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Article THE FREEMASON'S LEXICON. ← Page 2 of 8 →
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The Freemason's Lexicon.
Magic and Magiker , Geisterseher Theosophie Thcosophen und Thcurgie . Magic and Magicians , Ghost-seers ; Thcosophy , Theoso-¦ phists and Theurgy . —The origin of magic is unquestionably to be sought in the earliest and most barbarous ages , svhen mankind knesv neither the arts nor the sciences , and svhen reason had not taught them to seek the cause of events svithin the limits of nature . But in modern times magic hath also had its admirers and svorshippersand has become
, a rich source of profit to jugglers and impostors , svho have used it under the name of Theurgy and Tlseosophy , either to obtain money from the simple and superstitious , or for some secret and illegal object . That in Freemasonry there is neither magic , theurgie , nor theosophy is svell knosvn to every Brother ; but , alas , there is too much reason to believe that in former ages these vagaries of the mind svere thought to be found amongst usUnder the hieroglhics of our Royal Art have
. yp many sought for that secret svhich , like the possession of Solomon ' s seal , svould enable them to govern the svorld of spirits . Magic or necromancy is , among reasonable beings , considered to be the ridiculous art of pretending to perform things svhich are beyond the posvers of nature , to have at command the spirits of the air ; nay , even to be in immediate communion svith the Godhead itself , and to be able thereby to create and enjoy
supernatural pleasure . In order to obtain this object , the magician boasts that he is in possession of more secret and higher posver than others svhich he has obtainetl by the castigation of his body and performing torturing ceremonies , or by the assistance of spirits . The appearance of spirits at his command are base deceptions , performed by his abandoned accomplices , and assisted by the heated imaginations of his credulous and superstitious dupes . Natural magic is quite another thing , and by it shadosvs are made to appear and to take all kinds of
shapes ; but the artists do not pretend that they are spirits , but artistical exhibitions . Magier nicht Magiker . Magi not Magicians . —A class of priests among the ancient Medes and Persians . They svere in possession of a great degree of scientific knossdedge antl performed the sacred rites of religion . Zoroaster reformed them , and divided them into Apprentices , Masters , and Perfect Alasters . As it svas only those svho could offer
prayers and sacrifices unto Ormuzd , svho could reveal his svill , or could look into futurity , so they svere held to be a kind of a middle being betsveen the Godhead anil mankind , and svere held in the greatest veneration .
Von Marshall , Henry William , field-marshal of Theringen , died at Naumburg , about the year 1760 . He SSMS initiated into Freemasonry in his youth in London , and svas not only English Provincial Grand Master for the circle of Upper Saxony , but he svas also the founder and W . M . of the Lodge at the Three Hammers in Naunburg . His Masonic zeal and activity svere extraordinary great . He knesv antl svrought the Knight Templars degree in 1740 , before the Baron von Hund , sviio first joined him in 1751 . In the year 1752 continued sickness compelled
him to give up his labours . Murtinisten or Knight of Benevolence , called also , the Order of Benevolent Knights of the Holy City . —These fanatics derive their origin from Louis Claude , Marquis de Saint Martin , svho svas born at Amboise ISth January , 1743 , and died at Chatillon Mth October , ISO . J . He is the author of many mystical books , svrittenin the style of Jacob Boeniens , and of one especially , in attempting to understand or explain svhich many have cracked their skulls : — " Des erreurs et de la vcrite ; " Lyon , VOL , V . ! '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemason's Lexicon.
Magic and Magiker , Geisterseher Theosophie Thcosophen und Thcurgie . Magic and Magicians , Ghost-seers ; Thcosophy , Theoso-¦ phists and Theurgy . —The origin of magic is unquestionably to be sought in the earliest and most barbarous ages , svhen mankind knesv neither the arts nor the sciences , and svhen reason had not taught them to seek the cause of events svithin the limits of nature . But in modern times magic hath also had its admirers and svorshippersand has become
, a rich source of profit to jugglers and impostors , svho have used it under the name of Theurgy and Tlseosophy , either to obtain money from the simple and superstitious , or for some secret and illegal object . That in Freemasonry there is neither magic , theurgie , nor theosophy is svell knosvn to every Brother ; but , alas , there is too much reason to believe that in former ages these vagaries of the mind svere thought to be found amongst usUnder the hieroglhics of our Royal Art have
. yp many sought for that secret svhich , like the possession of Solomon ' s seal , svould enable them to govern the svorld of spirits . Magic or necromancy is , among reasonable beings , considered to be the ridiculous art of pretending to perform things svhich are beyond the posvers of nature , to have at command the spirits of the air ; nay , even to be in immediate communion svith the Godhead itself , and to be able thereby to create and enjoy
supernatural pleasure . In order to obtain this object , the magician boasts that he is in possession of more secret and higher posver than others svhich he has obtainetl by the castigation of his body and performing torturing ceremonies , or by the assistance of spirits . The appearance of spirits at his command are base deceptions , performed by his abandoned accomplices , and assisted by the heated imaginations of his credulous and superstitious dupes . Natural magic is quite another thing , and by it shadosvs are made to appear and to take all kinds of
shapes ; but the artists do not pretend that they are spirits , but artistical exhibitions . Magier nicht Magiker . Magi not Magicians . —A class of priests among the ancient Medes and Persians . They svere in possession of a great degree of scientific knossdedge antl performed the sacred rites of religion . Zoroaster reformed them , and divided them into Apprentices , Masters , and Perfect Alasters . As it svas only those svho could offer
prayers and sacrifices unto Ormuzd , svho could reveal his svill , or could look into futurity , so they svere held to be a kind of a middle being betsveen the Godhead anil mankind , and svere held in the greatest veneration .
Von Marshall , Henry William , field-marshal of Theringen , died at Naumburg , about the year 1760 . He SSMS initiated into Freemasonry in his youth in London , and svas not only English Provincial Grand Master for the circle of Upper Saxony , but he svas also the founder and W . M . of the Lodge at the Three Hammers in Naunburg . His Masonic zeal and activity svere extraordinary great . He knesv antl svrought the Knight Templars degree in 1740 , before the Baron von Hund , sviio first joined him in 1751 . In the year 1752 continued sickness compelled
him to give up his labours . Murtinisten or Knight of Benevolence , called also , the Order of Benevolent Knights of the Holy City . —These fanatics derive their origin from Louis Claude , Marquis de Saint Martin , svho svas born at Amboise ISth January , 1743 , and died at Chatillon Mth October , ISO . J . He is the author of many mystical books , svrittenin the style of Jacob Boeniens , and of one especially , in attempting to understand or explain svhich many have cracked their skulls : — " Des erreurs et de la vcrite ; " Lyon , VOL , V . ! '