Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
lometer , the influence of Jewish counsels became predominant , even in the Royal cabinet , and the conduct of all affairs , both civil and military , was soon entrusted to their entire management . Under such superintendence , the cause of Masonry and religion might be reasonably ex-. pected to prevail ; and accordingly altars were publicl y erected to the God of Israel
, and the pure rites of our science were substituted for the deformed ceremonies and obscene practices of the mysteries of Egypt . A temple was erected , on the plan of that at Jerusalem , in the city of Heliopolis , the very centre of Egyptian idolatry ; and the rites of divine worshi p were regularly performed in this le
temp , until the final dissolution of the Jewish polity . This _ beneficial establishment was not , however , suffered to continue without considerable interruption from hostile monarchs . That licentious prince , Ptolemy Philopater , accused the Jews of worshi pping a god without a name ; because the appellation by which God was known and worshipped amongst the Hebrews was u . v £ K ( pu ) vVTov , that is , incommunicable , or never to be spoken . It was only
uttered once a year , and that was by the high priest , when he entered into the sanctum sanctorum on the great day of annual expiation . This prince , therefore , made a bold attempt to seduce all the Jews that were at Alexandria to idolatry . To accomplish this purpose , he issued an edict , commanding them to renounce the mysteries of their own religionand to be
, initiated into the Dionysiaca , under the penalty of being stigmatised with a visible badge of slavery * and degraded from their rank and privileges . A violent death was denounced on those who attempted to elude the execution of the edict . Under the impulse of terror inspired b y this unnatural measure , a few of the weak and feebleminded forsook
- the Masonry which taught the worship of the true God , and embraced the mysteries of idolatry ; but the bulk of the nation submitted to every kind of punishment rather than renounce the rites of their sacred institutions . Like their ancient Grand Master , they vowed to part with their lives rather than their honour
, or , what was still dearer , their religion . They disclaimed all intercourse with their apostate brethren ; and this so offended the king , that he vowed the extermination of all the Jews throughout his empire . He condemned them to be de-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
lometer , the influence of Jewish counsels became predominant , even in the Royal cabinet , and the conduct of all affairs , both civil and military , was soon entrusted to their entire management . Under such superintendence , the cause of Masonry and religion might be reasonably ex-. pected to prevail ; and accordingly altars were publicl y erected to the God of Israel
, and the pure rites of our science were substituted for the deformed ceremonies and obscene practices of the mysteries of Egypt . A temple was erected , on the plan of that at Jerusalem , in the city of Heliopolis , the very centre of Egyptian idolatry ; and the rites of divine worshi p were regularly performed in this le
temp , until the final dissolution of the Jewish polity . This _ beneficial establishment was not , however , suffered to continue without considerable interruption from hostile monarchs . That licentious prince , Ptolemy Philopater , accused the Jews of worshi pping a god without a name ; because the appellation by which God was known and worshipped amongst the Hebrews was u . v £ K ( pu ) vVTov , that is , incommunicable , or never to be spoken . It was only
uttered once a year , and that was by the high priest , when he entered into the sanctum sanctorum on the great day of annual expiation . This prince , therefore , made a bold attempt to seduce all the Jews that were at Alexandria to idolatry . To accomplish this purpose , he issued an edict , commanding them to renounce the mysteries of their own religionand to be
, initiated into the Dionysiaca , under the penalty of being stigmatised with a visible badge of slavery * and degraded from their rank and privileges . A violent death was denounced on those who attempted to elude the execution of the edict . Under the impulse of terror inspired b y this unnatural measure , a few of the weak and feebleminded forsook
- the Masonry which taught the worship of the true God , and embraced the mysteries of idolatry ; but the bulk of the nation submitted to every kind of punishment rather than renounce the rites of their sacred institutions . Like their ancient Grand Master , they vowed to part with their lives rather than their honour
, or , what was still dearer , their religion . They disclaimed all intercourse with their apostate brethren ; and this so offended the king , that he vowed the extermination of all the Jews throughout his empire . He condemned them to be de-