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Article THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. ← Page 5 of 6 →
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The Freemasons' Repository.
servation of every constituent part . It is the union , then , of civil society which alone preserves its being . Mark but the various reta tions of life , how they soften and relieve each other : —the sweet endearment of connubial happiness , —the fondness of parental care , in the nurture and instruction of its offspring , — -the tender sensibility , that lively solicitude , which none but parents can , in faft , enjoy and feel . In short , every part of human life directs us to provide for the
wants of those who look to us for help : —and , blessed be God ! notwithstanding the depravity ofthe world , there are many , at this day , who employ their talents to the relief of indigence , infirmity , and affliction .
It is on this account that , with confidence , I solicit your contributions for the support of a Charity which has but lately been esta . blished ; but which , for its peculiar excellence , and the comforts it supplies , to say the least of it , is inferior to none . Even to those who may not be aware of the extraordinary relief it affords , the barely mentioning , that its purpose is intended to lessen the distresses of poor married women , ( who are confined at their homes by the danger
and peril of child-birth ) must be sufficient to impress their minds with the necessity and importance of such a Charity . It cannot indeed , escape notice , that many of these poor women , under the afflictions which are incident to the state already described , would , without some kind of assistance from the hand of benevolence , sink beneath the burthen . The occasional parochial relief , which is
usually afforded in that trying hour , is quite inadequate : it may administer the bread of affliction , —but proper diet , medicine , skill , axtdcare , are all beyond the . reach of that scanty pittance . In that hour of anguish , when the " snares of death encompass her around , —and when , as the Psalmist most truly expresses it , the pains of hell get hold upon her , —if . no charitable hand assist , she , who might have been a joyful mother of childrenis left to perish ; and her infantwho might
, , otherwise have been a valuable member of society , is cut off from the world , even before he has seen the lig ht . How aggravated , then , must be the distress , when , in the midst of her trouble and sorrow , the indigent mother finds no other attendants round her miserable bed than ivant , nep-leSi , inexperience , labour , and approaching death !
Enough , I am certain , is hinted to you , my Brethren , on this occasion ; therefore , as Christians and as Masons , let us g ive it the support it deserves -. and in proportion to the abilities we are possessed of from the bountiful hand of Providence , and in the spirit of those princip les of true benevolence on which our institution of Masonry is established , let us shew cur gratitude by the liberality and extent of our respective donations .
Assembled as we are upon this day , dedicated to our Holy Evangelist § t . john , ™ whose writings are now on record , and . which , for their sublimity of style and simplicity of manner , have gained him the title of Divine , —let us , as if inspired by the spirit of that love in Christ which he has so fully exemplified by his life and doCtrines , now give a proof to the world , b y the offerings of our free-will g ifts *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository.
servation of every constituent part . It is the union , then , of civil society which alone preserves its being . Mark but the various reta tions of life , how they soften and relieve each other : —the sweet endearment of connubial happiness , —the fondness of parental care , in the nurture and instruction of its offspring , — -the tender sensibility , that lively solicitude , which none but parents can , in faft , enjoy and feel . In short , every part of human life directs us to provide for the
wants of those who look to us for help : —and , blessed be God ! notwithstanding the depravity ofthe world , there are many , at this day , who employ their talents to the relief of indigence , infirmity , and affliction .
It is on this account that , with confidence , I solicit your contributions for the support of a Charity which has but lately been esta . blished ; but which , for its peculiar excellence , and the comforts it supplies , to say the least of it , is inferior to none . Even to those who may not be aware of the extraordinary relief it affords , the barely mentioning , that its purpose is intended to lessen the distresses of poor married women , ( who are confined at their homes by the danger
and peril of child-birth ) must be sufficient to impress their minds with the necessity and importance of such a Charity . It cannot indeed , escape notice , that many of these poor women , under the afflictions which are incident to the state already described , would , without some kind of assistance from the hand of benevolence , sink beneath the burthen . The occasional parochial relief , which is
usually afforded in that trying hour , is quite inadequate : it may administer the bread of affliction , —but proper diet , medicine , skill , axtdcare , are all beyond the . reach of that scanty pittance . In that hour of anguish , when the " snares of death encompass her around , —and when , as the Psalmist most truly expresses it , the pains of hell get hold upon her , —if . no charitable hand assist , she , who might have been a joyful mother of childrenis left to perish ; and her infantwho might
, , otherwise have been a valuable member of society , is cut off from the world , even before he has seen the lig ht . How aggravated , then , must be the distress , when , in the midst of her trouble and sorrow , the indigent mother finds no other attendants round her miserable bed than ivant , nep-leSi , inexperience , labour , and approaching death !
Enough , I am certain , is hinted to you , my Brethren , on this occasion ; therefore , as Christians and as Masons , let us g ive it the support it deserves -. and in proportion to the abilities we are possessed of from the bountiful hand of Providence , and in the spirit of those princip les of true benevolence on which our institution of Masonry is established , let us shew cur gratitude by the liberality and extent of our respective donations .
Assembled as we are upon this day , dedicated to our Holy Evangelist § t . john , ™ whose writings are now on record , and . which , for their sublimity of style and simplicity of manner , have gained him the title of Divine , —let us , as if inspired by the spirit of that love in Christ which he has so fully exemplified by his life and doCtrines , now give a proof to the world , b y the offerings of our free-will g ifts *