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On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
The first or initiatory Degree contains the rudiments of knowledge , ancl has been aptly referred to the Patriarchal dispensation , when mankind were acquainted only with the first principles of religion , and worshipped God in simplicity as the Creator and Governor of the world ; when His laws ancl precepts were few , ancl written in the hearts of
the faithful race . These were included in the seven precepts of Noah : ] . The trial ancl punishment of malefactors . 2 . Worshipping God , and honouring the Sabbath . 3 . The renunciation of idolatry or false worship . 4 . The prohibition of nakedness . 5 . Murder or homicide forbidden . 6 . Against fraud , dissimulation ancl robbery . 7 . Prohibition against eating the flesh of any animal taken from it before it was dead .
There is scarcely a point of duty or morality which man has been presumed to owe to God , his neighbour or himself , under the Patriarchal , the Mosaic , or the Christian dispensations , which , in the construction of our symbolical system , has been left untouched . The forms ancl ceremonies , secrets and landmarks , the types and allegories of Freemasonry ,
present copious subjects of investigation which cannot be easily exhausted . The nature of the Lodge ; iis form , dimensions and support ; its ground , situation and covering ; its ornaments , furniture and jewels ; all unite their aid to form a perfect code of moral and theological philosophy ; which , while it fascinates the understanding , improves the
mind , until it becomes polished like the perfect ashler , ancl can only be tried by the square of God ' s word , ancl the unerring compass of conscience . For an elucidation of the signs and symbols attached to this Degree , I would refer the reader to my Twelve Lectures on the subjectand to the forthcoming Lectures on
, the Theocratic Philosophy of Freemasonry ; but there is one expressive symbol in a Mason ' s Lodge which has not received its proper share of attention in either of those volumes . I allude to the third Ornament , which is an emblem of Prudence , and carries in its train many of the most amiable virtues which dignify and adorn the nature of
man . Prudence , like a bright and blazing star , enlightens our path , and directs us to the performance of great and worthy actions . It is Prudence which arms us with moral courage ancl resolution to pass through the trials and persecutions of the world ; not , perhaps , without endangering , but certainly without destroying our virtue , or neutralizing
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
The first or initiatory Degree contains the rudiments of knowledge , ancl has been aptly referred to the Patriarchal dispensation , when mankind were acquainted only with the first principles of religion , and worshipped God in simplicity as the Creator and Governor of the world ; when His laws ancl precepts were few , ancl written in the hearts of
the faithful race . These were included in the seven precepts of Noah : ] . The trial ancl punishment of malefactors . 2 . Worshipping God , and honouring the Sabbath . 3 . The renunciation of idolatry or false worship . 4 . The prohibition of nakedness . 5 . Murder or homicide forbidden . 6 . Against fraud , dissimulation ancl robbery . 7 . Prohibition against eating the flesh of any animal taken from it before it was dead .
There is scarcely a point of duty or morality which man has been presumed to owe to God , his neighbour or himself , under the Patriarchal , the Mosaic , or the Christian dispensations , which , in the construction of our symbolical system , has been left untouched . The forms ancl ceremonies , secrets and landmarks , the types and allegories of Freemasonry ,
present copious subjects of investigation which cannot be easily exhausted . The nature of the Lodge ; iis form , dimensions and support ; its ground , situation and covering ; its ornaments , furniture and jewels ; all unite their aid to form a perfect code of moral and theological philosophy ; which , while it fascinates the understanding , improves the
mind , until it becomes polished like the perfect ashler , ancl can only be tried by the square of God ' s word , ancl the unerring compass of conscience . For an elucidation of the signs and symbols attached to this Degree , I would refer the reader to my Twelve Lectures on the subjectand to the forthcoming Lectures on
, the Theocratic Philosophy of Freemasonry ; but there is one expressive symbol in a Mason ' s Lodge which has not received its proper share of attention in either of those volumes . I allude to the third Ornament , which is an emblem of Prudence , and carries in its train many of the most amiable virtues which dignify and adorn the nature of
man . Prudence , like a bright and blazing star , enlightens our path , and directs us to the performance of great and worthy actions . It is Prudence which arms us with moral courage ancl resolution to pass through the trials and persecutions of the world ; not , perhaps , without endangering , but certainly without destroying our virtue , or neutralizing