Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

20*2 HOW TO fftOVE BY FREE HAtfONKT
rt Here wisdom her standard displays,
" Here nobly the tcienoei thine;
" Here the templet vast column we raise,
41 And finish a work that's divine.
u Illumed from the east with pure light,
11 Here arts do their blessings bestow,
" And *U perfect, all perfect, unfold to the sight
" What none but a Mason eon know*—-Preston.
Chap. 9. kt Ancient Masonry, Ancient Christianity" p. S3v
Let our author explain for himself. " When we speak of
Masonry anterior to the building of Solomon's temple, we
wish to be understood as speaking of principles, geometrical
moral, religious, and sacred. In this view, we shall attempt
to show, that ancient Masonry comprised what may, with
much propriety, be termed ancient Christianity. 19
Again, having spoken of Noah's ark, built by Masonry,
under the divine superintendence, as a type of salvation, he
adds; u It hence appears, that ancient geometry or Masonry,
in relation to the ark, did involve many religious truths.
Just as far, therefore, as the mind was led, through this
medium, to contemplate the divine plan in the economy of
redemption, just so far Ancient Masonry [or geometry] involved
ancient Christianity." [p. 85.]
P. 86. u A knowledge, belief, and due reverence of the
divine WORD, constitutes the very essence of all true religion,
whether ancient or modern. St John begins his gospels,
by saying, " in the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD
was with. God, and the WORD was God. This WORD, however
mysterious it may appear to the world, has been understood
and held sacred by the masonic order, from time
immemorial."
This is singularly edifying to masonic brethren of Jewish
And Turkish families. Each may learn, to his great surprise,
that he well understands and regards as sacred, the name
of our blessed Saviour, without the sacrifice of one grain of
bis affection for the Mosaic ritual, or the false prophet
P. 89. "This same WORD is, that by which Masons in