CHAPTER IX.

Ancient Masonry, Ancient Christianity.
WHEN we speak of Masonry ante- rior to the building of Solomon's temple, we do not mean to be understood of an Institution regularly organized. We do not mean to convey an idea that individu- als were associated and convened at sea- sons regularly appointed, and at places ex- clusively or principally devoted to Mason- ic purposes. We do not intend to be uti- stood that similar ceremonies were observ- ed at opening and closing, or of conferring the degrees, as at the present day. We do not intend to affirm the existence of forms as indispensable in the Masonic economy, according to its ancient accept- ation. But we wish to be understood as speaking of principles geometrical, moral, religious and sacred. Let this explanation be carefully recollected, that no misappre- hensions may hereafter arise. According to this explanation, therefore, we shall at- tempt to show, that ancient Masonry com- prised what may, with much propriety, be termed ancient Christianity. Although the term Christianity is peculiarly applica- ble to the New Testament dispensation, yet, in treating of this subject, it will
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5 used as a comprehensive term to ex- ress whatever, in ancient times, involved ^ligious and sacred considerations, or uch principles as are found to comport vith true religion,* as more clearly reveal- ed in the New Testament.
In speaking, therefore, of ancient Ma- sonry, or its ancient patrons, we are to un- derstand nothing more than a knowledge of 'hose principles, which, in due time, gave rise to the Institution in its organized state, *nd now constitute the great excellence of the System.
It is thought, sufficient evidence has been exhibited, in the former part of this work, as to the knowledge of those opera- tive principles of geometry, or Masonry, displayed in the construction of the Ark. This building, we are informed, was erect- id through the agency of Noah, under Di- vine superintendence. And Noah, being *n inspired man, as well as a preacher of igbteousness, most probably had some true knowledge of those spiritual allusions, so Manifestly des'ujned to convey moral in- duction to himself and to his descen- lants.
If, therefore, religious knowledge, as to >acred and divine subjects, is now attaina- ble, through this medium, the same truths Must have existed, in each antecedent pe-
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riod, since the days of Noah, and might have been discovered and duly improved. And if we, in this age of the world, can discover those very interesting and sub- lime allusions involved in the typical ap- plication of the ark, may we not reasona- bly suppose, that Noah, as an inspired man, had a more deep and affecting sense of their moral and spiritual applications. It hence appears, that ancient geometry or Masonry, in relation to the ark, did involve many religious truths. Just as far, there- fore, as the mind was led, through this me- dium, to contemplate the Divine plan in the economy of redemption, just so far ancient Masonry involved ancient Chris- tianity. If the ark was originally design- ed to prefigure the eternal salvation of man, through the temporal deliverance of Noah and his family, we have much reason to believe it was thus understood by that holy man.
The tabernacle, erected by Moses, fur- . nishes another source of religious instruc- tion. A knowledge of the form and work- manship of this moveable tent was, by in- spiration, communicated to Moses. All the appendaues, as well as the whole ser- vice, presented many obvious allusions to future events, and prefigured many impor- tant facts, in relation to the Divine plan>
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as now displayed in tiie moral system. No doubt, the Jews were taught much reli- gious truth from those symbols. At the feasl of tabernacles, it appears, that occa- sion was taken to lead their minds from vis- ible objects to contemplate the invisible things of God, in the future manifestations of his goodness and mercy.
This tabernacle, with all its appendages, was evidently designed by Jehovah, to bring to view religious truths. No doubt, therefore, can be entertained but such knowledge was thence derived according to Divine purpose.
A knowledge, belief and due reverence of the Divine word, constitutes the very essence of all true religion, whether an- cient or modern. St. John begins his gos- pel by saying, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word -was God." Even that Omnipo- tent Being, " who spake and it was done, who commanded and it stood fast :" For whom, by whom, and through whom, all things visible and invisible subsist. That infinite Personage, through whose mediato- rial office-work are displayed every Di- vine attribute and perfection, which.angels admire, and man is bound to love and adore. This word, however mysterious it may appear to the world, has been un-
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derstood, and held sacred by the Masonie order from time immemorial.
From every consideration, therefore, which has been presented on this subject, we have much reason to conclude, that those holy patriarchs of antiquity who un- derstood the name and true character of God, were, in that sense, according to an- cient acceptation, patrons of the genuine and fundamental principles of Masonry.— Just as far as they did understand and em- brace and patronise such principles, they understood, embraced and patronised what now are, and ever have been, as far as re- cords can be traced, absolutely essential to the Masonic Institution.
The more substantial part of modern Free-Masonry, consists in exhibiting the great outlines of the Divine economy, in relation to an intelligent universe ; in pre- senting to view our numerous social and re- lative duties ; impressing the heart with a lively sense of moral propriety ; and in pre- paring mankind for the sublime entertain- ments of a happy immortality.
May we not hence conclude, that those venerable patriarchs of ancient times, were, in many respects, led to a discovery of that blessedness, which should afterwards be re- vealed ; that they were made to under- stand, by special revelation, most, if not
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all, of the typical allusions of their altars, and the event prefigured in the choice of their sacrifices ; that the whole service of the tabernacle, while in the wilderness, was spiritualized, in a very solemn manner, to the understandings of the pious and devout worshipper ; and that the temple of Solo- fl)on,also, displayed, to the contemplative mind, a still higher exhibition of the eter- nal purposes of Jehovah, in the great plan of redemption.
That all these things pointed, in some shape, to the great sacrifice which was to Hone for the sins of the world, is now abun- lantly evident. And that most, if not all, >f the ancient fathers, did thus understand hem, is highly probable, if not certain. — This sacrifice was the eternal word, or the econd Person in the adorable Trinity, as Manifested in the flesh. The same word, >y which Masons in every country do now ecognize each other, as having been regu- arly advanced to the more sublime de- crees. This word, with its Masonic pro- mnciation, can, for a certainty, be traced >ack in the Institution for more than two housand years. If so, it affords strong resumptive evidence, to say the least, hat it has descended, not merely from the >uilding of the temple, but even from the ncient fathers, to whom God himself com-
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municatec] the knowledge of his holy name. However this may have been, the period cannot be fixed when the true name of God was not known and reverenced in the Masonic Institution. Since, therefore, e- very fudamental principle of our holy re- ligion, emanates from, and centres in Him " who is the brightness of his Father's glo- ry , and the express image of his person," just as anciently as the reverential use of this Name can be traced in our Institution, just so long, it must appear, that ancient Masonry was, in a very important sense, ancient Christianity. In whatever extent it. shall be found, that those principles, which are now comprised in our system? were, in ancient times, understood in a spi- ritual sense, as to the ark of JNooh, the ta- bernacle of M oses, and the temple of So- lomon, in the same extent, we must be al- lowed to infer, that ancient Masonry was of a sacred and religious nature.
We cannot deny that the device and workmanship of those buildings, had a J)i m vine origin, and we doubt not, but a know- ledge of their mystical allusions, was also divinely intended, so that something of the invisible things of God mi^ht thereby be manifested. Hence, we again infer from the eternal purpose of God, that whatever religious knowledge was, either wholly, or
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in part, derived through this medium, may properly be termed ancient Christianity.
Ceremonies of service necessarifv fol- lowed, and depended on, the establishment of those buildings. AH the utensils of ser- vice, therefore, had their appropriate allu- sions and were wisely calculated to inspire the mind with serious and devout contem- plations. The thing signified, in connex- ion with whatever was the type, would lead the devout worshipper, from the view of the one, seriously to contemplate the t>ther.
We must, therefore, conclude some re- ligious knowledge must necessarily have been drawn from the very construction, as well as application, of those things which were wrought according to thejprinciples of geometry or Masonry.
Herein is great wisdom displayed. The divine plan was not merely, intended to be brought to view, but also carried into ef- fect, through the instrumentality of nume- rous subordinate means. Hence it seemed good in the sight of Omnipotence to direct Moses to build a tabernacle, and thereby unfold many interesting truths embraced in the plan of redemption. It was also put into the heart of David to give a solemn charge to Solomon his son, to build a house to the name of the God of Israel. And
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Solomon, in executing this great and glo- rious work, was instrumental of displaying the Divine economy, in a much greater de- gree than had been done in any antece- dent period.
If, therefore, it be true, that any thing of ancient Masonry consisted in bringing to view more and more of the divine plan, in the great moral system ; in unfolding the deep mysteries of redemption, and leading the mind to a discovery of those interesting truths, which are connected with eternal salvation, we must conclude it partook, in the same extent, of the na- ture of a moral and religious institution.
It is, therefore, thought, from what has been suggested,vevery brother may obtain satisfactory evidence, in his own mind, as to the truth of our first proposition, that ancient Masonry, in this sense of the term, was ancient Christianity.