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Article A VINDICATION OF MASONRY. ← Page 2 of 5 →
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A Vindication Of Masonry.
contracts are formed , societies are instituted , and the vacant hours q f life are cheerfully employed in agreeable company and social conversation . ' , It is thus we may trace , from reason and the nature of-things , the wise ends and designs of the sacred institution of Masonry ; which not only cultivates and improves a real and undisguised friendship duties of society
among men , but teaches them the more important . Vain then is each idle surmise against this sacred art , which our enemies mav either meanly cherish in their own bosoms , or ignorantly promulgate to the . uninstructed world . By decrying Masonry , they derogate from human nature itself , ancl from that good order and wise constitution of things , which the almighty Author of the world has established the
framed for the government of mankind , and has as basis of the rno ' ral system ; which , by a secret , but attractive force , disposes the human heart to every social virtue . Can friendship or social delig hts be the object of reproach r Can that wisdom which hoary Time has sanctified , be the object of ridicule ? How mean , how contemptible must these men appear , who vainly pretend to The
censure or contemn what they cannot comprehend ! generous heart will pity ignorance so aspiring and insolent . I shall now proceed , and consider in what shape Masonry is ot universal utility to mankind , how it is reconcileable to the best policy , why it deserves the genera ! esteem , and why all men are bound to promote it . - . . Abstracting from the pure pleasures which arise from a friendship mat cir
so wisely constituted , and which it is scarce possmie any - cumstance or occurrence can erase , let us consider , that Masonry is a science confined to no particular country , but diffused over the whole terresttial globe . Wherever arts flourish , there it flourishes too . Add to this , that by secret and inviolable signs , carefully pre-, served among ourselves throughout the world , Masonry becomes universal language this means advantages are gained ;
an . By many men of all relig ions and of all nations are united . The distant Chinese , the wild Arab , or the American savage , will embrace a brother Briton ; and he will know that , besides the common ties of . humanity , there is still a stronger obligation to engage him to kind and friendly actions . The spirit of the fulminating priest will be tamed ; and a moral brotherthough of a different persuasionengage his
, , esteem . Thus all those disputes , which embitter life and sour the tempers of men , are avoided ; and every face is clad in smiles , while the common good of all , the generous design of the Craft , is zealously pursued . Is it not then evidentthat Masonry is an universal advantage to mankind ? for sureunless discord and harmony be the sameit must be so .
, , Is it not likewise reconcilable to the best policy ? for it prevents the heat of passion , and these partial animosities , which different interests too often create . Masonry teach . es us to be faithful to our king , and true to our country ; to avoid turbulent measures , and to submit with reverence to the decisions of legislative power . It is surely
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Vindication Of Masonry.
contracts are formed , societies are instituted , and the vacant hours q f life are cheerfully employed in agreeable company and social conversation . ' , It is thus we may trace , from reason and the nature of-things , the wise ends and designs of the sacred institution of Masonry ; which not only cultivates and improves a real and undisguised friendship duties of society
among men , but teaches them the more important . Vain then is each idle surmise against this sacred art , which our enemies mav either meanly cherish in their own bosoms , or ignorantly promulgate to the . uninstructed world . By decrying Masonry , they derogate from human nature itself , ancl from that good order and wise constitution of things , which the almighty Author of the world has established the
framed for the government of mankind , and has as basis of the rno ' ral system ; which , by a secret , but attractive force , disposes the human heart to every social virtue . Can friendship or social delig hts be the object of reproach r Can that wisdom which hoary Time has sanctified , be the object of ridicule ? How mean , how contemptible must these men appear , who vainly pretend to The
censure or contemn what they cannot comprehend ! generous heart will pity ignorance so aspiring and insolent . I shall now proceed , and consider in what shape Masonry is ot universal utility to mankind , how it is reconcileable to the best policy , why it deserves the genera ! esteem , and why all men are bound to promote it . - . . Abstracting from the pure pleasures which arise from a friendship mat cir
so wisely constituted , and which it is scarce possmie any - cumstance or occurrence can erase , let us consider , that Masonry is a science confined to no particular country , but diffused over the whole terresttial globe . Wherever arts flourish , there it flourishes too . Add to this , that by secret and inviolable signs , carefully pre-, served among ourselves throughout the world , Masonry becomes universal language this means advantages are gained ;
an . By many men of all relig ions and of all nations are united . The distant Chinese , the wild Arab , or the American savage , will embrace a brother Briton ; and he will know that , besides the common ties of . humanity , there is still a stronger obligation to engage him to kind and friendly actions . The spirit of the fulminating priest will be tamed ; and a moral brotherthough of a different persuasionengage his
, , esteem . Thus all those disputes , which embitter life and sour the tempers of men , are avoided ; and every face is clad in smiles , while the common good of all , the generous design of the Craft , is zealously pursued . Is it not then evidentthat Masonry is an universal advantage to mankind ? for sureunless discord and harmony be the sameit must be so .
, , Is it not likewise reconcilable to the best policy ? for it prevents the heat of passion , and these partial animosities , which different interests too often create . Masonry teach . es us to be faithful to our king , and true to our country ; to avoid turbulent measures , and to submit with reverence to the decisions of legislative power . It is surely