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Article THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. ← Page 3 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository.
visited and assisted the sick ; comforted the afflicted , in bonds , in captivity , or under the merciless oppression of relentless tyrants : they afforded an asylum for the aged and the orphan , procured portions ivr irarriage for the less opulent , arid were particularly assiduous in per-, fcrming the last kind cfrice of humanity in a decent interment of the dead . Such were the blessed fruits of primitive zeal , of piety truly christian .
These are the works of mercy , ' which whoever sedulously performs , presents an offering highly acceptable to that God who prefers mercy tiefcre any other sacrifice , and who is far more deli g hted with charity to men , than with the ' blcod of bulls and of goats ; ' who will have mercy on those whom he sees merciful ,, but will prove an inexorable , though a just judged to those who have subdued this better part of their nature only , and have shut up their bowels of compassion against their indigent ' brethren . The bounty and singular liberality of » the
ancient christians was not exercised solely with a view of making and retaining converts , for they continued in the same disposition after their faith became the prevailing one . Then , for it was impracticable before , a vast variety of beneficent foundations , friendly and humane institutions in favour of the distressed , arose from the liberal contributions of believers , and were authorized , regulated , and encouraged by the civil power ; these have since been in some degree promoted in
different times and countries , wherever the gospel has spread , and constitute one principal glory of our own country and our own times . These facts , it may be hoped , will recommend charity to christians , and Christianity to charitable persons ; and shew the wisdom of learning from scripture the proper directions for carrying on such prudent , pious , and commendable desi as that which we are now met to
gns countenance . True , indeed , it is that Masonry is not ori ginally of our own growth ; its first appearance in the world may be dated from the earliest account pf time ; and we have the most reasonable grounds to presume that its institution as a confraternity is nearly , if not absolutely , co-sval with the science itself .
The antidiluvian favourers of the liberal arts , amongst whom we find Tubal and Tubal-Cain recorded in scripture by name , would naturall y be desirous pf perpetuating their discoveries , which mig ht prompt ppsterity to a further investigation . Accordingly , Masonry in particular , to pass over the intervening stages of its advancement , \ ve find if to have arrived at an eminent pitch in the year 1810 , when at the building pf Babylon , and afterwards of Nineveh , together with
other eastern cities pfno small note in antiquity , king Nimrod patronized that art with his personal sanction : nor did it rest here ; but , after a rapid progress of improvement under various superintendaiits , and through a continued series or time , to the amount of near 1200 years , Masonry seems to have obtained the hi ghest degree of eminence When , during the reign of king Solomon , with the assistance of Hiram king of Tyre , the completion of the memorable temple ., of Jerusajeia .was effected
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Repository.
visited and assisted the sick ; comforted the afflicted , in bonds , in captivity , or under the merciless oppression of relentless tyrants : they afforded an asylum for the aged and the orphan , procured portions ivr irarriage for the less opulent , arid were particularly assiduous in per-, fcrming the last kind cfrice of humanity in a decent interment of the dead . Such were the blessed fruits of primitive zeal , of piety truly christian .
These are the works of mercy , ' which whoever sedulously performs , presents an offering highly acceptable to that God who prefers mercy tiefcre any other sacrifice , and who is far more deli g hted with charity to men , than with the ' blcod of bulls and of goats ; ' who will have mercy on those whom he sees merciful ,, but will prove an inexorable , though a just judged to those who have subdued this better part of their nature only , and have shut up their bowels of compassion against their indigent ' brethren . The bounty and singular liberality of » the
ancient christians was not exercised solely with a view of making and retaining converts , for they continued in the same disposition after their faith became the prevailing one . Then , for it was impracticable before , a vast variety of beneficent foundations , friendly and humane institutions in favour of the distressed , arose from the liberal contributions of believers , and were authorized , regulated , and encouraged by the civil power ; these have since been in some degree promoted in
different times and countries , wherever the gospel has spread , and constitute one principal glory of our own country and our own times . These facts , it may be hoped , will recommend charity to christians , and Christianity to charitable persons ; and shew the wisdom of learning from scripture the proper directions for carrying on such prudent , pious , and commendable desi as that which we are now met to
gns countenance . True , indeed , it is that Masonry is not ori ginally of our own growth ; its first appearance in the world may be dated from the earliest account pf time ; and we have the most reasonable grounds to presume that its institution as a confraternity is nearly , if not absolutely , co-sval with the science itself .
The antidiluvian favourers of the liberal arts , amongst whom we find Tubal and Tubal-Cain recorded in scripture by name , would naturall y be desirous pf perpetuating their discoveries , which mig ht prompt ppsterity to a further investigation . Accordingly , Masonry in particular , to pass over the intervening stages of its advancement , \ ve find if to have arrived at an eminent pitch in the year 1810 , when at the building pf Babylon , and afterwards of Nineveh , together with
other eastern cities pfno small note in antiquity , king Nimrod patronized that art with his personal sanction : nor did it rest here ; but , after a rapid progress of improvement under various superintendaiits , and through a continued series or time , to the amount of near 1200 years , Masonry seems to have obtained the hi ghest degree of eminence When , during the reign of king Solomon , with the assistance of Hiram king of Tyre , the completion of the memorable temple ., of Jerusajeia .was effected