-
Articles/Ads
Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 8 of 17 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
institution of peace ; and discord , religious or political , can never penetrate into its secret conclaves . As our nature is constituted , there must and will be a diversity of opinions on these existing subjects ; and there are times and places where these opinions may be fairly entertained and temperately expressed ; but not in a Mason ' s Lodge . There we are united in one object—to produce mutual happiness . Brotherly love is the fairest attribute of the order ; and in the bond of brotherllove ,
y men of every creed and every opinion may cordially unite , in a common adoration ofthe Deity—in the common employment of promoting individual and general good . AVe unite , as Jlasons , to excite and disseminate the noblest attributes of our species , and leave the world to decide on speculative opinions , and unimportant tenets . Do I overrate the merits of Freemasonry ?—( No , no ! from all parts of tbe room ) . —You are right ; I do not overrate its excellencies . The institution is pure in
itself , and it demands a corresponding purity in those who have been admitted to share in its mysterious benefits . It is an opinion that I have formed by mature deliberation , that the popularity , the interest , the usefulness of Freemasonry , can only be maintained by the unexceptionable conduct of tbe Brethren in their transactions with the world . If you prize Freemasonry , you will carefully guard its fair fame from public censureby that most certain of all tests—being yourselves good
, and worthy Masons . For this purpose , it is not enough that you become acquainted with the rites and ceremonies and technicalities of the order . Something beyond this is necessary , for it is possible for a learned Mason to be a bad man ; because a knowledge of the Craft , like a knowledge of Christianity , does not necessarily superinduce the
practice of virtue , although it strongly recommends it—( hear , hear ) . I will take the liberty of naming a few tests of Masonic purity . Have you Faith in the efficacy of your religion—the atonement of your Redeemer ? Do you Hope to share in the promises of that blessed Book which furnishes and adorns the Master ' s pedestal—the first Great Li ght of Masonry ? And have you Charity toivards your fellow-creatures ? Then are you good and worthy Masons . Again : do you feel a
sympathy for a brother Mason in deep distress ? Are you inclined to exercise Brotherly Love towards him ? Do you feel disposed to afford him Relief ? Then are you good and worth y Masons . Once more ; are you Temperate in your private conduct ? Have you strength of mind , or Fortitude to resist the temptations which may otherwise destroy your moral and Masonic virtue ? Do you possess sufficient Prudence to guard against the snares which may interpose to seduce
you from the straight line of duty ? And have you a due regard for Justice in all your transactions betiveen man and man ? Then are you good and worthy Masons . This examination of our Masonic character might be extended to many other branches of duty , ivhich do not at this moment occur to me ; nor is it necessary , for 1 have said enough to show that something more is required to constitute the character of an estimable Mason , than a mere knowledge of the routine business of
the Lodge ; something practical—something which may be useful to ourselves and beneficial to others —( cheers ) . These things are matters of imperative duty to all who really wish to be esteemed good and worthy Masons . And now , my Lord , and Brethren , I have one observation to make respecting myself . I have said that I now stand on the very ground , where 1 was initiated into Masonry more than forty years ago . And it is rather a singular coincidence that as I began
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
institution of peace ; and discord , religious or political , can never penetrate into its secret conclaves . As our nature is constituted , there must and will be a diversity of opinions on these existing subjects ; and there are times and places where these opinions may be fairly entertained and temperately expressed ; but not in a Mason ' s Lodge . There we are united in one object—to produce mutual happiness . Brotherly love is the fairest attribute of the order ; and in the bond of brotherllove ,
y men of every creed and every opinion may cordially unite , in a common adoration ofthe Deity—in the common employment of promoting individual and general good . AVe unite , as Jlasons , to excite and disseminate the noblest attributes of our species , and leave the world to decide on speculative opinions , and unimportant tenets . Do I overrate the merits of Freemasonry ?—( No , no ! from all parts of tbe room ) . —You are right ; I do not overrate its excellencies . The institution is pure in
itself , and it demands a corresponding purity in those who have been admitted to share in its mysterious benefits . It is an opinion that I have formed by mature deliberation , that the popularity , the interest , the usefulness of Freemasonry , can only be maintained by the unexceptionable conduct of tbe Brethren in their transactions with the world . If you prize Freemasonry , you will carefully guard its fair fame from public censureby that most certain of all tests—being yourselves good
, and worthy Masons . For this purpose , it is not enough that you become acquainted with the rites and ceremonies and technicalities of the order . Something beyond this is necessary , for it is possible for a learned Mason to be a bad man ; because a knowledge of the Craft , like a knowledge of Christianity , does not necessarily superinduce the
practice of virtue , although it strongly recommends it—( hear , hear ) . I will take the liberty of naming a few tests of Masonic purity . Have you Faith in the efficacy of your religion—the atonement of your Redeemer ? Do you Hope to share in the promises of that blessed Book which furnishes and adorns the Master ' s pedestal—the first Great Li ght of Masonry ? And have you Charity toivards your fellow-creatures ? Then are you good and worthy Masons . Again : do you feel a
sympathy for a brother Mason in deep distress ? Are you inclined to exercise Brotherly Love towards him ? Do you feel disposed to afford him Relief ? Then are you good and worth y Masons . Once more ; are you Temperate in your private conduct ? Have you strength of mind , or Fortitude to resist the temptations which may otherwise destroy your moral and Masonic virtue ? Do you possess sufficient Prudence to guard against the snares which may interpose to seduce
you from the straight line of duty ? And have you a due regard for Justice in all your transactions betiveen man and man ? Then are you good and worthy Masons . This examination of our Masonic character might be extended to many other branches of duty , ivhich do not at this moment occur to me ; nor is it necessary , for 1 have said enough to show that something more is required to constitute the character of an estimable Mason , than a mere knowledge of the routine business of
the Lodge ; something practical—something which may be useful to ourselves and beneficial to others —( cheers ) . These things are matters of imperative duty to all who really wish to be esteemed good and worthy Masons . And now , my Lord , and Brethren , I have one observation to make respecting myself . I have said that I now stand on the very ground , where 1 was initiated into Masonry more than forty years ago . And it is rather a singular coincidence that as I began