Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine: Or, General And Complete Library.
mind , and produce similar effects long before the origin of this world or any of it ' s inhabitants . " But should you object , that though tin ' s is an incontestible proof of it ' s antiquity as performed by God ; yet it does not at ail relate toman , or prove that he practised this art before any other . —The same reasons for which the almihtj' - architect made him an apron
g , must have induced man to build himself a shelter for the same purposes , and that before he could till the ground or fail to any other employment ; if you inquire , were not instruments needful in order to his building any house or hut?—whether needful or not , I am certain there were none used ; his hands alone could procure him stonesboughs & c . sufficient for that purpose . So
, , much for the antiquity of building as practised both by man , and the maker of earth and man . But the Operative Masonry , has far the pre-eminence in respect of antiquity , above every other human art or invention ; 3 / et even in this respect it is more than equalled by Free Masonry—I mean with regard toit ' s principles . For though God himself gave us the
first great example of the former , in framing the earth ; yet the principles of love and goodness , justice , mercy and truth , existed long before there were either earth or heavens . These are attributes of the Almig hty part of his nature and essence , and therefore are eternal as himself ; but those very principles in man , or rather the exercise of them , are'the identical constituent parts of Free Masonrydiffering onlin degreenot in naturefrom the infinite
, y , , source whence they are derived , — are just drops of the illimitable ocean of love , goodness , mercy , and truth , as they exist in the eternal God ; it remains that there is an analog )^ between Free and Operative Masonry , in respect to antiquity ; and though the disproportion is great , it would have been still greater betwixt our institution and any other branch of mechanism whatever , so that
the name seems to be taken with some propriety ; I should now proceed to shew you some other corresponding circumstances between them , but as I can croud no more in this , I shall refer you to my next letter . And am , dear Sir , Your respectful friend and servant , L . W .
Charity The Distinguishing Characteristic Of Masons.
CHARITY THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC OF MASONS .
[ Extracted from PRESTON ' S Illustrations on Masonry . ] CHARITY is the chief of every social virtue , and the distinguishing characteristic of our Order . This virtue includes a supreme degree of love to the great Creator and Governor of the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine: Or, General And Complete Library.
mind , and produce similar effects long before the origin of this world or any of it ' s inhabitants . " But should you object , that though tin ' s is an incontestible proof of it ' s antiquity as performed by God ; yet it does not at ail relate toman , or prove that he practised this art before any other . —The same reasons for which the almihtj' - architect made him an apron
g , must have induced man to build himself a shelter for the same purposes , and that before he could till the ground or fail to any other employment ; if you inquire , were not instruments needful in order to his building any house or hut?—whether needful or not , I am certain there were none used ; his hands alone could procure him stonesboughs & c . sufficient for that purpose . So
, , much for the antiquity of building as practised both by man , and the maker of earth and man . But the Operative Masonry , has far the pre-eminence in respect of antiquity , above every other human art or invention ; 3 / et even in this respect it is more than equalled by Free Masonry—I mean with regard toit ' s principles . For though God himself gave us the
first great example of the former , in framing the earth ; yet the principles of love and goodness , justice , mercy and truth , existed long before there were either earth or heavens . These are attributes of the Almig hty part of his nature and essence , and therefore are eternal as himself ; but those very principles in man , or rather the exercise of them , are'the identical constituent parts of Free Masonrydiffering onlin degreenot in naturefrom the infinite
, y , , source whence they are derived , — are just drops of the illimitable ocean of love , goodness , mercy , and truth , as they exist in the eternal God ; it remains that there is an analog )^ between Free and Operative Masonry , in respect to antiquity ; and though the disproportion is great , it would have been still greater betwixt our institution and any other branch of mechanism whatever , so that
the name seems to be taken with some propriety ; I should now proceed to shew you some other corresponding circumstances between them , but as I can croud no more in this , I shall refer you to my next letter . And am , dear Sir , Your respectful friend and servant , L . W .
Charity The Distinguishing Characteristic Of Masons.
CHARITY THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC OF MASONS .
[ Extracted from PRESTON ' S Illustrations on Masonry . ] CHARITY is the chief of every social virtue , and the distinguishing characteristic of our Order . This virtue includes a supreme degree of love to the great Creator and Governor of the