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Article CHAPTER II. Page 1 of 5 →
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Chapter Ii.
CHAPTER II .
PRECEPT AND EXAMPLE . " Dy making the prosperity of mankind the object of thy labours , do not lose sight of the necessity of forwarding thy own perfection , and do not neglect the concerns of th !/ immortal soul . Often unveil and examine thy heart , to discover its most secret dispositions . The knowledge of one ' s-sclf is the sum of all masonic precept . * . Thy sou ] is the rough ashlar which thou must labour to polish ; thou canst not do homage more worthy of the Supreme Being , than when thou oflerest up to Him regular desires and inclinations , and restrained passions . May the sublime idea , that thou walkest before the eye of the Omnipresent , strengthen and support thee . "—MASO . VIC EXHORTATIONS .
"Truth is a principle of eternal nature , derived from the Great Father of Light , conformable with his holy will , and interwoven with the laws of his creation . It is the duty of every true Mason , who seeks to walk according to the light , to make that sacred principle the guide of his words and actions . Hence hypocrisy and deceit will be unknown iu our lodges ; sincerity and plain dealing distinguish us ; while the heart and the tongue unite in promoting the general welfare , both temporal and eternal , and rejoicing in each other ' s prosperity . " MASONIC LECTUUES .
FROM the above mottoes it will be perceived that the doctrines of Masonry are not only calculated to promote the happiness of this world , but extend also to the next . If their influence were directed solely to the welfare of the body , and the soul left to the effect of chance , then their utility might be esteemed doubtful by those who are unacquainted with their real excellence . But this is not the case . The interests of both proceed by equal steps , ancl I am not aware that those of either were intended b
y the Supreme Architect of the Universe to operate independently of the other . The duties which we owe to God ancl to ourselves , run in the gospel in two parallel lines , and both contribute an equal share to the great end of our creation . " The full manifestation of that dominion , " , according to Archbishop Seeker , " which Christ in his human nature acquired , by dying , and rising , and living again ( for \ vhich manifestation other act of his regal authority is opening the
every way ) , will be in that hour when he shall come with his holy angels to sit upon the throne of his glory , and all nations being gathered before him , shall sentence the wicked to everlasting punishment , but bestow on the righteous life eternal . After which , the ends of this whole dispensation being now accomplished , he shall deliver up his kingdom of grace to God , even the Father , in whose kingdom of glory he shall still reign , with Him and the Holy Spirit , over his saints and angels for ever ancl
ever . " As Masons we are bound by our obligation to contribute our share to this glorious consummation , by yielding a clue obedience to the precepts of the Order , and exemplifying in our lives the lessons which are delivered in the lodge . So far the Mason is in advance of the Christian , because he not only enjoys the advantages of Christian teaching in common with every other person , but also hears those vivifying precepts
of PVeemasonry , which , if he receives with meekness , and observes with fidelity , will bring him to " a building not made with hands , eternal in the heavens . " That this proposition may receive every confirmation of which it is susceptible , I propose , in these papers , to give an outline of the instruction which distinguishes a Mason ' s lodge , for the purpose of showing that while the Mason , by the practice of Christianity is working out his own salvationhe is at the same timebthe practice
, , y of Masonry , contributing , in no slight degree , to the general interests of society . I have said in a former chapter , that influence is either direct or indirect , ' and operates by precept ancl example . Direct influence is professedly applied by Freemasonry to the community at large , with the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chapter Ii.
CHAPTER II .
PRECEPT AND EXAMPLE . " Dy making the prosperity of mankind the object of thy labours , do not lose sight of the necessity of forwarding thy own perfection , and do not neglect the concerns of th !/ immortal soul . Often unveil and examine thy heart , to discover its most secret dispositions . The knowledge of one ' s-sclf is the sum of all masonic precept . * . Thy sou ] is the rough ashlar which thou must labour to polish ; thou canst not do homage more worthy of the Supreme Being , than when thou oflerest up to Him regular desires and inclinations , and restrained passions . May the sublime idea , that thou walkest before the eye of the Omnipresent , strengthen and support thee . "—MASO . VIC EXHORTATIONS .
"Truth is a principle of eternal nature , derived from the Great Father of Light , conformable with his holy will , and interwoven with the laws of his creation . It is the duty of every true Mason , who seeks to walk according to the light , to make that sacred principle the guide of his words and actions . Hence hypocrisy and deceit will be unknown iu our lodges ; sincerity and plain dealing distinguish us ; while the heart and the tongue unite in promoting the general welfare , both temporal and eternal , and rejoicing in each other ' s prosperity . " MASONIC LECTUUES .
FROM the above mottoes it will be perceived that the doctrines of Masonry are not only calculated to promote the happiness of this world , but extend also to the next . If their influence were directed solely to the welfare of the body , and the soul left to the effect of chance , then their utility might be esteemed doubtful by those who are unacquainted with their real excellence . But this is not the case . The interests of both proceed by equal steps , ancl I am not aware that those of either were intended b
y the Supreme Architect of the Universe to operate independently of the other . The duties which we owe to God ancl to ourselves , run in the gospel in two parallel lines , and both contribute an equal share to the great end of our creation . " The full manifestation of that dominion , " , according to Archbishop Seeker , " which Christ in his human nature acquired , by dying , and rising , and living again ( for \ vhich manifestation other act of his regal authority is opening the
every way ) , will be in that hour when he shall come with his holy angels to sit upon the throne of his glory , and all nations being gathered before him , shall sentence the wicked to everlasting punishment , but bestow on the righteous life eternal . After which , the ends of this whole dispensation being now accomplished , he shall deliver up his kingdom of grace to God , even the Father , in whose kingdom of glory he shall still reign , with Him and the Holy Spirit , over his saints and angels for ever ancl
ever . " As Masons we are bound by our obligation to contribute our share to this glorious consummation , by yielding a clue obedience to the precepts of the Order , and exemplifying in our lives the lessons which are delivered in the lodge . So far the Mason is in advance of the Christian , because he not only enjoys the advantages of Christian teaching in common with every other person , but also hears those vivifying precepts
of PVeemasonry , which , if he receives with meekness , and observes with fidelity , will bring him to " a building not made with hands , eternal in the heavens . " That this proposition may receive every confirmation of which it is susceptible , I propose , in these papers , to give an outline of the instruction which distinguishes a Mason ' s lodge , for the purpose of showing that while the Mason , by the practice of Christianity is working out his own salvationhe is at the same timebthe practice
, , y of Masonry , contributing , in no slight degree , to the general interests of society . I have said in a former chapter , that influence is either direct or indirect , ' and operates by precept ancl example . Direct influence is professedly applied by Freemasonry to the community at large , with the