Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The Spurious Freemasonry Of Ancient Times,
to a reprobate mind , to do those things which are not convenient ; being filled with all unrighteousness , fornication , wickedness , covetousness , maliciousness ; full of envy , murder ^ debate , deceit , malignity , whisperers , backbiters , haters of God , despiteful , proudboastersinventors of evil things
_ , , , disobedient ^ to parents , without understanding , covenant breakers , without natural affection , implacable , unmerciful ; who knowing the judgment of God , that they who commit such things are worthy of death , not onlv do the same , but have pleasure in them that do them . "
From this lack of morality , a Roman historian was bold enough to laud the character ofthe second Cato , a notorious drunkard and debauchee , who openly connived at the infidelities of his wife ; describing him as "homo virtuti simillimus , per omnia ingenio diis quam hominibus propior . " Thus , as is forcibl y expressed by the author of the Book of Wisdom whilst
, " they used secret ceremonies , or made revellings of strange rites , they kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled ; but either one slew another traitorously , or grieved him by adultery ; so that there reigned in all men , without exception , blood , manslaughter , theft , and dissimulationcorruptionunfaithfulnesstumults
, , , , perjury , disquieting of good men , forgetfulness of good turns , defiling of souls , changing of kind , disorder in marriages , adultery , and shameless uncleanness . For the worshipping of idols , not to be named , is the beginning , the cause , and the end of all evil .
Compare this disgusting picture of the Spurious Freemasonry with that beautiful system of morality and devotion which was practised by the early Patriarchs ; and although sullied and obscured in the dark ages of idolatry and superstition , again bloomed forth in its native splendour , under the invigorating influence of the Sun of Righteousness , and has been transmitted to
our times clothed in all its purity , and shedding forth the mild emanations of its pristine glory . Whatever we do , the glory of God is our first and greatest object . All the pursuits of Freemasonry unite in imprinting on the mind a firm and unshaken belief of His universal povyer and goodness . Indeedthe great desiof the insti
, gn - tution is to enlighten us with a proper sense of God ' s benevolent attributes ; although , in the language of a departed worthy Brother , it « includes almost every branch of polite learning under the veil of its Mysteries , which comprehend a regular system of virtue and science . To exhaust the various
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry. The Spurious Freemasonry Of Ancient Times,
to a reprobate mind , to do those things which are not convenient ; being filled with all unrighteousness , fornication , wickedness , covetousness , maliciousness ; full of envy , murder ^ debate , deceit , malignity , whisperers , backbiters , haters of God , despiteful , proudboastersinventors of evil things
_ , , , disobedient ^ to parents , without understanding , covenant breakers , without natural affection , implacable , unmerciful ; who knowing the judgment of God , that they who commit such things are worthy of death , not onlv do the same , but have pleasure in them that do them . "
From this lack of morality , a Roman historian was bold enough to laud the character ofthe second Cato , a notorious drunkard and debauchee , who openly connived at the infidelities of his wife ; describing him as "homo virtuti simillimus , per omnia ingenio diis quam hominibus propior . " Thus , as is forcibl y expressed by the author of the Book of Wisdom whilst
, " they used secret ceremonies , or made revellings of strange rites , they kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled ; but either one slew another traitorously , or grieved him by adultery ; so that there reigned in all men , without exception , blood , manslaughter , theft , and dissimulationcorruptionunfaithfulnesstumults
, , , , perjury , disquieting of good men , forgetfulness of good turns , defiling of souls , changing of kind , disorder in marriages , adultery , and shameless uncleanness . For the worshipping of idols , not to be named , is the beginning , the cause , and the end of all evil .
Compare this disgusting picture of the Spurious Freemasonry with that beautiful system of morality and devotion which was practised by the early Patriarchs ; and although sullied and obscured in the dark ages of idolatry and superstition , again bloomed forth in its native splendour , under the invigorating influence of the Sun of Righteousness , and has been transmitted to
our times clothed in all its purity , and shedding forth the mild emanations of its pristine glory . Whatever we do , the glory of God is our first and greatest object . All the pursuits of Freemasonry unite in imprinting on the mind a firm and unshaken belief of His universal povyer and goodness . Indeedthe great desiof the insti
, gn - tution is to enlighten us with a proper sense of God ' s benevolent attributes ; although , in the language of a departed worthy Brother , it « includes almost every branch of polite learning under the veil of its Mysteries , which comprehend a regular system of virtue and science . To exhaust the various