Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
situations , and united them under the name of Ionia , because the greatest number of the refugees were natives of that Grecian province . As the Greeks , prior to . the Ionic migration , had made considerable progress in the arts and sciences , they carried these along with them into their new territories ; and introduced into Ionia the mysteries of
Minerva ancl Dionysius . For these improvements the world is indebted to the Dionysian artificers , an association of scientific men , who possessed the exclusive privilege of erecting temples , theatres , and other public buildings , in Asia Minor . The members of this association , which was intimately connected with the Dionysian mysterieswere
, distinguished from the uninitiated inhabitants of Teos by the science which they possessed , and by approjwiate xoords and signs , by which they could recognize their Brethren of the Order . Like Freemasons , they were divided into Lodges , which were distinguished by different appellations . They
occasionally held convivial meetings in houses erected ancl consecrated for this purpose ; ancl each separate association was under the direction of a master , and presidents , or wardens . They held a general meeting once a year , which Avas solemnised with great pomp and festivity , ancl at which the brethren partook of a splendid entertainment , provided by
the master , after they had finished the sacrifices to their gods , ancl especially to their patron , Bacchus . They used particular utensils in their ceremonial observances , some of which were exactly similar to those that are employed by the fraternity of Freemasons . And the more opulent artists were bound to provide for the exigencies of their poorer
brethren . The very monuments which were reared by these masons to the memory of their masters ancl wardens , remain to the present day in the Turkish burying-grounds at Siverhissar and Eraki . The inscriptions upon them express , in strong terms , the gratitude of the fraternity for their disinterested exertions in behalf of the Order ; for
their generosity and benevolence to its individual members ; for their private virtues , as well as for their public conduct . From some circumstances which are stated in these inscriptions , but particularly from the name of one of the lodges , it is highly probable that Attains , King of Pergamus , was a member of this fraternity .
To enumerate all the vast designs ancl performances of King Solomon's masons ancl their successors , would be superfluous : suffice it to show , by a few specimens , the su-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
situations , and united them under the name of Ionia , because the greatest number of the refugees were natives of that Grecian province . As the Greeks , prior to . the Ionic migration , had made considerable progress in the arts and sciences , they carried these along with them into their new territories ; and introduced into Ionia the mysteries of
Minerva ancl Dionysius . For these improvements the world is indebted to the Dionysian artificers , an association of scientific men , who possessed the exclusive privilege of erecting temples , theatres , and other public buildings , in Asia Minor . The members of this association , which was intimately connected with the Dionysian mysterieswere
, distinguished from the uninitiated inhabitants of Teos by the science which they possessed , and by approjwiate xoords and signs , by which they could recognize their Brethren of the Order . Like Freemasons , they were divided into Lodges , which were distinguished by different appellations . They
occasionally held convivial meetings in houses erected ancl consecrated for this purpose ; ancl each separate association was under the direction of a master , and presidents , or wardens . They held a general meeting once a year , which Avas solemnised with great pomp and festivity , ancl at which the brethren partook of a splendid entertainment , provided by
the master , after they had finished the sacrifices to their gods , ancl especially to their patron , Bacchus . They used particular utensils in their ceremonial observances , some of which were exactly similar to those that are employed by the fraternity of Freemasons . And the more opulent artists were bound to provide for the exigencies of their poorer
brethren . The very monuments which were reared by these masons to the memory of their masters ancl wardens , remain to the present day in the Turkish burying-grounds at Siverhissar and Eraki . The inscriptions upon them express , in strong terms , the gratitude of the fraternity for their disinterested exertions in behalf of the Order ; for
their generosity and benevolence to its individual members ; for their private virtues , as well as for their public conduct . From some circumstances which are stated in these inscriptions , but particularly from the name of one of the lodges , it is highly probable that Attains , King of Pergamus , was a member of this fraternity .
To enumerate all the vast designs ancl performances of King Solomon's masons ancl their successors , would be superfluous : suffice it to show , by a few specimens , the su-