerva , which made it a favourite with the Athenians : the vine and ivy were ascribed to Bacchus , & c .: but the Dodonean grove of Epirus was composed of oak . Here was a temple of Jupiter ; and the oaks which surrounded it were reputed to be oracular . Indeed , this was esteemed the most ancient oracle of Greece , and was said to have been established at the recommendation of a black dove , endowed with speech ,
Amongst the idolatrous nations these mountain woods were horribly dismal places . The description of the Massilian grove , by Lucan , which was a place of initiation , and con-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
world , as the very lowest and most debased superstition that ever polluted reasonable beings , even to an unnatural mixture of beasts with the human kind . * Thus Strabof says , that at Mendes , Tpayoi evravda yvvatgi piyimvrai . And Hei'Odotus testifies to the same fact . J These were the customs by which the Israelites in the wilderness were contaminated ,
under the counsels of Balaam . § The rites were not only practised on " the highest of hills , " but were further protected by the secresy of a shady grove . So universal did this custom become , that Servius , on the iEneid , || says , " nunquam est Lucus sine religione . " Abraham had planted a grove on the summit of a hillin the centre
, of which he built an altar , and inclosed it with a high fence , as a place of private devotion . These groves were generally of oak , because this tree was considered holy , from the oak of Abraham at Mamre , which was in existence , and retained its sacred character in the reign of Constantine , when it was visited annually for religious purposes by Jews , Christians ,
and Gentiles .-fl The oak was indeed generally reverenced , and planted profusely in most sacred places . When Jacob purged his house of idols , he buried them under an oak , at Shechem . And this was evidently esteemed holy , because Joshua , many years afterwards , fixed upon it as a place of public
worship for the Israelites . Gideon also had a divine communication under the same tree . But sacred groves were not always composed of oaks ; for , in many instances , when any deity had a particular tree consecrated to him , his grove abounded in that tree . Thus , the laurel was devoted to Apollo , whence the grove at Delphi was of laurel . In like
manner the olive was dedicated to Minerva , which made it a favourite with the Athenians : the vine and ivy were ascribed to Bacchus , & c .: but the Dodonean grove of Epirus was composed of oak . Here was a temple of Jupiter ; and the oaks which surrounded it were reputed to be oracular . Indeed , this was esteemed the most ancient oracle of Greece , and was said to have been established at the recommendation of a black dove , endowed with speech ,
Amongst the idolatrous nations these mountain woods were horribly dismal places . The description of the Massilian grove , by Lucan , which was a place of initiation , and con-