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Article MASONRY'S DISTINGUISHED VIRTUES. ← Page 2 of 4 Article MASONRY'S DISTINGUISHED VIRTUES. Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry's Distinguished Virtues.
which have been made to givo Masonry an origin to which it is by no moans entitled have contributed in no small degree to render ifc the subject of sarcasm and contempt . We should never permit our attachment for the Institution to lead us into the mazes of improbability . You may justly
boast that Masonry is the most ancient Institution in the world . The arches , the pillars , the porticoes , tho pyramid " , the amphitheatres and temples formed by the hand of Masonry have perished , but the Institution still exists . Powerful and well concerted schemes have been devised to
banish it from the world . Excessive fines , galling chains , gloomy dungeons , painful exile ? , furious flames and cruel deaths aro but few of the engines employed by the ignorant to destroy tho beautiful fabric of Masonry , but ifc has outlived tho attacks of most inveterate foes . Its principles have spread , and they will continue to spread ,
till—The great globe itself , And all whioh it inherits bo destroyed , And , like the bis ^ less fabric of a vision , Leave not a wreck behind . No human institution is so well calculated to promote
the happiness of men as Masonry . " Established on a liberal and extensive plan , its benignities extend to every individual of the human race , and its adherents are collected from every nation under heaven . It invites to its Lodges the sons of virtue , of love and of peace , thafc it
might connect tbom by vows of eternal amity , in a most sacred , intimate , and endeared alliance , and unite and invigorate their best endeavours for mutual and general advantage . " It is the friend of man in whatever condition lie is found . Every species of human woe ifc has
endeavoured to alleviate . Liberty never had bolder champions than the members of this Fraternity . Against tyranny , oppression and intolerance ifc has ever waged an uncompromising war . A very large proportion of those noble spirits , wbo toiled and suffered and bled in defence of our
holy religion , were members of this Order . It has restrained the ferocity of passion and curbed the licentiousness of appetite . It has quenched the fires of persecution and extinguished the torch of fanaticism . Ifc has brought together men who wero totally estranged from each other
by climate , prejudice , language and education , and taught them that they were all the children of one Almighty Father , and that therefore they should lovo as brethren . Protection of the weak has always been a prominent duty of Masonry , and never was a duty moro faithfully
discharged than when woman became the object ; indeed , when she became the object the duty was heightened to a pitch of enthusiasm . Admitting that in the days of chivalry devotion to the female sex was carried to a degree of extravagance , yefc it must be acknowledged that Masonry
has been one among the chief instruments by which woman has been raised from a state of inferiority to her proper position in society . The very fact that females cannot be admitted into our Lodges is the highest compliment we can pay them . It is often asked , Why are they excluded ? ' Is
it because they are considered unworthy ? Is it because they are supposed incapable of preserving secrecy ? No ! these are not the reasons which prevent our offering to woman the privileges of Masonry . The truth is , this Institution cherishes such au exalted regard for the character of
females that it does not think they stand in need of vows and emblems to make them " virtuous . Masonry , although ifc is entirely persuaded of the superior advantages ifc is capable of conferring , thinks that its privileges would be useless to her of whom it is said :
Here ia a mild and gentle power That prospers in affliction ' s hour ; And when the heartlessness of friends Fall *? , like a pestilence , and brings To hope ' s own fair imaginings
Its withering breath : then woman lends Her words of solace ; and her smile Like moonbeams on a mined pile .
Comes with an influence to bless Where all seemed drear and comfortless 5 And sheds aronnd such holy light , As makes e ' en desolation bright ! # # # # # W Tr 7 P " rF 7 P Mark her majestic fabric ! She's a temple Sacred by birtbfand built by hands divine . Her soars the Deity that lodges there , Nor is the pile unworthy of the God . Snch aro tho sentiments of Masonry in reference to woman , and tho regulation which debars her from parti-
Masonry's Distinguished Virtues.
cipating in our mysteries is our highest praise and our greatest panegyric . In furnishing pecuniary assistance to the poor and needy , this Institutisn is eminently distinguished . Seo yo yonder orphan for whom no mother's bosom throbs in soft sympathy ?
Seo ye the widow forced in age for bread , To strip tbo brook , with mantling cresses spread : To prick the wintry fagot from tho thorn , Then seek some nightly shade and weep till morn . I'liese are the objects of tho true Mason ' s most tender care .
If our customs allowed , we could easily bring into this assembly living proofs of Masonic benevolence . No association of men can say , with so much truth as Masonry , when tho ear heard mo , then it blessed me , and when the eye saw me , because I delivered the poor that cried and tho
fatherless and him that had none to help him . The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me , and I caused the widow ' s heart to sing for joy . I was eyes to tho blind , and feet was I to the lame . I was a father to the poor , and the cause which I know not I searched out .
Notwithstanding the benevolent and peaceful objects of the Order , ifc has to contend wifch opposition , arising in mosfc cases from an entire ignorance of the subject . The limits of my remarks will not permit a minute examination of all the objections advanced against our Craffc . One or two of
the mosfc popular of theso objections I will notice . It is said that the profound secrecy peculiar to Masonry cannot be reconciled with those principles of benevolence which it professes . If Masons are in possession of anything tho knowledge of which would bo beneficial to tho world , why
not divulge ifc ? Why hide their light ? We reply , thafc the privileges of Masonry can bo enjoyed by all who possess tbe requisite qualifications . Bat who are to be the judges of those qualifications ? Not the mass of men afc large , but Masons themselves . Every society reserves to
itself the right of deciding upon the qualifications of thoso who offer for admission . It is unfair , therefore , to deprive this Institution of a right awarded to all others . To fche virtuous the privileges of Masonry are accessible . To communicate them to tho vicious would be to profane their
sanctity . To publish them to the world would be to defeat the very design of the Institution—for these are its marks and the means of its preservation . But secrecy is not peculiar to Masonry . Every profession , every art , every trade has its secrets . Empires and States have their
secrets . Families have their secrets , and there is not a heart in this assembly but what is a repository of some secret . The duty of secrecy is recognised and taught in the volume of inspiration . In the Old Testament , as well as in the New , various allusions are made to this duty ; and we all know thafc there are certain actions which the Divine Author of
our religion declared must be performed in secret , in order to be acceptable to Him . It is further objected , that the privileges of this Order are frequently conferred upon the worthless and destitute . We admit this charge . Bufc we ask if perfection can bo found on earth ? Are not other
societies liable to imposition , and why may not Masonry be liable to the same thing ? Masonry cannot dive into the hearts of men . It takes men upon their protestations of honesty . If deceived , the Institution ought not to be censured , bufc those who are guilty of the deception . It is
unjust to blame any society for the misconduct of its members . The best things are liable to be abused . Our benign religion has been perverted to the very worst ends . Are there not thousands who profess Christianity , whose daily conduct is in direct contradiction to their profession ? In
the church have you not seen hypocrisy borrowing the cloak of religion , and officiating at her very altars ? Have you not seen pride and ostentation among those who claim to he disciples of the humble Jesns ? Have you nofc witnessed the revolting spectacle of sect arraigned against
sect , persecuting each other with unrelenting animosity , on account of slight differences in their creeds and forms of worship ? But who blames Christianity for these irregularities and abuses ? No one will venture to affirm that the misconduct of a Christian is an argument against
Christianity . And by the same reasoning the immoral behaviour of Masons ought not to be attributed to Masonry . We ask , is it not one of the mosfc reasonable things in the world to expect in a society so extensive , and composed of such a variety of persons , that many by immoral conduct would bring discredit upon the Order . If there be anything in Masonry unfriendly to good morals , would it havej been supported by the virtuous of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry's Distinguished Virtues.
which have been made to givo Masonry an origin to which it is by no moans entitled have contributed in no small degree to render ifc the subject of sarcasm and contempt . We should never permit our attachment for the Institution to lead us into the mazes of improbability . You may justly
boast that Masonry is the most ancient Institution in the world . The arches , the pillars , the porticoes , tho pyramid " , the amphitheatres and temples formed by the hand of Masonry have perished , but the Institution still exists . Powerful and well concerted schemes have been devised to
banish it from the world . Excessive fines , galling chains , gloomy dungeons , painful exile ? , furious flames and cruel deaths aro but few of the engines employed by the ignorant to destroy tho beautiful fabric of Masonry , but ifc has outlived tho attacks of most inveterate foes . Its principles have spread , and they will continue to spread ,
till—The great globe itself , And all whioh it inherits bo destroyed , And , like the bis ^ less fabric of a vision , Leave not a wreck behind . No human institution is so well calculated to promote
the happiness of men as Masonry . " Established on a liberal and extensive plan , its benignities extend to every individual of the human race , and its adherents are collected from every nation under heaven . It invites to its Lodges the sons of virtue , of love and of peace , thafc it
might connect tbom by vows of eternal amity , in a most sacred , intimate , and endeared alliance , and unite and invigorate their best endeavours for mutual and general advantage . " It is the friend of man in whatever condition lie is found . Every species of human woe ifc has
endeavoured to alleviate . Liberty never had bolder champions than the members of this Fraternity . Against tyranny , oppression and intolerance ifc has ever waged an uncompromising war . A very large proportion of those noble spirits , wbo toiled and suffered and bled in defence of our
holy religion , were members of this Order . It has restrained the ferocity of passion and curbed the licentiousness of appetite . It has quenched the fires of persecution and extinguished the torch of fanaticism . Ifc has brought together men who wero totally estranged from each other
by climate , prejudice , language and education , and taught them that they were all the children of one Almighty Father , and that therefore they should lovo as brethren . Protection of the weak has always been a prominent duty of Masonry , and never was a duty moro faithfully
discharged than when woman became the object ; indeed , when she became the object the duty was heightened to a pitch of enthusiasm . Admitting that in the days of chivalry devotion to the female sex was carried to a degree of extravagance , yefc it must be acknowledged that Masonry
has been one among the chief instruments by which woman has been raised from a state of inferiority to her proper position in society . The very fact that females cannot be admitted into our Lodges is the highest compliment we can pay them . It is often asked , Why are they excluded ? ' Is
it because they are considered unworthy ? Is it because they are supposed incapable of preserving secrecy ? No ! these are not the reasons which prevent our offering to woman the privileges of Masonry . The truth is , this Institution cherishes such au exalted regard for the character of
females that it does not think they stand in need of vows and emblems to make them " virtuous . Masonry , although ifc is entirely persuaded of the superior advantages ifc is capable of conferring , thinks that its privileges would be useless to her of whom it is said :
Here ia a mild and gentle power That prospers in affliction ' s hour ; And when the heartlessness of friends Fall *? , like a pestilence , and brings To hope ' s own fair imaginings
Its withering breath : then woman lends Her words of solace ; and her smile Like moonbeams on a mined pile .
Comes with an influence to bless Where all seemed drear and comfortless 5 And sheds aronnd such holy light , As makes e ' en desolation bright ! # # # # # W Tr 7 P " rF 7 P Mark her majestic fabric ! She's a temple Sacred by birtbfand built by hands divine . Her soars the Deity that lodges there , Nor is the pile unworthy of the God . Snch aro tho sentiments of Masonry in reference to woman , and tho regulation which debars her from parti-
Masonry's Distinguished Virtues.
cipating in our mysteries is our highest praise and our greatest panegyric . In furnishing pecuniary assistance to the poor and needy , this Institutisn is eminently distinguished . Seo yo yonder orphan for whom no mother's bosom throbs in soft sympathy ?
Seo ye the widow forced in age for bread , To strip tbo brook , with mantling cresses spread : To prick the wintry fagot from tho thorn , Then seek some nightly shade and weep till morn . I'liese are the objects of tho true Mason ' s most tender care .
If our customs allowed , we could easily bring into this assembly living proofs of Masonic benevolence . No association of men can say , with so much truth as Masonry , when tho ear heard mo , then it blessed me , and when the eye saw me , because I delivered the poor that cried and tho
fatherless and him that had none to help him . The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me , and I caused the widow ' s heart to sing for joy . I was eyes to tho blind , and feet was I to the lame . I was a father to the poor , and the cause which I know not I searched out .
Notwithstanding the benevolent and peaceful objects of the Order , ifc has to contend wifch opposition , arising in mosfc cases from an entire ignorance of the subject . The limits of my remarks will not permit a minute examination of all the objections advanced against our Craffc . One or two of
the mosfc popular of theso objections I will notice . It is said that the profound secrecy peculiar to Masonry cannot be reconciled with those principles of benevolence which it professes . If Masons are in possession of anything tho knowledge of which would bo beneficial to tho world , why
not divulge ifc ? Why hide their light ? We reply , thafc the privileges of Masonry can bo enjoyed by all who possess tbe requisite qualifications . Bat who are to be the judges of those qualifications ? Not the mass of men afc large , but Masons themselves . Every society reserves to
itself the right of deciding upon the qualifications of thoso who offer for admission . It is unfair , therefore , to deprive this Institution of a right awarded to all others . To fche virtuous the privileges of Masonry are accessible . To communicate them to tho vicious would be to profane their
sanctity . To publish them to the world would be to defeat the very design of the Institution—for these are its marks and the means of its preservation . But secrecy is not peculiar to Masonry . Every profession , every art , every trade has its secrets . Empires and States have their
secrets . Families have their secrets , and there is not a heart in this assembly but what is a repository of some secret . The duty of secrecy is recognised and taught in the volume of inspiration . In the Old Testament , as well as in the New , various allusions are made to this duty ; and we all know thafc there are certain actions which the Divine Author of
our religion declared must be performed in secret , in order to be acceptable to Him . It is further objected , that the privileges of this Order are frequently conferred upon the worthless and destitute . We admit this charge . Bufc we ask if perfection can bo found on earth ? Are not other
societies liable to imposition , and why may not Masonry be liable to the same thing ? Masonry cannot dive into the hearts of men . It takes men upon their protestations of honesty . If deceived , the Institution ought not to be censured , bufc those who are guilty of the deception . It is
unjust to blame any society for the misconduct of its members . The best things are liable to be abused . Our benign religion has been perverted to the very worst ends . Are there not thousands who profess Christianity , whose daily conduct is in direct contradiction to their profession ? In
the church have you not seen hypocrisy borrowing the cloak of religion , and officiating at her very altars ? Have you not seen pride and ostentation among those who claim to he disciples of the humble Jesns ? Have you nofc witnessed the revolting spectacle of sect arraigned against
sect , persecuting each other with unrelenting animosity , on account of slight differences in their creeds and forms of worship ? But who blames Christianity for these irregularities and abuses ? No one will venture to affirm that the misconduct of a Christian is an argument against
Christianity . And by the same reasoning the immoral behaviour of Masons ought not to be attributed to Masonry . We ask , is it not one of the mosfc reasonable things in the world to expect in a society so extensive , and composed of such a variety of persons , that many by immoral conduct would bring discredit upon the Order . If there be anything in Masonry unfriendly to good morals , would it havej been supported by the virtuous of