-
Articles/Ads
Article THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. ← Page 5 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository.
in . the breasts of the eastern Magi , when they fell down and worshipped ; when they opened their treasures , and presented their gifts—their gold , and frankincense , and myrrh—in humble adoration ofthe infant Jesus . ' ' To endeavour to ascertain , in the vast expanse of antiquity ' , the precise period when the appellation we now bear was adopted ; when the nature and objects ofthe masonic order were confounded with the
mechanic arts , or the science of architecture , would lead us far from the purposes of this assembly , and divert your regards from what may be practically beneficial , to vague conjecture and desultory investigation . ' But if , as I believe and do assume , such be the grandeur , the depth and solidity of our ancient foundations ; if the influences and effects
of our order have been such , as respective ! } ' to di pose mens' minds to an humble and devout sense of an over-ruling Providence ; and to produce a suitable behaviour ; a reverence for his divine attributes , obedience to his commands , and an ardent love of their fellow creataures ; it must be your care as Masons , in this your day , not to dishonour a professionwhich has sustained itself loriouslamidst
, g y the wreck of ages , and survived the revolutions of empires and of kingdoms . ' You see into what an abyss of sin and misery a worldly philosophy has recently plunged its votaries . Plow it has wantonly broken the chain that links the consciences of men to their Maker , deprived them of their only consolation and their hopeand left them to sink
, in the gloom and defilements of vice and immorality . So true is it , ' if our gospel be hid , it is hid to them that are lost ; in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not , lest the li ght of the glorious gospel of Christ , who is the image of God , should shine unto them . ' *
'But of you , brothers—free and accepted masons , —I hope and believe better things . You are sufficiently aware , that the obligations of your profession become , on these accounts , more and more binding upon you . You know , that the crimes and machinations of unbelief Jiave of late been made to bring discredit even on the craft I The execrable jugglings and incantations of atheists have been foolishly supposed near of kin to your solemn and inoffensive mysteries ; and
the principles of your admirable institution most unjustly suspected of being repugnant to the interests of revealed reli g ion , and subversive of the established forms , order , and regulations of civilized society !•)• I trust , however , and I am persuaded , that' God , who com *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository.
in . the breasts of the eastern Magi , when they fell down and worshipped ; when they opened their treasures , and presented their gifts—their gold , and frankincense , and myrrh—in humble adoration ofthe infant Jesus . ' ' To endeavour to ascertain , in the vast expanse of antiquity ' , the precise period when the appellation we now bear was adopted ; when the nature and objects ofthe masonic order were confounded with the
mechanic arts , or the science of architecture , would lead us far from the purposes of this assembly , and divert your regards from what may be practically beneficial , to vague conjecture and desultory investigation . ' But if , as I believe and do assume , such be the grandeur , the depth and solidity of our ancient foundations ; if the influences and effects
of our order have been such , as respective ! } ' to di pose mens' minds to an humble and devout sense of an over-ruling Providence ; and to produce a suitable behaviour ; a reverence for his divine attributes , obedience to his commands , and an ardent love of their fellow creataures ; it must be your care as Masons , in this your day , not to dishonour a professionwhich has sustained itself loriouslamidst
, g y the wreck of ages , and survived the revolutions of empires and of kingdoms . ' You see into what an abyss of sin and misery a worldly philosophy has recently plunged its votaries . Plow it has wantonly broken the chain that links the consciences of men to their Maker , deprived them of their only consolation and their hopeand left them to sink
, in the gloom and defilements of vice and immorality . So true is it , ' if our gospel be hid , it is hid to them that are lost ; in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not , lest the li ght of the glorious gospel of Christ , who is the image of God , should shine unto them . ' *
'But of you , brothers—free and accepted masons , —I hope and believe better things . You are sufficiently aware , that the obligations of your profession become , on these accounts , more and more binding upon you . You know , that the crimes and machinations of unbelief Jiave of late been made to bring discredit even on the craft I The execrable jugglings and incantations of atheists have been foolishly supposed near of kin to your solemn and inoffensive mysteries ; and
the principles of your admirable institution most unjustly suspected of being repugnant to the interests of revealed reli g ion , and subversive of the established forms , order , and regulations of civilized society !•)• I trust , however , and I am persuaded , that' God , who com *