Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, And Cabinet Of Universal Literature .
community : for , if this were the case , away goes Christianity itself ; who could defend it ? Judge of it by its professors , and what tongue or pen could be employed in its commendation ? ' MASONRY ( if 1 may be allowed the comparison in this sacred place , dedicated only to the gospel ) has a right to plead , for the same tender caution , before those , who , not being of its community , are inclined to censure itfrom the conduct of its individual
mem-, bers . View- it in its cautions , and it admits rione , knowingly , but the virtuous and the good . View it in its nature , and it has nothing in its institution , but \ Vhat both the law of Moses and of Christ ' will fully allow , and universally sanction ; ' and those , who preside in"the initiation of its candidates , must either be deceived by others , " or most vilelbetray their own most sacred trustif any manwho is a
y , , bad husband , a bad father , a bad neighbour , or a bad citizen , is ever admitted into the Order of Masonry . The recommendation of every candidate cometh deliberately from ' sortie Brother ; and woe be to the betraying Judas of any family . The admission is ' afterwards put to the secret vote of the whole of that Society , to which the candidate offers himself as a member ; and woe be to every member , who
gives his consent , through interest , caprice , or personal friendship ; while his conscience gives his bosom the blush of treachery to his Society , and unfaithfulness to the Masonic . community .. ' Farther , however , we-have to observe , that a deception in admission may not be the only reason , why evei } ' Mason is not a good man . There , may in" Masonry , as there has been in Christianity , a falling away , or a fading in the characteristic goodness of many of its
members . Many a one hath been admitted-with the best proofs of a good , a faithful , anil a well substantiated character . Their name . was beauty , aud their actions praise . The poor man blessed him in the gate of the city ; he was a Job in the excellency of . charity . The nation boasted of him as a faithful citizen ; in his person , in his heart , and in his property , he obeyed its . laws , he fought its battles , he
gloried in its constitution . His children drew good and pleasant nourishment from him , as the cluster of grapes draws sweetness from the vine ; and shone in garments , as the branch in its foliage , or the rose in its blossom . His wife was happy in the faithful tenderness of his union . His neighbours were pleasant in his cheerful and friendl y society . And Masonry itself boasted the uprightness , the constancy , and the integrity of his brotherhood .
' But now , alas ! perhaps , all have reason to lament , in the language of the mournful . Prophet , how- is the fine gold become dim ! how are the mighty in virtue fallen . The poor , perhaps , by his fall , and defection from benevolence to covetousness , beg , in vain , the needy morsel . His country feels him as a public vulture , or a crawling snake , tearing out the vitals of its constitution , or poisoning , with every evil principle , its more ignorant and unwary members . In his own family , he has exchanged the characters of husband aud father , for the unfaithful tyrant and unnatural deserter . In his neighbourhood , by his tUU from virtue , he is shunned as disgraceful , and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, And Cabinet Of Universal Literature .
community : for , if this were the case , away goes Christianity itself ; who could defend it ? Judge of it by its professors , and what tongue or pen could be employed in its commendation ? ' MASONRY ( if 1 may be allowed the comparison in this sacred place , dedicated only to the gospel ) has a right to plead , for the same tender caution , before those , who , not being of its community , are inclined to censure itfrom the conduct of its individual
mem-, bers . View- it in its cautions , and it admits rione , knowingly , but the virtuous and the good . View it in its nature , and it has nothing in its institution , but \ Vhat both the law of Moses and of Christ ' will fully allow , and universally sanction ; ' and those , who preside in"the initiation of its candidates , must either be deceived by others , " or most vilelbetray their own most sacred trustif any manwho is a
y , , bad husband , a bad father , a bad neighbour , or a bad citizen , is ever admitted into the Order of Masonry . The recommendation of every candidate cometh deliberately from ' sortie Brother ; and woe be to the betraying Judas of any family . The admission is ' afterwards put to the secret vote of the whole of that Society , to which the candidate offers himself as a member ; and woe be to every member , who
gives his consent , through interest , caprice , or personal friendship ; while his conscience gives his bosom the blush of treachery to his Society , and unfaithfulness to the Masonic . community .. ' Farther , however , we-have to observe , that a deception in admission may not be the only reason , why evei } ' Mason is not a good man . There , may in" Masonry , as there has been in Christianity , a falling away , or a fading in the characteristic goodness of many of its
members . Many a one hath been admitted-with the best proofs of a good , a faithful , anil a well substantiated character . Their name . was beauty , aud their actions praise . The poor man blessed him in the gate of the city ; he was a Job in the excellency of . charity . The nation boasted of him as a faithful citizen ; in his person , in his heart , and in his property , he obeyed its . laws , he fought its battles , he
gloried in its constitution . His children drew good and pleasant nourishment from him , as the cluster of grapes draws sweetness from the vine ; and shone in garments , as the branch in its foliage , or the rose in its blossom . His wife was happy in the faithful tenderness of his union . His neighbours were pleasant in his cheerful and friendl y society . And Masonry itself boasted the uprightness , the constancy , and the integrity of his brotherhood .
' But now , alas ! perhaps , all have reason to lament , in the language of the mournful . Prophet , how- is the fine gold become dim ! how are the mighty in virtue fallen . The poor , perhaps , by his fall , and defection from benevolence to covetousness , beg , in vain , the needy morsel . His country feels him as a public vulture , or a crawling snake , tearing out the vitals of its constitution , or poisoning , with every evil principle , its more ignorant and unwary members . In his own family , he has exchanged the characters of husband aud father , for the unfaithful tyrant and unnatural deserter . In his neighbourhood , by his tUU from virtue , he is shunned as disgraceful , and