Mystic masonry, or, The symbols of freemasonry and the greater ...
Mystic masonry, or, The symbols of freemasonry and the greater ...
Mystic masonry, or, The symbols of freemasonry and the greater ...
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<strong>The</strong> Genius <strong>of</strong> Free<strong>masonry</strong>. 73<br />
Thracian <strong>and</strong> Eleusinian mysteries; <strong>and</strong> we are<br />
specially bound to this caution, because if we prove<br />
faithless, we should not only provoke Heaven, but<br />
draw upon our heads <strong>the</strong> utmost rig<strong>or</strong> <strong>of</strong> human displeasure."<br />
Clemens, Bishop <strong>of</strong> Alex<strong>and</strong>ria, b<strong>or</strong>n a. d. 191,<br />
says, in his Stromata, that he can not explain <strong>the</strong><br />
Mysteries, because he should <strong>the</strong>reby, acc<strong>or</strong>ding to<br />
<strong>the</strong> old proverb, "put a sw<strong>or</strong>d into <strong>the</strong> h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> a<br />
child." He frequently compares <strong>the</strong> discipline <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Secret with <strong>the</strong> "Hea<strong>the</strong>n Mysteries as to <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
internal <strong>and</strong> recondite wisdom."<br />
Origen, b<strong>or</strong>n a. d. 134 <strong>or</strong> 135, answering Celsus,<br />
who had objected that <strong>the</strong> Christians had a concealed<br />
doctrine, said<br />
"Inasmuch as <strong>the</strong> essential <strong>and</strong> imp<strong>or</strong>tant doctrines<br />
<strong>and</strong> principles <strong>of</strong> Christianity are openly<br />
taught, it is foolish to object that <strong>the</strong>re are o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
things that are recondite; f<strong>or</strong> this is common discipline<br />
with that <strong>of</strong> those philosophers in whose<br />
teachings some things were exoteric <strong>and</strong> some esoteric;<br />
<strong>and</strong> it is enough to say that it was so with<br />
some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> disciples <strong>of</strong> Pythag<strong>or</strong>as.'^<br />
<strong>The</strong> f<strong>or</strong>mula which <strong>the</strong> primitive church pronounced<br />
at <strong>the</strong> moment <strong>of</strong> celebrating its mysteries,<br />
was this : "Depart ye Pr<strong>of</strong>ane ! Let <strong>the</strong> Catechu-
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