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Article ON THE STUDY OF MASONIC ANTIQUITIES. ← Page 6 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
figures being placed in temples and solemn groves , were honoured by oblations and sacrifices , hymns of praise were sung before them , and the infatuated devotees , in the blindness of their zeal , invested the idols they had fashioned with the attributes of gods . Having thus noticed some of the main springs of idolatry , I now purpose alluding to the origin of the mysteries , particularly those of Egypt ; as it will be seen that in the sacred recesses of the temples
dedicated to their service sublime truths were gradually unfolded to the initiated , whilst the outer world , through the prevalence of gross superstitions , were walking in utter darkness . The Egyptian mysteries , in their origin arose , from the celebration o £ festivals Connected with the practice of agriculture and the science of astronomy . ^ By degrees , at subsequent periods , other elements became interwoven in their composition , and scientific knowledge , theological doctrines ; and , afterwards , systems of political poiver and government
were superauueu to tne purposes ot tneir primitive application , and eventually rendered the mysteries such mighty engines as to sway for centuries the destinies of the empire . It has been observed that at the earliest periods considerable attention was paid to astronomy , and in agricultural countries , as in Egypt , the knowledge thus acquired was rendered subservient to the labours of the husbandman , so as to indicate those periods wherein he was most particularly interested . Thus certain periods annuallrecurringbeing
y , denoted astronomically , would be more especially noticed and celebrated by festive meetings . But at the time of harvest , when the abundance of nature was gathered in ; when the wheat yielded to the sickle , the vineyard gave up its luscious produce , and the fruit-trees bent beneath their ripened load , the gladdened inhabitants assembled to celebrate their rustic festivals , observed simple but expressive ceremonies , in token of thankfulness for the beneficence of a bounteous Providence . The Com
was formed into cakes , which being consecrated , were regarded as emblems of fertility and of the blessings which rewarded the labours of the husbandman ; thus giving evidence of the triumph of civilization in producing , by culture , the staff of life . The Wine was expressed from the juicy grape , and solemn libations offered , in token of the bounteous gifts of nature . Thus we see Corn and Wine , as simple elements , forming the earliest emblems in the celebration of these festive rites upon which the mysteries were subsequently foundedThe corn was typical
. of Isis ( who among the Greeks became CERES ) , and the vine typified OSIRIS , who was also called BACCHUS . Other festivals were celebrated at different periods of the year , but from that which has been alluded to , the rites of Osiris , in his character ot Bacchus , were originated . These rites , however , must not be confounded with the orgies of a later
erathe Greeks borrowed the mysteries of Bacchus from Egypt , without comprehending then- secret meaning , and perverted them into the abominable orgies known as the Bacchanalian rites of Greece and Rome . The Bacchus of the Egyptians was a totall y different personage from the Bacchus of the Greeks . The Egyptian rites were pure and simple , and alluded to the abundant gifts of nature . Their earliest ceremonies bore immediate reference to the progressive stages of agriculture , and the of Osiris
passage , or the sun , from one tropic to another . By degrees , as they rose in importance , the other principles before alluded to were introduced , and the mysteries became established as comprehensive systems , under which reli gion , laws , government , and arts and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
figures being placed in temples and solemn groves , were honoured by oblations and sacrifices , hymns of praise were sung before them , and the infatuated devotees , in the blindness of their zeal , invested the idols they had fashioned with the attributes of gods . Having thus noticed some of the main springs of idolatry , I now purpose alluding to the origin of the mysteries , particularly those of Egypt ; as it will be seen that in the sacred recesses of the temples
dedicated to their service sublime truths were gradually unfolded to the initiated , whilst the outer world , through the prevalence of gross superstitions , were walking in utter darkness . The Egyptian mysteries , in their origin arose , from the celebration o £ festivals Connected with the practice of agriculture and the science of astronomy . ^ By degrees , at subsequent periods , other elements became interwoven in their composition , and scientific knowledge , theological doctrines ; and , afterwards , systems of political poiver and government
were superauueu to tne purposes ot tneir primitive application , and eventually rendered the mysteries such mighty engines as to sway for centuries the destinies of the empire . It has been observed that at the earliest periods considerable attention was paid to astronomy , and in agricultural countries , as in Egypt , the knowledge thus acquired was rendered subservient to the labours of the husbandman , so as to indicate those periods wherein he was most particularly interested . Thus certain periods annuallrecurringbeing
y , denoted astronomically , would be more especially noticed and celebrated by festive meetings . But at the time of harvest , when the abundance of nature was gathered in ; when the wheat yielded to the sickle , the vineyard gave up its luscious produce , and the fruit-trees bent beneath their ripened load , the gladdened inhabitants assembled to celebrate their rustic festivals , observed simple but expressive ceremonies , in token of thankfulness for the beneficence of a bounteous Providence . The Com
was formed into cakes , which being consecrated , were regarded as emblems of fertility and of the blessings which rewarded the labours of the husbandman ; thus giving evidence of the triumph of civilization in producing , by culture , the staff of life . The Wine was expressed from the juicy grape , and solemn libations offered , in token of the bounteous gifts of nature . Thus we see Corn and Wine , as simple elements , forming the earliest emblems in the celebration of these festive rites upon which the mysteries were subsequently foundedThe corn was typical
. of Isis ( who among the Greeks became CERES ) , and the vine typified OSIRIS , who was also called BACCHUS . Other festivals were celebrated at different periods of the year , but from that which has been alluded to , the rites of Osiris , in his character ot Bacchus , were originated . These rites , however , must not be confounded with the orgies of a later
erathe Greeks borrowed the mysteries of Bacchus from Egypt , without comprehending then- secret meaning , and perverted them into the abominable orgies known as the Bacchanalian rites of Greece and Rome . The Bacchus of the Egyptians was a totall y different personage from the Bacchus of the Greeks . The Egyptian rites were pure and simple , and alluded to the abundant gifts of nature . Their earliest ceremonies bore immediate reference to the progressive stages of agriculture , and the of Osiris
passage , or the sun , from one tropic to another . By degrees , as they rose in importance , the other principles before alluded to were introduced , and the mysteries became established as comprehensive systems , under which reli gion , laws , government , and arts and