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Article THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE MASONRY EXPLAINED. ← Page 5 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
weakness , if it hindered us from observing their imperfections , But when Ave find them yielding to the infirmities of human nature , we will tenderly point out their miscarriages to them , and gently exhort them to correct their behaviour . We \ yill modestly instruct them in those parts of their duty of which they appear ignorant , and advise them meekly against the hurtful effects of their passions . We will caution them against the snares that Ave knoAV laid for them by their enemies
and ivarn them from every danger we perceive their inadvertency leading them into . And , though repeated advice is ahvays disagreeable both to the person who g ives it , and to the person to whom it is administered , Ave will venture to reprove our Brethren Ayith friendly severity , if gentler hints fail to do them good . Mankind are distributed into various stations in life , according to
their birth , fortune , and dignity ; to each of which we OAve certain social duties . We will , therefore , consider our Brethren according to their stations , treating our superiors Avith respect , our equals with affability , and our inferiors Avith mildness and ' condescension . If Brotherl y Love indeed warms our hearts , our actions will be as full of BeneA'olence as Ave give out our thoughts and shew our Avords to
be . This affection is always productive of deeds of charity and bene-r licence , in proportion to the abilities of the person who feels it , and tlie necessities of those by Avhose distress it is excited in his breast . These deeds are the best evidence of its sincerity : Avithout these , Avhen they may be conveniently performed , all looks , gestures , and whinings
of compassion , are but the hypocritical arts of avarice , or of obduracy , or of insensibility , to screen themselves from deserved con- " tempt and hatred . My Brethren and fellow Christians , I trust you will neA'er give the . censorious and malicious part of the world the pleasure of reproaching you with an ostentatious appearance of Brotherly Love , Avhile your hearts are strangers to that tender and generous affection . You are
surrounded Avith objects Avho were either born to affliction , or reduced to that state by the hand of Providence , both in order to train them up to divine patience and submission , and to afford exercise to your humanity , by which it may be strengthened and increased . Do not , therefore , render that part of the design of God ineffectual , in \ vhich you are concerned yourselveslest he reduce youin his indignation ,
, , to that wretchedness from Avhich you will not contribute to deliver yoar neighbours , who , in the moving eloquence of Avoe , are imploring your pity and assistance . You are bound to charity in all its branches , not ¦ only by the candid obligations of Free Masonry , but by the sacred and divine law of Christianity -. you are bound to it by all the soft and generous feelings of your own hearts . In every part of your conduct ,
then " , shew yourselves Free Masons indeec }; and , Avhat is of infinitely greater consequence , and includes at the same time the character of a Free Mason , shew yoqrselyes Chrstians , shew yourselves the sincere disciples of Jesus Christ , whose Brotherly and Redeeming Love for . you carried him willingly through all the miseries of a persecuting World , through all the agonies of the most disgraceful and torturous
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
weakness , if it hindered us from observing their imperfections , But when Ave find them yielding to the infirmities of human nature , we will tenderly point out their miscarriages to them , and gently exhort them to correct their behaviour . We \ yill modestly instruct them in those parts of their duty of which they appear ignorant , and advise them meekly against the hurtful effects of their passions . We will caution them against the snares that Ave knoAV laid for them by their enemies
and ivarn them from every danger we perceive their inadvertency leading them into . And , though repeated advice is ahvays disagreeable both to the person who g ives it , and to the person to whom it is administered , Ave will venture to reprove our Brethren Ayith friendly severity , if gentler hints fail to do them good . Mankind are distributed into various stations in life , according to
their birth , fortune , and dignity ; to each of which we OAve certain social duties . We will , therefore , consider our Brethren according to their stations , treating our superiors Avith respect , our equals with affability , and our inferiors Avith mildness and ' condescension . If Brotherl y Love indeed warms our hearts , our actions will be as full of BeneA'olence as Ave give out our thoughts and shew our Avords to
be . This affection is always productive of deeds of charity and bene-r licence , in proportion to the abilities of the person who feels it , and tlie necessities of those by Avhose distress it is excited in his breast . These deeds are the best evidence of its sincerity : Avithout these , Avhen they may be conveniently performed , all looks , gestures , and whinings
of compassion , are but the hypocritical arts of avarice , or of obduracy , or of insensibility , to screen themselves from deserved con- " tempt and hatred . My Brethren and fellow Christians , I trust you will neA'er give the . censorious and malicious part of the world the pleasure of reproaching you with an ostentatious appearance of Brotherly Love , Avhile your hearts are strangers to that tender and generous affection . You are
surrounded Avith objects Avho were either born to affliction , or reduced to that state by the hand of Providence , both in order to train them up to divine patience and submission , and to afford exercise to your humanity , by which it may be strengthened and increased . Do not , therefore , render that part of the design of God ineffectual , in \ vhich you are concerned yourselveslest he reduce youin his indignation ,
, , to that wretchedness from Avhich you will not contribute to deliver yoar neighbours , who , in the moving eloquence of Avoe , are imploring your pity and assistance . You are bound to charity in all its branches , not ¦ only by the candid obligations of Free Masonry , but by the sacred and divine law of Christianity -. you are bound to it by all the soft and generous feelings of your own hearts . In every part of your conduct ,
then " , shew yourselves Free Masons indeec }; and , Avhat is of infinitely greater consequence , and includes at the same time the character of a Free Mason , shew yoqrselyes Chrstians , shew yourselves the sincere disciples of Jesus Christ , whose Brotherly and Redeeming Love for . you carried him willingly through all the miseries of a persecuting World , through all the agonies of the most disgraceful and torturous