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Article THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. Page 1 of 3 →
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The Freemasons' Repository.
THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY .
o * THE MASONIC CHARACTER .
ESSAY V .
' Mathematical and metaphysical reasonings have no tendency to improve social intercourse ; nor are they applicable to the common / affairs of life : but a just taste , of the fine arts , derived from rational principles , furnishes elegant subjects , for conversation , and prepares us for acting iu the social state with dignity and propriety . ' LOUD KAIMES .
AS a considerable portion of the last Essay was occupied in the in-¦*• ^ - vestigation of the social and selfish passions , it may not be an useless employment to extend our inquiries to the discrimination of the social principles of duty recognized by the Masonic Character . If we attentively examine our own breasts , and contemplate any signal act of gratitude , charily , prudence , or of courage , we shall be
conscious of a certain feeling distinguishable from the esteem or admiration of the grateful , charitable , prudent , or courageous person ; which feeling is attended with a lively desire to perform certain acts of gratitude , of charity , prudence , & c . -without relation io any particular object . This is the characteristic of that benevolent affection , or universal good-will , which in Masonry so frequently captivates attention . This is that feeling which it is the great design of the Masonic system to strengthen and mould into . habit . This is that principle which displays the uniformity of manners , opinions , and
actions , in the Masonic Character ; the source of sympathy and imitation , by which the man becomes humanized and polished ; firm , without severity ; and indulgent , without caprice . The social principles may in a certain degree be acquired without the aid of Masonry ; but like all such acquirements , they generally savour too much of a selfish disposition . By the end in view we are enabled to form a tolerable opinion of the motive of action .
If charity be administered from the motive of enjoying the pleasure of a virtuous act , this is selfish , but proceeds from a social principle ; and is of a hi g her nature than the selfish principle of bestowing for the sake of ostentation ; though far inferior to the act of giving with a view solely to relieve distress . Plow local and limited must be that principle of charity which depends upon the pleasure
of doing a virtuous act !—To avoid disappointment , and to obtain happiness , the mind must not expect an implicit submission to its own purposes . To make the proper impression the tool must be accommodated to the stone . Let us view the hand of a Master . VOL . ix , z
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository.
THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY .
o * THE MASONIC CHARACTER .
ESSAY V .
' Mathematical and metaphysical reasonings have no tendency to improve social intercourse ; nor are they applicable to the common / affairs of life : but a just taste , of the fine arts , derived from rational principles , furnishes elegant subjects , for conversation , and prepares us for acting iu the social state with dignity and propriety . ' LOUD KAIMES .
AS a considerable portion of the last Essay was occupied in the in-¦*• ^ - vestigation of the social and selfish passions , it may not be an useless employment to extend our inquiries to the discrimination of the social principles of duty recognized by the Masonic Character . If we attentively examine our own breasts , and contemplate any signal act of gratitude , charily , prudence , or of courage , we shall be
conscious of a certain feeling distinguishable from the esteem or admiration of the grateful , charitable , prudent , or courageous person ; which feeling is attended with a lively desire to perform certain acts of gratitude , of charity , prudence , & c . -without relation io any particular object . This is the characteristic of that benevolent affection , or universal good-will , which in Masonry so frequently captivates attention . This is that feeling which it is the great design of the Masonic system to strengthen and mould into . habit . This is that principle which displays the uniformity of manners , opinions , and
actions , in the Masonic Character ; the source of sympathy and imitation , by which the man becomes humanized and polished ; firm , without severity ; and indulgent , without caprice . The social principles may in a certain degree be acquired without the aid of Masonry ; but like all such acquirements , they generally savour too much of a selfish disposition . By the end in view we are enabled to form a tolerable opinion of the motive of action .
If charity be administered from the motive of enjoying the pleasure of a virtuous act , this is selfish , but proceeds from a social principle ; and is of a hi g her nature than the selfish principle of bestowing for the sake of ostentation ; though far inferior to the act of giving with a view solely to relieve distress . Plow local and limited must be that principle of charity which depends upon the pleasure
of doing a virtuous act !—To avoid disappointment , and to obtain happiness , the mind must not expect an implicit submission to its own purposes . To make the proper impression the tool must be accommodated to the stone . Let us view the hand of a Master . VOL . ix , z