The Origin of Freemasonry and Knights Templar ... - Lodge Prudentia

l-RKL-LMASONRYAND KNIGHTS TEMPLARtiresof the goddess Theme or Truth and Justice,which overshadowed the ark with their wings.These coincidences of the Egyptian and Hebrewarks must have been more than accidental.Adonisian Mysteries inSyria.The Mysteries of Adonis, on account of theirlocality, bring them in close connection with thehistory and reputed origin of Freemasonry. Theywere principally celebrated at Byblos, a city inPhoenicia, situated near the base of Mount Lebanon,on the Mediterranean, north of Beyroot, andwhose Scriptural or Hebrew name was Gebal, andwhose inhabitants were the Giblites or Giblemites,who are referred to in the first Book of Kings(chap. v. 18) as being the "stone-squarers" employedby King Solomon in building the temple.Hence there must have evidently been a very intimateconnection or frequent intercommunicationbetween the workmen of the first temple and theinhabitants of Byblos. These Mysteries were saidto have been first established at Babylon, and thencepassed over into Syria, their principal seat beingat Byblos, in that country.The legend of Adonis is: That he was the Kingof Cyprus. Adonis was possessed of such surprisingbeauty that Venus* (Goddess of Love) becameenamored with him, and adopted him as her favorite.Subsequently Adonis, who was a great hunter,died from a wound inflicted by a wild boar onMount Lebanon. Venus flew to the succor of herfavorite, but she came too late. Adonis was dead.10