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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 10 of 25 →
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Provincial.
the charitable feelings of Brother Masons to be subjected to reproach ? Is this the way to preserve the interests of Freemasonry pure and unsullied ? It is not . And if such conduct were universal , then would Freemasonry be justly considered the frivolous and useless institution which its enemies have so long in vain endeavoured to prove it . But Freemasonry is not to blame for this extraordinary perversion of principle . The institution is but there is something in the details which
pure , needs reform . Freemasonry concurs with Christianity in endeavouring to implant a principle of benevolence in the human heart . Christianity teaches , ' Charge them who are rich in this world , that they be ready to give and glad to distribute . While we have time , let us do good unto all men . AVhoso hath this world ' s goods , and seeth his Brother have need , and shutteth up his compassion from him , how dwelleth the love of God in him ? Give alms of thy goods , and never turn away thy face from that hath
any poor man . He pity on the poor , lendeth unto the Lord . And now abideth , Faith , Hope and Charity , these three , but the greatest of these is Charity '—( cheers ) . Such are the instructions of Christianity ; and the doctrine of Freemasonry is precisely the same , as may be gathered from the following passage in our Lodge lectures : — ' Charity—beautiful in itself—is the brightest ornament of our Masonic profession . Benevolencerendered firm bheaven-born charityis an
, y , honour to the heart that gives it birth ; and is by Masons nourished and cherished . Happy the man who hath sown in his heart tbe seeds of charity—the produce whereof is benevolence and love . He envieth not his neighbour ; he believeth not a tale when reported by a slanderer ; he forgiveth the injuries of men , and blottetb them out from
his recollection . Then let us remember that we are men and Masons ; let us ever be ready , if able , to assist the needy ; and in the most pressing time of necessity , let us not withhold a liberal hand ; so shall success attend us , and the most heartfelt pleasure shall reward our labours '—( cheers ) . To realize this pleasing picture , and to show the world that Freemasonry is not a system of empty professions , but of sterling practice , this band of worthy Masons , who are distributed over in the
every province empire—over every country in the world ; and many of whom are seated round this table at the present moment —( loud cheers)—these worthy Brethren , who are an honour to Freemasonry , have subscribed amongst themselves the sum of seven thousand pounds and upwards , to be expended in charity to their poor Brethren—to be a blessing to the unfortunate—to shield the Aged Brother from destitutionand to smooth the head in his to the —( cheers )
, grey passage grave . And many worthy , but destitute Brethren , are now reaping the fruits of their benevolent intentions , and pouring blessings on Freemasonry for the boon it has conferred upon them —( cheers ) . Do these designs merit censure ? Is it reasonable—is it wise—is it honest—is it Masonic , to denounce such a high-minded work ? Brethren , it is not reasonable —it is not wise—it is not honest—and , most of all , it is not Masonic , to controul the active principles of charity , under what form soever they themselves
may develope . And yet—tell it not in Gath ; publish it not in the streets of Askalon , lest the enemy triumph—these holy principles , recommended and enforced equally by Christianity and Freemasonry , are not only controlled , but actually denounced , and their professors punished , by some of our Masonic rulers , as witness , my appearance amongst you this day , in the new character of a Past Grand Officer—( loud applause ) . This , then , is the alleged method hy which the in-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
the charitable feelings of Brother Masons to be subjected to reproach ? Is this the way to preserve the interests of Freemasonry pure and unsullied ? It is not . And if such conduct were universal , then would Freemasonry be justly considered the frivolous and useless institution which its enemies have so long in vain endeavoured to prove it . But Freemasonry is not to blame for this extraordinary perversion of principle . The institution is but there is something in the details which
pure , needs reform . Freemasonry concurs with Christianity in endeavouring to implant a principle of benevolence in the human heart . Christianity teaches , ' Charge them who are rich in this world , that they be ready to give and glad to distribute . While we have time , let us do good unto all men . AVhoso hath this world ' s goods , and seeth his Brother have need , and shutteth up his compassion from him , how dwelleth the love of God in him ? Give alms of thy goods , and never turn away thy face from that hath
any poor man . He pity on the poor , lendeth unto the Lord . And now abideth , Faith , Hope and Charity , these three , but the greatest of these is Charity '—( cheers ) . Such are the instructions of Christianity ; and the doctrine of Freemasonry is precisely the same , as may be gathered from the following passage in our Lodge lectures : — ' Charity—beautiful in itself—is the brightest ornament of our Masonic profession . Benevolencerendered firm bheaven-born charityis an
, y , honour to the heart that gives it birth ; and is by Masons nourished and cherished . Happy the man who hath sown in his heart tbe seeds of charity—the produce whereof is benevolence and love . He envieth not his neighbour ; he believeth not a tale when reported by a slanderer ; he forgiveth the injuries of men , and blottetb them out from
his recollection . Then let us remember that we are men and Masons ; let us ever be ready , if able , to assist the needy ; and in the most pressing time of necessity , let us not withhold a liberal hand ; so shall success attend us , and the most heartfelt pleasure shall reward our labours '—( cheers ) . To realize this pleasing picture , and to show the world that Freemasonry is not a system of empty professions , but of sterling practice , this band of worthy Masons , who are distributed over in the
every province empire—over every country in the world ; and many of whom are seated round this table at the present moment —( loud cheers)—these worthy Brethren , who are an honour to Freemasonry , have subscribed amongst themselves the sum of seven thousand pounds and upwards , to be expended in charity to their poor Brethren—to be a blessing to the unfortunate—to shield the Aged Brother from destitutionand to smooth the head in his to the —( cheers )
, grey passage grave . And many worthy , but destitute Brethren , are now reaping the fruits of their benevolent intentions , and pouring blessings on Freemasonry for the boon it has conferred upon them —( cheers ) . Do these designs merit censure ? Is it reasonable—is it wise—is it honest—is it Masonic , to denounce such a high-minded work ? Brethren , it is not reasonable —it is not wise—it is not honest—and , most of all , it is not Masonic , to controul the active principles of charity , under what form soever they themselves
may develope . And yet—tell it not in Gath ; publish it not in the streets of Askalon , lest the enemy triumph—these holy principles , recommended and enforced equally by Christianity and Freemasonry , are not only controlled , but actually denounced , and their professors punished , by some of our Masonic rulers , as witness , my appearance amongst you this day , in the new character of a Past Grand Officer—( loud applause ) . This , then , is the alleged method hy which the in-