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Article LITERARY NOTICES. ← Page 2 of 6 →
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Literary Notices.
MASONIC LECTURES . —Lectures , Lodge of Virtue , 177 , Manchester . ON the accession of Brother Thomas Chadwick , as AV . M ., it Avas his first business to follow up the recommendation of the Grand Loclge , by proposing a Series of Lectures , calculated to diffuse a taste for Masonic Literature , Art , and Science ; to assist the studious inquirer into the history and philosophy of the Order , ancl in short
to promote the advancement of Freemasonry in general . In pursuance of this laudable scheme , we have the first fruits of their Masonic labours , in the shape of four lectures UOAV before us , all more or less interesting to the Masonic student . The first Lecture of the series , is by Bro . J . J . Moody , on " The Origin of Freemasonry , " a subject which our talented Brother has felicitously illustrated .
After remarking on the popular impression of the origin of Masonry , and the prevailing opinion entertained by the uninitiated , he says —• " That Freemasonry at its origin was exclusively operative—that its rise dates from the erection of Solomon ' s Temple at Jerusalem—and until many centuries after tho completion of that magnificent structure , the Order continued to consist of operative Masons alone . On this principle it is supposed by such Brethren to have been maintained , under various degrees of prosperity , until a comparatively modern period , when gentlemen of distinction sought admission to its privileges and a knowledge of its mysteries . "
Bro . Moody then proceeds to ascribe the origin of Masomy to T . G . A . O . T . U ., Avho imparted itsprinciples ( in conjunction with those of science in general ) and enjoined its practice to the Father of the human race in the form of pure religion . To reconcile the proposition , he lays hold of such traditions as are consistent with the Mosaic narrative , Avhich answered every purpose to which writing or any kind of characters could be applied . The necessity of erecting
monuments to perpetuate public events , could then have scarcely suggested itself ; as , during the primitive ages but little danger could be apprehended of any important fact being forgotten , as its history had to pass through very few hands , ancl all these friends and relations living in an insulated state under a patriarchal government . From Adam to Noah there Avas but one man necessary for the correct transmission of the history of a period of 1656 years ,
namely Methuselah , AVIIO lived to see both . He then introduces a chronological table , shoAving the contemporaries Avith the three great heads , Adam , Noah , and Shem . After giving a brief description of ancient life , as practised in the patriarchal and Mosaical ages , he remarks on the exclusive selection of persons and families to preserve and transmit religious * Avorship pure , Avhich is the germ of Masonry , and Avhich Avas first
practised on the hills and valleys by our ancient Brethren , the patriarchs , AA'I IO selected such places for their pure lustrations and altars . Adam , Abel , Seth , Enoch , and Noah , offered up sacrifices on their primitive altars . Isaac raised an altar at Beersheba , Jacob , one at Salem and Bethel , and Job on behalf of his sinning friends , Eli phaz , Bildad , and Zophar . After travelling over the extensive region of Mosaic literature and science , he treats of Freemasonry , religious , moral , and scientific , the unchangeable nature of its principles , its adaptation to all countries and conditions ; ancl concludes his interesting discourse , recommending the Brethren to exemplify
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Literary Notices.
MASONIC LECTURES . —Lectures , Lodge of Virtue , 177 , Manchester . ON the accession of Brother Thomas Chadwick , as AV . M ., it Avas his first business to follow up the recommendation of the Grand Loclge , by proposing a Series of Lectures , calculated to diffuse a taste for Masonic Literature , Art , and Science ; to assist the studious inquirer into the history and philosophy of the Order , ancl in short
to promote the advancement of Freemasonry in general . In pursuance of this laudable scheme , we have the first fruits of their Masonic labours , in the shape of four lectures UOAV before us , all more or less interesting to the Masonic student . The first Lecture of the series , is by Bro . J . J . Moody , on " The Origin of Freemasonry , " a subject which our talented Brother has felicitously illustrated .
After remarking on the popular impression of the origin of Masonry , and the prevailing opinion entertained by the uninitiated , he says —• " That Freemasonry at its origin was exclusively operative—that its rise dates from the erection of Solomon ' s Temple at Jerusalem—and until many centuries after tho completion of that magnificent structure , the Order continued to consist of operative Masons alone . On this principle it is supposed by such Brethren to have been maintained , under various degrees of prosperity , until a comparatively modern period , when gentlemen of distinction sought admission to its privileges and a knowledge of its mysteries . "
Bro . Moody then proceeds to ascribe the origin of Masomy to T . G . A . O . T . U ., Avho imparted itsprinciples ( in conjunction with those of science in general ) and enjoined its practice to the Father of the human race in the form of pure religion . To reconcile the proposition , he lays hold of such traditions as are consistent with the Mosaic narrative , Avhich answered every purpose to which writing or any kind of characters could be applied . The necessity of erecting
monuments to perpetuate public events , could then have scarcely suggested itself ; as , during the primitive ages but little danger could be apprehended of any important fact being forgotten , as its history had to pass through very few hands , ancl all these friends and relations living in an insulated state under a patriarchal government . From Adam to Noah there Avas but one man necessary for the correct transmission of the history of a period of 1656 years ,
namely Methuselah , AVIIO lived to see both . He then introduces a chronological table , shoAving the contemporaries Avith the three great heads , Adam , Noah , and Shem . After giving a brief description of ancient life , as practised in the patriarchal and Mosaical ages , he remarks on the exclusive selection of persons and families to preserve and transmit religious * Avorship pure , Avhich is the germ of Masonry , and Avhich Avas first
practised on the hills and valleys by our ancient Brethren , the patriarchs , AA'I IO selected such places for their pure lustrations and altars . Adam , Abel , Seth , Enoch , and Noah , offered up sacrifices on their primitive altars . Isaac raised an altar at Beersheba , Jacob , one at Salem and Bethel , and Job on behalf of his sinning friends , Eli phaz , Bildad , and Zophar . After travelling over the extensive region of Mosaic literature and science , he treats of Freemasonry , religious , moral , and scientific , the unchangeable nature of its principles , its adaptation to all countries and conditions ; ancl concludes his interesting discourse , recommending the Brethren to exemplify