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Article ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF FREEMASONRY BY THE DRUIDS. ← Page 8 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Knowledge Of Freemasonry By The Druids.
be , in his attempts to establish any custom or doctrine emanating from an invading foe , amongst a rude and naturally obstinate people , but just conquered by the sword of war , and with the recollection of all its recent horrors still fresh in their minds . So pertinaciously , indeed , did the Druids adhere to their heathen practices , that they had not , so late as the sixth century , been radically converted from their natural superstitions—but having blended with those superstitions a few shreds of
, Christianity , they continued to practice many of their original customs . But this , amongst a people so strongly attached to their national doctrines , as the British were , is not much to be wondered at , —or even , indeed , that when nominally Christian , they should continue to speak with veneration of their temples , in which they were wont , even then , to celebrate such of their own mysteries as were permitted to them by the Romans . The laws and edicts of the Romans hadhoweverfor a
, , long period prior to that to which I have alluded , restrained the more cruel customs and bloody sacrifices of the Druids in those parts of the provinces immediately under the inspection of the government , hut these do not appear to have been entirely suppressed until about the sixth century . The Romans , finding it next to impossible entirely to abolish the code of mystical doctrines and symbolical rites practiced by the Druids , and
moreover finding that some of them bore a strong analogy to those connected with the pure science , and that others were more harmless than inconsistent with it , contented themselves , at first , with selecting the sanctuaries of their heathenish predecessors as the places of their own religious and Masonic establishments , with the view of diverting the attention of the people from the objects of their idolatrous superstitions , and cultivating an acknowledgment of that divine belief so essentiall
y necessary to be implanted in the minds of all candidates for initiation into the pure mysteries of Freemasonry ; and finding it probable such a desirable end would be best and most speedily attained by permitting some of the least objectionable parts of the formula which had distinguished the Druidical mysteries to be retained , did not therefore obiect to make
such a compromise as , whilst it was not inconsistent with the tenets and practices of the craft , would tend more rapidly to obtain converts to that belief in the Supreme Cause of all things , " who as Creator of the universe pervades all things by his virtue , and governs all things by his providence . " If , therefore , any of the ceremonies observable in the practical Masonry of the present day are capable of identification with those in use amongst the Druids , it should not seem to be matter of much surprise , and should be advanced at least with much caution as affording any proof that therefore the early Druids were themselves , either in practice or precept , Freemasons .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Knowledge Of Freemasonry By The Druids.
be , in his attempts to establish any custom or doctrine emanating from an invading foe , amongst a rude and naturally obstinate people , but just conquered by the sword of war , and with the recollection of all its recent horrors still fresh in their minds . So pertinaciously , indeed , did the Druids adhere to their heathen practices , that they had not , so late as the sixth century , been radically converted from their natural superstitions—but having blended with those superstitions a few shreds of
, Christianity , they continued to practice many of their original customs . But this , amongst a people so strongly attached to their national doctrines , as the British were , is not much to be wondered at , —or even , indeed , that when nominally Christian , they should continue to speak with veneration of their temples , in which they were wont , even then , to celebrate such of their own mysteries as were permitted to them by the Romans . The laws and edicts of the Romans hadhoweverfor a
, , long period prior to that to which I have alluded , restrained the more cruel customs and bloody sacrifices of the Druids in those parts of the provinces immediately under the inspection of the government , hut these do not appear to have been entirely suppressed until about the sixth century . The Romans , finding it next to impossible entirely to abolish the code of mystical doctrines and symbolical rites practiced by the Druids , and
moreover finding that some of them bore a strong analogy to those connected with the pure science , and that others were more harmless than inconsistent with it , contented themselves , at first , with selecting the sanctuaries of their heathenish predecessors as the places of their own religious and Masonic establishments , with the view of diverting the attention of the people from the objects of their idolatrous superstitions , and cultivating an acknowledgment of that divine belief so essentiall
y necessary to be implanted in the minds of all candidates for initiation into the pure mysteries of Freemasonry ; and finding it probable such a desirable end would be best and most speedily attained by permitting some of the least objectionable parts of the formula which had distinguished the Druidical mysteries to be retained , did not therefore obiect to make
such a compromise as , whilst it was not inconsistent with the tenets and practices of the craft , would tend more rapidly to obtain converts to that belief in the Supreme Cause of all things , " who as Creator of the universe pervades all things by his virtue , and governs all things by his providence . " If , therefore , any of the ceremonies observable in the practical Masonry of the present day are capable of identification with those in use amongst the Druids , it should not seem to be matter of much surprise , and should be advanced at least with much caution as affording any proof that therefore the early Druids were themselves , either in practice or precept , Freemasons .