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Article A VINDICATION OF MASONRY. ← Page 3 of 5 →
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A Vindication Of Masonry.
then no mean advantage , no trifling acquisition , to any community of state , to have under its power and jurisdiction a body of men who are loyal subjects , patrons of science , and friends to mankind . Does not Masonry , therefore , of itself command the highest regard ? Does it not claim the greatest esteem ? Does it not merit the most extensive patronage ? Without doubt . If all that is good and amiableif all that is useful to mankind or societybe deserving a wise
, , man ' s attention , Masonry claims it in the hi ghest degree . What beautiful ideas does it inspire ! How does it open and enlarge the mind ! And how abundant a source of satisfaction does it afford i Does it not recommend universal benevolence , and every virtue which can endear one man to another ? And is it not particularly adapted to give the mind the most disinterestedthe most generous
, notions ? An uniformity of opinion , not only useful in exigences but pleasing in familiar life , universally prevails among Masons , strengthens all the ties of their friendship , and equally promotes love and esteem . Masons are brethren , and amongst brothers there exist no invidious distinctions . A king is remindedthat although a crown adorns his
, head , and a sceptre his hand , yet the blood jn his veins is derived from the common parent of mankind , and is no better than that of the meanest of his subjects . Men in inferior stations are taught to love their superiors , when they see them divested of their grandeur , and
condescending to trace the paths of wisdom , and follow virtue , assisted by those of a rank beneath them . Virtue is true nobility , and wisdom is the channel by which'it is directed and conveyed . Wisdom and virtue , therefore , are the great characteristics of Masons . Masonry inculcates universal love and benevolence , and disposes the heartto particular acts of goodness . A Mason , possessed of this amiablethis god-like dispositionis shocked at misery under every form or
, , appearance . His pity is not only excited , but he is prompted , as far as is consistent with the rules of prudence , to alleviate the pain of the sufferer , and cheerfully to contribute to his relief . For this end our funds are raised , and our charities established on the firmest foundation . When a brother is in distress , what heart does not ach ? When he is hungry , do we not convey him food ? Do we not clothe
him when he is naked ? Do we not fly to his relief when he is in trouble ? Thus we evince the propriety of the title we assume , and demonstrate to the world that the term Brother among Masons is not merely nominal . If these acts are not sufficient to recommend so great and generous a plansuch a wise and good societyhappy in themselvesand
, , , equally happy in the possession of every social virtue , nothing which is truly good can prevail . The man who resists arguments drawn from such topics , must be callous to every noble principle , and lost to all sense of honour .
Nevertheless , though the fairest and the best ideas may be thus imprinted in the mind , there are brethren who , careless of their own reputation , disregard the instructive lessons of our noble science , and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Vindication Of Masonry.
then no mean advantage , no trifling acquisition , to any community of state , to have under its power and jurisdiction a body of men who are loyal subjects , patrons of science , and friends to mankind . Does not Masonry , therefore , of itself command the highest regard ? Does it not claim the greatest esteem ? Does it not merit the most extensive patronage ? Without doubt . If all that is good and amiableif all that is useful to mankind or societybe deserving a wise
, , man ' s attention , Masonry claims it in the hi ghest degree . What beautiful ideas does it inspire ! How does it open and enlarge the mind ! And how abundant a source of satisfaction does it afford i Does it not recommend universal benevolence , and every virtue which can endear one man to another ? And is it not particularly adapted to give the mind the most disinterestedthe most generous
, notions ? An uniformity of opinion , not only useful in exigences but pleasing in familiar life , universally prevails among Masons , strengthens all the ties of their friendship , and equally promotes love and esteem . Masons are brethren , and amongst brothers there exist no invidious distinctions . A king is remindedthat although a crown adorns his
, head , and a sceptre his hand , yet the blood jn his veins is derived from the common parent of mankind , and is no better than that of the meanest of his subjects . Men in inferior stations are taught to love their superiors , when they see them divested of their grandeur , and
condescending to trace the paths of wisdom , and follow virtue , assisted by those of a rank beneath them . Virtue is true nobility , and wisdom is the channel by which'it is directed and conveyed . Wisdom and virtue , therefore , are the great characteristics of Masons . Masonry inculcates universal love and benevolence , and disposes the heartto particular acts of goodness . A Mason , possessed of this amiablethis god-like dispositionis shocked at misery under every form or
, , appearance . His pity is not only excited , but he is prompted , as far as is consistent with the rules of prudence , to alleviate the pain of the sufferer , and cheerfully to contribute to his relief . For this end our funds are raised , and our charities established on the firmest foundation . When a brother is in distress , what heart does not ach ? When he is hungry , do we not convey him food ? Do we not clothe
him when he is naked ? Do we not fly to his relief when he is in trouble ? Thus we evince the propriety of the title we assume , and demonstrate to the world that the term Brother among Masons is not merely nominal . If these acts are not sufficient to recommend so great and generous a plansuch a wise and good societyhappy in themselvesand
, , , equally happy in the possession of every social virtue , nothing which is truly good can prevail . The man who resists arguments drawn from such topics , must be callous to every noble principle , and lost to all sense of honour .
Nevertheless , though the fairest and the best ideas may be thus imprinted in the mind , there are brethren who , careless of their own reputation , disregard the instructive lessons of our noble science , and