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Article ON FREEMASONRY. ← Page 2 of 9 →
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On Freemasonry.
of this important union . The sages of Greece and Rome , although imperfect the li ght Avhich even at this remote period of time still sheds a halo round their systems , were remarkable for the austerity of their lives and the rectitude of their principles ; thus deducing , by incontrovertible testimonythat ere the human mind can be tempered to that
, subtle quality ivhich refines the phenomena of nature and science in its mental alembic , conferring with each fresh discovery a benefit upon mankind , it must be chastened by reflection , and strengthened by the exercise of virtue : thus , from intense contemplation of the beauties of creation , man began to comprehend the diA'ine laws by which thev were
regulated . The lonely shepherds were the first to perceive the various changes of the heavenly bodies , and to form a faint outline of their system : the tiller of the earth , the inheritor alike of Adam ' s curse and Adam's promise , in time discovered the mineral treasures of her bosom , and applied them to lessen the toil of his occupation and advance the
useful arts . More gifted minds , from apparent triflingcauses , drew abstract principles , and thus Geometry had birth . But how many ages of patient discover } ' were necessary ere man , merging from ignorance to civilization , Avas enabled to erect a temple to his God , in the construction of which the wonders of creation Avere typified , and the moral code necessary for his happiness inculcated—such being the intention of the sacred edifice .
Its situation from east to west pointed out the course of the sun , the glorious centre of the universe , the beneficent minister of li ght and life ; the stately pillars at the porch , adorned with pomegranates and net-work , the fecundity of the earth , and the planetary spheres Avhich surmounted them , the system of the heavens . The court of the Levites
alluded to God ' s chosen people ; that ofthe Gentiles , to the many nations of the earth to whom the promise should at last extend , and AVIIO eventually were to be summoned to minister in PL ' s presence , and share the inheritance of Abraham . The carved work of palm trees , of flowers and animalsrepresented the vegetable and animal kingdoms
, mercifull y given to man for his sustenance ; and the ark of the covenant , o ' erlaid Avith gold , the purity of the laws intended for his guidance . In the party-coloured veil of the sanctuary , the grateful Israelites were reminded ofthe mercy and the promise vouchsafed to Noah , and the bow placed in the heavens in token of its inviolability . Even man , the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry.
of this important union . The sages of Greece and Rome , although imperfect the li ght Avhich even at this remote period of time still sheds a halo round their systems , were remarkable for the austerity of their lives and the rectitude of their principles ; thus deducing , by incontrovertible testimonythat ere the human mind can be tempered to that
, subtle quality ivhich refines the phenomena of nature and science in its mental alembic , conferring with each fresh discovery a benefit upon mankind , it must be chastened by reflection , and strengthened by the exercise of virtue : thus , from intense contemplation of the beauties of creation , man began to comprehend the diA'ine laws by which thev were
regulated . The lonely shepherds were the first to perceive the various changes of the heavenly bodies , and to form a faint outline of their system : the tiller of the earth , the inheritor alike of Adam ' s curse and Adam's promise , in time discovered the mineral treasures of her bosom , and applied them to lessen the toil of his occupation and advance the
useful arts . More gifted minds , from apparent triflingcauses , drew abstract principles , and thus Geometry had birth . But how many ages of patient discover } ' were necessary ere man , merging from ignorance to civilization , Avas enabled to erect a temple to his God , in the construction of which the wonders of creation Avere typified , and the moral code necessary for his happiness inculcated—such being the intention of the sacred edifice .
Its situation from east to west pointed out the course of the sun , the glorious centre of the universe , the beneficent minister of li ght and life ; the stately pillars at the porch , adorned with pomegranates and net-work , the fecundity of the earth , and the planetary spheres Avhich surmounted them , the system of the heavens . The court of the Levites
alluded to God ' s chosen people ; that ofthe Gentiles , to the many nations of the earth to whom the promise should at last extend , and AVIIO eventually were to be summoned to minister in PL ' s presence , and share the inheritance of Abraham . The carved work of palm trees , of flowers and animalsrepresented the vegetable and animal kingdoms
, mercifull y given to man for his sustenance ; and the ark of the covenant , o ' erlaid Avith gold , the purity of the laws intended for his guidance . In the party-coloured veil of the sanctuary , the grateful Israelites were reminded ofthe mercy and the promise vouchsafed to Noah , and the bow placed in the heavens in token of its inviolability . Even man , the