Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Charge, Delivered In St. George's Lodge At Taunton, In The County Of Somerset, On The Feast Of St. John The Baptist,
A CHARGE , DELIVERED IN ST . GEORGE'S LODGE AT TAUNTON , IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET , ON THE FEAST OF ST . JOHN THE BAPTIST ,
A . L . 5765 , A . D . I 765 ,
BY THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL BROTHER JOHN WHITMASH , ON HIS RESIGNING THE CHAIR .
AVORTHY BRETHREN , PROVIDENCE having placed me in such a sphere in life , as to afford me but little time for speculation , I cannot pretencl ^ to have made mankind my particular study ; yet , this I have observed , that curiosity is one of the most prevailing passions in the human breast . The mind of man is kept in a perpetual thirst after knowled nor can he bear to be ignorant of what he thinks others know .
ge , Any thing secret or new immediately excites an uneasy sensation , and becomes the proper- fuel of curiosity , which will be found stronger or weaker in proportion to the time and opportunities that individuals haA'e for indulging it . It . is observable further , thatAvhen this passion is excited , and not instantly gratified , instead of waiting for better intelli and using the means of removing the darkness that
gence , proper invelopes the object of it , Ave precipitately form ideas which are generally in the extremes . If the object promotes p leasure or advantage , we then load it with commendations ; if it appears in the opposite view , or if we are ignorant of it , we then absurdly , as well as disingenuously , condemn , and pretend at least to despise it . This , my brethren , has been the fate of the most valuable institution in the
world , Christianity excepted , I mean Freemasonry . Those who are acquainted with the nature and design of it cannot , if they have good hearts , but admire and espouse it ; and if those who are in the dark , or whose minds are disposed to evil , should slig ht or speak disrespectfully of it , it certainly is no disgrace . When order shall produce confusion , when harmony shall g ive rise to discord , ancl proportion shall
be the source of irregularity , then , and not till then , will Freemasonry be-unworthy the patronage of the great , the wise , and good . To love as brethren , to be ready to communicate , to speak truth one to another , are the dictates of reason and revelation ; and you knoAV that they are likewise the foundation , the constituent parts of Freemasonry . None , therefore , who believe the divine orig inal of the sacred volume , and are influenced by a spirit of humanity , friendship , and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Charge, Delivered In St. George's Lodge At Taunton, In The County Of Somerset, On The Feast Of St. John The Baptist,
A CHARGE , DELIVERED IN ST . GEORGE'S LODGE AT TAUNTON , IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET , ON THE FEAST OF ST . JOHN THE BAPTIST ,
A . L . 5765 , A . D . I 765 ,
BY THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL BROTHER JOHN WHITMASH , ON HIS RESIGNING THE CHAIR .
AVORTHY BRETHREN , PROVIDENCE having placed me in such a sphere in life , as to afford me but little time for speculation , I cannot pretencl ^ to have made mankind my particular study ; yet , this I have observed , that curiosity is one of the most prevailing passions in the human breast . The mind of man is kept in a perpetual thirst after knowled nor can he bear to be ignorant of what he thinks others know .
ge , Any thing secret or new immediately excites an uneasy sensation , and becomes the proper- fuel of curiosity , which will be found stronger or weaker in proportion to the time and opportunities that individuals haA'e for indulging it . It . is observable further , thatAvhen this passion is excited , and not instantly gratified , instead of waiting for better intelli and using the means of removing the darkness that
gence , proper invelopes the object of it , Ave precipitately form ideas which are generally in the extremes . If the object promotes p leasure or advantage , we then load it with commendations ; if it appears in the opposite view , or if we are ignorant of it , we then absurdly , as well as disingenuously , condemn , and pretend at least to despise it . This , my brethren , has been the fate of the most valuable institution in the
world , Christianity excepted , I mean Freemasonry . Those who are acquainted with the nature and design of it cannot , if they have good hearts , but admire and espouse it ; and if those who are in the dark , or whose minds are disposed to evil , should slig ht or speak disrespectfully of it , it certainly is no disgrace . When order shall produce confusion , when harmony shall g ive rise to discord , ancl proportion shall
be the source of irregularity , then , and not till then , will Freemasonry be-unworthy the patronage of the great , the wise , and good . To love as brethren , to be ready to communicate , to speak truth one to another , are the dictates of reason and revelation ; and you knoAV that they are likewise the foundation , the constituent parts of Freemasonry . None , therefore , who believe the divine orig inal of the sacred volume , and are influenced by a spirit of humanity , friendship , and