Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
and the third Cliasidim , or sanctified . The individuals AA'ho composed the last class were afterwards termed Kasideans , and Avere the conservators of Masonry amongst the JeAVs , as indeed were also the second class , for the tAvo latter divisions Avere frequently confounded A \ dth each other .
From them sprang the Essenes , Avho brought Masonry clown to the time of Jesus Christ ; for the Hebrews had been originally selected by the Almighty , and formally separated from the rest of the Avorld to presen'e from annihilation every institution which professed to enforce the true worship , and the moral duties necessarily resulting
from it . Ezekiel , \ A'ho had passed his time at Babylon , in the practice of speculative Masonry , with the princes and nobles whom he had accompanied into captivity , and was highly esteemed as an eminent pattern of virtue and holiness , now received the characteristic vision from Heavenwhich is
, described in our Lectures of the Third Degree : " A whirlwind came out of the north , a great cloud and a fire enfolding itself , and a brightness was about it , ancl out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber , out of the midst of the fire . Also out of the midst thereof came the
likeness of four living creatures . And this was their appearance : they had the likeness of a man ; ancl every one had four faces , ancl every one had four wings . And their feet were straight feet ; the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot ; ancl they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass . Ancl they had the hands of a man
under their Avings on their four sides ; and they four had their faces and their wings . Their wings were joined one to another ; they turned not when they went ; they went every one straight forward . As for the likeness of their faces , they four had the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right side ; and they four had the face of an ox
on the left side ; they four also had the face of an eagle . Thus were their faces : and their wings were stretched upward ; two wings of every one were joined one to another , and two covered their bodies * . "
These four beasts evidently referred to the camp of the Israelites in the wilderness . The standard of Judah on the east side of the camp bore a lion ; that of E phraim on the Avest , an ox ; the banner of Reuben on the south , a , man ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
and the third Cliasidim , or sanctified . The individuals AA'ho composed the last class were afterwards termed Kasideans , and Avere the conservators of Masonry amongst the JeAVs , as indeed were also the second class , for the tAvo latter divisions Avere frequently confounded A \ dth each other .
From them sprang the Essenes , Avho brought Masonry clown to the time of Jesus Christ ; for the Hebrews had been originally selected by the Almighty , and formally separated from the rest of the Avorld to presen'e from annihilation every institution which professed to enforce the true worship , and the moral duties necessarily resulting
from it . Ezekiel , \ A'ho had passed his time at Babylon , in the practice of speculative Masonry , with the princes and nobles whom he had accompanied into captivity , and was highly esteemed as an eminent pattern of virtue and holiness , now received the characteristic vision from Heavenwhich is
, described in our Lectures of the Third Degree : " A whirlwind came out of the north , a great cloud and a fire enfolding itself , and a brightness was about it , ancl out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber , out of the midst of the fire . Also out of the midst thereof came the
likeness of four living creatures . And this was their appearance : they had the likeness of a man ; ancl every one had four faces , ancl every one had four wings . And their feet were straight feet ; the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot ; ancl they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass . Ancl they had the hands of a man
under their Avings on their four sides ; and they four had their faces and their wings . Their wings were joined one to another ; they turned not when they went ; they went every one straight forward . As for the likeness of their faces , they four had the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right side ; and they four had the face of an ox
on the left side ; they four also had the face of an eagle . Thus were their faces : and their wings were stretched upward ; two wings of every one were joined one to another , and two covered their bodies * . "
These four beasts evidently referred to the camp of the Israelites in the wilderness . The standard of Judah on the east side of the camp bore a lion ; that of E phraim on the Avest , an ox ; the banner of Reuben on the south , a , man ,