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  • Dec. 14, 1861
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Dec. 14, 1861: Page 4

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    Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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Masonic Notes And Queries.

—who , being allied by nature , drew still closer to each other , tightening the bands of their union ; and the more dangerous and unequal the conflict appeared , with Avhich they hacl to wage against vice , the greater the force and energy they employed in influencing their contemporaries . There have existed , in all ages , alliances of noble minds , whose aim ivas to counteract the evils ivhich the human race , in the course of its revolutions , were continually originating , and to guide the erring out of tiie flowery

image of self-deceit , and place them in the straight , but somewhat more rugged path of human bliss . But as far back as history reaches , there never Avas such a union as that of Pythagoras . In confirmation of this , we may be allowed to introduce a . fewremarks by one ' of our shrewdest authors , * and thereby set up a point of view through which the purpose and benefit of this much misunderstood society should be judged : — "The institution of the Pythagorean school isin my judgment

, , the most elevated and wisest system of law-giving that ever was introduced for ennobling and perfecting our race , —a system established upon the purest ancl most disinterested virtue , aacl designed to promote the felicities of whole countries ; it does honour not only to its framer , but to human nature itself ; but , of course , it can only be followed by a few chosen men . According to the laws of the union , whicli Pythagoras instituted for himself and friends , no faculty or talent could remain unimproved , and no

fault or bad habit unremarked or undiminished iu those living in conformity with them . The code of Pythagoras was ( if I may be allowed the expression ) , so perfect , that , according to it , not an hour of one ' s life , while waking , would be unoccupied , not a duty indeterminate , nor a good pleasure unweighed . " Conformably to the principal articles of the same , " his friends became more intimate with each other thai : their fellowcitizens , not with the intention of estranging themselves from them ,

nor operating against them , but to be enabled by their united forces to work more briskly and actively for their welfare . These very laws further appointed their truest and most worthy followers as chiefs and leaders of others , not to oppress or plunder them for their own benefit , but , with their oven life and property , to protect the freedom , right , and safety of their fellow-citizens , and either to keep oft' or annihilate all those who attacked the same . The founder of this union was Pythagoras . It is ta be regretted that ' history has preserved so little that can be depended upon

concerning this Avonderful man . His birth-place is the island of Samos , and the time of his birth about the sixth century before the birch of Christ , between the forty-fifth aud fifty-second Olympiade . In Pbcc-nicia he is said to have been instructed and initiated into the secrets of the religion of the country by Pherelcydes . Thence- he Avent to Egypt ( as was the custom of the age ) , the seat of ancient Avisdom ; there , also , he took part in tils ' academy of mysteries . Prom Egypt he return-id to Samosintending to render his talents

, serviceable there ; the people , however , took little pleasure in his symbolical method of teaching , which he had borrowed from the Egyptian priests . He , therefore , set oft' again ou his travels , and Avandeved for a time among the islands . Wherever he went , he endeavoured to become acquainted with the priests , their teachings , and the arrangements of their religious ceremonies . He also cultivated an intimate connexion with the greatest men of his age .

Enriched with so much experience and knowledge of mankind , he once more tried his fortune at Samos . It is said that on his second visit his project succeeded tolerably well , nevertheless he afterwards left his birth-place , probably because he perceived that the seeds of Avisdom which he had sown in Sainos would not flourish ; so he journeyed , by water , past Greece , and landed at Crotona in Lower Italy , one of the most corrupted and thickly populated cities of that '

country . _ The reputation of his travels , his secret Avisdom , and his god-like virtue had prepared a favourable reception for him wbereevei- he went . The gifts with which nature had endowed him he used in a maste : ly manner , in order to attract tiie respect and attention of the people , and to consummate in their imaginations the high idea they had conceived of him as a friend of the gods and a worker of miracles . He ivas

handsome , and of tall stature ; his voice , sweet , and his eloquence highly attractive ; his countenance , full of dignity and softness , commanded reverence . In short , nature seemed to " have imprinted the signs of his mission upon his forehead . He extracted from the religious prejudices of the day everything which was necessary to him , in order to raise his reputation " to so high a standard that ' in it assistance miht be found in the ing " out of great projects

g carry . To find a reformer playing his part under a mask , throws , of course , an unfavourable light upon him ; one must , however , consider , that Pythagoras , in this respect , had the example of all the ' m-eat teachers of the people in his favour , or did Zerduscht , Orpheus , Moses , _ S " imH , & c , work on any other plan ? "Besides , none of his regulations were superfluous , in order to influence saeii a people as

the Crotonians . Lower Italy ( at that time it was called Great Greece , and was surrounded by a number of Grecian colonies ) , was then at the summit of its ' prospertiy . Superfluity had produced there ( as it does everywhere ) , a total corruption of morals . The luxurious arts , the refinement of sensuality , and the effeminacy of the Sybarites , became a by-word , ( Sybaris was one of the most flourishing cities of Great Greece , ancl the rival of Crotona . ) It was in the midst of such a le that the of Samos took

peop sage up his residence . He at first gave public lectures to the people in the gymnasiums , temples , and town-hall ; to the youth , even to the senate , and ( by their own request ) to the matrons of the city . By this means he effectuated in many simplicity of manners ancl dress , for which he received the public acknowledgments of the senate . After this , all were anxious to approach him ; youth ancl old age sought his acquaintance and instruction . Thus brought into more

intimate -connexion with them , he had au opportunity of investigating their talents and minds , of finding out their circumstances and connexions , and of connecting himself more closely with those , whom ( on account of their excellent characters ) he had chosen as assistants in the execution of his grand projects . These he persuaded to live together in the closest fraternity , under his guidance and according to his precepts . Thus originated the Pythagorean

order or union , which the Christian ascetics of the first century set up as an example to similar unions , and to conventual life . Pythagoras distinguished himself and friends from the multitude by Avearing a particular kind of long Avhite robe , a mixture of Egyptian , cotton ancl flue linen , with purple-coloured stripes , after the fashion of the Egyptian priests , whose appropriate costume gave them a most reverend appearance . In this cotton linen he not onl

y clothed his disciples ivhila living , but also after their death , a custom which he borrowed from Orpheus ' s mysteries . Pythagoras was extremely particular about the cleanliness of the body , as well as of its covering ; his friends had therefore to bathe , shave , aud annoint themselves fvecm . er _ . tly . He did this partly for the sake of health , and partly because uucleanl iness causes loathing and aversionand would have offended the of

, eye the shrewd Greek ; partly , also , because the people everywhere are inclined to consider outward an emblem of inward ' cleanliness . This may be perceived by the christening of the Jews , the bathing of the Mahometans , and other religious washings . The Pythagoreans observed a particular order of the day . Each , ' upon awaking , immediately wandered forth alone , ivith " his lyre on his

arm , towards some retired temple or grove , there to collect his thoughts and rouse his spirits by the lyric tones ; whereupon he commenced an inward examination of everything that he had done or thought of the previous day , or some time before , and prepared his mind for the business of the day . After their walk they sought each other , and dedicated the firstlings of their renovated faculties to instructive and intellectual' conversation . Than followed bodily exercisewhich included anointing and rubbingthey randanced

, ; , , wrestled , threw at marks , & c , They , by these means , sharpened their understandings , increased their strength and activity , and fortified their health . By this time the hour for dinner approached . This meal consisted , however , solely of bread ancl honey . After dinner , public affairs were attended to . In the evening they wandered forth two or three together , when the subject of their morning ' s conversation ivas again discussedthey then took cold

; a bath , after which they immediately assembled in their common dining-rooms , and partook of a supper consisting of nourishing and various kinds of food . Sacrifices were made before and after the meal , and sometimes they sung . In order to increase their familiarity , not more than ten of " the brothers ate together . The youngest among them had to read aloud after the meal ; the eldest presidedand had the riht to choose the subject of the reading

, g . At their separation , ( which always took place before sunset , ) the eldest , in a few words , reminded them of the most important duties of l : fe , _ and of tha principal precepts of their order . Pythagoras' pupils never forget to end the day as they bad commenced it ; that is to say , before , as it were , unstraining their minds and rocking their senses to repose by the tones of their lyres , they thought over everything that they had seen , heard , or done

during the day . Great wisdom may lie perceived at the basis of this order of the day . The proportions of rest aud work , of eating and drinking , and of mental aud bodily exercise , are so equally balanced , that spirit and body are necessarily retained in the most blooming state of health and strength . Self-examination morning and evening for instanse . Vi'hafc an admirable method of obtaining self-knowled ! How lorious to become aware of ( and

ge g , thereby obviate while there is yet time ) , every false step , every bypath , every inclination to vice , be it constitutional or proceeding from want of foresight ! What an unimprovable means of bringing mankind to coivv . de _ . ation and toleration ! What a masterly exercise of the memory ! Besides this , Pythagoras directed particular attention to frugality . Pirstly , because he ivas convinced that it was very diriiculfc of one of many needs , and ivho leads a life of

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1861-12-14, Page 4” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 16 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_14121861/page/4/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
HONORARY GRAND OFFICERS. Article 1
A SUSPENSION IN INDIA. Article 1
THE MASON'S LAST REQUEST.—A SKETCH OF THE BATTLE-FIELD . Article 2
ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHÆOLOGY. Article 3
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 3
Literature. Article 5
Mr. Beeton's Publications. Article 6
GRATIFYING TESTIMONIALS. Article 7
NOTES ON LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART. Article 7
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 8
EAST LANCASHIRE. Article 9
GRAND CONOLAVE AND THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES. Article 9
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 10
METROPOLITAN. Article 10
PROVINCIAL. Article 11
SCOTLAND. Article 12
INDIA. Article 13
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 17
MASONIC FESTIVITIES. Article 19
Obituary. Article 19
THE WEEK. Article 19
SPECIAL NOTICE. Article 20
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic Notes And Queries.

—who , being allied by nature , drew still closer to each other , tightening the bands of their union ; and the more dangerous and unequal the conflict appeared , with Avhich they hacl to wage against vice , the greater the force and energy they employed in influencing their contemporaries . There have existed , in all ages , alliances of noble minds , whose aim ivas to counteract the evils ivhich the human race , in the course of its revolutions , were continually originating , and to guide the erring out of tiie flowery

image of self-deceit , and place them in the straight , but somewhat more rugged path of human bliss . But as far back as history reaches , there never Avas such a union as that of Pythagoras . In confirmation of this , we may be allowed to introduce a . fewremarks by one ' of our shrewdest authors , * and thereby set up a point of view through which the purpose and benefit of this much misunderstood society should be judged : — "The institution of the Pythagorean school isin my judgment

, , the most elevated and wisest system of law-giving that ever was introduced for ennobling and perfecting our race , —a system established upon the purest ancl most disinterested virtue , aacl designed to promote the felicities of whole countries ; it does honour not only to its framer , but to human nature itself ; but , of course , it can only be followed by a few chosen men . According to the laws of the union , whicli Pythagoras instituted for himself and friends , no faculty or talent could remain unimproved , and no

fault or bad habit unremarked or undiminished iu those living in conformity with them . The code of Pythagoras was ( if I may be allowed the expression ) , so perfect , that , according to it , not an hour of one ' s life , while waking , would be unoccupied , not a duty indeterminate , nor a good pleasure unweighed . " Conformably to the principal articles of the same , " his friends became more intimate with each other thai : their fellowcitizens , not with the intention of estranging themselves from them ,

nor operating against them , but to be enabled by their united forces to work more briskly and actively for their welfare . These very laws further appointed their truest and most worthy followers as chiefs and leaders of others , not to oppress or plunder them for their own benefit , but , with their oven life and property , to protect the freedom , right , and safety of their fellow-citizens , and either to keep oft' or annihilate all those who attacked the same . The founder of this union was Pythagoras . It is ta be regretted that ' history has preserved so little that can be depended upon

concerning this Avonderful man . His birth-place is the island of Samos , and the time of his birth about the sixth century before the birch of Christ , between the forty-fifth aud fifty-second Olympiade . In Pbcc-nicia he is said to have been instructed and initiated into the secrets of the religion of the country by Pherelcydes . Thence- he Avent to Egypt ( as was the custom of the age ) , the seat of ancient Avisdom ; there , also , he took part in tils ' academy of mysteries . Prom Egypt he return-id to Samosintending to render his talents

, serviceable there ; the people , however , took little pleasure in his symbolical method of teaching , which he had borrowed from the Egyptian priests . He , therefore , set oft' again ou his travels , and Avandeved for a time among the islands . Wherever he went , he endeavoured to become acquainted with the priests , their teachings , and the arrangements of their religious ceremonies . He also cultivated an intimate connexion with the greatest men of his age .

Enriched with so much experience and knowledge of mankind , he once more tried his fortune at Samos . It is said that on his second visit his project succeeded tolerably well , nevertheless he afterwards left his birth-place , probably because he perceived that the seeds of Avisdom which he had sown in Sainos would not flourish ; so he journeyed , by water , past Greece , and landed at Crotona in Lower Italy , one of the most corrupted and thickly populated cities of that '

country . _ The reputation of his travels , his secret Avisdom , and his god-like virtue had prepared a favourable reception for him wbereevei- he went . The gifts with which nature had endowed him he used in a maste : ly manner , in order to attract tiie respect and attention of the people , and to consummate in their imaginations the high idea they had conceived of him as a friend of the gods and a worker of miracles . He ivas

handsome , and of tall stature ; his voice , sweet , and his eloquence highly attractive ; his countenance , full of dignity and softness , commanded reverence . In short , nature seemed to " have imprinted the signs of his mission upon his forehead . He extracted from the religious prejudices of the day everything which was necessary to him , in order to raise his reputation " to so high a standard that ' in it assistance miht be found in the ing " out of great projects

g carry . To find a reformer playing his part under a mask , throws , of course , an unfavourable light upon him ; one must , however , consider , that Pythagoras , in this respect , had the example of all the ' m-eat teachers of the people in his favour , or did Zerduscht , Orpheus , Moses , _ S " imH , & c , work on any other plan ? "Besides , none of his regulations were superfluous , in order to influence saeii a people as

the Crotonians . Lower Italy ( at that time it was called Great Greece , and was surrounded by a number of Grecian colonies ) , was then at the summit of its ' prospertiy . Superfluity had produced there ( as it does everywhere ) , a total corruption of morals . The luxurious arts , the refinement of sensuality , and the effeminacy of the Sybarites , became a by-word , ( Sybaris was one of the most flourishing cities of Great Greece , ancl the rival of Crotona . ) It was in the midst of such a le that the of Samos took

peop sage up his residence . He at first gave public lectures to the people in the gymnasiums , temples , and town-hall ; to the youth , even to the senate , and ( by their own request ) to the matrons of the city . By this means he effectuated in many simplicity of manners ancl dress , for which he received the public acknowledgments of the senate . After this , all were anxious to approach him ; youth ancl old age sought his acquaintance and instruction . Thus brought into more

intimate -connexion with them , he had au opportunity of investigating their talents and minds , of finding out their circumstances and connexions , and of connecting himself more closely with those , whom ( on account of their excellent characters ) he had chosen as assistants in the execution of his grand projects . These he persuaded to live together in the closest fraternity , under his guidance and according to his precepts . Thus originated the Pythagorean

order or union , which the Christian ascetics of the first century set up as an example to similar unions , and to conventual life . Pythagoras distinguished himself and friends from the multitude by Avearing a particular kind of long Avhite robe , a mixture of Egyptian , cotton ancl flue linen , with purple-coloured stripes , after the fashion of the Egyptian priests , whose appropriate costume gave them a most reverend appearance . In this cotton linen he not onl

y clothed his disciples ivhila living , but also after their death , a custom which he borrowed from Orpheus ' s mysteries . Pythagoras was extremely particular about the cleanliness of the body , as well as of its covering ; his friends had therefore to bathe , shave , aud annoint themselves fvecm . er _ . tly . He did this partly for the sake of health , and partly because uucleanl iness causes loathing and aversionand would have offended the of

, eye the shrewd Greek ; partly , also , because the people everywhere are inclined to consider outward an emblem of inward ' cleanliness . This may be perceived by the christening of the Jews , the bathing of the Mahometans , and other religious washings . The Pythagoreans observed a particular order of the day . Each , ' upon awaking , immediately wandered forth alone , ivith " his lyre on his

arm , towards some retired temple or grove , there to collect his thoughts and rouse his spirits by the lyric tones ; whereupon he commenced an inward examination of everything that he had done or thought of the previous day , or some time before , and prepared his mind for the business of the day . After their walk they sought each other , and dedicated the firstlings of their renovated faculties to instructive and intellectual' conversation . Than followed bodily exercisewhich included anointing and rubbingthey randanced

, ; , , wrestled , threw at marks , & c , They , by these means , sharpened their understandings , increased their strength and activity , and fortified their health . By this time the hour for dinner approached . This meal consisted , however , solely of bread ancl honey . After dinner , public affairs were attended to . In the evening they wandered forth two or three together , when the subject of their morning ' s conversation ivas again discussedthey then took cold

; a bath , after which they immediately assembled in their common dining-rooms , and partook of a supper consisting of nourishing and various kinds of food . Sacrifices were made before and after the meal , and sometimes they sung . In order to increase their familiarity , not more than ten of " the brothers ate together . The youngest among them had to read aloud after the meal ; the eldest presidedand had the riht to choose the subject of the reading

, g . At their separation , ( which always took place before sunset , ) the eldest , in a few words , reminded them of the most important duties of l : fe , _ and of tha principal precepts of their order . Pythagoras' pupils never forget to end the day as they bad commenced it ; that is to say , before , as it were , unstraining their minds and rocking their senses to repose by the tones of their lyres , they thought over everything that they had seen , heard , or done

during the day . Great wisdom may lie perceived at the basis of this order of the day . The proportions of rest aud work , of eating and drinking , and of mental aud bodily exercise , are so equally balanced , that spirit and body are necessarily retained in the most blooming state of health and strength . Self-examination morning and evening for instanse . Vi'hafc an admirable method of obtaining self-knowled ! How lorious to become aware of ( and

ge g , thereby obviate while there is yet time ) , every false step , every bypath , every inclination to vice , be it constitutional or proceeding from want of foresight ! What an unimprovable means of bringing mankind to coivv . de _ . ation and toleration ! What a masterly exercise of the memory ! Besides this , Pythagoras directed particular attention to frugality . Pirstly , because he ivas convinced that it was very diriiculfc of one of many needs , and ivho leads a life of

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