Mackey A G - Encylopedia of Freemasonry - The Grand Masonic ...

PREFACE
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that may exist . I have endeavored to commit none . Doubtless there are some .
If I knew them, I would correct them ; but let him who discovers them remember
that they have been unwittingly committed in the course of an exhaustive
and unaided task .
For twelve months, too, of the time in which I have been occupied upon
this work, I suffered from an affection of the sight, which forbade all use of
the eyes for purposes of study . During that period, now happily passed, all
authorities were consulted under my direction by the willing eyes of my daughters-all
writing was done under my dictation by their hands . I realized for
a time the picture so often painted of the blind bard dictating his sublime
verses to his daughters . It was a time of sorrow for the student who could
not labor with his own organs in his vocation ; but it was a time of gladness
to the father who felt that he had those who, with willing hearts, could come
to his assistance . To the world this is of no import ; but I could not conscientiously
close this prefatory address without referring to this circumstance so
gratifying to a parent's heart. Were I to dedicate this work at all, my dedication
should be-To FILIAL AFFECTION.
ALBERT G. MACKEY, M . D.