Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
nificent structure , and to preserve it from injury and decay . They practised Masonry in its purity on the highest of hills and the lowest ofvallies , and here resolved to defend ' their faith and worship at the hazard of their lives , and not to yield , even at the last extremity . They brought with them a few copies of the law , which , in these circumstances , were invaluable
an treasure to their leader ; for the Syrians had industriousl y destroyed all the copies they could meet with , hoping by this means to abolish the true religion . Mattathias made a successful attempt at restoring the true mode of Jewish worship , by breaking down , wherever he came , the altars of idolatry ; but his death happening about this time
, his son Judas took upon himself the command of the armies of the Lord , and erecting a standard , with the initials of these words painted thereon , Mi CABIO K . A . BAELIM JEHOVAH ( M . C . K . A . B . J . ) , who is lihe unto thee among the gods , O Jehovah ? Great numbers of the Jews , zealous for their religion , flocked to him ; and his army , from the initial letters on the standard , were called Maccabees . This method of combinins initial letters for the
double purpose of conciseness and secrecy , was very common amongst the Jews . This handful of men , with hearts resolved _ on the preservation of their religion or the sacrifice of their lives , overthrew the Syrians in several successive battles ; repossessed themselves of the city of Jerusalem ; purified the Temple , and , by a solemn dedication , restored their worshi
p according to the pure rites dictated by the law of Moses . And the anniversary of this dedication was ever after celebrated in remembrance of the mercy of God , thus giving them such a signal advantage over their enemies . This was the third dedication of the Temple at Jerusalem ; the first being celebrated bKing Solomonthe second b
y , y Zerubabel , and the third by Judas Maccabeus . I now pass on to the reign of Herod the Great ; in whose person the ancient prophecy of Jacob was accomplished , that the sceptre should not depart from Judah until Shilo come . The sceptre now had departed from Judah , for Herod was not a Jew bnationbut had been appointed
y , king of Judea by a vote of the Roman senate . In his reign , therefore , according to the terms of that remarkable prophecy , the Messiah was to be expected . He constituted Hillel and Shammai , two celebrated Jewish doctors , the principal officers of the Sanhedrim . Though an arbitrary and tyrannical prince , Herod cultivated the liberal sciences ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
nificent structure , and to preserve it from injury and decay . They practised Masonry in its purity on the highest of hills and the lowest ofvallies , and here resolved to defend ' their faith and worship at the hazard of their lives , and not to yield , even at the last extremity . They brought with them a few copies of the law , which , in these circumstances , were invaluable
an treasure to their leader ; for the Syrians had industriousl y destroyed all the copies they could meet with , hoping by this means to abolish the true religion . Mattathias made a successful attempt at restoring the true mode of Jewish worship , by breaking down , wherever he came , the altars of idolatry ; but his death happening about this time
, his son Judas took upon himself the command of the armies of the Lord , and erecting a standard , with the initials of these words painted thereon , Mi CABIO K . A . BAELIM JEHOVAH ( M . C . K . A . B . J . ) , who is lihe unto thee among the gods , O Jehovah ? Great numbers of the Jews , zealous for their religion , flocked to him ; and his army , from the initial letters on the standard , were called Maccabees . This method of combinins initial letters for the
double purpose of conciseness and secrecy , was very common amongst the Jews . This handful of men , with hearts resolved _ on the preservation of their religion or the sacrifice of their lives , overthrew the Syrians in several successive battles ; repossessed themselves of the city of Jerusalem ; purified the Temple , and , by a solemn dedication , restored their worshi
p according to the pure rites dictated by the law of Moses . And the anniversary of this dedication was ever after celebrated in remembrance of the mercy of God , thus giving them such a signal advantage over their enemies . This was the third dedication of the Temple at Jerusalem ; the first being celebrated bKing Solomonthe second b
y , y Zerubabel , and the third by Judas Maccabeus . I now pass on to the reign of Herod the Great ; in whose person the ancient prophecy of Jacob was accomplished , that the sceptre should not depart from Judah until Shilo come . The sceptre now had departed from Judah , for Herod was not a Jew bnationbut had been appointed
y , king of Judea by a vote of the Roman senate . In his reign , therefore , according to the terms of that remarkable prophecy , the Messiah was to be expected . He constituted Hillel and Shammai , two celebrated Jewish doctors , the principal officers of the Sanhedrim . Though an arbitrary and tyrannical prince , Herod cultivated the liberal sciences ,