Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine. Or General And Complete Library.
ters which you must not omit . To be Masons indeed , is to put in practice the lessons of wisdom which I teach you . With reverential gratitude , therefore , cheerfully worship the Eternal Providence ; bowdown yourselves in filial and submissive obedience to the unerring direction of the mi ghty Builder ; work by his perfect plans , and your edifices shall be beautiful and everlasting . I command you to love your neihbour ; stretch forth the hand of
g relief to him if he be in necessity ; if he be in danger , run to his assistance ; tell him the truth if he be deceived ; if he be unjustly reproached and neglected , comfort his soul , and sooth it to tranquillity ; you cannot shew your gratitude to your Creator in a more amiable light , than in your mutual regard for each other . Taught as you are by me to root out bigoted notionshave ' charity
, for the reli gious sentiments of all mankind ; nor think the mercies of the Father cf all the families of the earth , of that Being whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain , are confined within the narrow limits of any particular sect or religion .
. Pride not yourselves upon your birth ( it is of no consequence of what parents any man is born , provided he be a man of merit ) , nor your honours ( they are the objects of envy and impertinence , and must , ere long , be laid in the dust ) ; nor your riches ( they cannot gratify the wants they create ) , but be meek and lowly of heart : I reduce all conditions to a pleasing and rational equality ; pride was not made far
man , and he thathumbleth himself shall be exalted . I am not giooiny and austere ; I am a preacher of morality , but not a cruel and severe one ; for I strive to render it lovely to you by the charms of pleasures which leave no sting behind ; by moral music , rational joy , and harmless gaiety . I bid you not to . abstain from the pleasures of society , or the innocent enjoyments of love or of wine :
to abstain from them is to frustrate the intentions of Providence . I enjoin you not to consecrate your hours to solitude : society is the true sphere of human virtue ; and no life can be pleasing to GOB , but what is useful toman . On this festival , in which well-pleased , my Sons , I see you assembled to honour me , be happy- —let no pensive look
profane the general joy ; let sorrow cease ; let none be wretched ; and let , pleasure , and her bosom friends , attend this social board . Pleasure ( as one of my children has elegantly expressed it ) , is a stranger to every malignant and unsocial passion ; and is formed to expand , to exhilarate , to humanize , ' the heart . But he is not to be met with at the fable of turbulent' festivity ; he disclaims all connexions with indecency and excess , and declines the society of Riot roaring in the jollity
of his heart . A sense of the dignity of human nature always accompanies him , and he admits not of any thing that degrades it . Temperance ' 'and cheerfulness are his 'bosom friends , ' - and at the social board , where he never refuses his presence , ¦ these friends are always placed' on his right hand and on his left ; during the time he generally addresses himself to cheerfulness , till temperance demands his attention : on this festival , ' I say , be ; happy ; but , remember noiu , and always remember .- you are Masons , " and act in such a manner , that " the eyes of ihe censorious ( ever fixed upon yea ) may see nothing- in your -conduct
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine. Or General And Complete Library.
ters which you must not omit . To be Masons indeed , is to put in practice the lessons of wisdom which I teach you . With reverential gratitude , therefore , cheerfully worship the Eternal Providence ; bowdown yourselves in filial and submissive obedience to the unerring direction of the mi ghty Builder ; work by his perfect plans , and your edifices shall be beautiful and everlasting . I command you to love your neihbour ; stretch forth the hand of
g relief to him if he be in necessity ; if he be in danger , run to his assistance ; tell him the truth if he be deceived ; if he be unjustly reproached and neglected , comfort his soul , and sooth it to tranquillity ; you cannot shew your gratitude to your Creator in a more amiable light , than in your mutual regard for each other . Taught as you are by me to root out bigoted notionshave ' charity
, for the reli gious sentiments of all mankind ; nor think the mercies of the Father cf all the families of the earth , of that Being whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain , are confined within the narrow limits of any particular sect or religion .
. Pride not yourselves upon your birth ( it is of no consequence of what parents any man is born , provided he be a man of merit ) , nor your honours ( they are the objects of envy and impertinence , and must , ere long , be laid in the dust ) ; nor your riches ( they cannot gratify the wants they create ) , but be meek and lowly of heart : I reduce all conditions to a pleasing and rational equality ; pride was not made far
man , and he thathumbleth himself shall be exalted . I am not giooiny and austere ; I am a preacher of morality , but not a cruel and severe one ; for I strive to render it lovely to you by the charms of pleasures which leave no sting behind ; by moral music , rational joy , and harmless gaiety . I bid you not to . abstain from the pleasures of society , or the innocent enjoyments of love or of wine :
to abstain from them is to frustrate the intentions of Providence . I enjoin you not to consecrate your hours to solitude : society is the true sphere of human virtue ; and no life can be pleasing to GOB , but what is useful toman . On this festival , in which well-pleased , my Sons , I see you assembled to honour me , be happy- —let no pensive look
profane the general joy ; let sorrow cease ; let none be wretched ; and let , pleasure , and her bosom friends , attend this social board . Pleasure ( as one of my children has elegantly expressed it ) , is a stranger to every malignant and unsocial passion ; and is formed to expand , to exhilarate , to humanize , ' the heart . But he is not to be met with at the fable of turbulent' festivity ; he disclaims all connexions with indecency and excess , and declines the society of Riot roaring in the jollity
of his heart . A sense of the dignity of human nature always accompanies him , and he admits not of any thing that degrades it . Temperance ' 'and cheerfulness are his 'bosom friends , ' - and at the social board , where he never refuses his presence , ¦ these friends are always placed' on his right hand and on his left ; during the time he generally addresses himself to cheerfulness , till temperance demands his attention : on this festival , ' I say , be ; happy ; but , remember noiu , and always remember .- you are Masons , " and act in such a manner , that " the eyes of ihe censorious ( ever fixed upon yea ) may see nothing- in your -conduct