1856 Theocratic Philosophy of Freemasonry by George Oliver, First Edition

Description: The Theocratic Philosophy of Freemasonry, in Twelve Lectures, on its Speculative, Operative, and Spurious Branches By The Rev. G. Oliver, D.D. Hamilton, Adams and Co., London, 1856, First Edition in original blind stamped cloth, 9.25 x 6”, 8vo. In fair condition. Moderate wear to extremities with minor scuffing to edges and corners. Modest soiling to surface of cloth with dampness staining at top right corner of front board. Corners crushed with rounded. Joints abraded with light splitting. Spine concave at head with splitting. End crushed. Gilt oxidized from time. Ownership of William S. Peacher dated September 4, 1960 on pastedown. Old hand notation of fly. Light toning at edges of text-block with scattered foxing throughout. Free of known marginalia. Binding remains intact. Please see photos. George Oliver (1782-1867) was an English cleric, schoolmaster, topographer and writer on freemasonry. This English Masonic author, although being a well respected writer on ecclesiastical antiquities, was also responsible for some mistaken theories and fanciful speculations concerning the early history of Freemasonry. He believed that the Order was to be found in the earliest periods of recorded history. It was taught by Seth to his descendants, and practiced by them under the name of Primitive or Pure Freemasonry. It passed over to Noah, and at the dispersion of mankind suffered a division into Pure and Spurious. Pure Freemasonry descended through the Patriarchs to Solomon, and thence on to the present day. His own first contribution to the literature of Freemasonry was a work titled The Antiquities of Freemasonry and was published in 1839. His next work titled The Star in the East, intended to show, from the testimony of Masonic writers, the connection between Freemasonry and religion. In 1841 he published his 12 lectures on The Signs and Symbols of Freemasonry , in which he went into learned detail of the history and significance of all the recognized symbols of the Order. This was followed by 12 lectures on The History of Initiation, comprising a detailed account of the Rites and Ceremonies, Doctrines and Discipline, of all the Secret and Mysterious Institutions of the Ancient World. The professed object of the author was to show the resemblances between these ancient systems of initiation and the Masonic, and to trace them to a common origin - a theory which, under some modification, has been very generally accepted by Masonic scholars. Rare first edition in original binding. Gift quality. RAREB1856CMOX - 08/23 COLH1856CMOX - 10/24 - HKREV136

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