Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
. om Scripture * . About fifty thousand of the Jews accepted the offer of returning into their own country , and marched to Jerusalem under the banner of Zerubabel ; the rest , unwilling to leave the possessions they had acquired in Babylon , remained for the present in that country . The first work the liberated captives engaged in was the
restoration of the altar for sacrifice , which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar ; certain that what they were about to engage in could not be expected to prosper , without the previous performance of a solemn act of devotion to call clown the blessing of God . This altar was composed of rough ashlers , for an iron tool was not permitted to leave its
pollutions on the sacred utensil . It was forty-eight feet square at the base , and thirty-six feet square at the summit , which was covered with a plate of solid brass ei ghteen inches thick . The whole height of the altar was fifteen feet . It was adorned with four horns , one being placed at each angle . These horns were made hollow to contain some of the blood of the sacrifices . This method of affixing horns to the altar was very ancient , and was used by
every nation in the world . The horns were commonly esteemed a public sanctuary , which would afford certain protection even to the worst species of criminals ; for such was the sacred veneration in which the altar was held , that to violate this sanctuary was accounted the hi ghest degree of sacrilege that a human being could commitThe
-. pro tection thus afforded became at length so notoriously prostituted from its original purpose of sheltering offenders until their crimes were legally investigated , that the temples of the gods were habitually polluted by the worst of malefactors , who resided there with impunity , and set at
defiance the operation of the laws . Tiberius Cagsar at length abolished this privilege , and confined it to two Temples only , in honour of Juno and Esculapius . A grand and royal Lodge was now formally opened by Zerubabel in the city of Jerusalem , assisted by his associates Haggai and Joshua . Here the most grateful
acknowledg ments were made to God for his goodness and mercy in restoring Ir . s people to liberty , and crowning them again with regal power , which had been suspended during the captivity ; and with solemn and heartfelt humiliation they covenanted to walk in his ways and keep his statutes , if he
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
. om Scripture * . About fifty thousand of the Jews accepted the offer of returning into their own country , and marched to Jerusalem under the banner of Zerubabel ; the rest , unwilling to leave the possessions they had acquired in Babylon , remained for the present in that country . The first work the liberated captives engaged in was the
restoration of the altar for sacrifice , which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar ; certain that what they were about to engage in could not be expected to prosper , without the previous performance of a solemn act of devotion to call clown the blessing of God . This altar was composed of rough ashlers , for an iron tool was not permitted to leave its
pollutions on the sacred utensil . It was forty-eight feet square at the base , and thirty-six feet square at the summit , which was covered with a plate of solid brass ei ghteen inches thick . The whole height of the altar was fifteen feet . It was adorned with four horns , one being placed at each angle . These horns were made hollow to contain some of the blood of the sacrifices . This method of affixing horns to the altar was very ancient , and was used by
every nation in the world . The horns were commonly esteemed a public sanctuary , which would afford certain protection even to the worst species of criminals ; for such was the sacred veneration in which the altar was held , that to violate this sanctuary was accounted the hi ghest degree of sacrilege that a human being could commitThe
-. pro tection thus afforded became at length so notoriously prostituted from its original purpose of sheltering offenders until their crimes were legally investigated , that the temples of the gods were habitually polluted by the worst of malefactors , who resided there with impunity , and set at
defiance the operation of the laws . Tiberius Cagsar at length abolished this privilege , and confined it to two Temples only , in honour of Juno and Esculapius . A grand and royal Lodge was now formally opened by Zerubabel in the city of Jerusalem , assisted by his associates Haggai and Joshua . Here the most grateful
acknowledg ments were made to God for his goodness and mercy in restoring Ir . s people to liberty , and crowning them again with regal power , which had been suspended during the captivity ; and with solemn and heartfelt humiliation they covenanted to walk in his ways and keep his statutes , if he