-
Articles/Ads
Article ON FREEMASONRY. ← Page 4 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry.
may be observed at large in llhodigiuus , and in several writers ; since every one extolling number according to his subject , and as it advantaged the present discourse in hand . " On the same subject , Smith , in his " Life of William , Marquis Berkeley , " who was born in 142 (> , tells us that he " closeth the second septenary number from Harding the Dane , as much differing from his last ancestorsas the Lord Thomasthe first septenary lord didfrom
, , , his six former forefathers . " And he then proceeds to say , " I will not be superstitiously opinionated of tbe misteries of numbers , though it bee of longe standing amongst many learned men ; neither will I positively affirm that the number of six is fatall to weomen , and the numbers of seavan and nine to men ; or that those numbers have ( as many have written ) magnum in tota rerum natura potcstatem , great power in kingdoms and comon wealthsin familiesagesof bodiessickness
, , , , , health , wealth , losse , & c . ; or , with Seneca and others , septimus quisqite annus , & c . Each seaventh yeare is remarkable with men , as the sixth is with weomen . Or , as divines teach , that in the number of seaven there is a misticall perfection which our vmderstandinge cannot attaine unto ; and that nature herself is observant of this number . " Numeral divination on some unimportant points , was at length reduced to an unerring system and the memory of a few brief rules
; would enable even a child to dive into another ' s thoughts ; and thus excite a high degree of astonishment by a process which cannot fail of producing a correct result . For instance , if any person has an even number of counters in one hand , and an odd number in the other , it will be easy to divine in which hand the odd or even number is by the following certain rule : —Desire the person to multiply the number in
his right hand by an odd figure , and the number in his left by an even one ; and inform you whether the products , when added together , are odd or even . If even , the even number is in the right hand ; if odd , the even number is in the left hand . By a similar process a number which any person may privately think of will be easily ascertained . Thus , request him to double the number with the addition of four ; then let him multiply tbe whole by five , add twelve to the product , and place a cypher after the amount . From the number thus obtained
let him deduct 320 and tell you the remainder ; from which , if you reject the two last figures , the number that remains will be that which he had fixed on in his mind . I shall close this part of the subject with one more example of numeral divination . If you would find the difference between two numbers , the greatest of which is unknown , it will
be only necessary to take as many nines as there are figures in the smallest number , and subtract that sum from the number of nines . Let another add that difference to the largest number , and , taking away the first figure of the amount , add it to the number that remains , and that sum will be the difference required . In these times of superior scientific knowledge , when gas has superseded the use of oil , and steam performs the labour of men and horses ; when sage philosophers have discovered mushrooms in potatoesand
, sledge hammers in the pollen of wheat , these topics may be considered trifling and puerile ; but it was not so at that period—of ignorance , as it may be thought by modern presumption—when the standard of learning and wit was borne by Addison and Steele , Pope , Swift , Johnson , and their coadjutors , the jewels ofthe Augustan crown , when such subjects were esteemed worthy the notice of a " Spectator , " a " Rambler , " a * ' Guardian , " or a " World . " Thus , Dr . Johnson , speaking , in the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry.
may be observed at large in llhodigiuus , and in several writers ; since every one extolling number according to his subject , and as it advantaged the present discourse in hand . " On the same subject , Smith , in his " Life of William , Marquis Berkeley , " who was born in 142 (> , tells us that he " closeth the second septenary number from Harding the Dane , as much differing from his last ancestorsas the Lord Thomasthe first septenary lord didfrom
, , , his six former forefathers . " And he then proceeds to say , " I will not be superstitiously opinionated of tbe misteries of numbers , though it bee of longe standing amongst many learned men ; neither will I positively affirm that the number of six is fatall to weomen , and the numbers of seavan and nine to men ; or that those numbers have ( as many have written ) magnum in tota rerum natura potcstatem , great power in kingdoms and comon wealthsin familiesagesof bodiessickness
, , , , , health , wealth , losse , & c . ; or , with Seneca and others , septimus quisqite annus , & c . Each seaventh yeare is remarkable with men , as the sixth is with weomen . Or , as divines teach , that in the number of seaven there is a misticall perfection which our vmderstandinge cannot attaine unto ; and that nature herself is observant of this number . " Numeral divination on some unimportant points , was at length reduced to an unerring system and the memory of a few brief rules
; would enable even a child to dive into another ' s thoughts ; and thus excite a high degree of astonishment by a process which cannot fail of producing a correct result . For instance , if any person has an even number of counters in one hand , and an odd number in the other , it will be easy to divine in which hand the odd or even number is by the following certain rule : —Desire the person to multiply the number in
his right hand by an odd figure , and the number in his left by an even one ; and inform you whether the products , when added together , are odd or even . If even , the even number is in the right hand ; if odd , the even number is in the left hand . By a similar process a number which any person may privately think of will be easily ascertained . Thus , request him to double the number with the addition of four ; then let him multiply tbe whole by five , add twelve to the product , and place a cypher after the amount . From the number thus obtained
let him deduct 320 and tell you the remainder ; from which , if you reject the two last figures , the number that remains will be that which he had fixed on in his mind . I shall close this part of the subject with one more example of numeral divination . If you would find the difference between two numbers , the greatest of which is unknown , it will
be only necessary to take as many nines as there are figures in the smallest number , and subtract that sum from the number of nines . Let another add that difference to the largest number , and , taking away the first figure of the amount , add it to the number that remains , and that sum will be the difference required . In these times of superior scientific knowledge , when gas has superseded the use of oil , and steam performs the labour of men and horses ; when sage philosophers have discovered mushrooms in potatoesand
, sledge hammers in the pollen of wheat , these topics may be considered trifling and puerile ; but it was not so at that period—of ignorance , as it may be thought by modern presumption—when the standard of learning and wit was borne by Addison and Steele , Pope , Swift , Johnson , and their coadjutors , the jewels ofthe Augustan crown , when such subjects were esteemed worthy the notice of a " Spectator , " a " Rambler , " a * ' Guardian , " or a " World . " Thus , Dr . Johnson , speaking , in the