Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The Spurious Freemasonry Of Ancient Times.
The Legend was originally invented to uphold the credit of a system intended to resemble the science of Lux ; ancl like the golden calves of Jeroboam , to fascinate the people that they might be effectually attached to its rites and ceremonies , and implicitly governed by its supreme influence . Thus were men's ideas of a protecting divinity confounded ,
until at length they worshipped an unknown god ; ancl a divine instructor became necessary to re-conduct them into the paths of truth and rig hteousness , from which they hacl so widely strayed . This instructor was undoubtedly typified in the above Legend ; for as in the Mysteries , Osiris , or the same person under some other name , was bewailed , and praises sung when he was risen from the dead ; so , according to the authority of Julius Firmicus , some of the fathers of the church believed that the above fable was a
corruption of an ancient tradition respecting the Messiah . The legend now under our consideration has been explained by a reference to the union of the Sabian ancl Arkite superstitions ; to the former of which I shall confine myself in the present article . It is quite clear that the study of astronomy formed the sublime employment of
Enoch , and our antediluvian Brethren who practised the science of Lux ; and this delightful pursuit thus incorporated into Freemasonry , has accompanied all its fluctuations , — was symbolized at the building of King Solomon ' s Temple by the two spherical bodies placed on those remarkable illars that graced and adorned the entrance of the porch ;
p and still maintains a place in all our scientific discussions . The spurious Masonry of idolaters imitated our system in many of its most distinguishing characteristics ; and particularly in the cultivation of human science . Ancl I have ever entertained the firm belief , that as the mythology of heathen nations was an awkward transcript of the true
worship , so their mysterious celebrations were an absurd copy of that primitive system of Light which we now denominate Freemasonry . And hence it is that in all their rites we may perceive faint traces of a purer institution , but wretchedly perverted to serve the purposes of a polluted faith .
The references embodied in the above Legend , imply a very extensive knowledge of the science of astronomy ; and it has accordingly been thus explained by Mr . Maurice . The ceremony of enclosing Osiris in his coffin or chest , in memory of his having been thus concealed by Typhon , their known symbol of the ocean , took place precisely upon
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The Spurious Freemasonry Of Ancient Times.
The Legend was originally invented to uphold the credit of a system intended to resemble the science of Lux ; ancl like the golden calves of Jeroboam , to fascinate the people that they might be effectually attached to its rites and ceremonies , and implicitly governed by its supreme influence . Thus were men's ideas of a protecting divinity confounded ,
until at length they worshipped an unknown god ; ancl a divine instructor became necessary to re-conduct them into the paths of truth and rig hteousness , from which they hacl so widely strayed . This instructor was undoubtedly typified in the above Legend ; for as in the Mysteries , Osiris , or the same person under some other name , was bewailed , and praises sung when he was risen from the dead ; so , according to the authority of Julius Firmicus , some of the fathers of the church believed that the above fable was a
corruption of an ancient tradition respecting the Messiah . The legend now under our consideration has been explained by a reference to the union of the Sabian ancl Arkite superstitions ; to the former of which I shall confine myself in the present article . It is quite clear that the study of astronomy formed the sublime employment of
Enoch , and our antediluvian Brethren who practised the science of Lux ; and this delightful pursuit thus incorporated into Freemasonry , has accompanied all its fluctuations , — was symbolized at the building of King Solomon ' s Temple by the two spherical bodies placed on those remarkable illars that graced and adorned the entrance of the porch ;
p and still maintains a place in all our scientific discussions . The spurious Masonry of idolaters imitated our system in many of its most distinguishing characteristics ; and particularly in the cultivation of human science . Ancl I have ever entertained the firm belief , that as the mythology of heathen nations was an awkward transcript of the true
worship , so their mysterious celebrations were an absurd copy of that primitive system of Light which we now denominate Freemasonry . And hence it is that in all their rites we may perceive faint traces of a purer institution , but wretchedly perverted to serve the purposes of a polluted faith .
The references embodied in the above Legend , imply a very extensive knowledge of the science of astronomy ; and it has accordingly been thus explained by Mr . Maurice . The ceremony of enclosing Osiris in his coffin or chest , in memory of his having been thus concealed by Typhon , their known symbol of the ocean , took place precisely upon