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Article WHAT MASONRY HAS BEEN AND IS. ← Page 2 of 3 Article WHAT MASONRY HAS BEEN AND IS. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
What Masonry Has Been And Is.
place , into which they have continued going until they have spread elsewhere over all the earth . But , after thousands of years are passed , the thought of the world is turned again as never before since the days of the lowly Nazarene , to the land of the Patriarch , Prophet and Christian , because of the supplicating
cry to God from the widow and fartherless Armenians , to deliver them from the merciless persecutions of their idolatrous rulers and enemies . The Masonic heart has a special attachment to that land , where God has wrought such wondrous works ; that home of marvelous events , which have been symbolized in a way
to impress upon the mind in the most solemn manner the goodness , mercy aud glory of our God , unto whom all Masons most humbly and reverently bow . We pause for a retrospective view of that country , once the scene of so much glory , which has become but a miserable skeleton of its former greatness , because of so much guilt and Moslem persecution .
Contemporaneously with the reign of Darius , and the rebuilding of the temple by the liberated captives , there was a civilisation growing up to the westward , with Athens as its centre , that in its achievements in the arts and sciences has perhaps no parallel in the history of the world , in which those principles or
elements characteristic of Masonry exerted a most important influence . History affirms the existence of societies maintained in concealment , for the purpose of instruction in moral and scientific philosophy , wherein secrecy seems to have been necessary because of polytheistic antagonisms , that were
prohibitive of any other course , enabling men to prove their moral and scientific capacity to travel and obtain the requisite wages for an honourable support for themselves and their families . Pythagoras was the founder of one of those secret societies that became very successful in its promotion of a knowledge of the
arts , for which his enemies charged him with leading men into the mummeries of Freemasonry , which would indicate that they were then known by the name the society bears to-day . He tried to advance his own political fortunes by converting it into a political institution . This failed , and its members spread
elsewhere after its dissolution . I cannot refrain from expressing the opinion that such a perversion of the purposes of Masonry of to-day would result in the speedy dissolution of the society that may attempt a departure from the landmarks erected for our guidance .
During the reign of Pericles these orders for secret instruction in the moral and mechanic arts probably achieved their greatest success . Previous to this , the Doric was the only distinct style of architecture . The Ionic and Corinthian were evolved in the regular order of an increasing skill to devise and ingenuity to
construct , resulting from the training of masters in the various requirements of the builder ' s art . Athens became the wonder of the world for perfect beauty of invention and architectural construction , which has probably never since been excelled . But the blighting curse of a personal and Godless ambition devastated and ruined that centre of learning .
The overthrow of Ancient Tyre , the founding of the city of Alexandria upon the southern shore of the Mediterranean , and the conquest of Persia by the Greeks under the command of Alexander , proved equally as destructive to the conquering nation as to the conquered , and Athens became remembered only for what it had been . The societies of artisans and builders were
not destroyed . While the world was suffering from the sins of an Alexander , it was also enjoying the blessing of a Socrates , Plato , Aristotle , and other eminent teachers , who were fitting men for the responsibilities of life . Through the political vicissitudes of this period Alexandria became the centre of power
and influence . Here the system of exclusive instruction in the arts and sciences again prevailed , and Alexandria became the architectural pride of her people . During this advance in political thought , the idea was matured of erecting a building for a library that should become the receptacle of the products of
literature and the arts , of which seven hundred thousand volumes , charts and diagrams were gathered . But the political wheel of fortune elevates the Calif Omar , and Alexandria succumbs to his power . At the time of its final subjugation and destruction , under this Moslem potentate , the commanding officer asks , What shall be the fate of the library ? The answer comes back
from the Calif : If it be confirmatory of the Koran , it is superfluous ; if not , it is pernicious ; let it be burned . The writings of Euclid and the records of discoveries in the various sciences during proceeding centuries , were lost , and mankind was left to do again the work which others had so nobly done . What would we not give for a knowledge of the philosophical and scientific records they destroyed !
During the reign of the Caesars the centre of power and political influence was transferred from Alexandria to Eome . Through all the profligacy of these times , we have record of the presence of the eminent defenders of the Mosaic law . Though forced into secrecy and silence , they continued to stand in defence of the Scriptural faith , that an innocent life , and an unfaltering trust in the Supreme Euler of the Universe , are the
What Masonry Has Been And Is.
first and highest duties of man . Thus we have entered upon a period of history wherein we stand amazed at the apparent brilliance and glory of its political conceptions and executions , only to realise that we have entered the moral and intellectual night of a thousand years' duration , in which the spirit of true
love toward God and a fraternal fellowship with man was forced into the oblivion of secrecy and silence to await fche dawning of a morning when the reign of a dogmatic and tyrannising theology over the domain of thought might be dispelled , and Truth , Liberty and Fraternity become re-established as the noblest heritage of man .
Long and fierce was the conflict between the political rulers , striving to make theology a handmaiden to politics , while every bishop was secretly plotting to make politics subservient to the Church . The priesthood gained such power and influence that ib assumed exclusive rights as the custodians and dispensers of
knowledge among the people . Societies for the promotion of the moral and mechanic arts were broken up and dispersed wherever they were discovered , and through all the realm every manuscript that could be seized was either confiscated or destroyed ; private libraries and collections were burned by their possessors for fear
of losing life if any were found with them . There it stands in the world ' s history , as a beacon light of warning to succeeding generations , as the time and place where government having no regard for standards of universal law went down , let us hope , utterly and for ever .
That Masonry had an existence during all these years no longer admits of a doubt . There were societies maintaining a stedfast adherence to bhe first enunciated principles of fraternity and devotion to law in their goverment , from the society of artificers that furnished the architect for the first great Masonic
temple , to those offering protection and hospitality to the Crusaders . Such facts would seem to be sufficient justification for such a conclusion . Not even our religion , whatever form we may have chosen , has any greater claim to being an emanation from the expressed will of God , concerning man , which is to be
found either under the old dispensation or the new ; for there is no system or form of religion , except Hebrew and Buddhism , on earth to-day , that had an existence in the time of Christ , that is recognisable in any of its present forms or ceremonies . The preservation of the grand and noble principles of our Fraternity , by a few only , it may be , enables us to place it among those
influences that preserved the Bible from destruction , and brought it unscathed through that awful period of human depravity to which we have referred . This thought finds corroboration in the fact that the Bible has been made the chief corner stone of every branch of the Fraternity , without which no legal convocation can be held .
Its adherents were true to those principles under the persecutions to which our ancient Brethren were subjected ; true when nations were torn by turmoils from within and from without ; true in times when bigotry , intolerance and autocratic insolence filled the thrones of the world .
These are conditions which Masonry has met by a steady adherence to that truth which is mighty above all things ; and , though thrones may have crumbled into dust , and nations have withered and vanished because they disregarded the imperishable nature of the truth , Masonry survives to bless mankind . It has
always been the purpose of Masonry to lead mankind in the way of being Brothers . In its character and influence it became a supporter of the reformation , contending for liberty of faith , and against an established priesthood assuming both civil and ecclesiastical authority , and , wherever greatest liberty consistent with moral and civil duty is found , Masonry was a pioneer . It
is also true that wherever intolerance , bigotry or anarchy reigns , Masonry has its most implacable enemies . But we have no contention with these . The shafts of malice they may hurl will fall harmless at our feet , and the Fraternity will move steadily onward , extending its benign influence over the moral and fraternal realm of though , and performing deeds of beneficence and mercy for the distressed of its own household .
The operative or mechanical society of which we obtain the earliest records evidently adopted the moral features characteristic of the present institution , in which quality has always been regarded of much greater importance than quantity , in the choice of material for its social structure . Being composed of erring humanity , we may sometimes be required to interpose the
law for the correction of individual acts or circumstances whose only influence would lead toward disintegration and decay ; but these are many times overcome by steady additions of new material , that in its character adds strength , dignity and beauty to its social structure , that has been and shall continue to be more enduring than the monuments and temples erected by our ancient Brothers .
It may be that the doors of onr Lodges sometimes swing too easily inward , and the Fraternity become scarred by the introduction of material which is not in harmony with the builder ' s design ; but the word of caution becomes more appropriate than
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
What Masonry Has Been And Is.
place , into which they have continued going until they have spread elsewhere over all the earth . But , after thousands of years are passed , the thought of the world is turned again as never before since the days of the lowly Nazarene , to the land of the Patriarch , Prophet and Christian , because of the supplicating
cry to God from the widow and fartherless Armenians , to deliver them from the merciless persecutions of their idolatrous rulers and enemies . The Masonic heart has a special attachment to that land , where God has wrought such wondrous works ; that home of marvelous events , which have been symbolized in a way
to impress upon the mind in the most solemn manner the goodness , mercy aud glory of our God , unto whom all Masons most humbly and reverently bow . We pause for a retrospective view of that country , once the scene of so much glory , which has become but a miserable skeleton of its former greatness , because of so much guilt and Moslem persecution .
Contemporaneously with the reign of Darius , and the rebuilding of the temple by the liberated captives , there was a civilisation growing up to the westward , with Athens as its centre , that in its achievements in the arts and sciences has perhaps no parallel in the history of the world , in which those principles or
elements characteristic of Masonry exerted a most important influence . History affirms the existence of societies maintained in concealment , for the purpose of instruction in moral and scientific philosophy , wherein secrecy seems to have been necessary because of polytheistic antagonisms , that were
prohibitive of any other course , enabling men to prove their moral and scientific capacity to travel and obtain the requisite wages for an honourable support for themselves and their families . Pythagoras was the founder of one of those secret societies that became very successful in its promotion of a knowledge of the
arts , for which his enemies charged him with leading men into the mummeries of Freemasonry , which would indicate that they were then known by the name the society bears to-day . He tried to advance his own political fortunes by converting it into a political institution . This failed , and its members spread
elsewhere after its dissolution . I cannot refrain from expressing the opinion that such a perversion of the purposes of Masonry of to-day would result in the speedy dissolution of the society that may attempt a departure from the landmarks erected for our guidance .
During the reign of Pericles these orders for secret instruction in the moral and mechanic arts probably achieved their greatest success . Previous to this , the Doric was the only distinct style of architecture . The Ionic and Corinthian were evolved in the regular order of an increasing skill to devise and ingenuity to
construct , resulting from the training of masters in the various requirements of the builder ' s art . Athens became the wonder of the world for perfect beauty of invention and architectural construction , which has probably never since been excelled . But the blighting curse of a personal and Godless ambition devastated and ruined that centre of learning .
The overthrow of Ancient Tyre , the founding of the city of Alexandria upon the southern shore of the Mediterranean , and the conquest of Persia by the Greeks under the command of Alexander , proved equally as destructive to the conquering nation as to the conquered , and Athens became remembered only for what it had been . The societies of artisans and builders were
not destroyed . While the world was suffering from the sins of an Alexander , it was also enjoying the blessing of a Socrates , Plato , Aristotle , and other eminent teachers , who were fitting men for the responsibilities of life . Through the political vicissitudes of this period Alexandria became the centre of power
and influence . Here the system of exclusive instruction in the arts and sciences again prevailed , and Alexandria became the architectural pride of her people . During this advance in political thought , the idea was matured of erecting a building for a library that should become the receptacle of the products of
literature and the arts , of which seven hundred thousand volumes , charts and diagrams were gathered . But the political wheel of fortune elevates the Calif Omar , and Alexandria succumbs to his power . At the time of its final subjugation and destruction , under this Moslem potentate , the commanding officer asks , What shall be the fate of the library ? The answer comes back
from the Calif : If it be confirmatory of the Koran , it is superfluous ; if not , it is pernicious ; let it be burned . The writings of Euclid and the records of discoveries in the various sciences during proceeding centuries , were lost , and mankind was left to do again the work which others had so nobly done . What would we not give for a knowledge of the philosophical and scientific records they destroyed !
During the reign of the Caesars the centre of power and political influence was transferred from Alexandria to Eome . Through all the profligacy of these times , we have record of the presence of the eminent defenders of the Mosaic law . Though forced into secrecy and silence , they continued to stand in defence of the Scriptural faith , that an innocent life , and an unfaltering trust in the Supreme Euler of the Universe , are the
What Masonry Has Been And Is.
first and highest duties of man . Thus we have entered upon a period of history wherein we stand amazed at the apparent brilliance and glory of its political conceptions and executions , only to realise that we have entered the moral and intellectual night of a thousand years' duration , in which the spirit of true
love toward God and a fraternal fellowship with man was forced into the oblivion of secrecy and silence to await fche dawning of a morning when the reign of a dogmatic and tyrannising theology over the domain of thought might be dispelled , and Truth , Liberty and Fraternity become re-established as the noblest heritage of man .
Long and fierce was the conflict between the political rulers , striving to make theology a handmaiden to politics , while every bishop was secretly plotting to make politics subservient to the Church . The priesthood gained such power and influence that ib assumed exclusive rights as the custodians and dispensers of
knowledge among the people . Societies for the promotion of the moral and mechanic arts were broken up and dispersed wherever they were discovered , and through all the realm every manuscript that could be seized was either confiscated or destroyed ; private libraries and collections were burned by their possessors for fear
of losing life if any were found with them . There it stands in the world ' s history , as a beacon light of warning to succeeding generations , as the time and place where government having no regard for standards of universal law went down , let us hope , utterly and for ever .
That Masonry had an existence during all these years no longer admits of a doubt . There were societies maintaining a stedfast adherence to bhe first enunciated principles of fraternity and devotion to law in their goverment , from the society of artificers that furnished the architect for the first great Masonic
temple , to those offering protection and hospitality to the Crusaders . Such facts would seem to be sufficient justification for such a conclusion . Not even our religion , whatever form we may have chosen , has any greater claim to being an emanation from the expressed will of God , concerning man , which is to be
found either under the old dispensation or the new ; for there is no system or form of religion , except Hebrew and Buddhism , on earth to-day , that had an existence in the time of Christ , that is recognisable in any of its present forms or ceremonies . The preservation of the grand and noble principles of our Fraternity , by a few only , it may be , enables us to place it among those
influences that preserved the Bible from destruction , and brought it unscathed through that awful period of human depravity to which we have referred . This thought finds corroboration in the fact that the Bible has been made the chief corner stone of every branch of the Fraternity , without which no legal convocation can be held .
Its adherents were true to those principles under the persecutions to which our ancient Brethren were subjected ; true when nations were torn by turmoils from within and from without ; true in times when bigotry , intolerance and autocratic insolence filled the thrones of the world .
These are conditions which Masonry has met by a steady adherence to that truth which is mighty above all things ; and , though thrones may have crumbled into dust , and nations have withered and vanished because they disregarded the imperishable nature of the truth , Masonry survives to bless mankind . It has
always been the purpose of Masonry to lead mankind in the way of being Brothers . In its character and influence it became a supporter of the reformation , contending for liberty of faith , and against an established priesthood assuming both civil and ecclesiastical authority , and , wherever greatest liberty consistent with moral and civil duty is found , Masonry was a pioneer . It
is also true that wherever intolerance , bigotry or anarchy reigns , Masonry has its most implacable enemies . But we have no contention with these . The shafts of malice they may hurl will fall harmless at our feet , and the Fraternity will move steadily onward , extending its benign influence over the moral and fraternal realm of though , and performing deeds of beneficence and mercy for the distressed of its own household .
The operative or mechanical society of which we obtain the earliest records evidently adopted the moral features characteristic of the present institution , in which quality has always been regarded of much greater importance than quantity , in the choice of material for its social structure . Being composed of erring humanity , we may sometimes be required to interpose the
law for the correction of individual acts or circumstances whose only influence would lead toward disintegration and decay ; but these are many times overcome by steady additions of new material , that in its character adds strength , dignity and beauty to its social structure , that has been and shall continue to be more enduring than the monuments and temples erected by our ancient Brothers .
It may be that the doors of onr Lodges sometimes swing too easily inward , and the Fraternity become scarred by the introduction of material which is not in harmony with the builder ' s design ; but the word of caution becomes more appropriate than