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Article THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE MASONRY EXPLAINED. ← Page 3 of 15 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
plained , T proceed , in the second p lace , to point out the cause of those evils that spring from it . ., <¦ - Had mankind carefully studied , and exa & ly squared their condufl : by the natural adjustment of their affeftions , it is evident that their association could never have occasioned any of those evils , which now constitute a great part of their misery . Their hearts full of candour
* gentleness and generosity , would never have known the horrible suggestions of malice , cruelty , or covetousness . Their regard for their own interest would never have extended itself beyond the bounds marked out for it by justice and humanity . Peace and contentment would have blest individuals ; brotherly love and friendship would have formed them all into one great community . They would have
resembled a magnificent edifice , every part of which gave and received strength and beauty from all the rest . Men , however , were too weak to preserve the natural adjustment of their affeftions in its orig inal exa & ness . Every individual was . furrounded with advantages , which , though belonging to his nei ghbours , or likely . to become theirs by industry , he thought would add
to his happiness , if he could make them his own . Self-love insinuated , that to himself all his attention was due ; and as to others , he was not obliged to concern himself about their affairs . All hearkened to this ungenerous insinuation , save those ,-whose breasts glowed with a purer and more vigorous love of justice and . humanity : the former began ta regard the happiness of their nei g hbours with a rapacious and envious
eye ; and at length , their hearts became strangers to the tender workings of benevolence . Thus their self-love gained the ascendant over their benevolence ; and the happy adjustment , which the wise author of all things gave to these two princip les was violated ; Now , pride , malice , and avarice , took possession' of the human mind , and compelled men to deeds of fraud and violence against one another . The powerful thought they had a rig ht to every conveniency and p leasure that they could ' force from the weak ; and the weak watched and improved every opportunity of being revenged on their oppreflbrs .
The violation , therefore , of the adjustment that originally subsisted between the human affe & ions , is to be considered as the source from which the evils of society spring . The subject in hand requires , however , a more exaft investigation of the consequences that flowed from this violation . As soon as the self-love of mankind had overcome their benevolence , they would exert their utmost efforts to acquire dominion over one an-,
other , as it put every object in their power which their passions demanded . Supreme power , as on this account it would be the great cause of their contention , would also be the only remedy for the disorders occasioned by that contention . The unassisted abilities of no single person , however , could lift him up to that eminent station which his ambition panted for . All who had any thing worth defending , would be on their guard against the nun whom they suspected of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
plained , T proceed , in the second p lace , to point out the cause of those evils that spring from it . ., <¦ - Had mankind carefully studied , and exa & ly squared their condufl : by the natural adjustment of their affeftions , it is evident that their association could never have occasioned any of those evils , which now constitute a great part of their misery . Their hearts full of candour
* gentleness and generosity , would never have known the horrible suggestions of malice , cruelty , or covetousness . Their regard for their own interest would never have extended itself beyond the bounds marked out for it by justice and humanity . Peace and contentment would have blest individuals ; brotherly love and friendship would have formed them all into one great community . They would have
resembled a magnificent edifice , every part of which gave and received strength and beauty from all the rest . Men , however , were too weak to preserve the natural adjustment of their affeftions in its orig inal exa & ness . Every individual was . furrounded with advantages , which , though belonging to his nei ghbours , or likely . to become theirs by industry , he thought would add
to his happiness , if he could make them his own . Self-love insinuated , that to himself all his attention was due ; and as to others , he was not obliged to concern himself about their affairs . All hearkened to this ungenerous insinuation , save those ,-whose breasts glowed with a purer and more vigorous love of justice and . humanity : the former began ta regard the happiness of their nei g hbours with a rapacious and envious
eye ; and at length , their hearts became strangers to the tender workings of benevolence . Thus their self-love gained the ascendant over their benevolence ; and the happy adjustment , which the wise author of all things gave to these two princip les was violated ; Now , pride , malice , and avarice , took possession' of the human mind , and compelled men to deeds of fraud and violence against one another . The powerful thought they had a rig ht to every conveniency and p leasure that they could ' force from the weak ; and the weak watched and improved every opportunity of being revenged on their oppreflbrs .
The violation , therefore , of the adjustment that originally subsisted between the human affe & ions , is to be considered as the source from which the evils of society spring . The subject in hand requires , however , a more exaft investigation of the consequences that flowed from this violation . As soon as the self-love of mankind had overcome their benevolence , they would exert their utmost efforts to acquire dominion over one an-,
other , as it put every object in their power which their passions demanded . Supreme power , as on this account it would be the great cause of their contention , would also be the only remedy for the disorders occasioned by that contention . The unassisted abilities of no single person , however , could lift him up to that eminent station which his ambition panted for . All who had any thing worth defending , would be on their guard against the nun whom they suspected of