Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
course ; and while he was in the act of offering incense on the altar , the whole congregation being assembled in the outer court , he saw an angel standing before him on the right side of the altar of incense . At so unusual an appearance , Zachariah was greatly disturbed , and unable to utter a receive the divine communica
word , but waited in silence to - tion . The angel exhorted him not to be afraid , and declared that he was Gabriel , whom God had despatched from heaven in answer to his prayers . He assured him that his wife Elizabeth , who was old , and reputed barren , should bring forth a son , which , in the power of the Most High , should turn the children of Israel from darkness to light .
Zacharias , doubting the possibility of this extraordinary occurrence from the age and continued sterility of his wife , the angel gave him a striking sign of the truth of his prediction , and he remained speechless until the circumcision of the child , when his name was called John . This grand parallel of Masonry St . John the Baptist
, thus supernaturally announced , was expected to be a very extraordinary personage ; and the effect of his mission was to prepare the minds of men for the reception of a doctrine which was destined to shake the Jewish religion to its very foundations , and dissolve both that and their civil polity
together . . . . At this time the world was blessed with an universal peace , and the temple of Janus was shut by Augustus after the conquest of Egypt , for the fifth time since the building of Rome . This , therefore , was the period for introducing the Almighty Prince of Peace . Six months after his reve-Gabriel to Virgin
lation to Zacharias , the angel appeared a of the house and lineage of David , who dwelt at Nazareth , called Mary , and was espoused to a man named Joseph , of the same family ; and communicated to her the high destination to which she was appointed . Accordingly , at the end of this the Saviour of the World was bomAvho refined
year , both Religion and Masonry from the errors and impurities which they had contracted by passing through the hands of interested or prejudiced men , in various ages and countries ; and p laced salvation within the reach of all mankind , Jew as well as Gentile .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
course ; and while he was in the act of offering incense on the altar , the whole congregation being assembled in the outer court , he saw an angel standing before him on the right side of the altar of incense . At so unusual an appearance , Zachariah was greatly disturbed , and unable to utter a receive the divine communica
word , but waited in silence to - tion . The angel exhorted him not to be afraid , and declared that he was Gabriel , whom God had despatched from heaven in answer to his prayers . He assured him that his wife Elizabeth , who was old , and reputed barren , should bring forth a son , which , in the power of the Most High , should turn the children of Israel from darkness to light .
Zacharias , doubting the possibility of this extraordinary occurrence from the age and continued sterility of his wife , the angel gave him a striking sign of the truth of his prediction , and he remained speechless until the circumcision of the child , when his name was called John . This grand parallel of Masonry St . John the Baptist
, thus supernaturally announced , was expected to be a very extraordinary personage ; and the effect of his mission was to prepare the minds of men for the reception of a doctrine which was destined to shake the Jewish religion to its very foundations , and dissolve both that and their civil polity
together . . . . At this time the world was blessed with an universal peace , and the temple of Janus was shut by Augustus after the conquest of Egypt , for the fifth time since the building of Rome . This , therefore , was the period for introducing the Almighty Prince of Peace . Six months after his reve-Gabriel to Virgin
lation to Zacharias , the angel appeared a of the house and lineage of David , who dwelt at Nazareth , called Mary , and was espoused to a man named Joseph , of the same family ; and communicated to her the high destination to which she was appointed . Accordingly , at the end of this the Saviour of the World was bomAvho refined
year , both Religion and Masonry from the errors and impurities which they had contracted by passing through the hands of interested or prejudiced men , in various ages and countries ; and p laced salvation within the reach of all mankind , Jew as well as Gentile .