Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address Of Dr. Boerne To The Lodge Of Frankfort.†
safety in deception . Thou hast left behind thee the fountain , and seekest for refreshment in the desert . Return quickly ! Man , know thyself J" The Mason heard the voice of his heart , yet obeyed it not . The pulse of enquiry beat feverishly : he would try the heart and reins of Masonry . He seized in his madness the dissecting-knife—he opened her—he dissected her—lie followed her reins—he separated her nerves . Now her inner organs lay clear and dismembered before his eyes ; but
she was become a corpse ; the spirit fled . He had discovered the spring of Masonry , but found it exhausted ; he had followed its bed , but the stream was dried up . At first , it is true , he lamented her death ; but the spirits were soon recovered , and he sat down and wrote—Masonic Systems—SYSTEMS ! ¦ Yes , the murderer thought to have done penance for his deed , if he made a funeral sermon for his victim . One displayed the bkeness of the Divine Artist in an annoying frame ; and , like painted
nature , the sublime picture of truth stares ridiculously at us , and prevents worship in our hearts and admiration in our minds . In the interior of the temple of Masonry one has hung up curtains , and one more , and one again . My Brethren , can the sacred be yet more sacred ? Has truth steps , has bliss degrees , and can the sun shine brighter than bright ? One will check tbe profane—a superfluous task ; the sig ; ht grasps the objects , the light presents them only ; whose eye is dim will see but dimly . Be without care ; every one ' s portion of light
is just as much as he merits . I hrow down the walls ; the weak will yet find no plunder . Open tbe gates ; the satisfaction will onl y be in proportion to the desire of enquiry . Brethren , when deceit quarrels with truth , when virtue strives against vice , the heart of tbe spectator does not remain without consolation ; for , in an unequal combat , one must fall . We know with whom we side ; and when the good even be conquered , our grief yet passes away as soon as the deed which produced it . But when truth comes in contact with truthand virtue with virtue
, , from whence shall we receive consolation ? Whom shall we wish to be conqueror , whom to be conquered ? Is not the joy of the one the sorrow of the other ? Thus it is in the Masonic world . Systems fought against systems ; Lodges against Lodges ; Brethren against Brethren . Yes , it is wonderful to see ; all would seek truth , yet each will find her ; all will share truth when found , yet each will seek her alone . Brethren , when will the day appear which all Masons will hail with one heart ? When
will it be High Twelve which leads us all to common labour ? and when will the sun , setting in the west , throw her departing rays upon the Brethren resting in each others arms ? The day of light will dawn ; and however the ideas of pigmies may contend ivith the giant spirit of truth , we smile and are sure of victory ; but also the wound of the conqueror aches . Therefore , Brethren , let us with relieving hands administer balm to the wounds of conquering truth ; and should we see the nineteenth century blush , we may say it is the colour of joy which reddens it , and not the colour of shame .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Address Of Dr. Boerne To The Lodge Of Frankfort.†
safety in deception . Thou hast left behind thee the fountain , and seekest for refreshment in the desert . Return quickly ! Man , know thyself J" The Mason heard the voice of his heart , yet obeyed it not . The pulse of enquiry beat feverishly : he would try the heart and reins of Masonry . He seized in his madness the dissecting-knife—he opened her—he dissected her—lie followed her reins—he separated her nerves . Now her inner organs lay clear and dismembered before his eyes ; but
she was become a corpse ; the spirit fled . He had discovered the spring of Masonry , but found it exhausted ; he had followed its bed , but the stream was dried up . At first , it is true , he lamented her death ; but the spirits were soon recovered , and he sat down and wrote—Masonic Systems—SYSTEMS ! ¦ Yes , the murderer thought to have done penance for his deed , if he made a funeral sermon for his victim . One displayed the bkeness of the Divine Artist in an annoying frame ; and , like painted
nature , the sublime picture of truth stares ridiculously at us , and prevents worship in our hearts and admiration in our minds . In the interior of the temple of Masonry one has hung up curtains , and one more , and one again . My Brethren , can the sacred be yet more sacred ? Has truth steps , has bliss degrees , and can the sun shine brighter than bright ? One will check tbe profane—a superfluous task ; the sig ; ht grasps the objects , the light presents them only ; whose eye is dim will see but dimly . Be without care ; every one ' s portion of light
is just as much as he merits . I hrow down the walls ; the weak will yet find no plunder . Open tbe gates ; the satisfaction will onl y be in proportion to the desire of enquiry . Brethren , when deceit quarrels with truth , when virtue strives against vice , the heart of tbe spectator does not remain without consolation ; for , in an unequal combat , one must fall . We know with whom we side ; and when the good even be conquered , our grief yet passes away as soon as the deed which produced it . But when truth comes in contact with truthand virtue with virtue
, , from whence shall we receive consolation ? Whom shall we wish to be conqueror , whom to be conquered ? Is not the joy of the one the sorrow of the other ? Thus it is in the Masonic world . Systems fought against systems ; Lodges against Lodges ; Brethren against Brethren . Yes , it is wonderful to see ; all would seek truth , yet each will find her ; all will share truth when found , yet each will seek her alone . Brethren , when will the day appear which all Masons will hail with one heart ? When
will it be High Twelve which leads us all to common labour ? and when will the sun , setting in the west , throw her departing rays upon the Brethren resting in each others arms ? The day of light will dawn ; and however the ideas of pigmies may contend ivith the giant spirit of truth , we smile and are sure of victory ; but also the wound of the conqueror aches . Therefore , Brethren , let us with relieving hands administer balm to the wounds of conquering truth ; and should we see the nineteenth century blush , we may say it is the colour of joy which reddens it , and not the colour of shame .