-
Articles/Ads
Article A GENERAL CHARGE TO MASONRY. ← Page 3 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A General Charge To Masonry.
sors ? Or from mere ignorance or blind prejudice ? We find nothing of the former , but undoubted proof of the latter . And this I take to be pretty much our case , in respect to MASONRY—as flowing from the same corrupted principles . I have had the honour of being a member of this ancient and honourable SOCIETY many years , have sustained many of its offices , and can , and do aver , in this sacred placeand before the grand ARCHITECT of the worldthat I never
, , could observe ought therein , but what wasjtistifiable and commendable according to the strictest rules of society ; this being founded on the rules of the gospel , the doing the will of GOD , and the sub * dubig the passions , and highly conducing to every sacred and social virtue . But not to insist on my own inexperience , the very antiquity of our constitution furnishes a , sufficient argument to confute
all gainsayers . For no combination of wicked men , for a wicked purpose , ever lasted long . The want of virtue , on which mutual trust and confidence is founded , soon divides and breaks them to pieces . Nor would men of unquestionable wisdom , known integrity , strict honour , undoubted veracit )' , and good sense , ( though they mig ht be trepanned into a foolish or ridiculous society , which could pretend to nothing valuable ) , ever continue in it , ( as all the
world may see they have done , and now do ) , or contribute toward supporting and propagating it to posterity . As to any objections that have been raised against this society , they are as ridiculous as they are groundless : —For what can discover more egregious folly in any man , than to attempt to vilif y what he knows nothing of ? At that rate , he may with equal justice abuse or calumniate any thing else that he is unacquainted with-r *
But there are some peculiar customs among us ; surely these can fee liable to no censure : hath not every society some peculiarities -Which are not to be revealed to men of different communities ?—¦ But some among us behave not so well as might be expected : We fear this to be too true , and are heartily sorry for it ; let us therefore every one try to mend one another . But even this objection is
of no weight with a man of ingenuousness and candour . For if the "Unworthiness of a professor casts a reflection upon the profession , it may be inferred , by parity of reason , that the misconduct of a Christian is an argument against Christianity . But this is a conclusion which 1 presume no man will allow ; and yet is no more than What he must subscribe to , who is so unreasonable as to insist on the other .
Upon the whole , then , it appears that the rules of this society Save a direct tendency to render conversation agreeable , as well as innocent ; and so to influence our practice , as to be useful to others , tmd profitable to ourselves ; for to continue in amity , and maintain a fair correspondence , to be disposed reciprocally to all offices of humanity , ahd to act upon mutual terms of benevolence , which are the characteristics of Christianity , ave likewise the cement of this society . And how good it is to assist , comfort , and relieve the oppressed , I need not now observe , Nor is it less obvious , how plea'
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A General Charge To Masonry.
sors ? Or from mere ignorance or blind prejudice ? We find nothing of the former , but undoubted proof of the latter . And this I take to be pretty much our case , in respect to MASONRY—as flowing from the same corrupted principles . I have had the honour of being a member of this ancient and honourable SOCIETY many years , have sustained many of its offices , and can , and do aver , in this sacred placeand before the grand ARCHITECT of the worldthat I never
, , could observe ought therein , but what wasjtistifiable and commendable according to the strictest rules of society ; this being founded on the rules of the gospel , the doing the will of GOD , and the sub * dubig the passions , and highly conducing to every sacred and social virtue . But not to insist on my own inexperience , the very antiquity of our constitution furnishes a , sufficient argument to confute
all gainsayers . For no combination of wicked men , for a wicked purpose , ever lasted long . The want of virtue , on which mutual trust and confidence is founded , soon divides and breaks them to pieces . Nor would men of unquestionable wisdom , known integrity , strict honour , undoubted veracit )' , and good sense , ( though they mig ht be trepanned into a foolish or ridiculous society , which could pretend to nothing valuable ) , ever continue in it , ( as all the
world may see they have done , and now do ) , or contribute toward supporting and propagating it to posterity . As to any objections that have been raised against this society , they are as ridiculous as they are groundless : —For what can discover more egregious folly in any man , than to attempt to vilif y what he knows nothing of ? At that rate , he may with equal justice abuse or calumniate any thing else that he is unacquainted with-r *
But there are some peculiar customs among us ; surely these can fee liable to no censure : hath not every society some peculiarities -Which are not to be revealed to men of different communities ?—¦ But some among us behave not so well as might be expected : We fear this to be too true , and are heartily sorry for it ; let us therefore every one try to mend one another . But even this objection is
of no weight with a man of ingenuousness and candour . For if the "Unworthiness of a professor casts a reflection upon the profession , it may be inferred , by parity of reason , that the misconduct of a Christian is an argument against Christianity . But this is a conclusion which 1 presume no man will allow ; and yet is no more than What he must subscribe to , who is so unreasonable as to insist on the other .
Upon the whole , then , it appears that the rules of this society Save a direct tendency to render conversation agreeable , as well as innocent ; and so to influence our practice , as to be useful to others , tmd profitable to ourselves ; for to continue in amity , and maintain a fair correspondence , to be disposed reciprocally to all offices of humanity , ahd to act upon mutual terms of benevolence , which are the characteristics of Christianity , ave likewise the cement of this society . And how good it is to assist , comfort , and relieve the oppressed , I need not now observe , Nor is it less obvious , how plea'