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Article THE INEFFABLE NAME. Page 1 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Ineffable Name.
THE INEFFABLE NAME .
ny COMPANION j . R . CHANTER , P . •/ .. CHAPTER 319 , BARNSTAPLE . However unprofitable an enquiry into the holy and mysterious nanier of tbe Most High may be considered at this day , it must still be allowed to be an interesting subject both to the Mason and to the antiquarian . But to the Mason it is peculiarly so , as he is not only led by his masonic studies to the contemplation thereof , but has also , when advanced in its mysteriesthe assistance of a strong liht shining before
, g him , to guide him in the way , and assist him in his researches . The sacred name of the Almighty , given to Adam when placed iu the garden of Eden , after being handed down through the righteous line of Enoch to the Patriarch Noah , was of course lost to all but him at the universal deluge . After that event , when the posteritv of Noah
by degrees relapsed into idolatry , and neglected the true God , although the knowledge of his name was for a time preserved , yet it was profaned by being bestowed upon clay and stones , the work of men ' s hands . Still , however , sufficient recollections of its importance remained , to cause men to preserve it in their religious ceremonials ; and in process of time it became introduced to , or rather made , the foundation of all the early mysteries . But except to those initiated in the mysteries
, the knowledge of the true name of God died away from the earth ; and in the worship of idols , with their names derived from their supposed influence and power over mankind , men neglected the worship of the Supreme Creator , and the sacred name became lost . A traditionary remembrance of the power and efficacy of this name , however , still remained , and its real or supposed power is frequently
alluded to , not only in the sacred writings , but by numberless authors in the Gentile or heathen world . Throughout the Bible , many passages , which are generally considered to refer to the power of God , in the original Hebrew , mean merely the power of his name . So wonderful was it esteemed , that the mere pronouncing it , was believed to enable the person doing so , to work miracles . The traditionary legends preserved in the eastof the power of Solomonnot only on earthbut
, , , over angels and devils , was attributed to the efficacy ofthe name of God , of which he was said to be in possession ; and the magical influences of Solomon ' s signet , with the name of God engraved thereon , is well known to all readers of the "Arabian Nights" or other Oriental Fictions . It was in consequence considered impious to speak " the name , " both by the Hebrews and other nations , and was therefore incommunicable , except with certain mystic forms and ceremonies , and this may be clearly
understood from many writers ; but to mention only two , Cicero tells us , that they did not dare to mention even the name of their gods . ( "De Natur-i Deorum , " lib . iii . ) And Lucan in the " Pharsalia , " ( lib . vi . ) says , that but to name the name would shake tbe earth . From these early periods , the true name of God does not appear to have been known upon the earth , except the corruptions or variations thereof , preserved in the heathen mysteriesalthough numerous
myste-, rious names ( all supposed to be the name ) were bestowed by the heathen on their own peculiar idols , until it was revealed to Moses , ( who was previously learned in all the mysteries of the Egyptians ) by God himself at Horeb , and this is declared by the Almighty himself . "And I appeared unto Abraham , Isaac , and Jacob , by the name of Almi ghty
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Ineffable Name.
THE INEFFABLE NAME .
ny COMPANION j . R . CHANTER , P . •/ .. CHAPTER 319 , BARNSTAPLE . However unprofitable an enquiry into the holy and mysterious nanier of tbe Most High may be considered at this day , it must still be allowed to be an interesting subject both to the Mason and to the antiquarian . But to the Mason it is peculiarly so , as he is not only led by his masonic studies to the contemplation thereof , but has also , when advanced in its mysteriesthe assistance of a strong liht shining before
, g him , to guide him in the way , and assist him in his researches . The sacred name of the Almighty , given to Adam when placed iu the garden of Eden , after being handed down through the righteous line of Enoch to the Patriarch Noah , was of course lost to all but him at the universal deluge . After that event , when the posteritv of Noah
by degrees relapsed into idolatry , and neglected the true God , although the knowledge of his name was for a time preserved , yet it was profaned by being bestowed upon clay and stones , the work of men ' s hands . Still , however , sufficient recollections of its importance remained , to cause men to preserve it in their religious ceremonials ; and in process of time it became introduced to , or rather made , the foundation of all the early mysteries . But except to those initiated in the mysteries
, the knowledge of the true name of God died away from the earth ; and in the worship of idols , with their names derived from their supposed influence and power over mankind , men neglected the worship of the Supreme Creator , and the sacred name became lost . A traditionary remembrance of the power and efficacy of this name , however , still remained , and its real or supposed power is frequently
alluded to , not only in the sacred writings , but by numberless authors in the Gentile or heathen world . Throughout the Bible , many passages , which are generally considered to refer to the power of God , in the original Hebrew , mean merely the power of his name . So wonderful was it esteemed , that the mere pronouncing it , was believed to enable the person doing so , to work miracles . The traditionary legends preserved in the eastof the power of Solomonnot only on earthbut
, , , over angels and devils , was attributed to the efficacy ofthe name of God , of which he was said to be in possession ; and the magical influences of Solomon ' s signet , with the name of God engraved thereon , is well known to all readers of the "Arabian Nights" or other Oriental Fictions . It was in consequence considered impious to speak " the name , " both by the Hebrews and other nations , and was therefore incommunicable , except with certain mystic forms and ceremonies , and this may be clearly
understood from many writers ; but to mention only two , Cicero tells us , that they did not dare to mention even the name of their gods . ( "De Natur-i Deorum , " lib . iii . ) And Lucan in the " Pharsalia , " ( lib . vi . ) says , that but to name the name would shake tbe earth . From these early periods , the true name of God does not appear to have been known upon the earth , except the corruptions or variations thereof , preserved in the heathen mysteriesalthough numerous
myste-, rious names ( all supposed to be the name ) were bestowed by the heathen on their own peculiar idols , until it was revealed to Moses , ( who was previously learned in all the mysteries of the Egyptians ) by God himself at Horeb , and this is declared by the Almighty himself . "And I appeared unto Abraham , Isaac , and Jacob , by the name of Almi ghty