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Article A DIALOGUE CONCERNING FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 1
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A Dialogue Concerning Freemasonry.
A DIALOGUE CONCERNING FREEMASONRY .
TRANSPOSED INTO MODERN ENGLISH , . 1 ? ROM A MANUSCRIPT IN THE BODLEIA 2 s LIBRARY AT OXFORD ; TIME OF HENRY THE SIXTH . 1 . What is the mystery of Freemasonry ?—The skill of nature , the knowledge of its properties and various operations particularly the art of numbers , weights , and the true maimer of forming everything for man ' s use .
2 r Where aid it conm with it all conveniences to uncivilized nations . 3 . Who brought it westward ?—The Phoenicians , who being great merchants , came from the East into Phoenicia ,, for the conveniency of commerce , both East and West , by the Red and Mediterranean Seas .
L How did it arrive iu England ?—Pythagoras , a Grecian , travellingibr knowledge into Egypt , Syria , and several other countries , and gaining mission into every Lodge of Freemasons , he turning dwelt hi Greeia Magna , and became famous for literature ; he formed , a considerable Lodge at Crotona , and made many Freehiasons , some of whom went to France , from whence , in process of time , the art passed into England .
5 . Do Freemasons reveal their arts ?—Pythagoras , when he travelled for instruction , first learned and then taught , as every one should do . They have in every age communicated from time secrets as were beneficial to mankind , and retained only . what , might be daiigerousiu bad hands , or would be useless without directions from the Lodge , or those that unite the Brethren by the profit or convenience which the fraternity derive from them .
6 . What arts have they taught the world ?—Agriculture , architecture , arithmetic , astronomy , chemistry , geometry , government , music , poetry , religion . 7 . Why do Freemasons teach more than others ?—None but themselves have the art of inventing arts : this method the first ofthe society received from God , by which they are enabled to discover what arts they please , and the best w ay of teaching them , what others find out is only by chance , and therefore trifling .
8 . What do they conceal ?—The art of inventing arts being for their own honour and profit ; the art of keeping secrets , that the world may conceal nothing front them ; the method of working miracles and prophecying ; transmuting metals ; the use of abracadabra ; the way to become good and perfect , without the assistance of hope and fear ; the universal language . f ) . Shall T be instructed in the same arts' ?—ff you are worthy and able to learn .
10 . Do all Freemasons know more than others?—They have better opportunities , but some want capacity and others industry , which is absolutely necessary to attain any science . VI . Arc Freemasons better than others?—They arc more virtuous ill general than they would be if they were not Freemasons . 1 . 2 . Do Freemasons love each other ?—Yes ; and it can't be otherwise , for the better men are the more they love one another .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Dialogue Concerning Freemasonry.
A DIALOGUE CONCERNING FREEMASONRY .
TRANSPOSED INTO MODERN ENGLISH , . 1 ? ROM A MANUSCRIPT IN THE BODLEIA 2 s LIBRARY AT OXFORD ; TIME OF HENRY THE SIXTH . 1 . What is the mystery of Freemasonry ?—The skill of nature , the knowledge of its properties and various operations particularly the art of numbers , weights , and the true maimer of forming everything for man ' s use .
2 r Where aid it conm with it all conveniences to uncivilized nations . 3 . Who brought it westward ?—The Phoenicians , who being great merchants , came from the East into Phoenicia ,, for the conveniency of commerce , both East and West , by the Red and Mediterranean Seas .
L How did it arrive iu England ?—Pythagoras , a Grecian , travellingibr knowledge into Egypt , Syria , and several other countries , and gaining mission into every Lodge of Freemasons , he turning dwelt hi Greeia Magna , and became famous for literature ; he formed , a considerable Lodge at Crotona , and made many Freehiasons , some of whom went to France , from whence , in process of time , the art passed into England .
5 . Do Freemasons reveal their arts ?—Pythagoras , when he travelled for instruction , first learned and then taught , as every one should do . They have in every age communicated from time secrets as were beneficial to mankind , and retained only . what , might be daiigerousiu bad hands , or would be useless without directions from the Lodge , or those that unite the Brethren by the profit or convenience which the fraternity derive from them .
6 . What arts have they taught the world ?—Agriculture , architecture , arithmetic , astronomy , chemistry , geometry , government , music , poetry , religion . 7 . Why do Freemasons teach more than others ?—None but themselves have the art of inventing arts : this method the first ofthe society received from God , by which they are enabled to discover what arts they please , and the best w ay of teaching them , what others find out is only by chance , and therefore trifling .
8 . What do they conceal ?—The art of inventing arts being for their own honour and profit ; the art of keeping secrets , that the world may conceal nothing front them ; the method of working miracles and prophecying ; transmuting metals ; the use of abracadabra ; the way to become good and perfect , without the assistance of hope and fear ; the universal language . f ) . Shall T be instructed in the same arts' ?—ff you are worthy and able to learn .
10 . Do all Freemasons know more than others?—They have better opportunities , but some want capacity and others industry , which is absolutely necessary to attain any science . VI . Arc Freemasons better than others?—They arc more virtuous ill general than they would be if they were not Freemasons . 1 . 2 . Do Freemasons love each other ?—Yes ; and it can't be otherwise , for the better men are the more they love one another .