Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Light And Truth Of Masonry Explained, Being The Substance Of A Charge
and Charity ; and beautified andadorned by Honesty , Temperance , and true Politeness . All Masons that are , or ever have been , were shewn the Lig ht : and though they cannot forget it , yet , alas ! how faintly does it shine in the hearts of too many 1 How is its lustre suihed , and splendor diminished , by the folly , stupidity , and madness ofirreliion and impiety ! These are the persons of whom St .
g JOHN says , they -went out from us ; but they were not of us : for i f they had been " of us , they would no doubt have continued with us : but they went out , that they mig ht be made manifest that they ivere not all of us . And thus it is that those who depart ' from ' the Lig ht bring an evil
report on the Craft . . TRUTH , as it ' is a divine attribute , so is it the foundation of all Masonic Virtues . It is one of our grand Principles ; for to be good men and true , is part of the first great lesson we are taught ; andatthecommencement of our Freedom we are exhorted to he fervent and zealous in the pursuit of Truth and Goodness . It is not sufficient that walk in the Lihtunless we do the Truth also . All
hypowe g , crisy and deceit must be banished from among us : they are sincerity and plain-dealing that complete the harmony of a Lodge , and render us acceptable in the sig ht of Him unto whom all hearts are open , all desires known , and from whom no secrets are bid . There is a charm in Truth that draws and attracts the mind continually toward it . The more we discover , the more we desire ; and the This is edifice
great reward is Wisdom , Virtue , and Happiness . an founded on a rock , which malice cannot shake or time destroy . What a secret satisfaction is it to Masons , when in searching for Truth , they find the rudiments of all useful knowledge still preserved among us , as it has descended by oral tradition from the earliest ages ! and to find likewise this Truth corroborated by the
testimonies of the best and greatest men the world has produced ! But . this is not all ; the Sacred Writings confirm what I assert , the sublime part of our Antieut Mystery being there to be found ; nor can any Christian Brother be a perfect . Mason that does not make the word of God his study . Indeed-we own all Masons as Brothers , be they ChristiansJews or Mahometans ( for Masonry is universal
, , , and not strictly confined to any particular faith , sect , or mode of worship ); all Masons , I say , of whatever relig ious denomination ^ who rule their passions and ' affections , and square their actions accordingly , are acknowledged by us as Brothers ; but , for our parts , the Holy Scripture is to be studied by us , and occasionally read
and consulted . Since without Lig ht we cannot perceive the beauty and excellency of Truth , and since we are certain that no man can be a worthy Brother who is wanting in either ; it may not be improper at this Time to draw the character of him Who . walks in Li ght , and does the Truth ; and who , according to ST . JOHN ' Account , is worthof the true Fellowship
y . As we call any building or piece of architecture perfect which hath all its parts , and " is finished and completed according to the nicest rules of art ; a Brother is in like manner said to be a good Mason Who has studied and knows himself , and has learnt and practises that
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Light And Truth Of Masonry Explained, Being The Substance Of A Charge
and Charity ; and beautified andadorned by Honesty , Temperance , and true Politeness . All Masons that are , or ever have been , were shewn the Lig ht : and though they cannot forget it , yet , alas ! how faintly does it shine in the hearts of too many 1 How is its lustre suihed , and splendor diminished , by the folly , stupidity , and madness ofirreliion and impiety ! These are the persons of whom St .
g JOHN says , they -went out from us ; but they were not of us : for i f they had been " of us , they would no doubt have continued with us : but they went out , that they mig ht be made manifest that they ivere not all of us . And thus it is that those who depart ' from ' the Lig ht bring an evil
report on the Craft . . TRUTH , as it ' is a divine attribute , so is it the foundation of all Masonic Virtues . It is one of our grand Principles ; for to be good men and true , is part of the first great lesson we are taught ; andatthecommencement of our Freedom we are exhorted to he fervent and zealous in the pursuit of Truth and Goodness . It is not sufficient that walk in the Lihtunless we do the Truth also . All
hypowe g , crisy and deceit must be banished from among us : they are sincerity and plain-dealing that complete the harmony of a Lodge , and render us acceptable in the sig ht of Him unto whom all hearts are open , all desires known , and from whom no secrets are bid . There is a charm in Truth that draws and attracts the mind continually toward it . The more we discover , the more we desire ; and the This is edifice
great reward is Wisdom , Virtue , and Happiness . an founded on a rock , which malice cannot shake or time destroy . What a secret satisfaction is it to Masons , when in searching for Truth , they find the rudiments of all useful knowledge still preserved among us , as it has descended by oral tradition from the earliest ages ! and to find likewise this Truth corroborated by the
testimonies of the best and greatest men the world has produced ! But . this is not all ; the Sacred Writings confirm what I assert , the sublime part of our Antieut Mystery being there to be found ; nor can any Christian Brother be a perfect . Mason that does not make the word of God his study . Indeed-we own all Masons as Brothers , be they ChristiansJews or Mahometans ( for Masonry is universal
, , , and not strictly confined to any particular faith , sect , or mode of worship ); all Masons , I say , of whatever relig ious denomination ^ who rule their passions and ' affections , and square their actions accordingly , are acknowledged by us as Brothers ; but , for our parts , the Holy Scripture is to be studied by us , and occasionally read
and consulted . Since without Lig ht we cannot perceive the beauty and excellency of Truth , and since we are certain that no man can be a worthy Brother who is wanting in either ; it may not be improper at this Time to draw the character of him Who . walks in Li ght , and does the Truth ; and who , according to ST . JOHN ' Account , is worthof the true Fellowship
y . As we call any building or piece of architecture perfect which hath all its parts , and " is finished and completed according to the nicest rules of art ; a Brother is in like manner said to be a good Mason Who has studied and knows himself , and has learnt and practises that