Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
through all their ranks , is , devotion to their spiritual leader . When the Khalifa dies , he bequeaths his patched garment , which is all his worldly wealth , to the disciple whom he esteems the most worthy to be his successor ; and the moment the latter puts on the holy mantle , he is vested with the power
of his predecessor . " Nehemiah , who succeeded Ezra in the government of Judea , held the honourable office of cup-bearer to Artaxerxes , king of Persia ; ancl was entrusted by that monarch with a special commission to rebuild the walls ancl renew the fortifications of Jerusalem , and to effect a full restoration
of the lands and property which had been seized , during the captivity , by the neighbouring nations . The history of his appointment to this office is thus related : — " Walkingnear Susa , the capital of Persia , Nehemiah heard some people conversing in Hebrew , on which he asked them whence they came . They said from Judea , and , on his enquiry respecting Jerusalem , they said that the walls were
destroyed , the country exposed to the inroads of the enemy , the people carried into captivity , ancl the dead bodies left on the highways . Nehemiah wept at these misfortunes , and , lifting up his eyes to heaven , exclaimed , ' When , O God , shall thy people cease to be oppressed , and exposed to the insults of others ? ' While Nehemiah was thus lamenting , a
person informed him that the King was going to supper , on which he hurried to attend his duty . After supper , the King , observing Nehemiah look dull , asked him the cause ; on which , privately praying to God for directions , he said , ' How can I be but miserable , when the place of my birth is destnryed ; Jerusalem become a heap of rubbish ; the gates
of the city burnt ; the tombs of my ancestors violated ; and the ashes of the dead prophaned ? I have but one favor to ask—your royal permission to go to Jerusalem , to assist in completing the Temple , and rebuilding the walls . ' This request the King complied with , and promised him letters to his governors , who should assist him in his intended work . " *
When Nehemiah arrived at Jerusalem , and took possession of his government , he found his country ' s enemies , the Samaritans and others , headed by Sanballat , Tobias , and Geshem , resolutely bent to oppose every obstacle that might have the effect of checking the power and populai'i ty of tlie
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The History And Antiquities Of Freemasonry.
through all their ranks , is , devotion to their spiritual leader . When the Khalifa dies , he bequeaths his patched garment , which is all his worldly wealth , to the disciple whom he esteems the most worthy to be his successor ; and the moment the latter puts on the holy mantle , he is vested with the power
of his predecessor . " Nehemiah , who succeeded Ezra in the government of Judea , held the honourable office of cup-bearer to Artaxerxes , king of Persia ; ancl was entrusted by that monarch with a special commission to rebuild the walls ancl renew the fortifications of Jerusalem , and to effect a full restoration
of the lands and property which had been seized , during the captivity , by the neighbouring nations . The history of his appointment to this office is thus related : — " Walkingnear Susa , the capital of Persia , Nehemiah heard some people conversing in Hebrew , on which he asked them whence they came . They said from Judea , and , on his enquiry respecting Jerusalem , they said that the walls were
destroyed , the country exposed to the inroads of the enemy , the people carried into captivity , ancl the dead bodies left on the highways . Nehemiah wept at these misfortunes , and , lifting up his eyes to heaven , exclaimed , ' When , O God , shall thy people cease to be oppressed , and exposed to the insults of others ? ' While Nehemiah was thus lamenting , a
person informed him that the King was going to supper , on which he hurried to attend his duty . After supper , the King , observing Nehemiah look dull , asked him the cause ; on which , privately praying to God for directions , he said , ' How can I be but miserable , when the place of my birth is destnryed ; Jerusalem become a heap of rubbish ; the gates
of the city burnt ; the tombs of my ancestors violated ; and the ashes of the dead prophaned ? I have but one favor to ask—your royal permission to go to Jerusalem , to assist in completing the Temple , and rebuilding the walls . ' This request the King complied with , and promised him letters to his governors , who should assist him in his intended work . " *
When Nehemiah arrived at Jerusalem , and took possession of his government , he found his country ' s enemies , the Samaritans and others , headed by Sanballat , Tobias , and Geshem , resolutely bent to oppose every obstacle that might have the effect of checking the power and populai'i ty of tlie