Freemasonry > Free-masons pocket-companion

29
Chap. IV. of MASONRY.
had been at the building of the temple, brought
the refined knowledge of the fcience and the art in¬
to Germany and Gaul.
In many places, being highly efteemed, they ob¬
tained fpecial privileges; and becaufe they taught
their liberal art to the free-born only, they were
called Free Masons ; conftituting lodges in the
places where they were employed in building, by
the encouragement of the great, noble, and wealthy,
who loon requefted to be accepted as members of
the lodge, and brothers of the craft; till, by merit,
thole free and accepted mafons came to be mailers
and wardens. Then it was, that kings, princes,
and potentates, became grand mailers, each in his
own dominion, in imitation of King Solomon, whole
memory as a mafon has been duly worlhipped,
and will be, till architefture fiiall be confumed in
the general conflagration ; for he never can be ri¬
valled, but by one equally infpired from above; fo
that the Gentile nations improved every where be¬
yond expreflion, and became excellent malbns.
The divifion of Solomon's dominions into the
kingdoms of Ifrael and Judah, Ycar of the floo:i
did not much affefl the fraterni- 1374. Before Chrift
ty, or dilturb their lodges ; for 97+'
Jeroboam ordered them to build him two palaces,
the one at Sichem, and the other at Pemel, and alfo
to make and ere£l the two curious llatues of the
golden calves, with temples for their worlhip, the
one in Bethel, and the other in Dan, which were
worlhipped