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  • July 1, 1794
  • Page 16
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The Freemasons' Magazine, July 1, 1794: Page 16

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    Article AN ORATION PRONOUNCED AT THE AUDIT-HOUSE IN SOUTHAMPTON, AUGUST 3, 1792, ← Page 3 of 5 →
Page 16

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

An Oration Pronounced At The Audit-House In Southampton, August 3, 1792,

the hig h and the low—the rich and the poor—the proud and the humble—cannot form an intimate bond of union of any considerable duration . —Every Brother , therefore , at his initiation , enters the Lodge , not in splendour of dress nor pride of heart , but in a garb of bumility- ^ - in a mind of lowliness ; and he finds , when admitted , that the laws of the Society have abolished , as far as order will permit , all adventitious

distinctions . . So , again , the Plumb-rule—an instrument of art , by whose application the building is raised in a perpendicular direction , is another of our symbols—It is figurative of a fairand honourable plan of life—and typically cautions us against any deviation from an upright conduct , in all intercourses and transactionswhether private or public .

our , The Compass is a mathematical instrument used to describe circles : this we adopt as an emblem of prudence—it symbolically instructs us to put moral restraints on our appetites *—to circumscribe , within rational bounds , our wants , our pleasures , our expences—warning us , that bv an opposite course , we shall endanger our quiet and our health ,

our reputation and our liberty . Freemasonry , therefore , we have seen , deals in hieroglyphics—symbols—allegories—and to be qualified to reveal their meaning , a man must know more than a mere nominal Mason : the full interpretation of them , like that of the mysteries of old ¦[ , is in select hands—has been committed only to those of tried fidelity , who conceal it with suitable othersif not deficient in intellectyet wanting industry or /¦"

-care : , , dination to explore the penetralia of the Temple , are not qualified , if willing , to betray it . —Hence the secrecy which has so long distinguished the Fraternity . This secrecy , however , has been urged against-our institution as a crime ; but the wise know that secrecy , properly maintained , is one of the best securities of social happiness : there is more private misery arising from an unqualified communication

of words and actions , than from the anger of the Heavens . Other objections have been invented against our Societ }/ -, but such as we do not condescend to combat—deeming it altogether a waste of time to wage war with surmises , and trusting to our conduct to repel the coarser shafts of malice . From what has been said it appears , that the doctrine of Freemasonry embraces all the natural , moral , and political obligations of Society . —•

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1794-07-01, Page 16” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 12 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01071794/page/16/.
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
Untitled Article 3
LONDON: Article 3
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 4
PRICES OF BINDING PER VOLUME. Article 4
TO THE READERS OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. Article 5
THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE, OR GENERAL AND COMPLETE LIBRARY. Article 6
AN ORATION PRONOUNCED AT THE AUDIT-HOUSE IN SOUTHAMPTON, AUGUST 3, 1792, Article 14
Untitled Article 18
TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE EDWARD, Article 19
ANSWER OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE EDWARD, K. G. &c. &c. Article 20
TO THE PROPRIETOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. Article 21
PRESENT STATE OF FREE MASONRY. Article 22
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE RELIGIOUS AND MILITARY ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM. Article 24
Untitled Article 26
Untitled Article 27
MEMOIRS OF ANDREW BRICE. Article 28
ON THE ADVANTAGES OF CLASSICAL KNOWLEDGE. Article 32
EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY OF JACQUELINE, COUNTESS OF HAINAULT. Article 40
SOME PARTICULARS OF THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF KOSCIUSKO. Article 45
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. Article 46
DESCRIPTION OF YPRES. Article 47
DESCRIPTION OF CHARLES-SUR-SAMBRE, OR CHARLEROI. Article 48
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. Article 49
ON THE DIVISION OF OUR TIME. Article 52
ACCOUNT OF NORFOLK ISLAND. Article 55
HUMOROUS ANECDOTE OF A BAKER. Article 57
ON FEMALE EDUCATION. Article 58
Untitled Article 58
HUMOROUS ACCOUNT OF THE TIPPLERS IN GERMANY. Article 59
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. Article 64
PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT. Article 66
HOUSE OF COMMONS. Article 67
STRICTURES ON PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 69
POETRY. Article 74
A SONG Article 75
EPITAPH ON A SCOLD. Article 75
A PARAPHRASE Article 76
ON A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY, OF LOW SIZE, WHO DIED AT THE AGE OF FIFTEEN. Article 76
PETHERTON BRIDGE, AN ELEGY. Article 77
ON THE DEATH OF A FLY. Article 78
LINES ON A WELCHMAN. Article 78
ODE TO A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY, Article 79
A CAUTION TO VIRGINS. Article 79
ON SIR FRANCIS DRAKE. Article 79
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 80
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 80
HOME NEWS. Article 81
ROYAL VISIT TO PORTSMOUTH. Article 82
Untitled Article 84
LONDON: Article 84
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 85
PRICES OF BINDING PER VOLUME. Article 85
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

An Oration Pronounced At The Audit-House In Southampton, August 3, 1792,

the hig h and the low—the rich and the poor—the proud and the humble—cannot form an intimate bond of union of any considerable duration . —Every Brother , therefore , at his initiation , enters the Lodge , not in splendour of dress nor pride of heart , but in a garb of bumility- ^ - in a mind of lowliness ; and he finds , when admitted , that the laws of the Society have abolished , as far as order will permit , all adventitious

distinctions . . So , again , the Plumb-rule—an instrument of art , by whose application the building is raised in a perpendicular direction , is another of our symbols—It is figurative of a fairand honourable plan of life—and typically cautions us against any deviation from an upright conduct , in all intercourses and transactionswhether private or public .

our , The Compass is a mathematical instrument used to describe circles : this we adopt as an emblem of prudence—it symbolically instructs us to put moral restraints on our appetites *—to circumscribe , within rational bounds , our wants , our pleasures , our expences—warning us , that bv an opposite course , we shall endanger our quiet and our health ,

our reputation and our liberty . Freemasonry , therefore , we have seen , deals in hieroglyphics—symbols—allegories—and to be qualified to reveal their meaning , a man must know more than a mere nominal Mason : the full interpretation of them , like that of the mysteries of old ¦[ , is in select hands—has been committed only to those of tried fidelity , who conceal it with suitable othersif not deficient in intellectyet wanting industry or /¦"

-care : , , dination to explore the penetralia of the Temple , are not qualified , if willing , to betray it . —Hence the secrecy which has so long distinguished the Fraternity . This secrecy , however , has been urged against-our institution as a crime ; but the wise know that secrecy , properly maintained , is one of the best securities of social happiness : there is more private misery arising from an unqualified communication

of words and actions , than from the anger of the Heavens . Other objections have been invented against our Societ }/ -, but such as we do not condescend to combat—deeming it altogether a waste of time to wage war with surmises , and trusting to our conduct to repel the coarser shafts of malice . From what has been said it appears , that the doctrine of Freemasonry embraces all the natural , moral , and political obligations of Society . —•

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