Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
ON FREEMASONRY . THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF FREEMASONRY .
SECOND PERIOD .
7 JY THE REV . G . OLIVER , D . D . ; D . P . G . ill . FOR LINCOLNSHIRE . C Continued from page UG . J
IN forming an estimate of the universality of that science which is now denominated Freemasonry , we are not to consider it merely as extending itself over the surface of the whole g lobe , but also as having existed in every age , from the commencement of recorded time . Without this guide we should be surprised to find some of the landmarks of
our Order in the possession of successive bodies of men , who appear to have preserved and transmitted them without any material disarrangement of the elements of which they are composed . The secret system which was developed , even in the heathen initiations , displays some faint traces of those important observances that were practised in the
infancy of the world , before man apostatized from his Maker , and offered up his devotions to fictions beings and material substances . But in the system observed by the Essenes , who were p ious worshippers ofthe Great Jehovah , we find more unequivocal tokens of the presence of that Sublime Art which animated the devotion of the ancient
patriarchs , and kept their hearts in sweet communion with their heavenl y Father . The institutions of this celebrated sect display , in the clearest manner , the sublime purity of Freemasonry ; and though some of its favourite dogmata were evidently the offspring of superstition , yet they spran g from a true princi ple of piety , and a desire to avoid that
overwhelming deluge of false faith and defective practice which universall y prevailed , even amongst < c God's own people , " and rendered the advent of the Messiah so necessary to purify the world from its pollutions . The diligent Brother will be at no loss to extract all the genuine Masonry from the following account of the rites and ceremonies of
this singular Fraternity . The Essenes founded their system on the punctual observance of reli g ious duties , esteeming the worshi p of God the paramount business of their lives . They commenced no employment without previous devotion . At the rising of tlie sun , the day was opened with prayers to Him who VOL . in . 2 o
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
ON FREEMASONRY . THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF FREEMASONRY .
SECOND PERIOD .
7 JY THE REV . G . OLIVER , D . D . ; D . P . G . ill . FOR LINCOLNSHIRE . C Continued from page UG . J
IN forming an estimate of the universality of that science which is now denominated Freemasonry , we are not to consider it merely as extending itself over the surface of the whole g lobe , but also as having existed in every age , from the commencement of recorded time . Without this guide we should be surprised to find some of the landmarks of
our Order in the possession of successive bodies of men , who appear to have preserved and transmitted them without any material disarrangement of the elements of which they are composed . The secret system which was developed , even in the heathen initiations , displays some faint traces of those important observances that were practised in the
infancy of the world , before man apostatized from his Maker , and offered up his devotions to fictions beings and material substances . But in the system observed by the Essenes , who were p ious worshippers ofthe Great Jehovah , we find more unequivocal tokens of the presence of that Sublime Art which animated the devotion of the ancient
patriarchs , and kept their hearts in sweet communion with their heavenl y Father . The institutions of this celebrated sect display , in the clearest manner , the sublime purity of Freemasonry ; and though some of its favourite dogmata were evidently the offspring of superstition , yet they spran g from a true princi ple of piety , and a desire to avoid that
overwhelming deluge of false faith and defective practice which universall y prevailed , even amongst < c God's own people , " and rendered the advent of the Messiah so necessary to purify the world from its pollutions . The diligent Brother will be at no loss to extract all the genuine Masonry from the following account of the rites and ceremonies of
this singular Fraternity . The Essenes founded their system on the punctual observance of reli g ious duties , esteeming the worshi p of God the paramount business of their lives . They commenced no employment without previous devotion . At the rising of tlie sun , the day was opened with prayers to Him who VOL . in . 2 o