misery or happiness, according to the deeds done in this life, was a doctrine universally admitted by all the world.*

Stillingfleet lays this down as an axiom: "there is no certain credibility in any antient histories which seem to contradict the Scriptures; nor any ground of reason why we should assent to them when they differ from the Bible." This observation will equally apply to Free-Masonry. If its traditions were in any respect opposed to Religion, or its precepts at variance with the Holy Scriptures, it ought to be rejected as unworthy of credibility or attention. On this ground the cause of Masonry rests, and it is a foundation firm and immoveable as the basis of our holy faith; for nothing can be permanent, nothing successful, except it be grounded on religion. Hence, when idolatry assumed its empire over the world, the most sublime and beautiful part of Masonry receded from the view; and when a false worship degenerated into little better than atheism, it became obscured amidst the same mazes of intellectual darkness; and, like certain mysterious secrets, was lost to heathen nations; until, by the practice of operative Masonry, in

* Vide“ Addresses from a Minister to his Parishioners," (V.) by the Author of this work, where the subject is fully discussed.

+ Orig. Sacr., l. 1, c. 1.

building an actual edifice to the true God, future ages recovered it.

As a man loses not his reason, sensibility, or activity of intellect by the loss of a limb, so Masonry, though amidst the increasing atheism of the world it suffered the loss of many noble members, was never wholly obliterated. Enfeebled by the degeneracy of mankind amongst apostate nations, its essence was nevertheless preserved by that small race of men who adhered to the genuine worship of God. Hence, though one of its general grand divisions sunk with the knowledge of God, the other suffered no material deterioration; because when the former was finally restored by Jesus Christ, the latter, having received accessions of strength in almost every age, was in the maturity of its vigour and excellence.

Masonry was known and practised under the name of Lux, or its equivalent in all languages used since the creation; and they who search for its existence, in its true and spiritual form, amongst idolatrous operative Masons, in the early ages of the world, may expend much time to a fruitless purpose, and help to confound our science with many systems at variance with its great and prominent designs, though apparently founded on the same basis. It is true that many eminent men professing the science of Lux, which includes a knowledge of all other sciences, applied

it to an operative purpose, and united in the construction of magnificent edifices; but as they chiefly sought their own private interest or emolument, it is no wonder that the true principles of Lux were sacrificed, founded as they are on the belief and acknowledgment of one only Supreme Being, the Creator and Governor of the world; when these edifices were dedicated to deceased mortals, or the host of heaven.

After the Flood the true professors of Lux were termed NOACHIDE; but the science itself retained its primitive name for many centuries afterwards. At the building of the Temple by King Solomon it was known under this appellation; which certainly remained for a considerable time subsequent to that event: for our science is recognized by Christ and his Apostles under this denomination; and it even retains the name of Lux in our Latin Records to the present day. St. John, speaking in high commendation of Jesus Christ, says, " He was the true LIGHT” (Þŵs);* " and the LIGHT shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not."+ This Evangelist, as the grand patron of Masonry, inculcates the doctrines of our craft throughout the whole of his writings; and on every important appeal fails not to use such expressions and phrases, as

apply equally and jointly to Christianity and Masonry. He considered them in the light of two twin sisters, which would grow up together and moralize the world. His First General Epistle contains all the sublime and spiritual part of our ordinary illustrations. And our Saviour says of himself, "I am the LIGHT of the world" (Pus).* And again more explicitly, "Yet á little while is the LIGHT (Ps) with you; walk while ye have the light (Þws), lest darkness come upon you; for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have LIGHT, believe in the light, that ye may be the CHILDREN OF LIGHT" (víoì Þalòs).

At the building of Solomon's Temple the sons of light associated together, under an exalted professor of Lux, to devote themselves to the service of the true and living God; but it does not hence follow that the science was designated from the operative pursuits embraced on that mémorable occasion, for the appellation of a science is seldom extracted from any of its inferior branches. Its name was more probably changed by some distinguished founder of a sect of philosophy amongst idolaters; because, as I have already observed, it was acknowledged by Christ and his Apostles under its primitive designation.

* John, viii. 12.

John, xii. 35, 36.

The word MASONRY, when first adopted, was merely a corruption of Μεσερανέω, sum in medio cali; which name was applied to the science, about A.M. 3490; when Pythagoras, after travelling over the whole world, made many additions to the mysteries of his native country, which he purified from their gross abominations by the use of Lux, which he had learned in Judea ;* and in Greece instituted a lodge of geometricians, on a new principle, compounded from all the existing systems of other nations. The aspirants were enjoined a SILENCE of five years previously to initiation; and they who could not endure this rigid probation were publicly dismissed; a tomb was erected for them, and they were ever after considered as dead men.†

This new institution in Greece would naturally produce a Grecian appellation: as the inhabitants were in the constant practice of naming, according to the idiom of their own language, not only other countries but the sciences, and also eminent men; that the honour of each might be attributed to their own nation. From this time, also, a more intimate union took place between the speculative

• Aristobulus the Jew informs us (Clem. Alex. Strom. 1.), that Pythagoras transferred the Jewish doctrines and ceremonies into his own system; and this is confirmed by others. (Hermipp.in Jos, con, Ap.lib.1. Orig. con. Cels. lib. 1.

Jambl. vit. Pyth., c. 17.

с