Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
of David and Solomon in every city where he found it still in existence ; ancl with the assistance of Jeremiah the prophet , he effected a perfect reformation in" the rites of divine worship . He gave orders for the reparation of the Temple , and entrusted the execution of this sacred duty to Hilkiahthe
, Llig h Priest , AA'I IO , on a minute examination of every part of the edifice , to detect the existence of idolatrous pollutions , accidentally found an original copy of the LaAv of Moses , which had probably been concealed by some pious priest in the time of Manasseh to prevent its destruction , when- the Ark of the Covenant AA'as removed to make Avay
for the introduction of an idol in the Most Hol y Place . This Roll being deliverel to the king , Shaphan the scribe was desired to read a portion of it , ancl the place at which he casually opened Avas the twenty-eighth chapter of Deuteronomy , in which the fearful curses of disobedience are denounced . Conscious of the trespasses of his predecessors ,
and the wickedness of the nation in general , the kino- rent his clothes , ancl apprehensive that their iniquities \ A'ere full , and the judgments were immediately impending , he desired
Hilkiah to inquire of the Lord at AA'hat period these calamities should be inflicted upon them . The answer was , that Jerusalem should certainly be destroyed ; but not in the lifetime of a pious prince like Josiah , who practised the genuine rites of AA'orship . Josiah then made another progress through the kingdom to encourage the people ; to
patronize and give efficacy by royal munificence to the much-neglected Science of Masonry , as an institution conducing to keep its professors firm ancl steady in their religious principles , and to destroy any remnant of idolatry which mi ght have escaped detection in his former scrutiny . The only copies of the LaAv of Moses at this time in
existence were carefully and secretly preserved by the conservators of Masonry ; for every copy that could be procured bv Manasseh ancl his son Amnion had been consi « -ned to the flames ; ancl it appears that even Josiah , before this time , had not been entrusted Avith a sight of this much-prized book . When this precious relic was found bHilkiah in
y the Temple , Josiah employed many scribes to multi ply copies of the laAv : and the ancient transcripts Avere IIOAV produced without fearing the execution of an edict issued by Manasseh , which devoted the written law to destruction .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
of David and Solomon in every city where he found it still in existence ; ancl with the assistance of Jeremiah the prophet , he effected a perfect reformation in" the rites of divine worship . He gave orders for the reparation of the Temple , and entrusted the execution of this sacred duty to Hilkiahthe
, Llig h Priest , AA'I IO , on a minute examination of every part of the edifice , to detect the existence of idolatrous pollutions , accidentally found an original copy of the LaAv of Moses , which had probably been concealed by some pious priest in the time of Manasseh to prevent its destruction , when- the Ark of the Covenant AA'as removed to make Avay
for the introduction of an idol in the Most Hol y Place . This Roll being deliverel to the king , Shaphan the scribe was desired to read a portion of it , ancl the place at which he casually opened Avas the twenty-eighth chapter of Deuteronomy , in which the fearful curses of disobedience are denounced . Conscious of the trespasses of his predecessors ,
and the wickedness of the nation in general , the kino- rent his clothes , ancl apprehensive that their iniquities \ A'ere full , and the judgments were immediately impending , he desired
Hilkiah to inquire of the Lord at AA'hat period these calamities should be inflicted upon them . The answer was , that Jerusalem should certainly be destroyed ; but not in the lifetime of a pious prince like Josiah , who practised the genuine rites of AA'orship . Josiah then made another progress through the kingdom to encourage the people ; to
patronize and give efficacy by royal munificence to the much-neglected Science of Masonry , as an institution conducing to keep its professors firm ancl steady in their religious principles , and to destroy any remnant of idolatry which mi ght have escaped detection in his former scrutiny . The only copies of the LaAv of Moses at this time in
existence were carefully and secretly preserved by the conservators of Masonry ; for every copy that could be procured bv Manasseh ancl his son Amnion had been consi « -ned to the flames ; ancl it appears that even Josiah , before this time , had not been entrusted Avith a sight of this much-prized book . When this precious relic was found bHilkiah in
y the Temple , Josiah employed many scribes to multi ply copies of the laAv : and the ancient transcripts Avere IIOAV produced without fearing the execution of an edict issued by Manasseh , which devoted the written law to destruction .