The Origin And Teachings Of Masonry.

coeval with creation ' s self . Instinct taught the first of the human race to protect themselves from tbe inclemencies of the air and the intemperance of the seasons—to form with leaves a covering for the day—to excavate in caverns a shelter for the night . Thus sheltered , thus protected , man began to cast an inquisitive eye on all around . The earth he trod produced its plants and fruits . The heavens he contemplated interested hhn by their extent and magnificence . The sun , in its diurnal course , gave him light and

invigorated him . The night returned , enveloping him in its shade , and lulling , as it were , all nature to repose . Phenomena multiplied around ; and all he saw , and all he heard , and all he witnessed , excited his astonishment , and insensibly led his contemplations irom nature ' s beauties up to nature ' s God ! Hence the light of natural religion first beamed on man ; but the celestial ray became deplorably darkened by man ' s first disobedience ; and Ave then see the benignity of Providence exemplified in the institution

of naval architecture to preserve a fallen ivorld . Then , as the almighty Architect has never left Himself AA-ithout a faithful witness amongst the sons of men , the patriarch , saved from the universal desolation , preserved the sacred lire of religion , and transmitted it , pure and untainted , to his descendants . In imitation of then * ancestors , they also separated , and the ivisest amongst them established themselves in India , lA'here they devoted their lives to studyinvented the artsgave birth to the sciencesand by

, , , rude but magnificent temples modelled in the rocks , consecrated still existing proofs of their devotion and gratitude to God . Sons of these sages , the Indian Brahmins equalled them in their profound conceptions and surpassed them in their piety and Avisdom . Priends of mankind , admirers of nature , adorers of God , they Avished to constitute a universal and immutable religion ; for this purpose they communicated their ideas , adopted

solemnly the forms of Avorship Avhich tradition had prescribed as the mode used by man in his original purity ; and by this religion , which recognized one God , all powerful and infinite , they taught the immortality of the sold , and a future state of rewards and punishments . To perpetuate religion thus renewed , the Brahmins attached to themselves tried and faithful disciples , on whom they could rely , and , in order to limit the number of those ivho aspired to their sacred instructions , the Brahmins established severe trials ,

Avhich restrained the unworthy and irresolute , Avithout diminishing thc fervour of the faithful , persevering , and courageous . Hence arose then * mysteries and trials . Brave and intrepid , they despised death , till in thc midst of revolutions , Avhich desolated their country , they Avere themselves ovenvhelmed , and an absurd and extravagant religion Avas substituted for their original Avorship , which was trul y divine : but by a happy providence , the reliion and mysteries of the Brahmins were preservedbbeing

eng , y grafted on those of the priests of Egypt . Very trifling research into the pages of ancient history will convince us that the religion of the Magi , in its original form , Avas as respectable as it was profound , and that all the errors and superstitions which have been ascribed to it were but the remnant of that reli gion , whose symbols had been reinterpreted and its object misunderstood . Full of veneration for the Deitythey admired all his worksand regarded them as the testimonies ol

, , his supreme Avisdom and infinite power . All the effects of nature , all the events ivhich could instruct , they marked by relative characters , and placed them in their temples , and on then- public monuments . The sun , thc moon , the stars , the elements , ivere here emblazoned as symbols merely ; but these hieroglyphics in process of time multiplied , till they furnished to the vulgar too much occasion to prostrate themselves before them ; and having but confused notions of their emblematical intention , they mistook