Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
threw off the yoke , and rebelled against the Chaldteans , hoping for assistance from Necho , King of Egypt . This impotent attempt to liberate himself from subjection so exasperated Nebuchadnezzar , that , assembling an army , he besieged Jerusalem , sleAv Jehoiakim , cast forth his dead body contemptuously into the public hi ghway , ancl denied it the common rites of sepulture . He was succeeded b y . Teconiah , whose vices Avere of the same nature AA-ith those of
his father ; and the siege continuing , he delivered the city into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar , AA-IIO bound him in fetters , ancl sent him to Bab ylon , where he remained a close prisoner for nearl y forty years . The Chaldean now plundered the Temple of all its remaining ornaments ; carried away captive all the royal ancl noble families , including
Ezekiel the prophet ; recruited his army Avith Jewish soldiers , ancl took the artificers into his OAVII country to assist in the construction of works , the completion of which he projected when the termination of his Avars should afford him leisure to carry his designs into execution . The city being thus stripped of its treasurereduced in
, its population ancl importance by the exile of its principal inhabitants , ancl the annihilation of its army ; ancl none left but the very loAvest orders of the people , Nebuchadnezzar had little doubt of its subjection to his authority . He
appointed Zedekiah , the son of Josiah , to rule over the refuse of the JCAVS , and bound him b y an oath of fidelity . Almost eveiy vestige of speculative Masonry having been removed to Bab y lon , along with its superior officers , Zedekiah continued the practice of the Egyptian Mysteries , and their celebration introduced other enormities , which brought on
the final destruction of Jerusalem . Jeremiah in A'ain expostulated Avith the king and with the people on the wickedness of their continual idolatries , and set before them the consequences which must inevitably ensue if such wickedness AVHS persisted in . And at length , on the eve of ruin , the prophet foretold that their countrymenAvho were now in
cap-, tivity , should return and inhabit the land of their forefathers ; but that the present idolatrous inhabitants of Jerusalem should bring utter destruction on themselves , and the whole land should be spoiled and lie desolate until the day of restoration should arrive .
At this time the JeAvs were divided into three ranks or classes . The first Avas called Kcschagnhn , which was translated wicked or ungodly ; the second J ' sadihim , or ri ghteous ;
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
threw off the yoke , and rebelled against the Chaldteans , hoping for assistance from Necho , King of Egypt . This impotent attempt to liberate himself from subjection so exasperated Nebuchadnezzar , that , assembling an army , he besieged Jerusalem , sleAv Jehoiakim , cast forth his dead body contemptuously into the public hi ghway , ancl denied it the common rites of sepulture . He was succeeded b y . Teconiah , whose vices Avere of the same nature AA-ith those of
his father ; and the siege continuing , he delivered the city into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar , AA-IIO bound him in fetters , ancl sent him to Bab ylon , where he remained a close prisoner for nearl y forty years . The Chaldean now plundered the Temple of all its remaining ornaments ; carried away captive all the royal ancl noble families , including
Ezekiel the prophet ; recruited his army Avith Jewish soldiers , ancl took the artificers into his OAVII country to assist in the construction of works , the completion of which he projected when the termination of his Avars should afford him leisure to carry his designs into execution . The city being thus stripped of its treasurereduced in
, its population ancl importance by the exile of its principal inhabitants , ancl the annihilation of its army ; ancl none left but the very loAvest orders of the people , Nebuchadnezzar had little doubt of its subjection to his authority . He
appointed Zedekiah , the son of Josiah , to rule over the refuse of the JCAVS , and bound him b y an oath of fidelity . Almost eveiy vestige of speculative Masonry having been removed to Bab y lon , along with its superior officers , Zedekiah continued the practice of the Egyptian Mysteries , and their celebration introduced other enormities , which brought on
the final destruction of Jerusalem . Jeremiah in A'ain expostulated Avith the king and with the people on the wickedness of their continual idolatries , and set before them the consequences which must inevitably ensue if such wickedness AVHS persisted in . And at length , on the eve of ruin , the prophet foretold that their countrymenAvho were now in
cap-, tivity , should return and inhabit the land of their forefathers ; but that the present idolatrous inhabitants of Jerusalem should bring utter destruction on themselves , and the whole land should be spoiled and lie desolate until the day of restoration should arrive .
At this time the JeAvs were divided into three ranks or classes . The first Avas called Kcschagnhn , which was translated wicked or ungodly ; the second J ' sadihim , or ri ghteous ;