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Article THE MASONRY OF FLOWERS. ← Page 4 of 4
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonry Of Flowers.
he has practised , and put your readers upon their guard Avith respect to " travelling Masons" generally . I have the pleasure to be , Sir , Tours fraternally , Wm . P . ASTLEY , W . M . 611 , Tarborough Lodge , Gainsborough .
TO THE ED 1 TOB 01 ' THE EBEEMASONS * QXTAETEELY MAGAZINE . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , — June 3 rd , 1854 . Whatever the moral Avorth may be of your correspondent ' s strictures on Sunday Lodges , there can be but little doubt that his conclusions are opjiosed in spirit to the first principles of -Freemasonry , presupposingas they dothe existence of certain obligations which it
, , is the peculiar characteristic of the Order to ignore . ¦ By silencing sectarian dogmas , whether religious , political , or social , it establishes those canons of perfect Freedom and Equality , under shelter of which men of all nations , creeds , and habits , may harmoniously assemble ; and I apprehend no good Mason could regard the fulfilment of so sublime an union as in itself an unprofitable occupation
for Sunday evening . Such a A'iew may be left to those who regard their Lodge duties as a pleasant medium for social enjoyment , —a mere amusement for week-day leisure ; but men Avho appreciate the Divine character of the Craft Avill be more apt to censure the Aveekday dinner-eater than the Sunday Mason , and , far from arresting , would assist and encourage an employment Avhich may make them
better , and can hardly make them Avorse . For members of Sunday Lodges may be therein restrained from frivolous or vile pursuits , and learn lessons there Avhich , so far from being at variance Avith the spirit of the day , may assist the comprehension of its purest and most exalted principles . Great stress has been laid on the use of tobacco and liquors , but
( even had we not been assured that excess is almost unknown ) how they affect the merits of this case it is difficult to understand . It is positive there is no obligation to use , and Ave know of none to forbid them ; and men desirous of these things ( who assuredly will discover some means to obtain them ) will not poison their cigar or their glass by associating with their consumption an intellectual and exalting exercise .
Sn-, as individuals Ave may hate tobacco , forswear spirits , and prefer our church on Sunday evening to any other place whatever , Avith great benefit to society at large and advantage to ourselves ; but we surely acquire by this no title to dogmatize on these matters , and rally round us the bitterness of party and of fanaticism by uncharitable and gratuitous denunciations of the Brethren in a Freemasons' Magazine . I remain , Sir and Brother , Tours fraternall y , B . B ., No . 662 . Croydon .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonry Of Flowers.
he has practised , and put your readers upon their guard Avith respect to " travelling Masons" generally . I have the pleasure to be , Sir , Tours fraternally , Wm . P . ASTLEY , W . M . 611 , Tarborough Lodge , Gainsborough .
TO THE ED 1 TOB 01 ' THE EBEEMASONS * QXTAETEELY MAGAZINE . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , — June 3 rd , 1854 . Whatever the moral Avorth may be of your correspondent ' s strictures on Sunday Lodges , there can be but little doubt that his conclusions are opjiosed in spirit to the first principles of -Freemasonry , presupposingas they dothe existence of certain obligations which it
, , is the peculiar characteristic of the Order to ignore . ¦ By silencing sectarian dogmas , whether religious , political , or social , it establishes those canons of perfect Freedom and Equality , under shelter of which men of all nations , creeds , and habits , may harmoniously assemble ; and I apprehend no good Mason could regard the fulfilment of so sublime an union as in itself an unprofitable occupation
for Sunday evening . Such a A'iew may be left to those who regard their Lodge duties as a pleasant medium for social enjoyment , —a mere amusement for week-day leisure ; but men Avho appreciate the Divine character of the Craft Avill be more apt to censure the Aveekday dinner-eater than the Sunday Mason , and , far from arresting , would assist and encourage an employment Avhich may make them
better , and can hardly make them Avorse . For members of Sunday Lodges may be therein restrained from frivolous or vile pursuits , and learn lessons there Avhich , so far from being at variance Avith the spirit of the day , may assist the comprehension of its purest and most exalted principles . Great stress has been laid on the use of tobacco and liquors , but
( even had we not been assured that excess is almost unknown ) how they affect the merits of this case it is difficult to understand . It is positive there is no obligation to use , and Ave know of none to forbid them ; and men desirous of these things ( who assuredly will discover some means to obtain them ) will not poison their cigar or their glass by associating with their consumption an intellectual and exalting exercise .
Sn-, as individuals Ave may hate tobacco , forswear spirits , and prefer our church on Sunday evening to any other place whatever , Avith great benefit to society at large and advantage to ourselves ; but we surely acquire by this no title to dogmatize on these matters , and rally round us the bitterness of party and of fanaticism by uncharitable and gratuitous denunciations of the Brethren in a Freemasons' Magazine . I remain , Sir and Brother , Tours fraternall y , B . B ., No . 662 . Croydon .