Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Letter Ii. From A Gentleman At Philadelphia To His Friend In Glascow, On The Subject Of Free Masonry.
society under the Sun , in the numbcrof it ' s members and the ' greatness of the whole . Should you object that the separate reli gious societies are more than equal to us in point of number , you are only assisting me to prove the point ; for suppose you take every religious man out of the society to which he belongs , not even the name or appearance of the society will remain . —Nothing but a wretched collection of
persons and principles , the most remote that can be imagined from every idea of a society ; but every truly religious man is a practical Freemason , . differing only in name and circumstances , but not in principle or practice , these he really and constantly adheres to ; the . principles of brotherly love in all it ' s branches , are common to the Christian and Freemason . Indeed it were to be wished that the
. former was as steady and invariable in the exercise of their principies as the latter ; but this is easily accounted for from the peculiar advantages which Freemasons enjoy in the circumstance of their union . But as I intend more fully to consider the agreement between Christianity and Masonry in a proper place and timeas it is at
, present a digression from my subject ; let what has been already advanced , suffice to prove the analogy betwixt Free and Operative Masonry in point of magnitude , and that religion tends only to make a large addition to the greatness of the former , and render it above all other societies in " number and greatness ,
T . he third similar quality in Free and Operative Masonry , that occurs to my mind is that of strength .- —This is indeed a property by which Operative ' Masonry is eminently distinguished from every other mechanic art . Very little reflection will be sufficient to convince you fo ihis . There is not so great a disproportion between the strength o'f any two objects which nature or art can produceas betwixt architecture and the productions of any o'f her art .
, r— -Nothing else than the vast immoveable works of the God of nature , can either equal or exceed the powerful—the invincible strength of architecture in every age and nation . Now this incomparable strength is consequent on the beauteous harmony and proportion of the several parts which constitute the whole ; every other species of beauty , eleganceharmonyand proportionare onl
, , , y imperfect imitations in miniature of nature and architecture . The lovely order , the noble harmony , the stupendous magnificent regularity , and proportion of architecture , let all other artists stand and admire , ( if they can ) imitate . ' And may not the very same qualities , the most lovely concord , order , and harmony , with the strictest justice and propriety be
applied to Freemasonry . And the same causes produce similiar effect—inimitable strength . —This is the very cause , these are the very ingredients which have always constituted the indissoluble iye—which have ever secured the inseparable union of Masons , and rendered it invincible through all the storms of opposition . The combined efforts of the devil and the world , with all the malicious
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Letter Ii. From A Gentleman At Philadelphia To His Friend In Glascow, On The Subject Of Free Masonry.
society under the Sun , in the numbcrof it ' s members and the ' greatness of the whole . Should you object that the separate reli gious societies are more than equal to us in point of number , you are only assisting me to prove the point ; for suppose you take every religious man out of the society to which he belongs , not even the name or appearance of the society will remain . —Nothing but a wretched collection of
persons and principles , the most remote that can be imagined from every idea of a society ; but every truly religious man is a practical Freemason , . differing only in name and circumstances , but not in principle or practice , these he really and constantly adheres to ; the . principles of brotherly love in all it ' s branches , are common to the Christian and Freemason . Indeed it were to be wished that the
. former was as steady and invariable in the exercise of their principies as the latter ; but this is easily accounted for from the peculiar advantages which Freemasons enjoy in the circumstance of their union . But as I intend more fully to consider the agreement between Christianity and Masonry in a proper place and timeas it is at
, present a digression from my subject ; let what has been already advanced , suffice to prove the analogy betwixt Free and Operative Masonry in point of magnitude , and that religion tends only to make a large addition to the greatness of the former , and render it above all other societies in " number and greatness ,
T . he third similar quality in Free and Operative Masonry , that occurs to my mind is that of strength .- —This is indeed a property by which Operative ' Masonry is eminently distinguished from every other mechanic art . Very little reflection will be sufficient to convince you fo ihis . There is not so great a disproportion between the strength o'f any two objects which nature or art can produceas betwixt architecture and the productions of any o'f her art .
, r— -Nothing else than the vast immoveable works of the God of nature , can either equal or exceed the powerful—the invincible strength of architecture in every age and nation . Now this incomparable strength is consequent on the beauteous harmony and proportion of the several parts which constitute the whole ; every other species of beauty , eleganceharmonyand proportionare onl
, , , y imperfect imitations in miniature of nature and architecture . The lovely order , the noble harmony , the stupendous magnificent regularity , and proportion of architecture , let all other artists stand and admire , ( if they can ) imitate . ' And may not the very same qualities , the most lovely concord , order , and harmony , with the strictest justice and propriety be
applied to Freemasonry . And the same causes produce similiar effect—inimitable strength . —This is the very cause , these are the very ingredients which have always constituted the indissoluble iye—which have ever secured the inseparable union of Masons , and rendered it invincible through all the storms of opposition . The combined efforts of the devil and the world , with all the malicious