-
Articles/Ads
Article ON THE MASONIC JEWELS. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Masonic Jewels.
tate on earth ; human nature has her impulses from desires , which are often too inordinate : love binds with prejudices , and resentment burns with fevers ; contempt renders us incredulous , and covetousness deprives us of every generous or human feeling . To steer the bark of-life upon the seas of passions , without quitting the course of rectitude , is one of the hi ghest excellencies to which human nature can be broughtaided by all the powers of hilosophand reliion .
, p y g Yet merely to act with justice and truth , is not all that man should attempt : for even that excellence would be selfishness : that duty is not relative , but merely proper : it is only touching our own character , and doing nothing for our neighbour : for justice is an indispensable duty in each individual : we were not borjnfor ourselves alone , only to shape our course through life in the tracks of tranquility , and
solely to study that which should afford peace to the conscience at home ; but men were made as mutual aids to each other ; no one among us , be he ever so opulent , can subsist without the assistance of his fellow-creatures . Nature ' s wants are numerous ; our nakedness must be clothed , our hunger satisfied , our maladies visited . Where shall the prdud man toil for sustenance-if he stands unaided
, by his neighbours ? When we look through the varied scene of life , we see our fellow creatures attacked with innumerable calamities "; and were we without compassion , we should exist without one of the finest feelings of the human heart . To love and to approve , are movements in the soul of man which yield him pleasure ; but to pity ,
gives him heavenly sensations ; and to relieve , is divine . Charity there has its existence ; its rise is from the consciousness of our similarity in nature ; the LEVEL on which morality was created in the beginning ; its progress is in S 3 » -mpathetic feelings , from the affections of the heart , breathing love towards our brother , coupled with the touch of ori g inal estimation in our minds , which proves all our species to he brethren of one existence . Its-conclusion isfrom
, comparison producing judgment ; we wei gh the necessities of our suffering fellow-creatures by our natural equality , by compassion , our sympathy , and our own abilities , and dispense our gifts from affection . ¦ Pity and pain are sisters by sympathy . To be an upright man , is to add still greater perfections to the indsoif ' s character : to do justice and to have charity , are excellent
steps in human life ; but to act uprightly , gives a superlative degree of excellence ; for in that station we shall become examples in religions , in civil , and in moral conduct . It is not enough that we are neither enthusiasts nor persecutors in reli g ion , neither bending towards innovation or infidelity ; not to be irithe passive only , but we should appear in the active character : we should be zealous
practises of , ancl stedfast members in , religious duties . In civil matters , we should not only submit to , but execute , the laws of our country ; obey all their ordinances , and perform all their precepts ; be faithful to the constitution of tlie realm , ancl loyal to our king ; true soldiers in the defence of our liberty , and < -f his crown and dignify . In morality , it requires of us , not only that we should not err , by injuring ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Masonic Jewels.
tate on earth ; human nature has her impulses from desires , which are often too inordinate : love binds with prejudices , and resentment burns with fevers ; contempt renders us incredulous , and covetousness deprives us of every generous or human feeling . To steer the bark of-life upon the seas of passions , without quitting the course of rectitude , is one of the hi ghest excellencies to which human nature can be broughtaided by all the powers of hilosophand reliion .
, p y g Yet merely to act with justice and truth , is not all that man should attempt : for even that excellence would be selfishness : that duty is not relative , but merely proper : it is only touching our own character , and doing nothing for our neighbour : for justice is an indispensable duty in each individual : we were not borjnfor ourselves alone , only to shape our course through life in the tracks of tranquility , and
solely to study that which should afford peace to the conscience at home ; but men were made as mutual aids to each other ; no one among us , be he ever so opulent , can subsist without the assistance of his fellow-creatures . Nature ' s wants are numerous ; our nakedness must be clothed , our hunger satisfied , our maladies visited . Where shall the prdud man toil for sustenance-if he stands unaided
, by his neighbours ? When we look through the varied scene of life , we see our fellow creatures attacked with innumerable calamities "; and were we without compassion , we should exist without one of the finest feelings of the human heart . To love and to approve , are movements in the soul of man which yield him pleasure ; but to pity ,
gives him heavenly sensations ; and to relieve , is divine . Charity there has its existence ; its rise is from the consciousness of our similarity in nature ; the LEVEL on which morality was created in the beginning ; its progress is in S 3 » -mpathetic feelings , from the affections of the heart , breathing love towards our brother , coupled with the touch of ori g inal estimation in our minds , which proves all our species to he brethren of one existence . Its-conclusion isfrom
, comparison producing judgment ; we wei gh the necessities of our suffering fellow-creatures by our natural equality , by compassion , our sympathy , and our own abilities , and dispense our gifts from affection . ¦ Pity and pain are sisters by sympathy . To be an upright man , is to add still greater perfections to the indsoif ' s character : to do justice and to have charity , are excellent
steps in human life ; but to act uprightly , gives a superlative degree of excellence ; for in that station we shall become examples in religions , in civil , and in moral conduct . It is not enough that we are neither enthusiasts nor persecutors in reli g ion , neither bending towards innovation or infidelity ; not to be irithe passive only , but we should appear in the active character : we should be zealous
practises of , ancl stedfast members in , religious duties . In civil matters , we should not only submit to , but execute , the laws of our country ; obey all their ordinances , and perform all their precepts ; be faithful to the constitution of tlie realm , ancl loyal to our king ; true soldiers in the defence of our liberty , and < -f his crown and dignify . In morality , it requires of us , not only that we should not err , by injuring ,