Curious Old Attack On Freemasonry.

would have gone into his Avife into tho chamber , but her father would not let him ;" and in the succeeding chapter , "Then Avent Sampson to Gaza , and saw . there an harlot , and Avent hi unto her ; " which harlot appears afterwards to be Dalilah , Avho betrayed him

into the hands of his enemies the Philistines . Thus you see IIOAV great antiquaries may fall into great mistakes for Avaut of remembering the scripture , Avhich they read , or should read , every day . But our learned doctor of laAVSto show

, his extraordinary reading , takes a great deal of pains to prove that Hiram , the founder in brass , a Tynan , Avas not Hiram , King of Tyre ; Avhen as the sacred text is so expressly plain in these Avords , "Ancl King-Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of

Tyre . He Avas a AVICIOAV ' son , of the tribe of Naphtali , and his father Avas a man of Tyre , a ivorker in brass , and he ivas filled Avith Avisdom and understanding , and cunning to Avork all Avorks in brass . " Thus for the holy penmanbut the most ingenious

, Doctor Desaguliers , to make this Hiram , AVIIO Avas a founder and carver in brass , a stone-cutter , or Eree-Mason as you may suppose , has found out the verv letter of

recommendation which King Hiram sent to Solomon , AAdiich runs thus : " Ancl UOAV I have sent a cunning man , endued Avith understanding , skilful to Avork in gold , silver , brass , iron , stone , timber , purple , blue , fine linen , and crimson ; also to grave any

manner of graving , and to find out every device Avhich shall be put to him . " Here you find our Eree-Mason is a mere jack-ofall-trades , a goldsmith , silversmith , brazier , ironmonger , stone-cutter , timber merchant , saAvyercarpenter or joinrea linen draper

, , , and fine scarlet dyer ; AAdien as in the said hook of Kings Ave read no more of him than that he Avas a founder , or caster of brass or other metals , and a fine sculptor , carver ,

and engraver . Well , but , saith the admired author of the Constitutions , Avhen the Avise King Solomon Avas Grand-Master of the bod ge at Jerusalem , and the learned King Hiram Avas Grand-Master of the Lodge at % i'e , and the inspired Hiram Abif was

Master of work and Masonry , then I as audi verily helicA ^ e that the streets of Jerusalem Avere paved with gold , and the temple lined ivith diamonds and other Precious stones , as I do now , that the Grand-Master of the Grand Lodge , together with ' other masters and wardens of particulai

lodges , do excel all the Avorld m the Avisdom and dexterity of architecture ; insomuch that that in these later da } s the efficacy , secrecy , and power of the leathern apron is become the admiration ancl Avonder of all Avise men . But I am ashamed that our author has not attempted to prwe that either Ki ng Solomon

or King Hiram Avere once honoured Avith tho Avorshipful distinction of the leathern apron . This must needs bring a slur upon that dignity in Masonry , Avhich carries its head , as hig h as the foundation of the universe ; for Adam and Eve Avearing

aprons of fig leaves , to SIIOAV they understood rule and proportion , Avas an emblem that some of their posterity Avould take it an honour to Avear leathern ajn'ons ; which , according to tho geometrical form and figure thereof , might serve hereafter as a foundation "

of all Masonry , sacred , civil , ancl military ; three distinctions of Masonry , made use of by our most ingenious learned author of the Constitutions , AVIIO learnt it of Py hago ' ras , Avho learnt it of Thules , Avho learnt it of the Chaldean Magi , AVIIO learntitof ; Avho Avere all Erec-Masons Avith a Avitnes . The next cutting stroke to support the dignity and universality of Eree-Masons ,

that the author of the Constitutions labours at , is to bring in all sorts of mechanics that Avork by geometrical proportion , as bricklayers , carpenters , joiners , and tent makers , Avith a vast many other crafts-men . His business bad been to have mentioned all in general terms , or at least not to have forgot

that ingenious artist , or Eree-Mason , Avho made a chain for a flea of a thousand links , that together did not Aveigh the thousandth part of a grain ; Avith the present curious lurick-knack makers of tweezers , nutcrackers , and tooth picks , to the admiration of all mankind . Eor in short , according to tho opinion of Sandivogius , Avho copied after his areat master Trismesristus , all sorts

of sciences are contained in Masonry . Nay , Valentine in his Gurus Triumphhs goes so far as to say , an artist cannot be properly called an adept Avithout he can build his athanors , his digestors , and his reverberatory furnaces Avith his OAVII hands , in Avhich is

required the skill of a bricklayer , a mason , a smith , and an exquisite geometrician . We must agree that to the forming of a good astronomer , it requires be should be an accepted Eree-Mason , that if he should at any time be out in his calculation of the distance of any star , he might "b . able to lay