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Article MASONRY RESTORED TO ITS GENUINE PRINCIPLES. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry Restored To Its Genuine Principles.
There was a general complaint against thc multiplicity of degrees , and it became necessary to lop off some . Multiplicity of words only fatigues and embarrasses the traveller . Every land has its Masonry , —its rites , its pretensions , its variety ; all this produces differences which are injurious to the Order . The essential points , which are science and virtue , toleration , good sense , and union leare forgotten . These are the true ends of Masonryand
among peop , , we may say , man ' s salvation . '"' For more than twenty years have we sought for reform of this system . We have pointed out the means of effecting it . We have demonstrated that it mig ht be carried into effect without commotions or troubles ; and we have dispersed numerous works on this subject throughout all the Masonic world . Unfortunately , be it from love for old customs , be it lukewarmness , or fear of displeasing , no one has
put his hand to the plough ; abuses and differences continue . We have , therefore , been obliged to undertake a work alone , in which we expected the co-operation of our Ikothers . It is for them to say , if we are mistaken .
Were the Masonic authorities to condemn us , they would be in fault ; for long since ought they to have established the amendments , which for all the Craft called , —amendments which were so simple , especially since half the globe has for forty years been tired of the vices of old times , ancl has shown that a civilization was sought for which should be more conformable to justice and the dignity of man . But we would fain believe that the Masonic authorities will be the
first to appreciate and perhaps even to assist our labours . They will perceive that we have carefully preserved the principal ceremonies ; it would have been madness to have altered this universal language . We have proposed no innovations rare in the mode of giving instruction , so as to accommodate it to the lights of the age and the wishes of our Brethren .
The Masonry of whicli we have spoken we have practised for fifteen years in the Lodge of the Trinosophes , in the presence of the elite of Paris and the provinces ; ancl it has been practised in several towns in France and abroad , and all have borne witness in its favour . We therefore persuaded ourselves that we had been of use to the Order , in circulating our new ritual ; that is , in giving it to those W . M ' s , Chapters , and Councils , who asked for it , ancl who promised to employ it in the
same spirit which made us conceive it . Since 1829 , we have published in a reprint of the "Lien des Peuples , " the conditions on which it may be obtained . t At that period the degree of R . C . had not yet been purified ; we had brought it to purification , by many thought a practical impossibility , so utterly remote did it appear to us to be from those principles which establish concord among men . We have been better inspired this year .
The solicitations of many Lodges have encouraged us . We have called history to our aid , and we have made the errors of that grade subservient to the triumph of truth . It was a great difficulty to overcome ; and if some Chapters which have adopeel our system are to be credited , it is
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry Restored To Its Genuine Principles.
There was a general complaint against thc multiplicity of degrees , and it became necessary to lop off some . Multiplicity of words only fatigues and embarrasses the traveller . Every land has its Masonry , —its rites , its pretensions , its variety ; all this produces differences which are injurious to the Order . The essential points , which are science and virtue , toleration , good sense , and union leare forgotten . These are the true ends of Masonryand
among peop , , we may say , man ' s salvation . '"' For more than twenty years have we sought for reform of this system . We have pointed out the means of effecting it . We have demonstrated that it mig ht be carried into effect without commotions or troubles ; and we have dispersed numerous works on this subject throughout all the Masonic world . Unfortunately , be it from love for old customs , be it lukewarmness , or fear of displeasing , no one has
put his hand to the plough ; abuses and differences continue . We have , therefore , been obliged to undertake a work alone , in which we expected the co-operation of our Ikothers . It is for them to say , if we are mistaken .
Were the Masonic authorities to condemn us , they would be in fault ; for long since ought they to have established the amendments , which for all the Craft called , —amendments which were so simple , especially since half the globe has for forty years been tired of the vices of old times , ancl has shown that a civilization was sought for which should be more conformable to justice and the dignity of man . But we would fain believe that the Masonic authorities will be the
first to appreciate and perhaps even to assist our labours . They will perceive that we have carefully preserved the principal ceremonies ; it would have been madness to have altered this universal language . We have proposed no innovations rare in the mode of giving instruction , so as to accommodate it to the lights of the age and the wishes of our Brethren .
The Masonry of whicli we have spoken we have practised for fifteen years in the Lodge of the Trinosophes , in the presence of the elite of Paris and the provinces ; ancl it has been practised in several towns in France and abroad , and all have borne witness in its favour . We therefore persuaded ourselves that we had been of use to the Order , in circulating our new ritual ; that is , in giving it to those W . M ' s , Chapters , and Councils , who asked for it , ancl who promised to employ it in the
same spirit which made us conceive it . Since 1829 , we have published in a reprint of the "Lien des Peuples , " the conditions on which it may be obtained . t At that period the degree of R . C . had not yet been purified ; we had brought it to purification , by many thought a practical impossibility , so utterly remote did it appear to us to be from those principles which establish concord among men . We have been better inspired this year .
The solicitations of many Lodges have encouraged us . We have called history to our aid , and we have made the errors of that grade subservient to the triumph of truth . It was a great difficulty to overcome ; and if some Chapters which have adopeel our system are to be credited , it is