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 , HA V 1 NG lately met With a book which afforded me sonic entertainment , and one part of which seems to fall in with your plan of collectinowhatever can be met with illustrative of FREEMASONRY , I extract and send the following letter for your insertion . The title of the book is , "Letters of Baron Bielfeld , Secretary of Legation to the King of Prussia to Prince Ferdinand
, Preceptor , Chancellor of the Universities in the Dominions of his Prussian Majesty , F . R . A . B . Gfc . Author of Political Institutes ; " of course roe . may presume that the sentiments it contains are entitled to our attention . I am , Sir , Your occasional Correspondent
, S . J . To MADEMOISELLE M . VOS B *** , AT HAMBURGH . Hamburgh , Feb . 6 , 173 8 . SO you are quite alarmed , madam , very seriously angry!—M y reason tells me but tells
you are wrong ; my passion me you can never do wrong : for it makes me perceive that I love you more , if it be possible , " since I have been a Freemason , and since you have been angry with me for so being , than I ever did before . Permit me therefore , by this opportunity , to eriiploy my rhetoric to dissipate your discontent ; that you may approve the motives which have induced to take this that
me step , you may restore me to your favour , and fliat I may be enabled to reconcile my reason with my passion . Y 011 know that I am naturally curious , and that I have made great efforts to discover the secrets of Freemasonry , but without the least effect . I have found men that have been the most indiscreet in other respects , the most impenetrable in this matter . There was therefore no other way for me to take but to get admission into their societyand I do solemnly assure you , madam , that I do not in the least repent it .
lhat a man may be very honest and very , happy without beino- a freemason , I readily allow ; but this argument is equally applicable to every object that excites our curiosity , and even to many of the most pleasing parts of learning . If we banish curiosity ( the desire of increasing our knowledge ) from the world , there is at once an end ot all improvement in science ; the most ingenious , the most pleasing , inventions and discoveries would be
lost in darkness . And who can say how far the knowledge of those objects , of whose essence , whose principles , we are absolutely ignorant , may lead us ? That which at first appears frivolous , frequently becomes , in the hands of a skilful man , highly useful I do not pride myself in being of the number of hese , but I am fully satisfied that I shall have a better claim to it bv being a Freemason . ' VOL . V . R
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 , HA V 1 NG lately met With a book which afforded me sonic entertainment , and one part of which seems to fall in with your plan of collectinowhatever can be met with illustrative of FREEMASONRY , I extract and send the following letter for your insertion . The title of the book is , "Letters of Baron Bielfeld , Secretary of Legation to the King of Prussia to Prince Ferdinand
, Preceptor , Chancellor of the Universities in the Dominions of his Prussian Majesty , F . R . A . B . Gfc . Author of Political Institutes ; " of course roe . may presume that the sentiments it contains are entitled to our attention . I am , Sir , Your occasional Correspondent
, S . J . To MADEMOISELLE M . VOS B *** , AT HAMBURGH . Hamburgh , Feb . 6 , 173 8 . SO you are quite alarmed , madam , very seriously angry!—M y reason tells me but tells
you are wrong ; my passion me you can never do wrong : for it makes me perceive that I love you more , if it be possible , " since I have been a Freemason , and since you have been angry with me for so being , than I ever did before . Permit me therefore , by this opportunity , to eriiploy my rhetoric to dissipate your discontent ; that you may approve the motives which have induced to take this that
me step , you may restore me to your favour , and fliat I may be enabled to reconcile my reason with my passion . Y 011 know that I am naturally curious , and that I have made great efforts to discover the secrets of Freemasonry , but without the least effect . I have found men that have been the most indiscreet in other respects , the most impenetrable in this matter . There was therefore no other way for me to take but to get admission into their societyand I do solemnly assure you , madam , that I do not in the least repent it .
lhat a man may be very honest and very , happy without beino- a freemason , I readily allow ; but this argument is equally applicable to every object that excites our curiosity , and even to many of the most pleasing parts of learning . If we banish curiosity ( the desire of increasing our knowledge ) from the world , there is at once an end ot all improvement in science ; the most ingenious , the most pleasing , inventions and discoveries would be
lost in darkness . And who can say how far the knowledge of those objects , of whose essence , whose principles , we are absolutely ignorant , may lead us ? That which at first appears frivolous , frequently becomes , in the hands of a skilful man , highly useful I do not pride myself in being of the number of hese , but I am fully satisfied that I shall have a better claim to it bv being a Freemason . ' VOL . V . R