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Article TO THE EDITOR. ← Page 2 of 2 Article TO THE EDITOR. Page 1 of 2 →
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To The Editor.
Wren acknowledged to have been lost even in his day . That peculiar style of ecclesiastic architecture , the knowledge of which was formerl y confined to our ancient Brethren , contained a secret reference to the doctrine of tbe cross , ancl the mystery of tbe Trinity ; ancl yet , strange to say , we , who as an Order , are descended from those ancient Brethren , are now denounced as anti-christian , and our system as unholy , though we contend that " it is founded on the purest principles of piety and virtue
. " This is to me rather unaccountable , for I am fully prepared to maintain that every mark , character , and figure depicted in our Lodges , has not only a moral tendency but a direct reference to the mysterious scheme of human redemption . I must confess that I am among those who have felt some annoyance at the unwarrantable ( I hope ) charges which have latterl y been brought against our Order ; and I think the best course to be adopted will be to inquire into the probable causes , which I propose to do ( editore volente ) in a future Review . Yours fraternally , SIT LUX .
To The Editor.
TO THE EDITOR .
THE TABLET QUESTION . March . 11 , 1 S 45 . MY DEAR SIR , —I am greatly obliged by the continued favour granted me of space for letter the second . My object is , first , to call the attention of the Roman Catholic authorities to their perpetration , unknowingly , to what appears a gross injustice ; and , secondly , to obtain some assistance from " the Craft" in behalf of their suffering brethrento
, , bring the subject before the world . Discussion is one means , and this I have commenced . Few great measures of legislation are carried out to success without discussion . Single handed , unsupported by some authority for the publication of my opinions , can I hope for their adoption by our rulers ? I freely confess to you , that religious scruples weigh some little with me against taking any public measures in the case ; thoughif I were wrong in so doingI am so far a Jesuit in
, , my opinions , I do believe that my good intentions , and the end , would justify the means . Amongst Roman Catholics ( I am advocate for Roman Catholic Freemasons , ) this doctrine is very questionable , therefore I feel bound to explain the sense in which I wish it to be understood . That the grossness of an act may be increased or diminished according to circumstances , must be admitted , therefore the enormity of a sin must be measured by the same rule ; an act which is immoral
and sinful in one man , under one circumstance , is not so , but the contrary , in another man , under another circumstance . The malice prepense of the act is what makes it sinful , just as a Roman Catholic commits the sin of disobedience to the commands of his church by eating meat on a Friday ; or , as another illustration , a father whips his child for doing an act against his " acknowledged" authority and orders , although that act may be quite innocent in itself . I therefore think I
should be perfectly justified in taking my place among the Craft , if my health permitted , for such a—what I fancy—laudable purpose . The wisdom of the Catholic Church for not allowing this distinction is , VOL . III . E B
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor.
Wren acknowledged to have been lost even in his day . That peculiar style of ecclesiastic architecture , the knowledge of which was formerl y confined to our ancient Brethren , contained a secret reference to the doctrine of tbe cross , ancl the mystery of tbe Trinity ; ancl yet , strange to say , we , who as an Order , are descended from those ancient Brethren , are now denounced as anti-christian , and our system as unholy , though we contend that " it is founded on the purest principles of piety and virtue
. " This is to me rather unaccountable , for I am fully prepared to maintain that every mark , character , and figure depicted in our Lodges , has not only a moral tendency but a direct reference to the mysterious scheme of human redemption . I must confess that I am among those who have felt some annoyance at the unwarrantable ( I hope ) charges which have latterl y been brought against our Order ; and I think the best course to be adopted will be to inquire into the probable causes , which I propose to do ( editore volente ) in a future Review . Yours fraternally , SIT LUX .
To The Editor.
TO THE EDITOR .
THE TABLET QUESTION . March . 11 , 1 S 45 . MY DEAR SIR , —I am greatly obliged by the continued favour granted me of space for letter the second . My object is , first , to call the attention of the Roman Catholic authorities to their perpetration , unknowingly , to what appears a gross injustice ; and , secondly , to obtain some assistance from " the Craft" in behalf of their suffering brethrento
, , bring the subject before the world . Discussion is one means , and this I have commenced . Few great measures of legislation are carried out to success without discussion . Single handed , unsupported by some authority for the publication of my opinions , can I hope for their adoption by our rulers ? I freely confess to you , that religious scruples weigh some little with me against taking any public measures in the case ; thoughif I were wrong in so doingI am so far a Jesuit in
, , my opinions , I do believe that my good intentions , and the end , would justify the means . Amongst Roman Catholics ( I am advocate for Roman Catholic Freemasons , ) this doctrine is very questionable , therefore I feel bound to explain the sense in which I wish it to be understood . That the grossness of an act may be increased or diminished according to circumstances , must be admitted , therefore the enormity of a sin must be measured by the same rule ; an act which is immoral
and sinful in one man , under one circumstance , is not so , but the contrary , in another man , under another circumstance . The malice prepense of the act is what makes it sinful , just as a Roman Catholic commits the sin of disobedience to the commands of his church by eating meat on a Friday ; or , as another illustration , a father whips his child for doing an act against his " acknowledged" authority and orders , although that act may be quite innocent in itself . I therefore think I
should be perfectly justified in taking my place among the Craft , if my health permitted , for such a—what I fancy—laudable purpose . The wisdom of the Catholic Church for not allowing this distinction is , VOL . III . E B