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To The Editor Of The Freemasons' Magazine.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE .
SIR , PERCEIVING an Extract from a French book , imputing the present French Revolution to the principles inculcated by Free Masonry , I hope some gentleman of abilities and leisure will undertake the refutation of so false an assertion ; but should that not be the casej'otir insertion of tlie following Vindication of our
honour-, able Order will , I trust , meet the approbation of my Brethren , and much oblige , Sir , your obedient Servant , CHAPMAN IVES . Coltisball , July 26 , 1794 .
ON the subject of Freemasonry I might begin with its hig h antiquity , and easily jefute Mr . Le Franc ' s ideas to the contrary : but it is ' not necessary to enter upon that point , as it would take up too much time ; I shall therefore content myself with a few observations 011 the influence this writer supposes Freemasonry to have had on the French Revolution , and then explain the precepts which Ma- * sonry HEALLY inculcates .
Mr . Le Franc remarks that the monster Egahte , Condorcet , iio' chef ' oucault , and other chief Officers of the Masonic Order , were the chief architects of the new constitution : I do not deny the fact ; -but I think it by no means fair to impute their conduct to Freemasonry , Our Order directs us " to be peaceable subjects , to g ive no umbrage " to the civil powers , and never to be concerned in plots and con" spiracles against the well-being of the nation ; " and as political matters have sown the seeds of discord amongst the nearest relations and most intimate friends , we' are wisely enjoined in our assemblies " never to speak of them . " '
That ' these men belonged to our Order can be no imputation upon it : tlie Christian religion is certainty the most excellent institution upon earth ; but so fallible is human nature , that " we daily see many of its professors disgracing both it and themselves ; and will any man venture to say , Religion is the cause of it ? The author ' s comparison of the municipal scarf , the president ' s hat , the stars , garters , crossesribbands & c . are some of them falseand others too
insig-, , , nificant to take notice of ; and if it is true , that the new Legislature permits Freemasons to assemble in lodges , it certainly proves they think such meetings at least harmless . With repect to Freemasonry steeling the heart , I positively deny the assertion . Our Order " instructs us in our duty to the great " Artificer of tlie Universe ; directs us to behave as becomes
crea" tures to their Creator , to be satisfied with his dispensations , and " always to rely upon HIM whose-wisdom cannot mistake our hap" piue . ss—whose goodness cannot contradict it . ' It instructs us in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor Of The Freemasons' Magazine.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE .
SIR , PERCEIVING an Extract from a French book , imputing the present French Revolution to the principles inculcated by Free Masonry , I hope some gentleman of abilities and leisure will undertake the refutation of so false an assertion ; but should that not be the casej'otir insertion of tlie following Vindication of our
honour-, able Order will , I trust , meet the approbation of my Brethren , and much oblige , Sir , your obedient Servant , CHAPMAN IVES . Coltisball , July 26 , 1794 .
ON the subject of Freemasonry I might begin with its hig h antiquity , and easily jefute Mr . Le Franc ' s ideas to the contrary : but it is ' not necessary to enter upon that point , as it would take up too much time ; I shall therefore content myself with a few observations 011 the influence this writer supposes Freemasonry to have had on the French Revolution , and then explain the precepts which Ma- * sonry HEALLY inculcates .
Mr . Le Franc remarks that the monster Egahte , Condorcet , iio' chef ' oucault , and other chief Officers of the Masonic Order , were the chief architects of the new constitution : I do not deny the fact ; -but I think it by no means fair to impute their conduct to Freemasonry , Our Order directs us " to be peaceable subjects , to g ive no umbrage " to the civil powers , and never to be concerned in plots and con" spiracles against the well-being of the nation ; " and as political matters have sown the seeds of discord amongst the nearest relations and most intimate friends , we' are wisely enjoined in our assemblies " never to speak of them . " '
That ' these men belonged to our Order can be no imputation upon it : tlie Christian religion is certainty the most excellent institution upon earth ; but so fallible is human nature , that " we daily see many of its professors disgracing both it and themselves ; and will any man venture to say , Religion is the cause of it ? The author ' s comparison of the municipal scarf , the president ' s hat , the stars , garters , crossesribbands & c . are some of them falseand others too
insig-, , , nificant to take notice of ; and if it is true , that the new Legislature permits Freemasons to assemble in lodges , it certainly proves they think such meetings at least harmless . With repect to Freemasonry steeling the heart , I positively deny the assertion . Our Order " instructs us in our duty to the great " Artificer of tlie Universe ; directs us to behave as becomes
crea" tures to their Creator , to be satisfied with his dispensations , and " always to rely upon HIM whose-wisdom cannot mistake our hap" piue . ss—whose goodness cannot contradict it . ' It instructs us in