Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address,
to the honour of God , although the minds of mankind were at that time possessed with allegories , emblems , and mystic devices , in which peculiar sciences , manners , and maxims were wrapped up , in accordance with projects which had arisen in the earliest ages . The Egyptian priests secreted the mysteries of their religion front the vulgar eye , by symbols and hieroglyphics , comprehensible alone to those of their own orderThe priests " of Rome and Greece practised other subtletiesb
. , y which the powers of divination were enveiled , and their oracles alone intelligible to their brethren , who expounded them to the people . Those examples were readily adopted for the purpose of concealing the mysteries of Masonry , whose votaries regarded not themselves as a society of men arising from mere architects and builders , but as beings professing to be ' servants of the Great Architect of the Universe , and assuming Symbols expressive of their devotedness to the service of the ' ion all civil ties and
true God . Man had experienced that from relig obligations were compacted , and that thence proceeded the only bonds which could unite mankind in social intercourse . Hence , it was that our originals , the founders of Masonry , laid the Corner-Stone of the erection on the bosom of Religion . As a society professing ourselves servants of the Deity , the Lodge in which assemblewhen revealedpresents a representation of the
we , , world . The Great Architect of the Universe hath spread over the earth the illuminated canopy of heaven , such as the veil wherewith Solomon covered the Temple at Jerusalem , of blue , of crimson and purple , — such is the covering of the Lodge . As an emblem of God's power , His goodness , His omnipresence and
eternity , the Lodge is adorned with the image of the sun , which He ordained to arise from the east to open the day , to call forth the people of the earth tc their worship , and to their exercise in the walks of virtue . Remembering the wonders in the beginning , we use the figures of the sun and moon , thence implying that we claim the auspicious countenance fo Heaven on our virtuous deeds ; and as true Masons stand redeemed from darkness , and are become the sons of Light , acknowledging in our Him who liht unto His
profession , our reverence and adoration of gave g works , and by our practice showing that we carry our emblems into real life , as children of Light , turning our backs on the works of darkness ' , preferring Charity , ' Benevolence , and Brotherly Love , as that acceptable service on which the Grand Master of All looks down with approbation . As the steps of man tread incessantly in the various and uncertain incidents of life , as our days are chequered with innumerable attended with
events , and our passage through this existence is a variety of circumstances , so is the Lodge furnished with Mosaic work , to remind us of the precariousness of our state on earth;—to day , our feet tread in prosperity ; to-morrow , we totter on the uneven path of weakness , temptation , and adversity . AVhilst this emblem is before us we are instructed to boast of nothing , to have compassion , to give to those in distressand to walk uprightly and with humility .
, The emblem of prudence is ever present to the eye of the Mason , that his heart may be attentive to her dictates ; for Prudence is the rule of all virtues , the path which leads to every degree of prosperity , and the channel where self-approbation flows for ever . Fortitude , Temperance , and Justice are enfolded in her g irdle ; she leads us forth to worthy actions and , as a blazing star , enlightens us through the doubtfulness and darkness of this world . As Masons , we profess the principle of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address,
to the honour of God , although the minds of mankind were at that time possessed with allegories , emblems , and mystic devices , in which peculiar sciences , manners , and maxims were wrapped up , in accordance with projects which had arisen in the earliest ages . The Egyptian priests secreted the mysteries of their religion front the vulgar eye , by symbols and hieroglyphics , comprehensible alone to those of their own orderThe priests " of Rome and Greece practised other subtletiesb
. , y which the powers of divination were enveiled , and their oracles alone intelligible to their brethren , who expounded them to the people . Those examples were readily adopted for the purpose of concealing the mysteries of Masonry , whose votaries regarded not themselves as a society of men arising from mere architects and builders , but as beings professing to be ' servants of the Great Architect of the Universe , and assuming Symbols expressive of their devotedness to the service of the ' ion all civil ties and
true God . Man had experienced that from relig obligations were compacted , and that thence proceeded the only bonds which could unite mankind in social intercourse . Hence , it was that our originals , the founders of Masonry , laid the Corner-Stone of the erection on the bosom of Religion . As a society professing ourselves servants of the Deity , the Lodge in which assemblewhen revealedpresents a representation of the
we , , world . The Great Architect of the Universe hath spread over the earth the illuminated canopy of heaven , such as the veil wherewith Solomon covered the Temple at Jerusalem , of blue , of crimson and purple , — such is the covering of the Lodge . As an emblem of God's power , His goodness , His omnipresence and
eternity , the Lodge is adorned with the image of the sun , which He ordained to arise from the east to open the day , to call forth the people of the earth tc their worship , and to their exercise in the walks of virtue . Remembering the wonders in the beginning , we use the figures of the sun and moon , thence implying that we claim the auspicious countenance fo Heaven on our virtuous deeds ; and as true Masons stand redeemed from darkness , and are become the sons of Light , acknowledging in our Him who liht unto His
profession , our reverence and adoration of gave g works , and by our practice showing that we carry our emblems into real life , as children of Light , turning our backs on the works of darkness ' , preferring Charity , ' Benevolence , and Brotherly Love , as that acceptable service on which the Grand Master of All looks down with approbation . As the steps of man tread incessantly in the various and uncertain incidents of life , as our days are chequered with innumerable attended with
events , and our passage through this existence is a variety of circumstances , so is the Lodge furnished with Mosaic work , to remind us of the precariousness of our state on earth;—to day , our feet tread in prosperity ; to-morrow , we totter on the uneven path of weakness , temptation , and adversity . AVhilst this emblem is before us we are instructed to boast of nothing , to have compassion , to give to those in distressand to walk uprightly and with humility .
, The emblem of prudence is ever present to the eye of the Mason , that his heart may be attentive to her dictates ; for Prudence is the rule of all virtues , the path which leads to every degree of prosperity , and the channel where self-approbation flows for ever . Fortitude , Temperance , and Justice are enfolded in her g irdle ; she leads us forth to worthy actions and , as a blazing star , enlightens us through the doubtfulness and darkness of this world . As Masons , we profess the principle of