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Article LEGEND OF THE M.M. DEGREE. Page 1 of 5 →
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Legend Of The M.M. Degree.
LEGEND OF THE M . M . DEGREE .
ON THE
BY BEO . THOMAS PBYEB , F . S . A ., P . SI . OAK . LODGE , S . G . I . G . 33 ° . THE origin of the legend of the M . 5 T . Degree is a subject , which lias at various periods received much consideration , but does not appear to have been satisfactorily explained .
That the principal rites in the celebration of the ancient mysteries assumed a funereal character , is a fact sufficiently well known ; but the particular period when the legend in question was incorporated into the general system of Freemasonry , as well as the reasons which
induced such incorporation , remain as 3-et unknown to a great majority of tlie Brethren . The subject is one , which , for evident reasons , can only be fully elucidated within tbe " tyled recesses " of the lodg-e . Although , however , a full revelation cannot be given , there arc many facts , which may , ivith due caution , be submitted to the consideration of inquiring Brethrenand ivhichit is apprehendedwill tent ! materiall
, , , y to assist them in arriving at just conclusions upon this hig hly interesting and most important subject . j am induced to believe that the leg-end in question was interwoven with our peculiar system , at the period when ancient operative and speculative Masonry first became united — an union ivhich , it is generally admitted , was perfected at the building- of King Solomon ' s
Temple . It is , therefore , to this period that ive must particularly direct attention ; and we must look around , and endeavour to become acquainted with the peculiar mysteries practised by those people , who rendered the most material assistance at the erection o /' that sacred and glorious structure . The Volume of the Sacred Law , as well as our own traditions , inform us , that such assistance came from Tyre . HIRAM the King- aided
Solomon ; and his most skilful architect , HIIIAM ABIF , furnished the priiicijv . il designs , and executed the ornamental portions of the magnificent work . It thus appears , that the principal architects and workmen engaged in tlie construction of the Temple were not Israelites , but came from a people , whom we are sreucrallv induced to consider as Pairans ami
Idolaters . It is necessary , however , before forming a correct estimate of their system of reli gious belief , tiiat we should become acquainted with the esoteric meaning of the mysteries they celebrated , so as to comprehend how far they had deviated from the primaeval truths , on wliich the ivhole of the ancient mysteries were based ; and we should examine what were the great truths conveyed to ihe meaning of those , who had been fully initiated into these particular mysteries . Without such knowled ge , v . c can neither foim a correct judgment nor arrive at a just conclusion ; but , wc may reasonably assume , jhat builders would not have been selected to assist in erecting a Temple to tiie Living
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Legend Of The M.M. Degree.
LEGEND OF THE M . M . DEGREE .
ON THE
BY BEO . THOMAS PBYEB , F . S . A ., P . SI . OAK . LODGE , S . G . I . G . 33 ° . THE origin of the legend of the M . 5 T . Degree is a subject , which lias at various periods received much consideration , but does not appear to have been satisfactorily explained .
That the principal rites in the celebration of the ancient mysteries assumed a funereal character , is a fact sufficiently well known ; but the particular period when the legend in question was incorporated into the general system of Freemasonry , as well as the reasons which
induced such incorporation , remain as 3-et unknown to a great majority of tlie Brethren . The subject is one , which , for evident reasons , can only be fully elucidated within tbe " tyled recesses " of the lodg-e . Although , however , a full revelation cannot be given , there arc many facts , which may , ivith due caution , be submitted to the consideration of inquiring Brethrenand ivhichit is apprehendedwill tent ! materiall
, , , y to assist them in arriving at just conclusions upon this hig hly interesting and most important subject . j am induced to believe that the leg-end in question was interwoven with our peculiar system , at the period when ancient operative and speculative Masonry first became united — an union ivhich , it is generally admitted , was perfected at the building- of King Solomon ' s
Temple . It is , therefore , to this period that ive must particularly direct attention ; and we must look around , and endeavour to become acquainted with the peculiar mysteries practised by those people , who rendered the most material assistance at the erection o /' that sacred and glorious structure . The Volume of the Sacred Law , as well as our own traditions , inform us , that such assistance came from Tyre . HIRAM the King- aided
Solomon ; and his most skilful architect , HIIIAM ABIF , furnished the priiicijv . il designs , and executed the ornamental portions of the magnificent work . It thus appears , that the principal architects and workmen engaged in tlie construction of the Temple were not Israelites , but came from a people , whom we are sreucrallv induced to consider as Pairans ami
Idolaters . It is necessary , however , before forming a correct estimate of their system of reli gious belief , tiiat we should become acquainted with the esoteric meaning of the mysteries they celebrated , so as to comprehend how far they had deviated from the primaeval truths , on wliich the ivhole of the ancient mysteries were based ; and we should examine what were the great truths conveyed to ihe meaning of those , who had been fully initiated into these particular mysteries . Without such knowled ge , v . c can neither foim a correct judgment nor arrive at a just conclusion ; but , wc may reasonably assume , jhat builders would not have been selected to assist in erecting a Temple to tiie Living