Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine. Or General And Complete Library.
that feareth him and worked ) righteousness is accepted of him . All Masons , therefore , whether Christians , Jews , or Mahometans , who violate not the rule of right written by the Almighty upon the tablets of the heart , who do fear him , and work righteousness , ic-t are to acknowledge as brethren ; and though we take different roads , vye are not to be angry with each other on that account ; we mean ail to travel
to the same place ; we fatoiy that the end of our journey is the same ; and we are all affectionately to hope to meet in the Lodge of perfect happiness . How lovely is' an institution fraught with sentiments like these ; how agreeable must it be to Hhn who is seated on a throne of everlasting mercy ; ' to that God who is no respecter of persons . It instructs us likewise in our duty to ourselves ; it teaches us to set
just bounds to pur desires ; to put a curb upon our sensual appetites ; to walk uprig htly . Qur Order excludes women ; not because it is unwilling- we should pay a proper regard to that lovely sex ( the greatest , the most valuablegift that heaven has bestowed upon us ) , or because it imagines they
would not implicitl y obey the strictest commands of secresy ; but it knows if they were to be admitted to our assemblies , that our bosoms must often be inflamed by love ; that jealousy would sometimes be the consequence ; that then we should no longer be kind brethren , but detested rivals , and that . our harmonious institution would by that means be annihilated :. but though our Order excludes women , k does not forbid our enjoying the pleasures of lovebut it bids us enjoy them
, in such a manner as the laws of conscience , society , and temperance , permit ; it commands us for momentary gratifications not to destroy the peace of families ; not to taj-: e away the happiness ( a happiness with which grandeur and riches are not to be compared ) which those experience whose hearts are united by love , not to profane the first and most holy institution of nature . To enjoy the blessings sent bdivine
beney ficence , it tells us , is virtue and obedience ; but it bid ' s us avoid the allurements of intemperance , whose short hours of jollity are followed by tedious days of pain and dejection ; whose joys turn to madness , andleaxi to diseases , aud to death . Such are the duties which our Order teaches us , and Masonry ( the heavenl y Genius ) seems now thus to address us :
The Order I have established in every part of it shews most consummate wisdom ; founded on moral and social virtue it is supported by ssrength ; it is adorned by beauty , for every thing is found in it thatcan make society agreeable . In the most striking manner I teach you to act with propriety in every station of life ; the tools and implements , of architecture , and every thing about you , I have contrived to . be most
expressive symbols to convey to you the strongest moral truths . Let your improvement be proportionable to your instruction . Be not contented with the name onl y of Free Masons ; invested with my ancient andhonourable badge , be Masons indeed . Think not that it is to . be so to meet together , and . to . go through the ceremonies , which I have appointed ; these ceremonies in such an , ' order as mine : are necessary , but they are the nujst immaterial part of it , and there are wei ghtier mst' X ? , '" ' ¦ . . .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine. Or General And Complete Library.
that feareth him and worked ) righteousness is accepted of him . All Masons , therefore , whether Christians , Jews , or Mahometans , who violate not the rule of right written by the Almighty upon the tablets of the heart , who do fear him , and work righteousness , ic-t are to acknowledge as brethren ; and though we take different roads , vye are not to be angry with each other on that account ; we mean ail to travel
to the same place ; we fatoiy that the end of our journey is the same ; and we are all affectionately to hope to meet in the Lodge of perfect happiness . How lovely is' an institution fraught with sentiments like these ; how agreeable must it be to Hhn who is seated on a throne of everlasting mercy ; ' to that God who is no respecter of persons . It instructs us likewise in our duty to ourselves ; it teaches us to set
just bounds to pur desires ; to put a curb upon our sensual appetites ; to walk uprig htly . Qur Order excludes women ; not because it is unwilling- we should pay a proper regard to that lovely sex ( the greatest , the most valuablegift that heaven has bestowed upon us ) , or because it imagines they
would not implicitl y obey the strictest commands of secresy ; but it knows if they were to be admitted to our assemblies , that our bosoms must often be inflamed by love ; that jealousy would sometimes be the consequence ; that then we should no longer be kind brethren , but detested rivals , and that . our harmonious institution would by that means be annihilated :. but though our Order excludes women , k does not forbid our enjoying the pleasures of lovebut it bids us enjoy them
, in such a manner as the laws of conscience , society , and temperance , permit ; it commands us for momentary gratifications not to destroy the peace of families ; not to taj-: e away the happiness ( a happiness with which grandeur and riches are not to be compared ) which those experience whose hearts are united by love , not to profane the first and most holy institution of nature . To enjoy the blessings sent bdivine
beney ficence , it tells us , is virtue and obedience ; but it bid ' s us avoid the allurements of intemperance , whose short hours of jollity are followed by tedious days of pain and dejection ; whose joys turn to madness , andleaxi to diseases , aud to death . Such are the duties which our Order teaches us , and Masonry ( the heavenl y Genius ) seems now thus to address us :
The Order I have established in every part of it shews most consummate wisdom ; founded on moral and social virtue it is supported by ssrength ; it is adorned by beauty , for every thing is found in it thatcan make society agreeable . In the most striking manner I teach you to act with propriety in every station of life ; the tools and implements , of architecture , and every thing about you , I have contrived to . be most
expressive symbols to convey to you the strongest moral truths . Let your improvement be proportionable to your instruction . Be not contented with the name onl y of Free Masons ; invested with my ancient andhonourable badge , be Masons indeed . Think not that it is to . be so to meet together , and . to . go through the ceremonies , which I have appointed ; these ceremonies in such an , ' order as mine : are necessary , but they are the nujst immaterial part of it , and there are wei ghtier mst' X ? , '" ' ¦ . . .