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Article THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. ← Page 2 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository.
preserved inviolate , that no man can gain admission within its . pale , whose character is not well attested for the purity ofhis life and conversation : and as to the man of no religion , or meh of bad and immoral principles , it holds out an utter and irreversible exclusion ; as far , indeed , as is fairly consistent with that temper of ingenuous liberality which should ever be exerted in the estimation of private
worth . I will only add , that even those who are ignorant of tbe nature and intent of Masonry , and who are necessarily obliged to take for granted , that the accounts which Masons g ive of . themselves are strictly conformable to truth , cannot , in equity , entertain any unfavourable opinion of the rationality and virtue of the institution itselfdid they but reflectthat the greatthe wise , and the good ,
, , , pf all ages , have ever been ofthe number of those who have given it their decided support ; and who , had they found it containing any intrinsic principles repugnant to the interests of society , or hostile to their religious opinions , would have been the first to have proclaimed the evil of its tendency , and to have avowed their condemnation of its spirit and design .
In times of civil commotion , the secret meetings of Masons have often excited jealousies of their conspiring against the State . — Jealousy is . indeed , inseparable from such times ; and it is , no doubt , owing to the peculiar inquietude of these unhappy days , that the same spirit of suspicion has led some to'doubt ofthe integrity of our intentions :- —but let us not be discouraged , my Brethren , by such malevolent censures ) a due circumspection will repel the most ,
invidious malignity of our bitterest enemies . The reftitude of our conduft , founded , on the principles of true benevolence , and directed by the unsophisticated spirit of real Masonic science , will rescue our venerable institution from the insidious reproaches of the most artful calumniator .
May it be excused if , in this place , I deviate from the plan proposed , of making a defence of Masonry on general grounds , and . attempt a refutation of a principal an'd particular charge or two , which have been frequently advanced in its disfavour . The first , then , is the secrecy ofourmeetings . Much use , I find , is made , by the authors already alluded to , of the epithet of secret ; but , on a fair investigation of its meaning and licationlittle canin fadtbe derivedfrom whence
app , , , , to depreciate the character of a Mason : —for , let me ask , does it follow , because conspirators , ( in the true acceptation of the word ) have ever been compelled to conceal their views , and to aft in secret conjunction with each other , till their plans of mischief were ripe for
execution , that therefore the secrecy of a conspirator is synonimous with that of a society of Masons?—Is there no distinction to be drawn between the secret machinations of a mischievous combination of traitors to the public weal and the private regulations of a weil-disposed body of associates , whose principles of aftion are . known to be founded on the best of Christian virtues , —on universal philanthropy ? J-5 there no difference betwixt the secret concealment of a concerted treason against a state and the avowed publicity of a tried attachment to it ? Look but at the list of names which stand recorded on the re-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository.
preserved inviolate , that no man can gain admission within its . pale , whose character is not well attested for the purity ofhis life and conversation : and as to the man of no religion , or meh of bad and immoral principles , it holds out an utter and irreversible exclusion ; as far , indeed , as is fairly consistent with that temper of ingenuous liberality which should ever be exerted in the estimation of private
worth . I will only add , that even those who are ignorant of tbe nature and intent of Masonry , and who are necessarily obliged to take for granted , that the accounts which Masons g ive of . themselves are strictly conformable to truth , cannot , in equity , entertain any unfavourable opinion of the rationality and virtue of the institution itselfdid they but reflectthat the greatthe wise , and the good ,
, , , pf all ages , have ever been ofthe number of those who have given it their decided support ; and who , had they found it containing any intrinsic principles repugnant to the interests of society , or hostile to their religious opinions , would have been the first to have proclaimed the evil of its tendency , and to have avowed their condemnation of its spirit and design .
In times of civil commotion , the secret meetings of Masons have often excited jealousies of their conspiring against the State . — Jealousy is . indeed , inseparable from such times ; and it is , no doubt , owing to the peculiar inquietude of these unhappy days , that the same spirit of suspicion has led some to'doubt ofthe integrity of our intentions :- —but let us not be discouraged , my Brethren , by such malevolent censures ) a due circumspection will repel the most ,
invidious malignity of our bitterest enemies . The reftitude of our conduft , founded , on the principles of true benevolence , and directed by the unsophisticated spirit of real Masonic science , will rescue our venerable institution from the insidious reproaches of the most artful calumniator .
May it be excused if , in this place , I deviate from the plan proposed , of making a defence of Masonry on general grounds , and . attempt a refutation of a principal an'd particular charge or two , which have been frequently advanced in its disfavour . The first , then , is the secrecy ofourmeetings . Much use , I find , is made , by the authors already alluded to , of the epithet of secret ; but , on a fair investigation of its meaning and licationlittle canin fadtbe derivedfrom whence
app , , , , to depreciate the character of a Mason : —for , let me ask , does it follow , because conspirators , ( in the true acceptation of the word ) have ever been compelled to conceal their views , and to aft in secret conjunction with each other , till their plans of mischief were ripe for
execution , that therefore the secrecy of a conspirator is synonimous with that of a society of Masons?—Is there no distinction to be drawn between the secret machinations of a mischievous combination of traitors to the public weal and the private regulations of a weil-disposed body of associates , whose principles of aftion are . known to be founded on the best of Christian virtues , —on universal philanthropy ? J-5 there no difference betwixt the secret concealment of a concerted treason against a state and the avowed publicity of a tried attachment to it ? Look but at the list of names which stand recorded on the re-