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Article MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. ← Page 5 of 9 →
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Masonic Intelligence.
both antient and modern ; more especially in the allegorical part of their ceremonials . ' " " Here followed an historical detail of the ceremonies attending initiations into the Mythraic and Eleusinian mysteries , and acompara ^ - tive examination -of them with Freemasonry , ail which we are induced to omitfor reasons that will readily occur to the Masonic part
, our readers : and at the conclusion of this account theProvincial Grand Master took an opportunity of making some remarks on the practices of different Lodges in England and France , in what is termed making Masons , and then proceeded as follows : ' I conceive it to the credit of the English Masons in general , that they are content to make a solemn impression , without doing
violence-- to the feelings of the candidate , —to awe without intimidating ; and we may be bold to affirm , that by how much soever the terror of an initiation into either of the Heathen mysteries above alluded to exceeded the terror of a Masonic examination , by so much , and more , do the moral and social advantages of the latter institution exceed those of the former . ' The former , springing from , and of course partaking of , the gross and dark superstition of the times and countries where they were practised , had for their object the suppression of science , and the
increase of superstition . The'latter , boasting still higher antiquity , but fortunately ori g inating in a part of the world where the unity of the Divine Being was not obscured by the mists of idolatry , had for its object the increase of knowledge , the worship of one God Eternal , and the admiration of his attributes , by the contemplation of his works . With the votaries of Cam and Mylhra the possession of knowledge was like lightning in the hand of a magiciandazzling indeed in its
, refulgence , but employed oftener to blast than to illumine : with our ancient Brethren it was like the sun in the midst of the planetary system , spreading forth her genial beams , and communicating light and action to the surrounding planets . For , if credit be due either to tradition or record , the western world is indebted for much of its present knowledge to the liberal communications of our Brethren .
In the early ages , the weakness and prejudices of mankind rendered it necessary to conceal many truths , which the progress of civil society , and the consequent expansion of the human faculties , made it prudent to reveal . And though there are still secrets , which , for very weighty reasons , we confine within the circle of the initiated , and sparingly communicate even to them , whatever appeared likely to increase the stock of human happiness , and seemed not dangerous in common hands , our ancient Brethren have generously communicated to the world .
' For proofs of the moral tendency . of Freemasonry we need onl y appeal to our lectures , a due attention to which cannot fail of proving highly auxiliary to the practice of religious and social duties . In them will be found a summary . of moral conduct , which , in soundness of principle and facility of application , may justly vie with the most celebrated systems of ethics : the whole rendered "familiar to our conceptions , amusing to our fancies , and impressive oh our memories , VOL , viii , 3 E
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Intelligence.
both antient and modern ; more especially in the allegorical part of their ceremonials . ' " " Here followed an historical detail of the ceremonies attending initiations into the Mythraic and Eleusinian mysteries , and acompara ^ - tive examination -of them with Freemasonry , ail which we are induced to omitfor reasons that will readily occur to the Masonic part
, our readers : and at the conclusion of this account theProvincial Grand Master took an opportunity of making some remarks on the practices of different Lodges in England and France , in what is termed making Masons , and then proceeded as follows : ' I conceive it to the credit of the English Masons in general , that they are content to make a solemn impression , without doing
violence-- to the feelings of the candidate , —to awe without intimidating ; and we may be bold to affirm , that by how much soever the terror of an initiation into either of the Heathen mysteries above alluded to exceeded the terror of a Masonic examination , by so much , and more , do the moral and social advantages of the latter institution exceed those of the former . ' The former , springing from , and of course partaking of , the gross and dark superstition of the times and countries where they were practised , had for their object the suppression of science , and the
increase of superstition . The'latter , boasting still higher antiquity , but fortunately ori g inating in a part of the world where the unity of the Divine Being was not obscured by the mists of idolatry , had for its object the increase of knowledge , the worship of one God Eternal , and the admiration of his attributes , by the contemplation of his works . With the votaries of Cam and Mylhra the possession of knowledge was like lightning in the hand of a magiciandazzling indeed in its
, refulgence , but employed oftener to blast than to illumine : with our ancient Brethren it was like the sun in the midst of the planetary system , spreading forth her genial beams , and communicating light and action to the surrounding planets . For , if credit be due either to tradition or record , the western world is indebted for much of its present knowledge to the liberal communications of our Brethren .
In the early ages , the weakness and prejudices of mankind rendered it necessary to conceal many truths , which the progress of civil society , and the consequent expansion of the human faculties , made it prudent to reveal . And though there are still secrets , which , for very weighty reasons , we confine within the circle of the initiated , and sparingly communicate even to them , whatever appeared likely to increase the stock of human happiness , and seemed not dangerous in common hands , our ancient Brethren have generously communicated to the world .
' For proofs of the moral tendency . of Freemasonry we need onl y appeal to our lectures , a due attention to which cannot fail of proving highly auxiliary to the practice of religious and social duties . In them will be found a summary . of moral conduct , which , in soundness of principle and facility of application , may justly vie with the most celebrated systems of ethics : the whole rendered "familiar to our conceptions , amusing to our fancies , and impressive oh our memories , VOL , viii , 3 E