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Article ON THE STUDY OF MASONIC ANTIQUITIES. Page 1 of 10 →
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On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
ON THE STUDY OF MASONIC ANTIQUITIES .
BY BRO . THOMAS PRYER , W . M . OP THE OAK LODGE , S . G . I . G . 33 ° . CHAPTER V . THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES — ISIS AND OSIRIS — THEIR SYMBOLS , AND REFERENCES ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF IDOLATRY SUN AND STAR WORSHIP—ORIGIN OF EGYPTIAN MYSTERIES—THEIR ESOTERIC
DOCTRINES , DEGREES , AND REFERENCES . IN proceeding with the speculative portion of our subject , the ancient mysteries now claim particular attention . The term " mystery" is Phoenician , signifying " veil , " or " envelopment ; " indicating a hidden property in things not obviously perceptible , and which the mind is incapable of comprehending without due preparation . The connection of the mvsteries with the eenuine svstem of
Freemasonry has been explained in the second chapter , and , in pursuing our future investigations , it is essential that the explanation there given should be steadily borne in mind . Many have sought to trace the ancient history of our Order through the mysteries . This is incorrect . These institutions , though of common origin , were varied in almost every nation . In some they partook more of the nature of religious , in othersof political institutions ; and they are not to be regarded
as-, forming an essential part of the system of Freemasonry , any more than any established religion does at the present day . The history of our Order , regarded chronologically , can aloue be correctly traced through the operative part of our subject . It is true that many of our ceremonies assimilate to certain of the rites practised in various of
the mysteries , aud the correct explanation of much of our system of symbolism will be found to present similar analogies ; but then it must be recollected that the mysteries originated from a genuine source—many of their rites remained unpolluted even after their perversion , and the primitive source of both will account for the similarity where it exists . Independently of which , circumstances occurred wliich brought the new systems into frequent contact , and at many periods in the history of the
ancient world they were interwoven together in the same manner as the operative Freemasonry ofthe middle ages became connected with the Christian church . Many of our symbols and emblems , as well as our symbolical and allegorical mode of instruction , can alone be , thoroughly explained by a reference to the mysteries ; this , therefore affords an additional reason for regarding them with peculiar attention , whilst pursuing our investigations in the present branch of the subject .
With regard to the mysteries themselves , we labour underconsiderable disadvantage in not possessing any genuine records to which we can refer during their early and purest stage . In most cases they are presented to us at a period when theii primitive application had been deformed by superstition ; and cumbrous machinery , —in many vastterrific—monstrous—had superseded the simple , practices which marked their-early origin . Thus , in many instances , hideous images are presented to the mind , which revolts at the startling picture ; and we can vor , _ V _ T , L
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
ON THE STUDY OF MASONIC ANTIQUITIES .
BY BRO . THOMAS PRYER , W . M . OP THE OAK LODGE , S . G . I . G . 33 ° . CHAPTER V . THE ANCIENT MYSTERIES — ISIS AND OSIRIS — THEIR SYMBOLS , AND REFERENCES ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF IDOLATRY SUN AND STAR WORSHIP—ORIGIN OF EGYPTIAN MYSTERIES—THEIR ESOTERIC
DOCTRINES , DEGREES , AND REFERENCES . IN proceeding with the speculative portion of our subject , the ancient mysteries now claim particular attention . The term " mystery" is Phoenician , signifying " veil , " or " envelopment ; " indicating a hidden property in things not obviously perceptible , and which the mind is incapable of comprehending without due preparation . The connection of the mvsteries with the eenuine svstem of
Freemasonry has been explained in the second chapter , and , in pursuing our future investigations , it is essential that the explanation there given should be steadily borne in mind . Many have sought to trace the ancient history of our Order through the mysteries . This is incorrect . These institutions , though of common origin , were varied in almost every nation . In some they partook more of the nature of religious , in othersof political institutions ; and they are not to be regarded
as-, forming an essential part of the system of Freemasonry , any more than any established religion does at the present day . The history of our Order , regarded chronologically , can aloue be correctly traced through the operative part of our subject . It is true that many of our ceremonies assimilate to certain of the rites practised in various of
the mysteries , aud the correct explanation of much of our system of symbolism will be found to present similar analogies ; but then it must be recollected that the mysteries originated from a genuine source—many of their rites remained unpolluted even after their perversion , and the primitive source of both will account for the similarity where it exists . Independently of which , circumstances occurred wliich brought the new systems into frequent contact , and at many periods in the history of the
ancient world they were interwoven together in the same manner as the operative Freemasonry ofthe middle ages became connected with the Christian church . Many of our symbols and emblems , as well as our symbolical and allegorical mode of instruction , can alone be , thoroughly explained by a reference to the mysteries ; this , therefore affords an additional reason for regarding them with peculiar attention , whilst pursuing our investigations in the present branch of the subject .
With regard to the mysteries themselves , we labour underconsiderable disadvantage in not possessing any genuine records to which we can refer during their early and purest stage . In most cases they are presented to us at a period when theii primitive application had been deformed by superstition ; and cumbrous machinery , —in many vastterrific—monstrous—had superseded the simple , practices which marked their-early origin . Thus , in many instances , hideous images are presented to the mind , which revolts at the startling picture ; and we can vor , _ V _ T , L