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Article FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. ← Page 2 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasons' Repository.
us that we must , according to the Scri ptures , love our wives even as Christ , loved the church—and that every one must love his wife even as himself * They teach us that to the strictest justice we must add mercy : for they not only enjoin it , but there is scarce a Lodge but practises it , by relieving the necessities of their brethren in distress . To confirm the truth of this I may not only appeal to youmy brethrenbut I am '
, , persuaded the world in general is well acquainted with this our prac- > rice , and few indeed but do us the justice to acknowledge it . But still farther , our constitutions and principles enjoin us to walk humbly with our God : for they acquaint us that we must always make the Holy Bible the rule of our faith , and the standard of our actions : so that in short , it will be impossible to be a good and exact Mason ,
and at the same time be an atheist or irreli gious person . But I am already aware of an objection , viz . that there are Masons , who live not up to these laws , but permit scandalous vices in themselves ; to enumerate which it were needless and disagreeable . Sorry I am , my brethren , that any one , who claims the honour of being a Free and Accepted Masonshould thus act contrary to the principles and
, constitutions of that society : but must still insist on it , that this is no conclusive argument against the truth of what I have here asserted , nor any proof that these contaminated persons are good Masons . That they are nominal Masons , must be admitted : but , I must add , they
are a scandal not only to that society , but even to the reli gion they profess ; and it would be as unreasonable to condemn Masonry , on their account , as it would be impious to conclude , that because bad men profess themselves Christians , therefore the Christian religion does encourage or permit gross vices or scandalous enormities . However , let their lives and conversations be never so infamous abroadwe have a lawand by that law they oughtand never fail to
, , , be punished : as far as our social engagements and jurisdiction will enable us to proceed , we admonish them to avoid evil , and to do good : we reject their conversation , and refuse with such a one to have any communication , no , not so much as to eat . with him , or to bid him God speed , f as the Apostle exhorteth us to behave to incorrigible members . -. Therefore I heartily recommend it to youmy brethrenas
, , your duty ( if it should at any time be your misfortune to meet with such ) immediately to expel them from your fraternity : let neither the wealth nor figure of any man deter you from performing this real service to the . craft in general : let neither interest sway , nor friendship blind you : regard no man ' s person nor fortune ; but , provided his life be immoralimmediately reject him ; if he be not already a
bro-, ther , however desirous he may be of becoming such , however strongly recommended to you , receive him not into your secrets , unless he promise , and give signs of amendment ; and if he be already a brother , and refuse to listen to reproof , or neglect to amend , let him be
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasons' Repository.
us that we must , according to the Scri ptures , love our wives even as Christ , loved the church—and that every one must love his wife even as himself * They teach us that to the strictest justice we must add mercy : for they not only enjoin it , but there is scarce a Lodge but practises it , by relieving the necessities of their brethren in distress . To confirm the truth of this I may not only appeal to youmy brethrenbut I am '
, , persuaded the world in general is well acquainted with this our prac- > rice , and few indeed but do us the justice to acknowledge it . But still farther , our constitutions and principles enjoin us to walk humbly with our God : for they acquaint us that we must always make the Holy Bible the rule of our faith , and the standard of our actions : so that in short , it will be impossible to be a good and exact Mason ,
and at the same time be an atheist or irreli gious person . But I am already aware of an objection , viz . that there are Masons , who live not up to these laws , but permit scandalous vices in themselves ; to enumerate which it were needless and disagreeable . Sorry I am , my brethren , that any one , who claims the honour of being a Free and Accepted Masonshould thus act contrary to the principles and
, constitutions of that society : but must still insist on it , that this is no conclusive argument against the truth of what I have here asserted , nor any proof that these contaminated persons are good Masons . That they are nominal Masons , must be admitted : but , I must add , they
are a scandal not only to that society , but even to the reli gion they profess ; and it would be as unreasonable to condemn Masonry , on their account , as it would be impious to conclude , that because bad men profess themselves Christians , therefore the Christian religion does encourage or permit gross vices or scandalous enormities . However , let their lives and conversations be never so infamous abroadwe have a lawand by that law they oughtand never fail to
, , , be punished : as far as our social engagements and jurisdiction will enable us to proceed , we admonish them to avoid evil , and to do good : we reject their conversation , and refuse with such a one to have any communication , no , not so much as to eat . with him , or to bid him God speed , f as the Apostle exhorteth us to behave to incorrigible members . -. Therefore I heartily recommend it to youmy brethrenas
, , your duty ( if it should at any time be your misfortune to meet with such ) immediately to expel them from your fraternity : let neither the wealth nor figure of any man deter you from performing this real service to the . craft in general : let neither interest sway , nor friendship blind you : regard no man ' s person nor fortune ; but , provided his life be immoralimmediately reject him ; if he be not already a
bro-, ther , however desirous he may be of becoming such , however strongly recommended to you , receive him not into your secrets , unless he promise , and give signs of amendment ; and if he be already a brother , and refuse to listen to reproof , or neglect to amend , let him be