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Article TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. ← Page 3 of 3 Article ON POVERTY. Page 1 of 1
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To The Editor Of The Freemasons' Magazine.
reasons ; but nothing can be more unjust or ridiculous , than to imagine that the secret assemblies of the Freemasons can tend to disturb the security or tranquillity of a state : for though our doors are shut against the profane vulgar , they are at all times open to sovereigns and magistrates ; and how many illustrious princes and statesmen do " we count among our brethren ? If aught passed in our lod that
ges was dangerous or criminal , must they not have been long since abolished ? But the experience of many ages , during which this order has never been . known to perform any actions but those of morality and munificence , is a stronger argument in its favour than any " I ' can produce . I shall , therefore , say no more on this matter ; and I should not have said so much , if I did not know that you are . caof the force
pable feeling of these arguments : for you have too much discernment to suffer yourself to be directed by ' that prejudice and caprice which has so much dominion over the common rank of women . If with a pleasing figure , and a graceful manner , you pos- . sessed only a common way of thinking , 1 should love you only as women are commonly loved ; that is to say , for the gratification of
desire and for self-interest .. But my affection is founded on a sense , of your real merit , on the dignity of your mind and the simplicity of your heart . If this affection is of any value with you , preserve it , Madam , by returning to your reason , and by dissipating those transient clouds which have eclipsed , for a moment , that favourable opinion you have hitherto entertained of me : and permit me to
assure you , by the faith of a Mason , that my love shall endure as long . as my life . I have the honour to be , & c . P . S . 1 herewith send you a pair of gloves ,, that were given me by . the lodge at my reception .
On Poverty.
ON POVERTY .
THERE are two sorts of pride , one philosophic , that boasts of poverty ; the other a beggarly one , which is ashamed of it . Poverty , in itself , is so far from being mean , that it requires certain circumstances to render it so : ignoble birth , servile office , low condescension , vulgar breeding , or poorness of spirit . Any of these particulars indeed , may superadd a meanness to poverty , but they will ; at the timediminish the
same , grandeur of riches . Poverty hurts our credit only on the change ; yet even there , character alone has raised a fortune ; considered simply , it excludes us not from a court ' though it does from the shambles . The opulence of Plato made ha addition to his philosophy , but the indi gence of Socrates has added a merit to his . Is there a soul so mean as not to prefer a oedip-ree from the latterto the line of Attalus ? 8 "
, When Lord Corke * mentions his poverty , does he betray a meanness ? He was so proud of his ori ginal indigence , that he puts it upon record by his will . This circumstance was never imputed as a disgrace to his posterity , though the earldom of B **** will ever remain a reproach to his . - t > Q
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor Of The Freemasons' Magazine.
reasons ; but nothing can be more unjust or ridiculous , than to imagine that the secret assemblies of the Freemasons can tend to disturb the security or tranquillity of a state : for though our doors are shut against the profane vulgar , they are at all times open to sovereigns and magistrates ; and how many illustrious princes and statesmen do " we count among our brethren ? If aught passed in our lod that
ges was dangerous or criminal , must they not have been long since abolished ? But the experience of many ages , during which this order has never been . known to perform any actions but those of morality and munificence , is a stronger argument in its favour than any " I ' can produce . I shall , therefore , say no more on this matter ; and I should not have said so much , if I did not know that you are . caof the force
pable feeling of these arguments : for you have too much discernment to suffer yourself to be directed by ' that prejudice and caprice which has so much dominion over the common rank of women . If with a pleasing figure , and a graceful manner , you pos- . sessed only a common way of thinking , 1 should love you only as women are commonly loved ; that is to say , for the gratification of
desire and for self-interest .. But my affection is founded on a sense , of your real merit , on the dignity of your mind and the simplicity of your heart . If this affection is of any value with you , preserve it , Madam , by returning to your reason , and by dissipating those transient clouds which have eclipsed , for a moment , that favourable opinion you have hitherto entertained of me : and permit me to
assure you , by the faith of a Mason , that my love shall endure as long . as my life . I have the honour to be , & c . P . S . 1 herewith send you a pair of gloves ,, that were given me by . the lodge at my reception .
On Poverty.
ON POVERTY .
THERE are two sorts of pride , one philosophic , that boasts of poverty ; the other a beggarly one , which is ashamed of it . Poverty , in itself , is so far from being mean , that it requires certain circumstances to render it so : ignoble birth , servile office , low condescension , vulgar breeding , or poorness of spirit . Any of these particulars indeed , may superadd a meanness to poverty , but they will ; at the timediminish the
same , grandeur of riches . Poverty hurts our credit only on the change ; yet even there , character alone has raised a fortune ; considered simply , it excludes us not from a court ' though it does from the shambles . The opulence of Plato made ha addition to his philosophy , but the indi gence of Socrates has added a merit to his . Is there a soul so mean as not to prefer a oedip-ree from the latterto the line of Attalus ? 8 "
, When Lord Corke * mentions his poverty , does he betray a meanness ? He was so proud of his ori ginal indigence , that he puts it upon record by his will . This circumstance was never imputed as a disgrace to his posterity , though the earldom of B **** will ever remain a reproach to his . - t > Q