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Article THE CHARGE. ← Page 5 of 7 →
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The Charge.
The subjects of them are the only persons who should enter into the refutation of them . Not , however , by the language pf apology , much less by that of recrimination , but by the noble , though silent voice of reformation . I am always sorry to hear those brethren speak in vindication of Masonry , whose minds are unacquainted with its spirit and precepts . Their vindication is a censureaud
, their walk is a persecution of their profession . I am also concerned to say that there are but few , comparatively speaking , who enter at all into the spirit of the order , of which they are nominally members . The generality are contented cum signo pro signaio , and vainly imagine that by a superficial knowledge of some leading points of distinction , they have attained all that is
necessary . 'Those tilings , of little moment in themselves , are treated by some with such a scrupulous tenacity ,- and are paid such a minute attention to , as though the whole of the Institution consisted in hieroglyphics without a meaning . It should be our care to-look farther than these , and to treat the order , not as an enigmatic , but as a moral
system . It is , in fact , a system more adapted to the heart than to the head ; and calls more ' for the exercise of the moral than the inventive powers . The mysteries which it contains ( and many of them are beautifully representative of the most refined truths ) deserve our respect , and the knowledge of them our cultivation : but our chief care is to be acquainted with the spirit of in
Masonry , all" its gradations of refinement . As li ght , at the Creation , probably diffused itself , at first glimmering )}' , and then gradually spread itself over the dark orb , sothe li ght of scientific and moral truth proceeds slowly over the human heart .
Let us , my brethren , aided by our advantages as Free-Masons , watch its motions , and improve every opportunity which it affords us , of rendering ourselves amiable , in the sight of our fellowcreatures ; and meet , for a portion , in the place where that li g ht ' , in all its purity , eternally flows , with happiness contained in ita cheering rays . Before I closepermit me to add a few wordsmore particularly
, , applicable to the occasion of our present meeting . All the way-worn travellers in the road of life , ( and what are we all but such r ) need the reciprocation of good offices , and in social festivity , temporal relaxations from-their cares ' . The Lodge we have now opened , is adapted for this purpose ,, and with a humble intention also to advancein some degreethose
, , great-purposes , which you have heard to'be the design of our Order at large . Without Fidelity no fabric erected for Friendship can possibly continue permanent ; under this consideration , therefore , we have constituted the Society now formed , by the name of the FAITHFUL LODGE . It is required of us , my brethren , in consequence , to act
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Charge.
The subjects of them are the only persons who should enter into the refutation of them . Not , however , by the language pf apology , much less by that of recrimination , but by the noble , though silent voice of reformation . I am always sorry to hear those brethren speak in vindication of Masonry , whose minds are unacquainted with its spirit and precepts . Their vindication is a censureaud
, their walk is a persecution of their profession . I am also concerned to say that there are but few , comparatively speaking , who enter at all into the spirit of the order , of which they are nominally members . The generality are contented cum signo pro signaio , and vainly imagine that by a superficial knowledge of some leading points of distinction , they have attained all that is
necessary . 'Those tilings , of little moment in themselves , are treated by some with such a scrupulous tenacity ,- and are paid such a minute attention to , as though the whole of the Institution consisted in hieroglyphics without a meaning . It should be our care to-look farther than these , and to treat the order , not as an enigmatic , but as a moral
system . It is , in fact , a system more adapted to the heart than to the head ; and calls more ' for the exercise of the moral than the inventive powers . The mysteries which it contains ( and many of them are beautifully representative of the most refined truths ) deserve our respect , and the knowledge of them our cultivation : but our chief care is to be acquainted with the spirit of in
Masonry , all" its gradations of refinement . As li ght , at the Creation , probably diffused itself , at first glimmering )}' , and then gradually spread itself over the dark orb , sothe li ght of scientific and moral truth proceeds slowly over the human heart .
Let us , my brethren , aided by our advantages as Free-Masons , watch its motions , and improve every opportunity which it affords us , of rendering ourselves amiable , in the sight of our fellowcreatures ; and meet , for a portion , in the place where that li g ht ' , in all its purity , eternally flows , with happiness contained in ita cheering rays . Before I closepermit me to add a few wordsmore particularly
, , applicable to the occasion of our present meeting . All the way-worn travellers in the road of life , ( and what are we all but such r ) need the reciprocation of good offices , and in social festivity , temporal relaxations from-their cares ' . The Lodge we have now opened , is adapted for this purpose ,, and with a humble intention also to advancein some degreethose
, , great-purposes , which you have heard to'be the design of our Order at large . Without Fidelity no fabric erected for Friendship can possibly continue permanent ; under this consideration , therefore , we have constituted the Society now formed , by the name of the FAITHFUL LODGE . It is required of us , my brethren , in consequence , to act