Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, And Cabinet Of Universal Literature.
that astonishing piece of heavenly workmanship , the eye , and the several organs of sight . If the eye be distempered , all objects , though they remain the same in themselves , to us lose their beauty and lustre ; if the eye be totally destroyed , the sense which depends upon it is lost also , and the whole body is full of darkness . So is it with that Mason , who has not a'frame and temper of mind adapted to our institution ; without whichthe blended allurements of pleasure and
, instruction to be found in a Lodge , must become tasteless , and of none effect . Be assured , then , before you propose a candidate for our Order , that his conduct and circumstances in life be such , as may not have the least tendency to diminish tha credit of the Society ; and be ye ever disposed to honour good men for their virtues , and wise men for their knowledge : good men , for propagating virtue and
religion all over the world ; and wise men , for encouraging arts and sciences , and diffusing them from east to west , and between north and south , rejecting all who are not of good repute , sound morals , and competent understandings . Hence you will derive honour and happiness to yourselves , and drink deeply of those streams of felicity , of which the unenlihtened can form no idea ; forby these means
g , , excess and irregulari ty must be strangers wi hin your walls . On sobriety , your pleasure depends ; on regularity , your reputation ; and not your , reputation only , but the reputation of the whole body . These general cautions , if duly attended to , will evince your wisdom by their effects : for I can aver from experience , that nothing contributes more . to the dissolution of a Lodge , than too great a
number of Members * indiscriminately made , want of regulation in their expences , and keeping unseasonable hours . To guard against this fatal consequence , we shall do well to cultivate the virtues of Prudence , Temperance , and Frugality , the best supports of every community . Prudence is the queen and the guide of all other virtuesthe
orna-, ment of our actions , the square and rule of our affairs . It is the knowledge and choice of those things which we must either approve , or reject ; and implies , to consult and deliberate well , to judge and resolve well , to conduct and execute well .
Temperance consists in the government of our appetites and affections , so to use the good things of this life as not to abuse them , either by a sordid and ungrateful parsimony on the one hand , or a prodigal and excessive indulgence on the other . This virtue has many powerful arguments in its favour : for , as we value our health , wealth , reputation , family , and friends , our characters as men , as Christians , as members of society in general , and as FREEMASONS ' in particular , all conspire to call on us for the exercise of this virtue ; in ' short , itcom-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, And Cabinet Of Universal Literature.
that astonishing piece of heavenly workmanship , the eye , and the several organs of sight . If the eye be distempered , all objects , though they remain the same in themselves , to us lose their beauty and lustre ; if the eye be totally destroyed , the sense which depends upon it is lost also , and the whole body is full of darkness . So is it with that Mason , who has not a'frame and temper of mind adapted to our institution ; without whichthe blended allurements of pleasure and
, instruction to be found in a Lodge , must become tasteless , and of none effect . Be assured , then , before you propose a candidate for our Order , that his conduct and circumstances in life be such , as may not have the least tendency to diminish tha credit of the Society ; and be ye ever disposed to honour good men for their virtues , and wise men for their knowledge : good men , for propagating virtue and
religion all over the world ; and wise men , for encouraging arts and sciences , and diffusing them from east to west , and between north and south , rejecting all who are not of good repute , sound morals , and competent understandings . Hence you will derive honour and happiness to yourselves , and drink deeply of those streams of felicity , of which the unenlihtened can form no idea ; forby these means
g , , excess and irregulari ty must be strangers wi hin your walls . On sobriety , your pleasure depends ; on regularity , your reputation ; and not your , reputation only , but the reputation of the whole body . These general cautions , if duly attended to , will evince your wisdom by their effects : for I can aver from experience , that nothing contributes more . to the dissolution of a Lodge , than too great a
number of Members * indiscriminately made , want of regulation in their expences , and keeping unseasonable hours . To guard against this fatal consequence , we shall do well to cultivate the virtues of Prudence , Temperance , and Frugality , the best supports of every community . Prudence is the queen and the guide of all other virtuesthe
orna-, ment of our actions , the square and rule of our affairs . It is the knowledge and choice of those things which we must either approve , or reject ; and implies , to consult and deliberate well , to judge and resolve well , to conduct and execute well .
Temperance consists in the government of our appetites and affections , so to use the good things of this life as not to abuse them , either by a sordid and ungrateful parsimony on the one hand , or a prodigal and excessive indulgence on the other . This virtue has many powerful arguments in its favour : for , as we value our health , wealth , reputation , family , and friends , our characters as men , as Christians , as members of society in general , and as FREEMASONS ' in particular , all conspire to call on us for the exercise of this virtue ; in ' short , itcom-