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Article M. CLAVEL'S PICTURESQUE MASONRY. ← Page 2 of 5 →
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M. Clavel's Picturesque Masonry.
Bacchus were introduced into Asia Minor by a Greek colony . There , the Dionysian workmen had the exclusive privilege of building temples , theatres , and all other public edifices throughout the whole country . They became very numerous ; and they are to be fouud , under the same denomination , in Syria , Persia , and India . " Their organization at Teos , which the kings of Pergamus assigned for their residence about 300 years before Christ , presents a striking
resemblance to that of the Freemasons at the close of the 18 th century . They had a peculiar system of initiation , as well as words and tokens , b y which they recognised each other . They were divided into separate communities , like the Lodges , which were called colleges , synods , or societies ; and these were distinguished by particular titles , such as the community of Attalus ; the community of the Companions of Eschines . Each of these tribes was under the direction of a master
and superintendents , or wardens , whom it elected annually . In their secret ceremonies the Brethren made use , symbolically , of the tools of their profession . They had , at stated periods , banquets and general assemblies , in which prizes were awarded to the most skilful among them . The richest amongst them gave succour and assistance to the indigent and sick . To those who had deserved well of the brotherhoodfuneral monuments were raisedas may be seen to this day amongst
, , the remaining vestiges of the cemeteries at Siverhissar and Eraki . Persons unconnected with the art of building were frequently received amongst them , in the quality of patrons or honorary members ; and according to a tumulary inscription mentioned by Chandler , it is very probable that Attalus , King of Pergamus , belonged in this way to the
society . " In the mother-country the Dionysiasts were organized on the same plan ; the laws of Solon gave them peculiar privileges . * * " ¦ * " It is not unlikely that the Dionysiasts formed one and the same association as the Jewish Masons who built the Temple of Jerusalem . These latter , beyond doubt , were bound together in an organization which extended beyond Judea . The Bible exhibits them mixing themselves with the Tyrian masonsnotwithstanding the ordinary
repug-, nance of the Israelites towards strangers ; and Masonic tradition , which must not be contemned , shows that they recognised each other by words and secret signs , similar to those employed by the Masons of other countries . There was , also , between the Jews and Tynans a conformity of allegorical taste , particularly in all that affected sacred architecture . According to Joseph us , the Temple of Jerusalem was built on the same plan , in the same style , and by the same architect , as the Temples of
Hercules , and Astarte at Tyre . * * * * * * '" ' * * * * " Moreover , there existed , very antiently in Judea , a religious association , the orig in of which is said to be traceable to the building of Solomon ' s Temple , ard the members of which were called Hhassideans or Kasideans . ' Scaliger , ' says Basnage , ' makes the Kasideans a religious brotherhood , or rather an order of Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem ; because they were associated purposely to erect that
building , and ornament its porches . ' It is agreed on all hands , that out of this society sprung the celebrated sect of the Essenians , of whom the Jews and the fathers of the church speak with equal reverence , and in whose mysteries Eusebius says J esus was initiated .
"' The Essenians formed separate communities , united amongst each other by the obligation of fraternity . They devoted themselves to the pursuit of the mechanical professions ; they raised their own dwellings ;
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
M. Clavel's Picturesque Masonry.
Bacchus were introduced into Asia Minor by a Greek colony . There , the Dionysian workmen had the exclusive privilege of building temples , theatres , and all other public edifices throughout the whole country . They became very numerous ; and they are to be fouud , under the same denomination , in Syria , Persia , and India . " Their organization at Teos , which the kings of Pergamus assigned for their residence about 300 years before Christ , presents a striking
resemblance to that of the Freemasons at the close of the 18 th century . They had a peculiar system of initiation , as well as words and tokens , b y which they recognised each other . They were divided into separate communities , like the Lodges , which were called colleges , synods , or societies ; and these were distinguished by particular titles , such as the community of Attalus ; the community of the Companions of Eschines . Each of these tribes was under the direction of a master
and superintendents , or wardens , whom it elected annually . In their secret ceremonies the Brethren made use , symbolically , of the tools of their profession . They had , at stated periods , banquets and general assemblies , in which prizes were awarded to the most skilful among them . The richest amongst them gave succour and assistance to the indigent and sick . To those who had deserved well of the brotherhoodfuneral monuments were raisedas may be seen to this day amongst
, , the remaining vestiges of the cemeteries at Siverhissar and Eraki . Persons unconnected with the art of building were frequently received amongst them , in the quality of patrons or honorary members ; and according to a tumulary inscription mentioned by Chandler , it is very probable that Attalus , King of Pergamus , belonged in this way to the
society . " In the mother-country the Dionysiasts were organized on the same plan ; the laws of Solon gave them peculiar privileges . * * " ¦ * " It is not unlikely that the Dionysiasts formed one and the same association as the Jewish Masons who built the Temple of Jerusalem . These latter , beyond doubt , were bound together in an organization which extended beyond Judea . The Bible exhibits them mixing themselves with the Tyrian masonsnotwithstanding the ordinary
repug-, nance of the Israelites towards strangers ; and Masonic tradition , which must not be contemned , shows that they recognised each other by words and secret signs , similar to those employed by the Masons of other countries . There was , also , between the Jews and Tynans a conformity of allegorical taste , particularly in all that affected sacred architecture . According to Joseph us , the Temple of Jerusalem was built on the same plan , in the same style , and by the same architect , as the Temples of
Hercules , and Astarte at Tyre . * * * * * * '" ' * * * * " Moreover , there existed , very antiently in Judea , a religious association , the orig in of which is said to be traceable to the building of Solomon ' s Temple , ard the members of which were called Hhassideans or Kasideans . ' Scaliger , ' says Basnage , ' makes the Kasideans a religious brotherhood , or rather an order of Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem ; because they were associated purposely to erect that
building , and ornament its porches . ' It is agreed on all hands , that out of this society sprung the celebrated sect of the Essenians , of whom the Jews and the fathers of the church speak with equal reverence , and in whose mysteries Eusebius says J esus was initiated .
"' The Essenians formed separate communities , united amongst each other by the obligation of fraternity . They devoted themselves to the pursuit of the mechanical professions ; they raised their own dwellings ;