The Master Mason's Handbook (Classic Reprint) - Couverture souple

Frederick Joseph William Crowe

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 133274981X ISBN 13 : 9781332749812

Editeur : Forgotten Books, 2016

Synopsis

Excerpt from The Master Mason's Handbook

Bro. Crowe's work will doubtless become a welcome pioneer or introducer to books of a more elaborate character; for it is unlikely that any Brother who has mastered the contents of this manual will rest content with an elementary publication, but will proceed to acquire and study the more elaborate and exhaustive volumes, especially those of the nature circulated by the members of the Quatuor Coronati 'lodge through the medium of its ever increasing Correspondence Circle, and thus eventually the roll of genuine Masonic Students will be substantially increased thereby.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

From the beginning of Chapter I:

THE origin of Freemasonry is lost in the mists of antiquity, and its history, until comparatively recent times, is uncertain; but still we consider that there is sufficient evidence to prove that our Brotherhood is the most ancient Society in the world. Doubtless, the Craft at present varies considerably in its forms and ceremonies from that in vogue centuries ago, but it has ever presented certain characteristics, which have been faithfully handed down to the present day, such as a secret initiation, signs and tokens of recognition, and inculcation of the principles of morality and loyalty. The most probable descent of our Order appears to us to be this: — Originating in the Greek, Hebrew, and Egyptian mysteries (which, in turn, were no doubt derived from similar institutions in still older and forgotten nations), they became grafted to some extent on the Roman building guilds, the speculative character thus becoming somewhat lessened. The mediæval building fraternities were an operative continuation of the older guilds, until about the sixteenth century, when the purely speculative system entirely re- placed those grand old builders to whom we are indebted for all the magnificent cathedrals and religious edifices which are the glory of Europe, and the undying memorials of a skill which modern builders and architects appear only indifferently to imitate.

In the course of our ceremonies we are informed that "the usages and customs of Freemasonry have ever borne a near affinity to those of the ancient Egyptians," and that "the system of Pythagoras was founded on a similar principle, as well as many others of more recent date; " and Bro. the Rev. A. F. A. Woodford, in treating of the Egyptian Mysteries, says, "Most of the earlier sages of Greece, like Pythagoras and Plato, are said to have been initiated in Egypt." Pythagoras certainly visited Egypt about 600 B.C., and gained the confidence of the priests, from whom he learnt many secrets; and on his way he visited Phoenicia, where he was initiated by other priests into their mysteries. On his return he settled in Crotona, and formulated and taught his doctrines, which, according to Aristotle, were the first that determined anything in moral philosophy. "Their ethics were of the loftiest and most spiritual description; virtue was with them a harmony, unity, and an endeavour to resemble the Deity: the whole life of man should be an attempt to represent on earth the beauty and harmony displayed in the order of the universe; the mind should have the body and passions under perfect control; the gods should be worshipped by simple purifications, offerings, and, above all, by sincerity and purity of heart." Pythagoras instituted among his disciples secret worship, or mysteries, and they were also taught the science of numbers, geometry, and music; the various discoveries in mathematics, music, and astronomy ascribed to Pythagoras are proofs of the mighty impression he made on his contemporaries, as well as in after ages, and from the great respect which he paid to geometry, all Masons have ever hailed him as an ancient Brother, his system being certainly a close approximation to the science of Freemasonry....

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Forgotten Books
• Date d'édition: 2016
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 133274981X
• ISBN 13: 9781332749812
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 114
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Copytech (UK) Ltd, Trading as Printondemand-worldwide.com; gpsr@podww.com; ; 9 Culley Court; Orton Southgate; Peterborough; Cambridgeshire; PE2 6WA; Royaume-Uni
• Personne responsable: Easy Access System Europe Oü, 16879218; +358405003575; gpsr.requests@easproject.com; ; Mustamäe tee 50; Tallinn; 10621; Estonie