Blanchard J (anti-masonic) - Scotch Rite Masonry Illustrated Part I

356 GRAND ELECT, PERFECT AND SUBLIME MASON. INITIATION 357ery and fortitude in its defence, but without effect, forsoon beholding the temple of God falling into one gentiralheap of ruina~, they directed their whole attentionto the preservation of the Sacred Vault from injury andthe Golden Plate from being discovered. For this purposea party of them fought their way into the SacredVault where they found the golden plate on the agatestone uninjured. Their joy was excessive on this occasion.They all cried out Bes-Makeb Bamesrah, that is,“thank God we have found it.”Thrice Puissant—What did they do after this discovery?Senior Grand Warden—They retired contented, resolvingthat in future they would never trust this holyname to be written or engraved, but to preserve it faithfullyin their hea~rts and that their descendants shouldonly know it by tradition, from thence arose the customof pronouncing the letters only, without joining thesyllables which was observed afterward in the templewhich was built by Cyrus.Thrice Puissant—How long did the captivity of thebrethren continue a fter the destruction of the temple byNebuchadnezzar?Senior Grand Warden—The first captivity was seventyyears as was predicted by the prophet Jeremiah.Thrice Puissant—How did the Israelites behave inBabylon during their captivity?Senior Grand Warden—They repented of the crimesof which they were guilty and by example of the Grand.Elect, who were with them, they worshiped the onlytrue and living God as the prophets had before writtenThrice Puissant—Who were those prophets?Senior Grand Warden—Habalckuk, Zechariah, Hag.gal and Malachi.Thrice Puissant-Who was it gave liberty to theIaraelites and permitted them to return to their owncountry?Senior Grand Warden-Cyrus,”’ king of Persia, whowas the conqueror of all the East. He not only gave permissionto the Israelites to return to their own countryand rebuild the city of Jerusalem, but also presentedthem all the sacred vessels which had belonged to thetemple, and which had been preserved by the care ofMithridates, the second treasurer.Thrice Puissant-Where do the Grand Elect, Perfectand Sublime Masons work this day?Senior Grand Warden—In a place chosen to re-establish the edific&which had been ruined by the traitors.Thrice Puissant-What are the wages of our success?Senior Grand Warden—Virtue, which all may obtainwho desire it.Thrice Puissant-What recompense do you expect?Senior Grand Warden—The destruction of vice andthe knowledge and love of my brethren.Thrice Puissant-What do you find in the place whichhas been chosen?Senior Grand Warden—Dead Bones, Blood and aBurning Lamp.Thrice Puissant-What did you do with the lamp?Note i61.—”I’he personal relation, to Gad’s people, which were sustainedby this might: conqueror. are fnIl of masonic Interest. The JewIshnation had been broken up by Nebuchadnessar Ifty years before hisconning. and the remnant, not destroyed, carried away to Dahylon.where Cyrus found them. Be became to them 5 generous liberator anda Just guardian of theIr rights. Nearly 250 years before that perIod.the h Iseish had sunounced hIm by mae as ‘the Shqbsrd of theLord,’ who should perform slI Gods pleasnee and rehalld the city andtemple.—Imlah ill,. This he hsstened to do. snd only two years attNhis conqneet of Bahylon. issned his celebrated decree, which was. Iaeffect. the re-establIshment of the JewIsh ustlon. ‘—Eawls’a Nasunle