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Article THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. ← Page 4 of 5 →
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The Freemasons' Repository.
comes itself an end : we feel delight in such prosperity , however produced , and we look not beyond this immediate delight . It is thus not difficult to observe in what manner a general and disinterested benevolence takes places in a mind which has already receive ! pleasure from the happiness of a few . The transition is easy towards associating it with happiness in general , with the happiness of any being , whether produced by ourselvesor by any other cause whatever . To the
sel-, fish passions are we indebted for all our prejudices : they are the instigators of every action that can tend to disunite our social ties , and to convert harmony into discord . The best of dispositions have , from the earliest zeras that can be traced , laboured under the influence of prejudice . It is an active principle , and , therefore , far more dangerous to society than ignorancefor ignorance is passive : hence do
, we early discover in the system of Masonry so sensible a preference of the social affecions : they are continually held up to our vietv in all their possible varieties wherein they can appear , permanently attractive and engaging , and , singularly as it may seem , they cause outvery prejudices to reflect an additional lustre , and instruct us in the useful and important lesson of converting the most bitter enemy info
the warmest ally and out of evil to bring forth that which is good . A circumstance , which induces a suspicion of the insincerity of a friend , or at least of one who has long possessed that place in the heart , may terminate a long succession of good ofiices , and its effects will be felt with the utmost poignancy . A trivial act , which discovers to us a sincere friend , where we always expected ro meet an unalterable and
inveterate foe , leaves an indelible trace behind . The same , principle upon which these two observations are founded , forms the basis of many important points exhibited to view at the introduction into Masonry . How often has the bosom of the real professor glowed witl \ emotions which have left impressions permanent and voluptuous , in comparison to the momentary and merely pleasurative gratification afforded by the keenest satire !
Plere , to the noviciate , the Jew , ant ! the Gentile , against whom , whilst his prejudices in alarm suggest , Can any good come out of Nazareth ? are beheld uniting , and with exemplary liberality and fervency supporting an institution to the glory of the Architect of the universe , and to the good of their kind . Where the selfish passions endand the social affections are introducedMasonry begins . To
, , use the expressions of Dr . Warburton , Self-love works blindly in the obscure and deep : but as it makes its way , it continues rising , until it emerges into li ght , and then suddenly expiring , leaves behind it the fairest Issue . —Benevolent Affection . Let the warm-minded professor of any religious persuasion , who shall think this paper ought to attract his notice , as containing expressions derogatory to his notions
or his tenets-r-I repeat , of any relig ious persuasion , for my observations may be equally misinterpreted by certain descriptions of one persuasion , as well as by those of" another—be pleased to understand that the grand universal principle of this society , which continually enjoins the allegiance due to our native Sovereign , and the obedience ¦ Av e owe to the laws which afford us protection , will ever equally s . e-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository.
comes itself an end : we feel delight in such prosperity , however produced , and we look not beyond this immediate delight . It is thus not difficult to observe in what manner a general and disinterested benevolence takes places in a mind which has already receive ! pleasure from the happiness of a few . The transition is easy towards associating it with happiness in general , with the happiness of any being , whether produced by ourselvesor by any other cause whatever . To the
sel-, fish passions are we indebted for all our prejudices : they are the instigators of every action that can tend to disunite our social ties , and to convert harmony into discord . The best of dispositions have , from the earliest zeras that can be traced , laboured under the influence of prejudice . It is an active principle , and , therefore , far more dangerous to society than ignorancefor ignorance is passive : hence do
, we early discover in the system of Masonry so sensible a preference of the social affecions : they are continually held up to our vietv in all their possible varieties wherein they can appear , permanently attractive and engaging , and , singularly as it may seem , they cause outvery prejudices to reflect an additional lustre , and instruct us in the useful and important lesson of converting the most bitter enemy info
the warmest ally and out of evil to bring forth that which is good . A circumstance , which induces a suspicion of the insincerity of a friend , or at least of one who has long possessed that place in the heart , may terminate a long succession of good ofiices , and its effects will be felt with the utmost poignancy . A trivial act , which discovers to us a sincere friend , where we always expected ro meet an unalterable and
inveterate foe , leaves an indelible trace behind . The same , principle upon which these two observations are founded , forms the basis of many important points exhibited to view at the introduction into Masonry . How often has the bosom of the real professor glowed witl \ emotions which have left impressions permanent and voluptuous , in comparison to the momentary and merely pleasurative gratification afforded by the keenest satire !
Plere , to the noviciate , the Jew , ant ! the Gentile , against whom , whilst his prejudices in alarm suggest , Can any good come out of Nazareth ? are beheld uniting , and with exemplary liberality and fervency supporting an institution to the glory of the Architect of the universe , and to the good of their kind . Where the selfish passions endand the social affections are introducedMasonry begins . To
, , use the expressions of Dr . Warburton , Self-love works blindly in the obscure and deep : but as it makes its way , it continues rising , until it emerges into li ght , and then suddenly expiring , leaves behind it the fairest Issue . —Benevolent Affection . Let the warm-minded professor of any religious persuasion , who shall think this paper ought to attract his notice , as containing expressions derogatory to his notions
or his tenets-r-I repeat , of any relig ious persuasion , for my observations may be equally misinterpreted by certain descriptions of one persuasion , as well as by those of" another—be pleased to understand that the grand universal principle of this society , which continually enjoins the allegiance due to our native Sovereign , and the obedience ¦ Av e owe to the laws which afford us protection , will ever equally s . e-