-
Articles/Ads
Article THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE MASONRY EXPLAINED. ← Page 8 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
inanity , when they pray for the damnation of those around them . Co ' rhiuon swearers may be both good Christians and good Free Masons hi theory , but in practice they are doAvnright fools and madmen . Further , in order to become the proper objects of brotherly love ^ you must be actuated yourselves by that amiable sentiment of the human heart . Every passion and affection produce their like ; anger , for instanceproduces anger ; hatred produces hatred ; generosity
produ-, ces generosity ; mildness produces mildness ; and brotherly love will produce brotherly love . If you Avant to he treated with liberality ,-tenderness and forbearance ; by your Brethren ,- you must exhibit these virtues in your OAVH intercourse with them ; For this purpose , acquire proper ideas of human society . Know , and act as if you were fully convincedthat the universe of intelligent creatures is one great family
, of which God himself is the kind Parent and Almighty Sovereign . Regard the whole human race as your brethren and sisters , to Avhom . you are to do all the kind offices in your power , but whom you are to injure on no account Avhatever . Let your sense of justice rouse your indignation against the haughtiness and cruelty of oppression ; let your candour guard you against the smooth and officious infirmities of the
slanderer , who preys upon the reputations of his neighbours ; let compassion open your ears to the cries of the afflicted , and your hearts and hands to soften or relieve their woes . Be faithful in all your engagements and dealings ; harbour no malice or revenge in your breasts against your enemies ; let honour and p lacability mark every step of your behaviour . By steadily observing this humane , just , and
candid form of conduct , you AVIII undoubtedly become the objects of Brotherly LoA'e to all good men about you , and be honoured with the envy or hatred of the bad . Such a conduct opens and penetrates every heart . Goodness is quite irresistible .- it softens , overpowers , and captivates every social and amiable affection of the soul . While you are actuated by this princip le , men Avill love and respect you as their friends , as their protectors and benefactors ; your good endeavours and actions
will return into your bosoms , - ahvays , by tlie jjleasing approbation of your OAVII consciences , and , frequently , b y the gratitude of those whom you have benefited . Having noAV pointed out Piety and Benevolence as two great means of gaining Brotherly Love , give me leave to recommend to you a constant attention to the duties of sobrietytemperancechastityand
, , , moderation , which you allow to yourselves . As Christians , you are ' taught , my Brethren , to look upon yourselves as in the infancy of your existence while in this Avorld , and destined to pass , by death , - into a more perfect state , in Avhich you are to enjoy the rewards of virtue , or to suffer the punishments of vice , according as you are now attached to the one or the other . You ought , therefore , to regard
that share which your respective stations in life afford you of Avorldly p leasures and conveniences , as conferred on you by . the divine good- ' ness to soften your passage from earth to heaven , and not to constitute your supreme happinesss , in which your hopes are to terminate . You see , then , that on this account , you ought not . to render present enjoyments criminal , by using them immoderately and unthankfully ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Principles Of Free Masonry Explained.
inanity , when they pray for the damnation of those around them . Co ' rhiuon swearers may be both good Christians and good Free Masons hi theory , but in practice they are doAvnright fools and madmen . Further , in order to become the proper objects of brotherly love ^ you must be actuated yourselves by that amiable sentiment of the human heart . Every passion and affection produce their like ; anger , for instanceproduces anger ; hatred produces hatred ; generosity
produ-, ces generosity ; mildness produces mildness ; and brotherly love will produce brotherly love . If you Avant to he treated with liberality ,-tenderness and forbearance ; by your Brethren ,- you must exhibit these virtues in your OAVH intercourse with them ; For this purpose , acquire proper ideas of human society . Know , and act as if you were fully convincedthat the universe of intelligent creatures is one great family
, of which God himself is the kind Parent and Almighty Sovereign . Regard the whole human race as your brethren and sisters , to Avhom . you are to do all the kind offices in your power , but whom you are to injure on no account Avhatever . Let your sense of justice rouse your indignation against the haughtiness and cruelty of oppression ; let your candour guard you against the smooth and officious infirmities of the
slanderer , who preys upon the reputations of his neighbours ; let compassion open your ears to the cries of the afflicted , and your hearts and hands to soften or relieve their woes . Be faithful in all your engagements and dealings ; harbour no malice or revenge in your breasts against your enemies ; let honour and p lacability mark every step of your behaviour . By steadily observing this humane , just , and
candid form of conduct , you AVIII undoubtedly become the objects of Brotherly LoA'e to all good men about you , and be honoured with the envy or hatred of the bad . Such a conduct opens and penetrates every heart . Goodness is quite irresistible .- it softens , overpowers , and captivates every social and amiable affection of the soul . While you are actuated by this princip le , men Avill love and respect you as their friends , as their protectors and benefactors ; your good endeavours and actions
will return into your bosoms , - ahvays , by tlie jjleasing approbation of your OAVII consciences , and , frequently , b y the gratitude of those whom you have benefited . Having noAV pointed out Piety and Benevolence as two great means of gaining Brotherly Love , give me leave to recommend to you a constant attention to the duties of sobrietytemperancechastityand
, , , moderation , which you allow to yourselves . As Christians , you are ' taught , my Brethren , to look upon yourselves as in the infancy of your existence while in this Avorld , and destined to pass , by death , - into a more perfect state , in Avhich you are to enjoy the rewards of virtue , or to suffer the punishments of vice , according as you are now attached to the one or the other . You ought , therefore , to regard
that share which your respective stations in life afford you of Avorldly p leasures and conveniences , as conferred on you by . the divine good- ' ness to soften your passage from earth to heaven , and not to constitute your supreme happinesss , in which your hopes are to terminate . You see , then , that on this account , you ought not . to render present enjoyments criminal , by using them immoderately and unthankfully ,