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.ANmENT .AND ACOEPl'ED ruTE.
God threatened to destroy the whole world. Enoch, perceiving that the knowledge of the arts was likely to be lost in the general destruction, and being desirous of preserving the principles of the sciences for the post.erity of those whom God should be pleased to spare, built two great pillars on the top of the highest mountain, the one of brass, to withstand water, and the other of marble, to withstand fire; and he engraved on the marble pillar, hieroglyphics, signifying that there was a most precious treasure concealed in the arches under ground, which he had dedicated to God. And he engraved on the pillar of brass the principles of the liberal arts, particularly of Geometry or Masonry.
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'rhe flood took place in the year of the world 1656, and destroyed most of the superb monuments of antiquity. The marble pillar of Enoch fell in the general destruction; but, by divine permission, the pill:w of brass withstood the water, by which means the ancient state of the liberal arts, and particularly Masonry, h:ts been handed down to us. * * * * * Solomon being the wisest of princes, had fully in remembrance the promise of God, that he would dwell in a fixed temple made with hands, and that his name should be there. Accordingly, Solomon began to build, in tl1e ~Oltrth yell.r of his reign, agreeably to a plan given to him by David, his father. He chose a spot for this pU1:pose, tl1e most beautiful and healthy in all Jerusalem. * * * *
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