Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemasons' Magazine
  • March 1, 1798
  • Page 12
Current:

The Freemasons' Magazine, March 1, 1798: Page 12

  • Back to The Freemasons' Magazine, March 1, 1798
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article BRIEF HISTORY OF NONSENSE. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Page 12

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Brief History Of Nonsense.

under her sole influence . The enquiry , however , once begun , could not be stopped , though her principal VICAR , with TUBEE CROWNS , and armed with terrible weapons , let loose his BULLS , and thundered out his anathemas against those who questioned the right of the illustrious Queen , from whom he derived his power . In one country , resentment effected what sound reasoning would hardly have accomplished ; and the most strenuous defender of the NONSENSICAL Government

, from wounded pride aud ungovernable lust , was induced to proclaim at once a . defiance of her authority , and to give encouragement to a spirit of enquiry among his subjects . He alienated those comfortable mansions , which the pious zeal of trembling visionaries' had erected for the repose and comfort of the sons of ignorance atid deceit , and dismissed the useless inhabitants to earn their bread by the sweat of

their brow . Then the records of NONSENSE , which had hitherto been deemed sacred , and to question which was to be guilty of a damnable sin , were exposed to contempt , and sentenced to eternal oblivion . Men began to think and enquire ; and the more they

examined , the greater was their wonder at the torpid state in which they had so long remained . Strange indeed was their astonishment at the veneration in which they had held old rags and rotten sculls , pieces of consecrated wood , scapularies , strings of beads , and round wafers ; and with the ideas of which they had been accustomed to associate their hopes of everlasting salvation ! It was now found that NONSENSE , and her ministers of state , had invented various

powerful schemes to maintain their dominion , and to enrich themselves at the expence of the public . The principal of these was a dark and gloomy dungeon , into which they sent all their votaries , who happened to depart from this world without having scrupulously adhered to all the ordinances of the empire , or , what was a still greater crime , for not having compounded with their temporal possessions for the offences of which they had been guilty . There were two outlets from this abominable pit . Those who were fortunate enough to

have had money , or friends , obtained an elevation from this stinking hole to a place of ease and pleasure , where all their time was taken up in rapturous enjoyments and singing psalms . But those who had no means to purchase a lift from this preparatory confinement were certain of being precipitated down a gulph ten thousand fathom deep , there to remain for endless ages , with no other liquid than melted brimstoneno other food than burning ashesand the leasant

, , p company ' of a strange sort of spirits , with hmis on their heads , long tails , cloven feet , and crooked talons , with which they took great delight in lacerating and tossing about the poor beings who fell into their power . Now thechief servants of the Empress Queen used to assemble their votaries together in large crowds , and exhibit to their terrified view these comfortable scenes in the most livelcolours

y they could devise ; by which means there was little doubt of getting them to purchase certain powerful charms , which they had to dispose of , that would infallibly preserve them from this pleasant place , let their tempers and actions be what they would ,

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1798-03-01, Page 12” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 24 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01031798/page/12/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c. Article 3
PRICES OF BINDING PER VOLUME. Article 3
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUTCHESS OF CUMBERLAND. Article 4
THE LIFE OF XIMENES, ARCHBISHOP OF TOLEDO. Article 5
BRIEF HISTORY OF NONSENSE. Article 11
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF GENERAL MUSKIEN. Article 13
ACCOUNT OF THE CABALISTICAL PHILOSOPHY OF THE JEWS. Article 14
WISDOM AND FOLLY. A VISION. Article 18
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE ANCIENTS AND MODERNS IN SCIENCE AND LITERATURE. Article 22
AN HISTORICAL ESSAY ON LONGEVITY. Article 29
AN ESSAY ON THE CHINESE POETRY. Article 31
CHARACTER OF SIR WILLIAM JONES. Article 34
THE LIFE OF DON BALTHASAR OROBIO, Article 36
THE COLLECTOR. Article 38
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 42
GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND. Article 43
REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Article 44
POETRY. Article 52
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. Article 56
HOUSE OF COMMONS. Article 56
IRISH PARLIAMENT. Article 60
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 62
OBITUARY. Article 68
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

1 Article
Page 3

Page 3

2 Articles
Page 4

Page 4

1 Article
Page 5

Page 5

1 Article
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

1 Article
Page 8

Page 8

1 Article
Page 9

Page 9

1 Article
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

2 Articles
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

1 Article
Page 16

Page 16

1 Article
Page 17

Page 17

1 Article
Page 18

Page 18

1 Article
Page 19

Page 19

1 Article
Page 20

Page 20

1 Article
Page 21

Page 21

1 Article
Page 22

Page 22

1 Article
Page 23

Page 23

1 Article
Page 24

Page 24

1 Article
Page 25

Page 25

1 Article
Page 26

Page 26

1 Article
Page 27

Page 27

1 Article
Page 28

Page 28

1 Article
Page 29

Page 29

2 Articles
Page 30

Page 30

1 Article
Page 31

Page 31

2 Articles
Page 32

Page 32

1 Article
Page 33

Page 33

1 Article
Page 34

Page 34

2 Articles
Page 35

Page 35

1 Article
Page 36

Page 36

2 Articles
Page 37

Page 37

1 Article
Page 38

Page 38

1 Article
Page 39

Page 39

1 Article
Page 40

Page 40

1 Article
Page 41

Page 41

1 Article
Page 42

Page 42

1 Article
Page 43

Page 43

2 Articles
Page 44

Page 44

1 Article
Page 45

Page 45

1 Article
Page 46

Page 46

1 Article
Page 47

Page 47

1 Article
Page 48

Page 48

1 Article
Page 49

Page 49

1 Article
Page 50

Page 50

1 Article
Page 51

Page 51

1 Article
Page 52

Page 52

1 Article
Page 53

Page 53

1 Article
Page 54

Page 54

1 Article
Page 55

Page 55

1 Article
Page 56

Page 56

2 Articles
Page 57

Page 57

1 Article
Page 58

Page 58

1 Article
Page 59

Page 59

1 Article
Page 60

Page 60

1 Article
Page 61

Page 61

1 Article
Page 62

Page 62

1 Article
Page 63

Page 63

1 Article
Page 64

Page 64

1 Article
Page 65

Page 65

1 Article
Page 66

Page 66

1 Article
Page 67

Page 67

1 Article
Page 68

Page 68

1 Article
Page 69

Page 69

1 Article
Page 70

Page 70

1 Article
Page 71

Page 71

1 Article
Page 72

Page 72

1 Article
Page 73

Page 73

1 Article
Page 12

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Brief History Of Nonsense.

under her sole influence . The enquiry , however , once begun , could not be stopped , though her principal VICAR , with TUBEE CROWNS , and armed with terrible weapons , let loose his BULLS , and thundered out his anathemas against those who questioned the right of the illustrious Queen , from whom he derived his power . In one country , resentment effected what sound reasoning would hardly have accomplished ; and the most strenuous defender of the NONSENSICAL Government

, from wounded pride aud ungovernable lust , was induced to proclaim at once a . defiance of her authority , and to give encouragement to a spirit of enquiry among his subjects . He alienated those comfortable mansions , which the pious zeal of trembling visionaries' had erected for the repose and comfort of the sons of ignorance atid deceit , and dismissed the useless inhabitants to earn their bread by the sweat of

their brow . Then the records of NONSENSE , which had hitherto been deemed sacred , and to question which was to be guilty of a damnable sin , were exposed to contempt , and sentenced to eternal oblivion . Men began to think and enquire ; and the more they

examined , the greater was their wonder at the torpid state in which they had so long remained . Strange indeed was their astonishment at the veneration in which they had held old rags and rotten sculls , pieces of consecrated wood , scapularies , strings of beads , and round wafers ; and with the ideas of which they had been accustomed to associate their hopes of everlasting salvation ! It was now found that NONSENSE , and her ministers of state , had invented various

powerful schemes to maintain their dominion , and to enrich themselves at the expence of the public . The principal of these was a dark and gloomy dungeon , into which they sent all their votaries , who happened to depart from this world without having scrupulously adhered to all the ordinances of the empire , or , what was a still greater crime , for not having compounded with their temporal possessions for the offences of which they had been guilty . There were two outlets from this abominable pit . Those who were fortunate enough to

have had money , or friends , obtained an elevation from this stinking hole to a place of ease and pleasure , where all their time was taken up in rapturous enjoyments and singing psalms . But those who had no means to purchase a lift from this preparatory confinement were certain of being precipitated down a gulph ten thousand fathom deep , there to remain for endless ages , with no other liquid than melted brimstoneno other food than burning ashesand the leasant

, , p company ' of a strange sort of spirits , with hmis on their heads , long tails , cloven feet , and crooked talons , with which they took great delight in lacerating and tossing about the poor beings who fell into their power . Now thechief servants of the Empress Queen used to assemble their votaries together in large crowds , and exhibit to their terrified view these comfortable scenes in the most livelcolours

y they could devise ; by which means there was little doubt of getting them to purchase certain powerful charms , which they had to dispose of , that would infallibly preserve them from this pleasant place , let their tempers and actions be what they would ,

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 11
  • You're on page12
  • 13
  • 73
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy