Rights And Tenets Of The Essenes.

located at some distance from cities and large towns ; they held themselves aloof from the busy events occurring about them , and , therefore , they exerted only a feeble influence upon public affairs . That they were generally respected is evident from the writings of Philo and Josephus , both of whom speak of this ancient sect or Order as being devoted to high ancl noble aims ancl to

works of practical good . In later times the heathen historian Pliny eulogises their character , and speaks of them as more worth y than any other Jews . The Essenes were not idolaters—they believed in Jehovah , the one livinoancl true God—but they held nature in special reverence , ancl were accustomed to invoke the sun at the dawn of day , esteeming the great luminary of the heavens to best represent the effulgence of God . The principal tenet of

their faith was the sacredness of the Divine law , which they sought to understand and observe as nearly as possible . To escape from the wickedness of the world they withdrew to sparsely settled regions , where , as a bod y of ascetics and seekers of the truth , they lived together in great harmony , pracsising those rites ancl discharging those duties that were enjoined by the tystem to which they were bound . They were industrious , obedient to the

law , gentle ancl loving among themselves , ancl were especially conspicuous for their care of the poor ancl sick . It is interesting to note some of the practices of this ancient Order , ancl to trace out the lines of similarit y between Essenic rites ancl the Masonic forms that are now observed . Thus the society was divided into grades , and there were steps of advancement in knowledge ancl responsibilit . When a

y candidate was received , he was presented with a white apron , wliicli was regarded as a symbol of purity . He was also invested at the proper time with a white robe ancl a linen girdle , which may have been , perhaps , the outward signs of membership in the Order ; but , beside , he was presented with certain " working tools , " as emblems of the active life that he was expected to lead .

Then , also , it may be remembered that the Essenes made use of emblematic teachings ,, being accustomed , as Philo states , to philosophize on most things in symbols according to the ancient practice . They had a carefull y prepared ritual of ceremony , which provided for obligations ancl anointings , for processions ancl illuminations , together with other requirements not altogether unlike those practised by societies of more modern time . That the Essenes were thoroughlindoctrinated with the princiles of a

y p true brotherhood admits of no question . Theirs was a very close ancl hearty fellowship , as is evident from the fact that they had a community of goods , ancl one common treasury into which the whole receipts were put , and from which supplies were drawn as needed . No doubt they were mystics and ascetics—in some respects much like the monastic establishments of the middle ages—but none the less did they illustrate the virtues of brotherl

y love , relief , ancl truth , standing together as brothers in the truest and best sense of the word , whilst they frequently went outside the borders of their own society to respond to the calls of suffering humanity . It will do us no harm to trace the growth of Essenism , to study its philosophy , to consider ¦ what were its peculiar beliefs and practices . Essenism and Masonry are by no manner of means one ancl the same thing ; nevertheless there are some

points of resemblance which it is both interesting ancl edif ying to observe . - / GRAND Y \

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