The Masonic Religion Of Love.

THE MASONIC RELIGION OF LOVE .

EE LIGION and its relation to the Masonic Brotherhood is a subject of more than ordinary interest to the writer , and will , we doubt not , find a ready response in every Brother ' s heart . As a Mason we have always

admired the foundation on which tho superstructure of Freemasonry has been erected , and the splendid success of the builders . In this paper we shall endeavour to unfold the secret of their success .

At the outset we must carefully and distinctly keep in mind the fact that Freemasonry is of two kinds , namely , Operative and Speculative . Operative Masonry is what its name implies—an operative art—and relates to the

'Masonic guilds , or corporations , of Stone-Masons of Germany , the travelling Freemasons of the Middle Ages , and the Colleges of Architects of Rome . Whatever of speculative science there was in it , related mainly to the perfection of art .

Speculative Masonry is a system of ethics , or rules of duty , drawn from the word of God and illustrated by symbols ; hence the name , Symbolic Masonry . In other words , as Macay has beautifully defined it , " Speculative

Masonry , or Freemasonry , is thus a system of ethics , and must therefore , like all other ethical systems , have its distinctive doctrines . These may be divided into three classes , viz ., the Moral , the . Religious , and the

Philosophical . The distinction is marked ; and Freemasonry , in its present form dates back to its restoration at the beginning of the eighteenth century . Then it received from the

hands of the " builders ' a distinctive moral and religious character ; and we shall show that the two are naturally inseparable , and inseparably connected with Freemasonry .

Religion , in its widest acceptation , is any system of faith and worship ; as , for example , the religion of the Turks , the Hindoos , the Christians . Worship is religious honour , reverence and adoration paid to God , or a being

viewed as God . History shows that man is a religious b'iug , and that , even in his lowest estate , he will worship something , "if haply he might feel and after find" the true God , " though he be not far from every one of us , " as

St . Paul said , when he found the Athenians " paying their devotions - To tho Unknown God . ' " There are , therefore , religions many and gods many . Tho Pagan relig ions are corrupt , debasing and destructive to the noblest aspirations of the human heart .

All the old heathen deities were defective in moral character . Venus ancl the Roman Jupiter may be cited as examples . The Egyptians , notwithstanding their refinement in the arts and sciences , were brute worshiopers , and

were beastly in moral character . The Northmen that came down upon the Roman Empire with such fury were worshippers of Hero-Kings , bloodthirsty aud cruel . Men are naturally assimilated to the moral likeness of the objects

they love , admire and worship . In this epitome of Pagan idolatry , we have the problem of the world ' s corruption solved . It is of the greatest consequence that man should have , for an object of worship , a God who is pure and holy , loving and kind to his children . But in the midst of the moral darkness of the Pa _? an

world there are some scintillations of li ght . It must bj conceded that some ancient philsophers , particularly Confucius and Cicero , did—doubtless from an innate consciousness of right and wrong—enunciate some sound

moral principles , but a false religion rendered them iuoparative upon the great mass of the people . It goes to show that frhey who are " without the law , " as St . Paul says , are not without the light of conscience , for tho

" Gentiles that do by nature the things contained in the law are a law unto themselves , their consciences also bearing witness , and their thoughts , the meanwhile , accusing or else excusing one another . " It further teaches us

that the heathen are not left to bs damned because they have not the written law , but rather , if they act up to the light they have , our Heavenly Father will not condemn

them . If those eld philosophers had been aided by the knowledge and worship of the true God , Christian civilization ere this would have encircled the entire globe . From time immemorial , Freemasons have been taught , * ____> J

in all their rites and ceremonies , to recognize God as the only proper object of supreme adoration , love and obedience . Hence , Freemasonry is not merely a " Moral Order , " as defined by a distinguished author , but a Moral and Relig ious Fraternit y , founded upon tho belief fin God as

The Masonic Religion Of Love.

the Supreme Architect and Ruler of the Universe , faith in natural and revealed religion , hope in immortality , brotherly love , and charity to all mankind . Morality and religion are so perfectly interwoven in this creed , that it completely covers the duties we owe to God aud our fellow man .

Morality and religion may have separate roots in the human mind , but they belong to the same trunk ; they may be made rivals , but they are natural allies . A morality that simpl y extends to dealing justly with our fellow men

is too frigid for a Fraternity founded upon love to God and man . Morality in its true acceptation is inseparable from relig ion . This statement is based upon Christian ethics .

When the Pharisees attempted to confound the Saviour with their questions , one of them , being a lay wer , said , " Master , which is the greatest commandment in the law ? Jesus said unto him , Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart , and with all thy soul , and with all thy

mind . This is the first and great commandment . Tho second is like unto it , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . On these two hang all the law and tho prophets . " Now mark the oneness of this divine law of love . The

second is " like " the first , or the counterpart of it . And " on these two hang all the law and the prophets ; " thafc is , all the specific laws " hang " there , like a cluster of priceless jewels suspended by a golden chain , the links of

which represent love to God and love to man . Wo therefore assume that sound morality can ouly proceed from pure reli g ion as an active conviction;—the love of God involves the love of our neighbour .

Madame De Stael has said , " If Christ had simply taught men to say , 'Our Father , ' he would have been the greatest benefactor of the race . " Yes , " Our Father "

is the tah ' smanic appellation that so transforms man ' s m . ral and religious nature as to bring him into haimony and communion with his Maker . Then" Eia passions hold a pleasing reign , And love drives his chariot wheels . "

The fathers of Freemasonry " builded " well , for they built that magnificent temple , from foundation to top stone , upon the two great , commandments of the Christian religion—The Roligiou of Love . They not only laid down

for our guide in practical life tin . " cardinal virtues of temperance , fortitude , prudence and justice , " tint th . Christian virtues of '' Faith , Hopo and Cnuritv , " connected with " Brotherl y Love , lielief aud Truth . "—

" lenets of a Mason ' s profession . The Masonic Brotherhood is not a substitute for , bnt the handmaid of , the invisible Church of the Living God ,

which is composed of all good men . It does not recognize , in matters of religion , any supreme authority but that , of the " King of Glory . " Tlmt other potentates are fallible ,

and at times have been wi-kedly . cruel , goes without saying . We are brothers , and pledge supreme all- * t { iai _ ce to the Holy one , " in whoui there is no gude . " He opens wiJe the " everlasting * doors , " and no man can shut them .

The Masonic Uuliginn ot Lo . e is bised upon tlie Bible , emph .-sising the "new commandment "—'' us I have loved you , that ye love one another . " All honour to tho Mother Gr-n * i Lodsr * . of Kncrland fur

the reconstruction of onr beaut .. ful temple ! Sho w'i * ou _ ralso . skilfully iu the quarries ot Truth thafc the stones wiiich she brought to it ** fitted with t-uch exact nicely" that no

metaphysical "axe or hammer" can improve ifc . Six hundred thousand Freemasons of America delight to do her honour . —jFYei'm ( . * ..... >> •' Repository .

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