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Article WELL PREPARED FOR GREAT WORK. ← Page 2 of 2 Article WELL PREPARED FOR GREAT WORK. Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Well Prepared For Great Work.
municates individuals . And all this summary of peculiar features I have named , not because they are now or novel here , but as tending to show the distinctive character of our Order , and how eminently worthy it is of onr high esteem and the respect of the world .
But I call attention to still higher features of onr Order . Lot the man Avho would view this old Institution in its
grandest character , and see the practical application of its principles , visits the schools , colleges , the AvidoAvs' and orphans' homes and hospitals , erected and maintained by it in Europe and America ! Let him estimate the vast
sums contributed voluntarily , by Masons as such , to sufferers by fire and flood and pestilence , from year to year , given gladly and with unstinted hand ! Let him sum up the aggregate value of tho relief and charity funds
held for disbursement by the Order , amounting in this country alone to hundreds of thousands of dollars , and , what is still better , let him go to the homes of want , of sickness and suffering , over the land , and behold the quiet
unquestioning work of relief and attention ever going on , and of which the world knows nothing , because done on that Christian and Masonic principle , " Let not the left hand know Avhat tho right hand doetb , that thine alms may
be in secret . " Here , again , we call the philanthropist to answer the question , Is not this Avorthly labour ? And here tho world may learn , if not elsewhere , one of the secrets of why Masonry has lived so long , Avhy it should
continue to live , and Avhy it is not only Avorthy of the respect of the world , but also why it receives tho attention and labours of hundreds of thousands of the Avisest , most enlightened and most noble men of our race .
Let us IIOAV turn to another view of our subject and see what sanction or approval all this may have received . It is indeed no idle boast , no empty delusion , that this grand old Order has numbered among its members many
of the most illustrious men of every age and land , scientists , poets , educators , scholars , heroes and statesmen , the friends of humanity , the workers for man ' s progress and happiness .
In our own country Avhat a splendid galaxy of illustrious names may we point to , among whom are Washington , Benjamin Franklin and many other signers of the Declaration , Warren and Putnam , and other Generals of the
Revolution , Chief Justice John Marshall , De Witfc Clinton , Jackson , Clay and Garfield , besides hosts of others in all the Avalks of science , literature , and human enterprise , and
many thousands of the Christian ministry of almost all the denominations , and Ave may feel proud that Ave are united by the mystic tie with such men , and co-workers Avith them .
And I cannot help remarking here hoAV hideously imbecile is tbe charge in the face of these great facts , that Masonry is anti-republican , that it is anti-Christian . And noAV , may the question be timely , Is there not much in all
this of special honour and distinction to every Mason ? May not every Mason be jnstly proud that he is a Mason , and love and honour his Order ? And every true Mason , whatever his station may be , does honour and love it . He
reveres it because of its venerable character , its dignity and stability . He loves it because of the lessons of Brotherly Love and toleration and Charity which it teaches . He honours it because of the great truths Avhich it has
preserved through centuries , and inculcates to-day . He respects it because of its lessons of peace and support of order and good government . He respects it because of the illustrious men in every age and country whose names are
associated Avith it . He loves it because of the strong bonds of unity , sympathy and mutual interest it establishes among men . He loves it because of its grand , systematic and ever-increasing ivork in the relief of human suffering . He
loves ifc because , to-day , as always in the past , it is in full sympathy Avith the labours and best aspirations of men in everything that relates to the progress , improvement and elevation of our race .
But , brethren , I must detain you a few minutes longer . This Institution of ours , as you all knoAV , notwithstanding its correct principles and laudable purposes , its unobtrusive and peaceful character , its far-reaching and harmonising
influences , has always , at least since the days of Samuel Pritchard , more than one hundred and fifty years ago , had its opponents ; and I am sorry to say , that as a rule its
opponents have not been fair or candid , and their statements of tbe character and purposes of the society have often been exceedingly false and mendacious . I may say that besides a number of candid and sincere
Well Prepared For Great Work.
persons who hold unfavourable opinions of our Order there are two extremes , representing wholly different and antagonistic ideas and purposes and methods which hate Freemasonry . Tho one is found in those high , powerful and
closely organised systems of despotism , tho real spirit and purposo of which would , under various prettneos , divs'S ; man of his right to speak , think and act , except in certain pre-arranged channels , and make him a slave , submissive
in body and soul , in life and labour , to a ruling few , in no way his superiors in natural right , intelligence or virtue , and Avhich is for ever promulgating principles , Avhich grew as fungi , in tho mental gloom of tho Avorld ' s night—the
dark ages . And the opposition and unjust denunciation from this source arises from the fact , partially , that Masonry teaches equality , toleration , fraternity , but more particularly because Masonry as an Institution is to-day one of tho
strongest bulwarks against despotirm in any and every form , aud an Institution which no despotism , in either Church or State , can control or use for its purposes . And the world , though ifc may not always havo known it , has always had great need for just such an Institution .
The other extreme which hates Masonry is represented mainly by certain sporadic and . ephemeral associations over the land , based on some one-idea principle , narrow-minded , and pursuing their hobbies Avith rancour , always fanatical ,
always vociferous , for ever crying , "Lord ! Lord ! " and under the livery of an assumed sanctity presuming to judge the world and all that therein is , from the elevation of an ant-hill . Both these extremes , Avith startling travesties of
the truth , and Avith arguments which in the light of facts apparent to all the world are a shame to the human understanding , belabour Masonry right and left . And , strange
as it may seem , these extremes hato each other as they hate Masonry , and more strangely still , Masonry takes no note of and cares nothing about either of them .
But , brethren , should we not after all be thankful for the remorsc ^ ss criticism , the unmerciful opposition to Avhich the Order has been subjected ? Ifc i 3 a well known fact that where the meetings of the opponents of Masonry have
been held to denounce or expose tho Order , as they claim , there the number of applicants for admission to the Order has generally increased ; and so patent is this fact , and so often observed , that AA'O can truly say our enemies do
indeed "build better than they know , " or intend . But this is the least benefit we receive from this opposition . Wo are taught thereby to observe more closely the teachirgs of
our Order , that we become not obnoxious to these objections ; over and above all , this opposition but serves to lay bare and expose to the world the grand , the everlasting foundations on which Freemasonry rests .
And now may I not say that the thought of our responsibility under God to our Order and to humanity , and the great trust in our keeping i 3 one of the greatest we can entertain , if Ave but fully realise its import . We must know
that our individual being is bound up with each other by tbe most sacred ties , and to the world around us , in tho force of example and tbe influences Ave exercise . And so
far as we are true to our Order and its high purposes , " we are Avarranted in looting upon ourselves as colabourers , though humble , indeed , Avith the Supremo Architect , the builder of all worlds . "
And I apprehend that Freemasonry , in all ifc 3 branches , has an immeasurably larger work to do in the future than it has had in the past , and there never was an era in its history when it was so well prepared for a great work . I
am no alarmist , nor would I proclaim danger when none is nigh , yet there are many sober , thoughtful men , men who closely observe the signs of the times , as well as certain sensationalists , Avho hold that it is very probable , a' least--,
that a great crisis of some kind in human affairs is not distaut . What may be tbe character or proport ous of such impending crisis we are not told Avifch much definiteness , but we may conjecture Avhat may , perhaps , b 3 one of
its features . We know from some very late developments , that despotisms of all kinds are growing uneasy , because they cannot live in the light , the progress and the national liberty of this nineteenth century . And these powers of
intolerance , self-aggrandisement and aibitrary rule aro preparing , it is thought , for some final conflict to retrieve the lost ground , or for the supremacy of the world . In
such a crisis Avhere would the members of this grand old Order be found , with their labours , influences and sympathies ? Might not the world then learn at least one ( Continued on p 27 . )
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Well Prepared For Great Work.
municates individuals . And all this summary of peculiar features I have named , not because they are now or novel here , but as tending to show the distinctive character of our Order , and how eminently worthy it is of onr high esteem and the respect of the world .
But I call attention to still higher features of onr Order . Lot the man Avho would view this old Institution in its
grandest character , and see the practical application of its principles , visits the schools , colleges , the AvidoAvs' and orphans' homes and hospitals , erected and maintained by it in Europe and America ! Let him estimate the vast
sums contributed voluntarily , by Masons as such , to sufferers by fire and flood and pestilence , from year to year , given gladly and with unstinted hand ! Let him sum up the aggregate value of tho relief and charity funds
held for disbursement by the Order , amounting in this country alone to hundreds of thousands of dollars , and , what is still better , let him go to the homes of want , of sickness and suffering , over the land , and behold the quiet
unquestioning work of relief and attention ever going on , and of which the world knows nothing , because done on that Christian and Masonic principle , " Let not the left hand know Avhat tho right hand doetb , that thine alms may
be in secret . " Here , again , we call the philanthropist to answer the question , Is not this Avorthly labour ? And here tho world may learn , if not elsewhere , one of the secrets of why Masonry has lived so long , Avhy it should
continue to live , and Avhy it is not only Avorthy of the respect of the world , but also why it receives tho attention and labours of hundreds of thousands of the Avisest , most enlightened and most noble men of our race .
Let us IIOAV turn to another view of our subject and see what sanction or approval all this may have received . It is indeed no idle boast , no empty delusion , that this grand old Order has numbered among its members many
of the most illustrious men of every age and land , scientists , poets , educators , scholars , heroes and statesmen , the friends of humanity , the workers for man ' s progress and happiness .
In our own country Avhat a splendid galaxy of illustrious names may we point to , among whom are Washington , Benjamin Franklin and many other signers of the Declaration , Warren and Putnam , and other Generals of the
Revolution , Chief Justice John Marshall , De Witfc Clinton , Jackson , Clay and Garfield , besides hosts of others in all the Avalks of science , literature , and human enterprise , and
many thousands of the Christian ministry of almost all the denominations , and Ave may feel proud that Ave are united by the mystic tie with such men , and co-workers Avith them .
And I cannot help remarking here hoAV hideously imbecile is tbe charge in the face of these great facts , that Masonry is anti-republican , that it is anti-Christian . And noAV , may the question be timely , Is there not much in all
this of special honour and distinction to every Mason ? May not every Mason be jnstly proud that he is a Mason , and love and honour his Order ? And every true Mason , whatever his station may be , does honour and love it . He
reveres it because of its venerable character , its dignity and stability . He loves it because of the lessons of Brotherly Love and toleration and Charity which it teaches . He honours it because of the great truths Avhich it has
preserved through centuries , and inculcates to-day . He respects it because of its lessons of peace and support of order and good government . He respects it because of the illustrious men in every age and country whose names are
associated Avith it . He loves it because of the strong bonds of unity , sympathy and mutual interest it establishes among men . He loves it because of its grand , systematic and ever-increasing ivork in the relief of human suffering . He
loves ifc because , to-day , as always in the past , it is in full sympathy Avith the labours and best aspirations of men in everything that relates to the progress , improvement and elevation of our race .
But , brethren , I must detain you a few minutes longer . This Institution of ours , as you all knoAV , notwithstanding its correct principles and laudable purposes , its unobtrusive and peaceful character , its far-reaching and harmonising
influences , has always , at least since the days of Samuel Pritchard , more than one hundred and fifty years ago , had its opponents ; and I am sorry to say , that as a rule its
opponents have not been fair or candid , and their statements of tbe character and purposes of the society have often been exceedingly false and mendacious . I may say that besides a number of candid and sincere
Well Prepared For Great Work.
persons who hold unfavourable opinions of our Order there are two extremes , representing wholly different and antagonistic ideas and purposes and methods which hate Freemasonry . Tho one is found in those high , powerful and
closely organised systems of despotism , tho real spirit and purposo of which would , under various prettneos , divs'S ; man of his right to speak , think and act , except in certain pre-arranged channels , and make him a slave , submissive
in body and soul , in life and labour , to a ruling few , in no way his superiors in natural right , intelligence or virtue , and Avhich is for ever promulgating principles , Avhich grew as fungi , in tho mental gloom of tho Avorld ' s night—the
dark ages . And the opposition and unjust denunciation from this source arises from the fact , partially , that Masonry teaches equality , toleration , fraternity , but more particularly because Masonry as an Institution is to-day one of tho
strongest bulwarks against despotirm in any and every form , aud an Institution which no despotism , in either Church or State , can control or use for its purposes . And the world , though ifc may not always havo known it , has always had great need for just such an Institution .
The other extreme which hates Masonry is represented mainly by certain sporadic and . ephemeral associations over the land , based on some one-idea principle , narrow-minded , and pursuing their hobbies Avith rancour , always fanatical ,
always vociferous , for ever crying , "Lord ! Lord ! " and under the livery of an assumed sanctity presuming to judge the world and all that therein is , from the elevation of an ant-hill . Both these extremes , Avith startling travesties of
the truth , and Avith arguments which in the light of facts apparent to all the world are a shame to the human understanding , belabour Masonry right and left . And , strange
as it may seem , these extremes hato each other as they hate Masonry , and more strangely still , Masonry takes no note of and cares nothing about either of them .
But , brethren , should we not after all be thankful for the remorsc ^ ss criticism , the unmerciful opposition to Avhich the Order has been subjected ? Ifc i 3 a well known fact that where the meetings of the opponents of Masonry have
been held to denounce or expose tho Order , as they claim , there the number of applicants for admission to the Order has generally increased ; and so patent is this fact , and so often observed , that AA'O can truly say our enemies do
indeed "build better than they know , " or intend . But this is the least benefit we receive from this opposition . Wo are taught thereby to observe more closely the teachirgs of
our Order , that we become not obnoxious to these objections ; over and above all , this opposition but serves to lay bare and expose to the world the grand , the everlasting foundations on which Freemasonry rests .
And now may I not say that the thought of our responsibility under God to our Order and to humanity , and the great trust in our keeping i 3 one of the greatest we can entertain , if Ave but fully realise its import . We must know
that our individual being is bound up with each other by tbe most sacred ties , and to the world around us , in tho force of example and tbe influences Ave exercise . And so
far as we are true to our Order and its high purposes , " we are Avarranted in looting upon ourselves as colabourers , though humble , indeed , Avith the Supremo Architect , the builder of all worlds . "
And I apprehend that Freemasonry , in all ifc 3 branches , has an immeasurably larger work to do in the future than it has had in the past , and there never was an era in its history when it was so well prepared for a great work . I
am no alarmist , nor would I proclaim danger when none is nigh , yet there are many sober , thoughtful men , men who closely observe the signs of the times , as well as certain sensationalists , Avho hold that it is very probable , a' least--,
that a great crisis of some kind in human affairs is not distaut . What may be tbe character or proport ous of such impending crisis we are not told Avifch much definiteness , but we may conjecture Avhat may , perhaps , b 3 one of
its features . We know from some very late developments , that despotisms of all kinds are growing uneasy , because they cannot live in the light , the progress and the national liberty of this nineteenth century . And these powers of
intolerance , self-aggrandisement and aibitrary rule aro preparing , it is thought , for some final conflict to retrieve the lost ground , or for the supremacy of the world . In
such a crisis Avhere would the members of this grand old Order be found , with their labours , influences and sympathies ? Might not the world then learn at least one ( Continued on p 27 . )