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Article MASONRY IN THE FOREGROUND. ← Page 2 of 4 Article MASONRY IN THE FOREGROUND. Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry In The Foreground.
the creation nofc only of this earthly sphere , bnt of the millions of other -worlds , which , stationed in thoir proper places by the All Power ! ul hand , comprise the boundless , -indefinable , unlimited domain designated as the heavens ; and , pausing in contemplation of his handiwork , taking as
it were a final survey before starting in motion the stupendous machinery , whicb , through all time , must continue its coarse , He finds one thing lacking . The one essential element , which , during the cycles of years to follow , shall give life , joy , and happiness to all forms of
vegetable and animal life , has not yefc appeared . " Darkness was upon fche face of the deep . " And God said , " Let there he light , ' and there was light . And God created man in His own image . " Linger with me once more , and consider the glory and
sublimity of thafc first sunrise . " The spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters . " You have stood upon the seashore and watched fche first rays of dawn as fchey come stealing through the darkness , silently , almost imperceptibly , like a greafc spirit , vanishing the night ; shades
with their very breath ; faster and faster they come , clearly and more clearly they appear , causing the darkness fco recede , whither you know not , until , almost nnawares , you stand in the full gray dawn , a human being , an individual thing , distinguished from surrounding objects ,
discerning and discerned , you fill a defined space where , but a few moments ago , yon stood unseeing and unseen , wrapped in the loneliness of fche sheet of surrounding darkness . And now the sun's first ray sends forth its gleam into the dawn ; another , and still another , faster and faster
brighter and brighter , and now the glorious orb of day stands full and round before you , and as he shoots his piercing rays upon the billows , each sparkling drop , with its rainbow hues dancing in the sunlight , murmars , " God is good . "
Then , turning from the boundless deep , casting yonr eyes npon the landscape , you see the dew upon the grass , the foliage upon the trees , the little flowers at your feet , the plants and herbs , smiling in the sunlight , send forth their fragrant odours as an offering of gratitude to the
Great Giver for his continued blessings . The beasts of the field , starting from their lairs , snuff the invigorating air , and gladly turn their faces to the full glare of the morning sun 5 the birds , flitting from tree to tree , carol their songs of welcome to their friend and benefactor ; all nature seems refreshed and rejoicing in the glory of the new born day .
Who among you can witness snch scenes , although from infancy you may have experienced its almost dail y repetition , without awakening within you a sense of gratitude to the Great Giver , that he has endowed you with faculties for the enjoyment of these beautiful surroundings ?
What , then , mnst have been the emotions of onr first parent as he stood in the Garden of Eden , in the prime and vigour of manhood , and the full possession of all bis faculties , on that first morning when God said , " Let there bo light , " and saw tho great floods of sunlight making
the earth rejoice ; and as he stood , mute with awe afc the splendour of the scene thus spread before him , and heard the voice of the Creator at his side , speaking to him through the very joyousness of his soul , saying : "All these things have I given thee for an inheritance , " he bows his head in reverence , and exclaims : —
Oh , Thou Eternal Ooo ! whose presence bright AU space doth occupy , all motion gnide—Thou only God—there is no God beside ( Thou art . ! directing , guiding all—Thon art ! Direct my understanding , then , to Thee ,
Control my spirit , guide my wandering heart , Tho' bufc an atom ' midst immensity , Still I am something , fashioned by Thy hand Though worthless my conceptions all of Thee ,
Yet shall Thy shadowed imago fill my breast , And waft its homage to Thy Deity . And when the tongue is eloquent no more , The sou ! shall speak in tears of gratitude . "
Methinks no other earthly moment can ever be so replete with happiness as that creation morn , And we wonder not that the desiro for light , God ' s first revelation f o man , stands over uppermost in our hearts , and is esteemed the one great gift most essential to earthly happiness . The 1 miwK or ot tlie its
^( " intelligence mran t m mother s arms is the recognition of light , the dread of darkness . The greatest punishment that can be inflicted on the strong man is to deprive him of light , and the darkness of tho dungeon will break the rebellious spirit callons to every other sense of degradation or pain . The aged and decrepid
Masonry In The Foreground.
waiting the summons calling them to the other shore , abiding the time
" When Nature has paid her last debt , And earth claims her tendings again , When soul has no more a regret ,
And body no longer a pain , " cling with childlike pertinacity to the shades of declining day , and find their greatest comfort basking iu tho rays cf the morning sun .
The first , the constant , the last prayer of fche human soul is an appeal for light . True to humanity , the first emotion in the heart of the candidate for Masonry , after kneeling at the altar and taking upon himself the vows and obligations of an Entered Apprentice , realising that from thenceforth a
new life is opened before him , that whatever may have beeu his past history , his motives and aims for the future are to bo directed in the lifting of himself and his fellow men to higher planes of social and moral rectitude , and
contemplating in a moment the responsibilities of this new life , is a prayer for light . Light , that he may discover the proper boundaries of his mission and continue with earnest endeavour to so shed the
rays of his higher and broader knowledge into the pathways of his daily life , that his fellow men may be made better and wiser by his walk , precept and example ; that he may be enabled to so direct his words and actions that his life may indeed
Write words of comfort and consolation , sentences of wisdom and volumes of peace , usefulness and happiness for those with whom he associates ;
Indite lessons of the power and goodness of the Great Creator by the silent example which His correct moral walk and deportment continually exhibit in the avocation of his life ;
Imprint , upon the hearts of the yonng , the fact that the road to happiness is found only in the improvement of the manifold blessings which daily strew our path ; Paint , in pictures whose import cannot be mistaken , tho lesson that we are placed in this world for a purpose ,
that fields of usefulness are opening to us on every hand , and that he who neglects to choose one of the fields and vigorously employ his life in the ennoblement of his fellow men , is a disgrace to society at large , and unworthy tho name of man :
Stamp , by the devotion of his lifo in the interest of justice and truth , upon the minds of those uninformed , the impression thafc the principles taught by our institution and inculcated by our Order , silently but unmistakably lead
men to higher ancl nobler lives , and bind us together into a common band of brothers , seeking only the best good for ourselves and our fellowmen ; Stain no part of the symmetry of his lifo by an unkind word , an evil thonght , or an unjust deed ;
Cut from his pathway all the snares , the vices , and immoralities which clinging to his daily walk and conversation , would obstruct the unclouded view of a pure and blameless life to which he should ever point ;
Oarve , with the intellect with which he has been endowed , bright designs upon the trestleboard of life , leaving for those who follow in his footsteps , rich pictures
of the various pathways , all leading to our common goal , and urging them ever onward to more earnest endeavours , and more zealous work for the pleasure of the Master aud the proiit of the Craft ;
Hew to the line of rectitude and truth , swerving neither to the right nor to the left , bearing constantly in mind that he who fails to tenderly remind a brother of his faults , and direct bis footsteps in the paths of uprightness , is derelict in duty , untrue to his vows , and neglectful of what is at once the highest duty and privilege of our Order ;
Marh well the distinction between esteem of self and love of brother , the dividing line between doty and vanity , the difference between the thirst for glory and the laudable desire to fulfil the purpose of his lifo in the accomplishment of good and noble deeds ;
Engrave npon the memory of those who shall remain , when the Grand Architect of the Universe shall aummou
him from his labours here below , to eternal refreshment in the celestial Lodgo above , such lessons of the beauty qnd excellence of his lifo , that thoy too may be drawn into onr groat brotherhood , and being led in tbo ways of wisdom ,
may in their tnrn so portray the beauties of Masonry , that the principles of the Craft may be more firmly established ai . d tlie world at large convinced of their good effect ; That tho twenty-four inch gauge may be F . O applied in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry In The Foreground.
the creation nofc only of this earthly sphere , bnt of the millions of other -worlds , which , stationed in thoir proper places by the All Power ! ul hand , comprise the boundless , -indefinable , unlimited domain designated as the heavens ; and , pausing in contemplation of his handiwork , taking as
it were a final survey before starting in motion the stupendous machinery , whicb , through all time , must continue its coarse , He finds one thing lacking . The one essential element , which , during the cycles of years to follow , shall give life , joy , and happiness to all forms of
vegetable and animal life , has not yefc appeared . " Darkness was upon fche face of the deep . " And God said , " Let there he light , ' and there was light . And God created man in His own image . " Linger with me once more , and consider the glory and
sublimity of thafc first sunrise . " The spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters . " You have stood upon the seashore and watched fche first rays of dawn as fchey come stealing through the darkness , silently , almost imperceptibly , like a greafc spirit , vanishing the night ; shades
with their very breath ; faster and faster they come , clearly and more clearly they appear , causing the darkness fco recede , whither you know not , until , almost nnawares , you stand in the full gray dawn , a human being , an individual thing , distinguished from surrounding objects ,
discerning and discerned , you fill a defined space where , but a few moments ago , yon stood unseeing and unseen , wrapped in the loneliness of fche sheet of surrounding darkness . And now the sun's first ray sends forth its gleam into the dawn ; another , and still another , faster and faster
brighter and brighter , and now the glorious orb of day stands full and round before you , and as he shoots his piercing rays upon the billows , each sparkling drop , with its rainbow hues dancing in the sunlight , murmars , " God is good . "
Then , turning from the boundless deep , casting yonr eyes npon the landscape , you see the dew upon the grass , the foliage upon the trees , the little flowers at your feet , the plants and herbs , smiling in the sunlight , send forth their fragrant odours as an offering of gratitude to the
Great Giver for his continued blessings . The beasts of the field , starting from their lairs , snuff the invigorating air , and gladly turn their faces to the full glare of the morning sun 5 the birds , flitting from tree to tree , carol their songs of welcome to their friend and benefactor ; all nature seems refreshed and rejoicing in the glory of the new born day .
Who among you can witness snch scenes , although from infancy you may have experienced its almost dail y repetition , without awakening within you a sense of gratitude to the Great Giver , that he has endowed you with faculties for the enjoyment of these beautiful surroundings ?
What , then , mnst have been the emotions of onr first parent as he stood in the Garden of Eden , in the prime and vigour of manhood , and the full possession of all bis faculties , on that first morning when God said , " Let there bo light , " and saw tho great floods of sunlight making
the earth rejoice ; and as he stood , mute with awe afc the splendour of the scene thus spread before him , and heard the voice of the Creator at his side , speaking to him through the very joyousness of his soul , saying : "All these things have I given thee for an inheritance , " he bows his head in reverence , and exclaims : —
Oh , Thou Eternal Ooo ! whose presence bright AU space doth occupy , all motion gnide—Thou only God—there is no God beside ( Thou art . ! directing , guiding all—Thon art ! Direct my understanding , then , to Thee ,
Control my spirit , guide my wandering heart , Tho' bufc an atom ' midst immensity , Still I am something , fashioned by Thy hand Though worthless my conceptions all of Thee ,
Yet shall Thy shadowed imago fill my breast , And waft its homage to Thy Deity . And when the tongue is eloquent no more , The sou ! shall speak in tears of gratitude . "
Methinks no other earthly moment can ever be so replete with happiness as that creation morn , And we wonder not that the desiro for light , God ' s first revelation f o man , stands over uppermost in our hearts , and is esteemed the one great gift most essential to earthly happiness . The 1 miwK or ot tlie its
^( " intelligence mran t m mother s arms is the recognition of light , the dread of darkness . The greatest punishment that can be inflicted on the strong man is to deprive him of light , and the darkness of tho dungeon will break the rebellious spirit callons to every other sense of degradation or pain . The aged and decrepid
Masonry In The Foreground.
waiting the summons calling them to the other shore , abiding the time
" When Nature has paid her last debt , And earth claims her tendings again , When soul has no more a regret ,
And body no longer a pain , " cling with childlike pertinacity to the shades of declining day , and find their greatest comfort basking iu tho rays cf the morning sun .
The first , the constant , the last prayer of fche human soul is an appeal for light . True to humanity , the first emotion in the heart of the candidate for Masonry , after kneeling at the altar and taking upon himself the vows and obligations of an Entered Apprentice , realising that from thenceforth a
new life is opened before him , that whatever may have beeu his past history , his motives and aims for the future are to bo directed in the lifting of himself and his fellow men to higher planes of social and moral rectitude , and
contemplating in a moment the responsibilities of this new life , is a prayer for light . Light , that he may discover the proper boundaries of his mission and continue with earnest endeavour to so shed the
rays of his higher and broader knowledge into the pathways of his daily life , that his fellow men may be made better and wiser by his walk , precept and example ; that he may be enabled to so direct his words and actions that his life may indeed
Write words of comfort and consolation , sentences of wisdom and volumes of peace , usefulness and happiness for those with whom he associates ;
Indite lessons of the power and goodness of the Great Creator by the silent example which His correct moral walk and deportment continually exhibit in the avocation of his life ;
Imprint , upon the hearts of the yonng , the fact that the road to happiness is found only in the improvement of the manifold blessings which daily strew our path ; Paint , in pictures whose import cannot be mistaken , tho lesson that we are placed in this world for a purpose ,
that fields of usefulness are opening to us on every hand , and that he who neglects to choose one of the fields and vigorously employ his life in the ennoblement of his fellow men , is a disgrace to society at large , and unworthy tho name of man :
Stamp , by the devotion of his lifo in the interest of justice and truth , upon the minds of those uninformed , the impression thafc the principles taught by our institution and inculcated by our Order , silently but unmistakably lead
men to higher ancl nobler lives , and bind us together into a common band of brothers , seeking only the best good for ourselves and our fellowmen ; Stain no part of the symmetry of his lifo by an unkind word , an evil thonght , or an unjust deed ;
Cut from his pathway all the snares , the vices , and immoralities which clinging to his daily walk and conversation , would obstruct the unclouded view of a pure and blameless life to which he should ever point ;
Oarve , with the intellect with which he has been endowed , bright designs upon the trestleboard of life , leaving for those who follow in his footsteps , rich pictures
of the various pathways , all leading to our common goal , and urging them ever onward to more earnest endeavours , and more zealous work for the pleasure of the Master aud the proiit of the Craft ;
Hew to the line of rectitude and truth , swerving neither to the right nor to the left , bearing constantly in mind that he who fails to tenderly remind a brother of his faults , and direct bis footsteps in the paths of uprightness , is derelict in duty , untrue to his vows , and neglectful of what is at once the highest duty and privilege of our Order ;
Marh well the distinction between esteem of self and love of brother , the dividing line between doty and vanity , the difference between the thirst for glory and the laudable desire to fulfil the purpose of his lifo in the accomplishment of good and noble deeds ;
Engrave npon the memory of those who shall remain , when the Grand Architect of the Universe shall aummou
him from his labours here below , to eternal refreshment in the celestial Lodgo above , such lessons of the beauty qnd excellence of his lifo , that thoy too may be drawn into onr groat brotherhood , and being led in tbo ways of wisdom ,
may in their tnrn so portray the beauties of Masonry , that the principles of the Craft may be more firmly established ai . d tlie world at large convinced of their good effect ; That tho twenty-four inch gauge may be F . O applied in