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Masonic Principles.
MASONIC PRINCIPLES .
An Address by Eev . W . D . Patlon , to Advance Lodge , No . 114 , F . and A . M ., at Florence , Kansas , 30 th December lb 87 , aud published in , "The Herald" 7 th January 18 S 8 .
WHILE tho hoary years oi antiquity mark the ripened maturity of the Brotherhood of Masonry , theso unnumbered years also mark its material strength and moral power . The foundation rock upon which Freemasonry has built
during the ages is an open acknowledgment of the one living and true God , an open avowal of man ' s personal responsibility to God , and his dependence upon Him . " As Masons we aro taught , " says one , " never to
commence any great or important undertaking without first invoking the blessing of Deity . " The Holy Bible is acknowledged as the " greafc light" of Masonry , as "the corner-stone upon which Masonry has been erected , the
centre from which the radiating lines of principle diverge . " Resting upon this grand foundation principle it combines in its charter "that charity which has been justly described as the chief of all the social virtues . " As one
says , " The Brethren are enjoined ever to bear in mind and acfc upon fche dictates of brotherly love , relief , and truth , the first rendering us affectionate , the second generous , the third just . And again we are enjoined , as Masons , to ever
remember thafc the great objects of our association are the restraint of improper desires and passions , the cultivation of an active benevolence , and the promotion of a correct knowledge of the duties we owe to God , our neighbour and ourselves . "
With my understanding of fche principles of Freemasonry , as laid down in the great charter of our Ancient Order , I can say with the Rev . T . M . Harris , a distinguished divine
of this country , that " its laws are reason and equity ; its principles , benevolence and love ; its religion , purity aud truth ; its intention , peace on earth ; and its disposition , good will toward men . "
The Rev . Chas . Brockwell , a minister of the church of England , in a sermon preached before the Grand Lodge more than a century back , said , " I have had the honour of being a member of the ancient and honourable society for
many years , have sustained many of its offices , and can and do own in this sacred place , and before the Grand Architect of the Universe , that I never could observe aught therein but what was justifiable and commendable ,
according to the strictest rules of society ; this being founded on the precepts of the Gospel , the doing the will of God , and subduing passions , and highly conducing to every sacred and social virtue . "
The Rev . Dr . Milne , Grand Chaplain , in a sermon before the Grand Lodge of England , in 1788 , says , "I think we are warranted in contending that a society thus constituted , and which may be rendered so admirable an engine of improvement , far from meriting any reproach or
contumelious treatment deserves highly of the community . "
Washington , a worthy Brother Mason , and a noble Christian man , living a conscientious Christian life , says , " That a just application of the principles on which the Masonic Fraternity is founded must be promotive of
private virtue and public prosperity ; and it is most fervently to be wished thafc the conduct of every member of the Fraternity , as well as those publications that discover
fche principles which actuate them , may tend to convince mankind that the grand object of Masonry is to promote the happiness of the human race . "
The fact is , as every Brother Mason knows , that the Holy Bible is the great chart book by which every member of this Ancient Fraternity is to square his life and actions , the rule by which his passions are to be circumscribed
and restrained within the limits of virtue and Christian propriety . The gospel law of temperance and sobriety is the law binding every Brother Mason , whether he lives worthy of his sacred obligation or proves recreant to his solemn vows .
Upon the open pages of the Bible , with its sacred precepts facing us , we have taken solemn obligations which bind us to its blesaed teachings , which unite us in the
sacred ties of friendship , love and truth , aud which ouo-nb to eiuvaie and ennoble uur lives . 1 say these things , not for your information , brethren , bufc because they are true ,
and we should bear witness to the truth , both by remem
Masonic Principles.
bering and living it ; and I say them also because I wish all to know that these are our charter principles . I havo quoted the words of others at some length , thafc all may know that good men , that Christian men of the
past , and Christian men of the present , regard our Institution as in entire harmony with the teachings of God ' s Word ; and I would add just here , that it is only reasonable and fair fco accord honesty to men who havo shown by
their lives that they aro true , honest Christian men ; also that it is only the part of Christian honesty to take the testimony of conscientious Christian men when they testify to the principles of our Fraternity .
We do not claim that Masonry is religion , but we do claim that no Atheist can be a Mason ; and we claim also thafc the tenets of Masonry are in full accord with the moral law of God as promulgated on Mount Sinai , and
with the tenets of Christianity as laid down by the Master
Himself ; and we would say still farther , and say it to every member of the Fraternity , as well as to the world , fchafc the most conscientious Christian Mason is the best pattern and example of Masonry .
If a Brother Mason fails to live a life of integrity ,
honesty , virtue and temperance , he fails to live a true Mason ; he does violence to the principles he has espoused , and is unworthy of the name he bears .
If a Brother Mason lives a life of intemperance , licentiousness , profligacy , or immorality , he subjects himself to censure of suspension or even expulsion from the Brotherhood .
Let us nofc forget thafc we are exhorted to maintain " a virtuous and amiable conduct , unfeigned piety to God , and an inflexible fidelity to our trust . " And let us not forget that we are charged , and bound by duty , honour ,
and gratitude , to be faithful to our trust , to support the dignity of our character on every occasion ; and by the regularity of our behaviour afford the best example for fche conduct of others . We feel at liberty to urge upon every
brother , not only to maintain a deportment worthy of the grand moral principles which characterize Freemasonry , bufc also to accept by a living faith the teachings of those Scriptures which we esteem as our grand Magna Oharta .
lo do this is consistent . In the language of one who understands well the spirit of our Institution and the principles upon which ifc rests , I would say , "The spirit of Masonry is humble ; ifc boasts not against the church , and
its asylum does not seek to rival the glory of that temple whose foundations are the apostles and prophets , and whose corner-stone is Christ himself . Catching the spirit of its earlier faith , and gemming its banner with the symbols of
truth , it would move down through the ages in the service of the church . " "All it knows of truth ancl duty , of God , and of man ' s destiny , " says a writer , " it has learned by faith from the Scripture , that inestimable gift of God to
man . Without the arrogance of philosophy , without the boast of inspiration , without undue pride even in its own traditions , it proclaims to the world that all its light is
borrowed from the Christian ' s Bible . Masonry acknowledges its sublime precepts as the unerring truth of God , accepts its tenets as the only infallible rule of conduct , and
professes that it teaches all men how to live in this life , and ensures to all who follow ifcs teachings an inheritance in the kingdom which was before the foundation of the world . " One of the mosfc prominent tenets of Masonry is that
Christian charity which Paul so strongly urges upon us , saying , "Above all things put on charity , which is the bond of perfectness . " We are fco maintain this broad , farreaching charity towards the Brotherhood of mankind ; we
are to strive for their uplifting , to sympathize with , and help one another as we journey together , common heirs to an inheritance of suffering , affliction , bereavement and sorrow ; and in a special manner are we to administer relief and comfort to the distressed and needy , to the widow and
orphan of those who are united in the fraternal bonds and fellowship of our- Ancient Order . And surely this is neither selfish nor narrow in any true sense . The most that can be said of it is that it is limited and specific in its distributing to the necessities of those of its own
household . And as to this specific charity toward those who have specific claims upon it , because of the sacred bonds of fraternal relationship the gratitude of the widow , aud the orphan , the sick and the afflicted , the needy and the distressed , answer back from every clime and from every age , they answer with tears of grateful acknowledgment
for the helping hand , the timely relief , the sympathizing
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Principles.
MASONIC PRINCIPLES .
An Address by Eev . W . D . Patlon , to Advance Lodge , No . 114 , F . and A . M ., at Florence , Kansas , 30 th December lb 87 , aud published in , "The Herald" 7 th January 18 S 8 .
WHILE tho hoary years oi antiquity mark the ripened maturity of the Brotherhood of Masonry , theso unnumbered years also mark its material strength and moral power . The foundation rock upon which Freemasonry has built
during the ages is an open acknowledgment of the one living and true God , an open avowal of man ' s personal responsibility to God , and his dependence upon Him . " As Masons we aro taught , " says one , " never to
commence any great or important undertaking without first invoking the blessing of Deity . " The Holy Bible is acknowledged as the " greafc light" of Masonry , as "the corner-stone upon which Masonry has been erected , the
centre from which the radiating lines of principle diverge . " Resting upon this grand foundation principle it combines in its charter "that charity which has been justly described as the chief of all the social virtues . " As one
says , " The Brethren are enjoined ever to bear in mind and acfc upon fche dictates of brotherly love , relief , and truth , the first rendering us affectionate , the second generous , the third just . And again we are enjoined , as Masons , to ever
remember thafc the great objects of our association are the restraint of improper desires and passions , the cultivation of an active benevolence , and the promotion of a correct knowledge of the duties we owe to God , our neighbour and ourselves . "
With my understanding of fche principles of Freemasonry , as laid down in the great charter of our Ancient Order , I can say with the Rev . T . M . Harris , a distinguished divine
of this country , that " its laws are reason and equity ; its principles , benevolence and love ; its religion , purity aud truth ; its intention , peace on earth ; and its disposition , good will toward men . "
The Rev . Chas . Brockwell , a minister of the church of England , in a sermon preached before the Grand Lodge more than a century back , said , " I have had the honour of being a member of the ancient and honourable society for
many years , have sustained many of its offices , and can and do own in this sacred place , and before the Grand Architect of the Universe , that I never could observe aught therein but what was justifiable and commendable ,
according to the strictest rules of society ; this being founded on the precepts of the Gospel , the doing the will of God , and subduing passions , and highly conducing to every sacred and social virtue . "
The Rev . Dr . Milne , Grand Chaplain , in a sermon before the Grand Lodge of England , in 1788 , says , "I think we are warranted in contending that a society thus constituted , and which may be rendered so admirable an engine of improvement , far from meriting any reproach or
contumelious treatment deserves highly of the community . "
Washington , a worthy Brother Mason , and a noble Christian man , living a conscientious Christian life , says , " That a just application of the principles on which the Masonic Fraternity is founded must be promotive of
private virtue and public prosperity ; and it is most fervently to be wished thafc the conduct of every member of the Fraternity , as well as those publications that discover
fche principles which actuate them , may tend to convince mankind that the grand object of Masonry is to promote the happiness of the human race . "
The fact is , as every Brother Mason knows , that the Holy Bible is the great chart book by which every member of this Ancient Fraternity is to square his life and actions , the rule by which his passions are to be circumscribed
and restrained within the limits of virtue and Christian propriety . The gospel law of temperance and sobriety is the law binding every Brother Mason , whether he lives worthy of his sacred obligation or proves recreant to his solemn vows .
Upon the open pages of the Bible , with its sacred precepts facing us , we have taken solemn obligations which bind us to its blesaed teachings , which unite us in the
sacred ties of friendship , love and truth , aud which ouo-nb to eiuvaie and ennoble uur lives . 1 say these things , not for your information , brethren , bufc because they are true ,
and we should bear witness to the truth , both by remem
Masonic Principles.
bering and living it ; and I say them also because I wish all to know that these are our charter principles . I havo quoted the words of others at some length , thafc all may know that good men , that Christian men of the
past , and Christian men of the present , regard our Institution as in entire harmony with the teachings of God ' s Word ; and I would add just here , that it is only reasonable and fair fco accord honesty to men who havo shown by
their lives that they aro true , honest Christian men ; also that it is only the part of Christian honesty to take the testimony of conscientious Christian men when they testify to the principles of our Fraternity .
We do not claim that Masonry is religion , but we do claim that no Atheist can be a Mason ; and we claim also thafc the tenets of Masonry are in full accord with the moral law of God as promulgated on Mount Sinai , and
with the tenets of Christianity as laid down by the Master
Himself ; and we would say still farther , and say it to every member of the Fraternity , as well as to the world , fchafc the most conscientious Christian Mason is the best pattern and example of Masonry .
If a Brother Mason fails to live a life of integrity ,
honesty , virtue and temperance , he fails to live a true Mason ; he does violence to the principles he has espoused , and is unworthy of the name he bears .
If a Brother Mason lives a life of intemperance , licentiousness , profligacy , or immorality , he subjects himself to censure of suspension or even expulsion from the Brotherhood .
Let us nofc forget thafc we are exhorted to maintain " a virtuous and amiable conduct , unfeigned piety to God , and an inflexible fidelity to our trust . " And let us not forget that we are charged , and bound by duty , honour ,
and gratitude , to be faithful to our trust , to support the dignity of our character on every occasion ; and by the regularity of our behaviour afford the best example for fche conduct of others . We feel at liberty to urge upon every
brother , not only to maintain a deportment worthy of the grand moral principles which characterize Freemasonry , bufc also to accept by a living faith the teachings of those Scriptures which we esteem as our grand Magna Oharta .
lo do this is consistent . In the language of one who understands well the spirit of our Institution and the principles upon which ifc rests , I would say , "The spirit of Masonry is humble ; ifc boasts not against the church , and
its asylum does not seek to rival the glory of that temple whose foundations are the apostles and prophets , and whose corner-stone is Christ himself . Catching the spirit of its earlier faith , and gemming its banner with the symbols of
truth , it would move down through the ages in the service of the church . " "All it knows of truth ancl duty , of God , and of man ' s destiny , " says a writer , " it has learned by faith from the Scripture , that inestimable gift of God to
man . Without the arrogance of philosophy , without the boast of inspiration , without undue pride even in its own traditions , it proclaims to the world that all its light is
borrowed from the Christian ' s Bible . Masonry acknowledges its sublime precepts as the unerring truth of God , accepts its tenets as the only infallible rule of conduct , and
professes that it teaches all men how to live in this life , and ensures to all who follow ifcs teachings an inheritance in the kingdom which was before the foundation of the world . " One of the mosfc prominent tenets of Masonry is that
Christian charity which Paul so strongly urges upon us , saying , "Above all things put on charity , which is the bond of perfectness . " We are fco maintain this broad , farreaching charity towards the Brotherhood of mankind ; we
are to strive for their uplifting , to sympathize with , and help one another as we journey together , common heirs to an inheritance of suffering , affliction , bereavement and sorrow ; and in a special manner are we to administer relief and comfort to the distressed and needy , to the widow and
orphan of those who are united in the fraternal bonds and fellowship of our- Ancient Order . And surely this is neither selfish nor narrow in any true sense . The most that can be said of it is that it is limited and specific in its distributing to the necessities of those of its own
household . And as to this specific charity toward those who have specific claims upon it , because of the sacred bonds of fraternal relationship the gratitude of the widow , aud the orphan , the sick and the afflicted , the needy and the distressed , answer back from every clime and from every age , they answer with tears of grateful acknowledgment
for the helping hand , the timely relief , the sympathizing