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  • The Masonic Magazine
  • Aug. 1, 1876
  • Page 6
  • AN EARLY MASONIC BOOK.
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The Masonic Magazine, Aug. 1, 1876: Page 6

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    Article AN EARLY MASONIC BOOK. ← Page 2 of 5 →
Page 6

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

An Early Masonic Book.

cited , rather for the implied than for the positive statements that they make . In the first place , the writer alludes to hig her degrees of a Hermetic character , to the attainment of which the primitive Masonic degrees were preparatory . Thus he saysaddressing the Freemasons :

, I present you with the following sheets as belonging more properly to you than any else . But what I here say , those of you who are not far illuminated , who stand in the outward place , and are not worthy to look behind the veilmay find

, no disagreeable or unprofitable entertainment : and those who are so happy as to have greater light will discover under these shadows somewhat truly great and noble , and worthy the serious attention of a genhus the most elevated and sublime .

The spiritual celestial Cube , the only true , solid , and immoveable basis and foundation of all knowledge , peace and happiness . ( Page iv . ) This is the first time that we meet in any workwith a reference to a higher and

, more occult system of Masonry , connected with the Hermetic philosophy . And this it must be remembered , was only five years after the " Revival , " and one year anterior to the publication of Anderson ' s ¦ ' Constitutions . ' '

In the next paragraph , the author alludes in distinct terms to the revival of Masonry in the beginning of the eighteenth century . He says : I , therefore , my clearest Brethren , greet you most heartily , and am glad of this opportunity to rejoice with youinasmuch

, as it hath pleased the Almighty One , eternal , unalterable God to send out His Light and His Truth , and His vivifying Spirit , whereby the Brotherhood begins to revive again in this our isle , and Princes seek to be of this sacred Society , which

hath been from the beginning , and always shall be ; the gates of hell shall never prevail against it , but it shall continue while the Sun and Moon endure , and till the general consummation of all things ; for since Godmy dearest Brethrenis for

, , us , who can be against us 1 ( Page iv . ) A few quotations from this early work on Freemasonry—the very earliest now extant—may be deemed of interest . They will show that the writer was fully cognizant of the symbolic , the religious , and the

philosophical character of the Institution , and that he wrote evidently under the impression that at that day others besides himself had connected Freemasonry with Alchemy . Remember that you are the salt of the earth , the light of the world , and the fire

of the universe . Ye are living stones , built up a spiritual house , who believe and rely on the chief Lapis Angula / ris , which the refactory and disobedient builders disallowed ; you are called from darkness to light ; you are a chosen generation , a royal priesthood . ( Page v . ) * * « * * *

Remember then what the great end we all aim at is . Is it not to be happy here and hereafter ? For they both depend on each other . The seeds of that eternal peace and tranquillity and everlasting repose must be sown in this life ; and we that glorify and enjoy Sovereign Good then must learn to do it now , and from contemplating the creation gradually ascend to adore the Creator .

You know , no one is worthy to be of you that does not know , or at least love , one or more of the seven liberal arts , which in some sort depend on each other : Music , Harmony and Proportion run thro ' all ; but the grandest and most sublime of all is Astronomy , by which it has been

given to men from above to do such wonders and has so amply displayed the glories of the Most High . ( Page vi . ) It seems at that early clay , as well as in the present times , adversaries were to be found who charged the Masons with being Atheists . To this accusation , Eugenius Philalethes makes a long reply , concluding in these words :

If to all this [ to reject pagan idolatry and modern superstition ] , and believe only in one God the Father Almi ghty , Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible , the most grand , essential , the prime , eternal , everlasting , fundamental article of the most holy , catholick ,

universal and Christian faith ( of which we are ) makes one an Atheist , such , my dearest Brethren , are we all , and we glory in it . Let the infidel and pagan world say what they will , we shall have the suffrages of all Christians , under whatever other denomination distinguished , who cannot be so inconsistant with themselves as to take

“The Masonic Magazine: 1876-08-01, Page 6” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 29 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmg/issues/mmg_01081876/page/6/.
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
Untitled Article 2
Monthly Masonic Summary. Article 3
THE DAFFODIL. Article 3
THE EARLY INDICIAE OF FREEMASONRY. Article 4
AN EARLY MASONIC BOOK. Article 5
SONNET. Article 9
MAY MASON. Article 9
SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR PEACEFUL SOLUTION. Article 14
SONNET. Article 19
AN OLD, OLD STORY. Article 19
THE WOMEN OF OUR TIME. Article 21
MASONIC AMATEUR PERFORMANCES AT PLYMOUTH. Article 23
NOTES ON THE OLD MINUTES OF BRITISH UNION LODGE, IPSWICH. Article 26
AMERICAN KNIGHTS TEMPLARS Article 27
ZOROASTRIANISM AND FREEMASONRY. Article 30
THE FALLING SNOW. Article 33
FAIRY TALES UTILISED FOR THE NEW GENERATION. Article 33
THE ORIGIN AND REFERENCES OF THE HERMESIAN SPURIOUS FREEMASONRY. Article 34
Our Archaological Corner. Article 37
MASONIC ARCHAEOLOGICAL NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 39
SERMON Article 41
REVIEW. Article 43
SOMEHOW OR OTHER. Article 45
NOTES ON LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART. Article 45
HYMN. Article 50
Untitled Article 51
Untitled Article 52
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

An Early Masonic Book.

cited , rather for the implied than for the positive statements that they make . In the first place , the writer alludes to hig her degrees of a Hermetic character , to the attainment of which the primitive Masonic degrees were preparatory . Thus he saysaddressing the Freemasons :

, I present you with the following sheets as belonging more properly to you than any else . But what I here say , those of you who are not far illuminated , who stand in the outward place , and are not worthy to look behind the veilmay find

, no disagreeable or unprofitable entertainment : and those who are so happy as to have greater light will discover under these shadows somewhat truly great and noble , and worthy the serious attention of a genhus the most elevated and sublime .

The spiritual celestial Cube , the only true , solid , and immoveable basis and foundation of all knowledge , peace and happiness . ( Page iv . ) This is the first time that we meet in any workwith a reference to a higher and

, more occult system of Masonry , connected with the Hermetic philosophy . And this it must be remembered , was only five years after the " Revival , " and one year anterior to the publication of Anderson ' s ¦ ' Constitutions . ' '

In the next paragraph , the author alludes in distinct terms to the revival of Masonry in the beginning of the eighteenth century . He says : I , therefore , my clearest Brethren , greet you most heartily , and am glad of this opportunity to rejoice with youinasmuch

, as it hath pleased the Almighty One , eternal , unalterable God to send out His Light and His Truth , and His vivifying Spirit , whereby the Brotherhood begins to revive again in this our isle , and Princes seek to be of this sacred Society , which

hath been from the beginning , and always shall be ; the gates of hell shall never prevail against it , but it shall continue while the Sun and Moon endure , and till the general consummation of all things ; for since Godmy dearest Brethrenis for

, , us , who can be against us 1 ( Page iv . ) A few quotations from this early work on Freemasonry—the very earliest now extant—may be deemed of interest . They will show that the writer was fully cognizant of the symbolic , the religious , and the

philosophical character of the Institution , and that he wrote evidently under the impression that at that day others besides himself had connected Freemasonry with Alchemy . Remember that you are the salt of the earth , the light of the world , and the fire

of the universe . Ye are living stones , built up a spiritual house , who believe and rely on the chief Lapis Angula / ris , which the refactory and disobedient builders disallowed ; you are called from darkness to light ; you are a chosen generation , a royal priesthood . ( Page v . ) * * « * * *

Remember then what the great end we all aim at is . Is it not to be happy here and hereafter ? For they both depend on each other . The seeds of that eternal peace and tranquillity and everlasting repose must be sown in this life ; and we that glorify and enjoy Sovereign Good then must learn to do it now , and from contemplating the creation gradually ascend to adore the Creator .

You know , no one is worthy to be of you that does not know , or at least love , one or more of the seven liberal arts , which in some sort depend on each other : Music , Harmony and Proportion run thro ' all ; but the grandest and most sublime of all is Astronomy , by which it has been

given to men from above to do such wonders and has so amply displayed the glories of the Most High . ( Page vi . ) It seems at that early clay , as well as in the present times , adversaries were to be found who charged the Masons with being Atheists . To this accusation , Eugenius Philalethes makes a long reply , concluding in these words :

If to all this [ to reject pagan idolatry and modern superstition ] , and believe only in one God the Father Almi ghty , Maker of Heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible , the most grand , essential , the prime , eternal , everlasting , fundamental article of the most holy , catholick ,

universal and Christian faith ( of which we are ) makes one an Atheist , such , my dearest Brethren , are we all , and we glory in it . Let the infidel and pagan world say what they will , we shall have the suffrages of all Christians , under whatever other denomination distinguished , who cannot be so inconsistant with themselves as to take

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