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Article ON FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 7 →
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On Freemasonry.
ON FREEMASONRY .
TUB GREAT PLAN OV HUMAN SALVATION TRACER IN PREEMASONRY , 111- TIIE LIGHT OP ONE OP ITS MOST PROMINENT SYMBOLS . Respectfully submitted to the consideration of those clergymen who doubt the propriety of allowing the use of their churches for Masonic celebrations . BY THE REV . GEORGE OLIVER , D . I ) .
" Tho Star , which thev saw in the East , went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was . " —ST . MATTHEW . " The coincidence of principle and design between the Christhn scheme and Spcculalive Freemasonry , clearly proves that our system is based on the rock of eternal ages . "—HEV . SALEM TOWN .
The abundance of Christian types winch are dispersed throughout the entire system of speculative Freemasonry , must have a tendency to show that the Order is essentially Christian . In its earliest stages , it was undoubtedly a patriarchal and Jewish institution ; but , like the design of the Mosaical economy , its reference was evidentl y to a better dispensation , which had been promised to Adam at the fall , and renewed to all the principal patriarchs in succession ;—revealed to the prophets ,
and perfected at the Advent of Christ . The principal types which have been recorded in Holy Scripture , are incorporated into the system of Freemasonry , and constitute landmarks which are unchangeable . The conclusion , therefore , is evident . If they are types of the Redeemer in one instance , they must be also in the other . And as the Jewish religion was a temporary dispensation to herald a more perfect system of faith , so Jewish Freemasonry was the precursor and symbol of that
which is now Christian . One of the most remarkable of these types is that luminous appearance which enlightens the centre of our Lodges , called the BLAZING STAR . This ornament refers to the sun ; and is considered by Masons to be an emblem of Prudence . Thus our lectures say : " The Blazing Star , or glory in the centre , refers us to that grancl luminary the sun , which enlightens the earth , and by its genial influence , dispenses blessings to
mankind . " Ancl again , " It is placed in the centre , ever to be present to the eye of the Mason , that his heart may be attentive to the dictates , and steadfast in the laws of prudence ; for prudence is the rule of all virtues ; prudence is the path which leads to every degree of propriety ; prudence is the channel whence self-approbation for ever flows ; she leads us forth to worthy actions ; ancl , as a Blazing Star , enlightens us through the dreary and darksome paths of life . " But
the Masons of the last century applied this symbol in a sense much more appropriate and sublime . It was said to represent " the star which led the wise men to Bethlehem , proclaiming to mankind the nativity of the Son of God , and here conducting our spiritual progress to the author of our Redemption . " * And this application of the symbol is blended with the former by our transatlantic Brethren thus— " The
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry.
ON FREEMASONRY .
TUB GREAT PLAN OV HUMAN SALVATION TRACER IN PREEMASONRY , 111- TIIE LIGHT OP ONE OP ITS MOST PROMINENT SYMBOLS . Respectfully submitted to the consideration of those clergymen who doubt the propriety of allowing the use of their churches for Masonic celebrations . BY THE REV . GEORGE OLIVER , D . I ) .
" Tho Star , which thev saw in the East , went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was . " —ST . MATTHEW . " The coincidence of principle and design between the Christhn scheme and Spcculalive Freemasonry , clearly proves that our system is based on the rock of eternal ages . "—HEV . SALEM TOWN .
The abundance of Christian types winch are dispersed throughout the entire system of speculative Freemasonry , must have a tendency to show that the Order is essentially Christian . In its earliest stages , it was undoubtedly a patriarchal and Jewish institution ; but , like the design of the Mosaical economy , its reference was evidentl y to a better dispensation , which had been promised to Adam at the fall , and renewed to all the principal patriarchs in succession ;—revealed to the prophets ,
and perfected at the Advent of Christ . The principal types which have been recorded in Holy Scripture , are incorporated into the system of Freemasonry , and constitute landmarks which are unchangeable . The conclusion , therefore , is evident . If they are types of the Redeemer in one instance , they must be also in the other . And as the Jewish religion was a temporary dispensation to herald a more perfect system of faith , so Jewish Freemasonry was the precursor and symbol of that
which is now Christian . One of the most remarkable of these types is that luminous appearance which enlightens the centre of our Lodges , called the BLAZING STAR . This ornament refers to the sun ; and is considered by Masons to be an emblem of Prudence . Thus our lectures say : " The Blazing Star , or glory in the centre , refers us to that grancl luminary the sun , which enlightens the earth , and by its genial influence , dispenses blessings to
mankind . " Ancl again , " It is placed in the centre , ever to be present to the eye of the Mason , that his heart may be attentive to the dictates , and steadfast in the laws of prudence ; for prudence is the rule of all virtues ; prudence is the path which leads to every degree of propriety ; prudence is the channel whence self-approbation for ever flows ; she leads us forth to worthy actions ; ancl , as a Blazing Star , enlightens us through the dreary and darksome paths of life . " But
the Masons of the last century applied this symbol in a sense much more appropriate and sublime . It was said to represent " the star which led the wise men to Bethlehem , proclaiming to mankind the nativity of the Son of God , and here conducting our spiritual progress to the author of our Redemption . " * And this application of the symbol is blended with the former by our transatlantic Brethren thus— " The