FREE-MASONRY.
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a state of innoeenceand purity, to experience bitter fruits of sin; 路toil and labour, lniseryand On this unhappy dereliction from purity are founded some of ,those cba:racteristic insignia of Masonry, which convey a lasting remembrance of our degenerate state, as well as the glorious promise of redemption. These TOKENS were unnecessary when man was in a state of perfection; but after the fall they were practised by Adam, and are considered as the immovable landmark.s of the Order unto this day. The FIVE events attending this transgression and expulsion from Paradise; viz., the transgression, shame, sentence, prayer, and promise, are distinguished among 楼asons by such significant tokens of reverence, penitence, sympathy, fatigue, and Jaith, that the unhappy consequences of the three former, as well as the ltope derived to mankind from the two latter, can never' be blotted frolll the recollection. Expelled from Paradise, illtO a world cursed for their sake, our first parents must have sunk under the effects of this terrible change, if the PROMISE had not lent them support under the extremity of misery.Is Their calamities were great, but FAITH and HOPE supplied themwitb fortitude to endure the penalty of their disobedience. 'fheir first object, on passing from ineffable light to temporary darkness, was to clothe themselves with the skins of beasts slain in sacrifice, according to the immediate command of God. One grand prin.ciple of ancient. Masonry was to p.re-. serve alive in men's minds the true knowledge of God, and great idea of an atonement for sin by animal gacrifices; typical of the one sacrifice of the Lamb ~ithout spot, as a propitiation for the sins of the whole 15 The Talmudists a.nd Cabalists believe .the history of Adam and Eve was a fact, according to the recitaJ ; then, taking it allegorically, theyoontinue, the serpent means carnal .desire; that generally deceives the weakest part or matter, represented by Eve, who led Adam with her, that is, the mind; then they proceed to the protologio and moral, showing how much harm is done, and has been introduced into the world, from pursuing carnal pleasures and sensual appetites, .a路. finally,. on .this .they. 路form. the anagogic, that the serpent was s.ael, an. unolean evil spirit that spoke within her: .intnis1V&1' the !8Be text oombinesaJI the fourmeanmgso .(Conoil. ii"t 269.) II.Grotius,. (in Eocles. xxv.,llS) observes-incapit9 .erpentis manme mali.