Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
intend the ceremonies . He complied with their request , and purified the city by the following process : —he ascended the hill of Mars , having with him a drove of sheep for sacrifice , some being black and others white . These sheep were liberated at the summit of the hill , and suffered to go whereever they leaseddirections being given bEpimenides
p , y that wherever any of them laid down , they should be immediately sacrificed in honour of the deity to whom the spot was consecrated . This being done , the plague ceased . Hence it is that there are several anonymous altars at Athens in memorial of the sacred expiation . " It appears from this account that many of the sheep lay
down in places which were not already consecrated to any particular deity , and were consequently offered in sacrifice to the unknown god presiding over the locality , whoever he might be ; and as the plague was stayed by the divine power , anonymous altars to that power were erected in every place where such sacrifice had been performedas a
memo-, rial of their deliverance . Here they worshipped the true God , although perfectly ignorant of his glory , majesty , and honour , and entertained no higher opinion of him than if he were only the equal of Jupiter , Apollo , or any other of their celestial deities . These were the altars referred to by St . Paul *
It is clear that all these nations were fully persuaded that their prayers would be move efficacious , and their vows more acceptable when performed in these elevated situations ; for the present deity , supposed to be inherent in the sacred mountain , was a safeguard and protection to the holy precinct ; and would punish , with summary vengeance , any
unauthorised intrusion by a profane or uninitiated person . I am not inclined to believe that the initiations were celebrated on hills in the open air , but it is undoubtedly true that no votary was allowed to approach such consecrated places , unless he had gone through that preliminary ceremony . Thus they were considered a holy locality , where the initiated were privileged to offer their vows ; and from which the profane were excluded by the terrible eras , eKas ecrrc / 3 e | 3 nXot .
This universal belief , which was firmly established , was sometimes used for the most ridiculous purposes of superstition ; and if we were not acquainted with the unlimited
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. Evidences, Doctrines, And Traditions.
intend the ceremonies . He complied with their request , and purified the city by the following process : —he ascended the hill of Mars , having with him a drove of sheep for sacrifice , some being black and others white . These sheep were liberated at the summit of the hill , and suffered to go whereever they leaseddirections being given bEpimenides
p , y that wherever any of them laid down , they should be immediately sacrificed in honour of the deity to whom the spot was consecrated . This being done , the plague ceased . Hence it is that there are several anonymous altars at Athens in memorial of the sacred expiation . " It appears from this account that many of the sheep lay
down in places which were not already consecrated to any particular deity , and were consequently offered in sacrifice to the unknown god presiding over the locality , whoever he might be ; and as the plague was stayed by the divine power , anonymous altars to that power were erected in every place where such sacrifice had been performedas a
memo-, rial of their deliverance . Here they worshipped the true God , although perfectly ignorant of his glory , majesty , and honour , and entertained no higher opinion of him than if he were only the equal of Jupiter , Apollo , or any other of their celestial deities . These were the altars referred to by St . Paul *
It is clear that all these nations were fully persuaded that their prayers would be move efficacious , and their vows more acceptable when performed in these elevated situations ; for the present deity , supposed to be inherent in the sacred mountain , was a safeguard and protection to the holy precinct ; and would punish , with summary vengeance , any
unauthorised intrusion by a profane or uninitiated person . I am not inclined to believe that the initiations were celebrated on hills in the open air , but it is undoubtedly true that no votary was allowed to approach such consecrated places , unless he had gone through that preliminary ceremony . Thus they were considered a holy locality , where the initiated were privileged to offer their vows ; and from which the profane were excluded by the terrible eras , eKas ecrrc / 3 e | 3 nXot .
This universal belief , which was firmly established , was sometimes used for the most ridiculous purposes of superstition ; and if we were not acquainted with the unlimited