-
Articles/Ads
Article MASONRY RESTORED TO ITS GENUINE PRINCIPLES. ← Page 4 of 4 Article THE SONGS OF MASONRY. Page 1 of 13 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry Restored To Its Genuine Principles.
overcome . Thus , then , Masonry will have a complete ritual , and will present a rational system in the hierarchy of its initiatory rites . And the initiated will no longer complain of being left without guides , or interest in the new career upon which they have chosen to enter . All those who understand our meaning will remain forever as greatly attached to Masonry as to honour and reason personified . They will teach it and diffuse it far and wide , and thus
render more service to the u-orld than all legislators together . Such , then , is the end of our labours . It is for our Brethren to assist us in them , and their reward as well as ours shall be the prosperity of our Order and the happiness of having done well . "
The Songs Of Masonry.
THE SONGS OF MASONRY .
No . 2 . BY THE REV . G . OLIVER , D . D . MY DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —It has been said that some of our songs are bibulous . I admit the fact . Many of them were written in the eighteenth century ; and it is well known that the prevailing vice of that period , amongst the higher and middle classes was , an inordinate
attachment to the pleasures of the table . All our hunting songs , written in the same age , are bacchanalian ; and even the professedly moral songs hear the same character . As for example ; " Says Plato why should man be vain ;"— "What Cato advises : "— "On fragrant myrtles let me lie ;"— " Cease Boreas , cease ;"— " Diogenes surly and proud ; " and many others . It is true , we find drinking songs of an earlier date . The following was written b y Thomas Nabbes so early as 1639 ; anil I quote it to illustrate the fact , that the songs of any period are characteristic of the prevailing habits of a people .
" Thou , ever youthful god of wine Whose burnished cheeks with rubies shine , Thy brows with ivy chaplets crowned ; We dare thee here to pledge a round ! Thy wanton grapes we do detest , Here ' s richer juice from barley pressed . " Let not the Muses vainltell
y What virtues in the horse-hoof dwell , That scarce one drop of good blood breeds , But , with mere inspiration feeds ; Oh , let them come , and taste this beer , And water henceforth they'll forswear . " If that the Paracelsian crew
, The virtues of this liquor knew , Their endless toils they would give o ' er , Aud never use extractions more ; 'Tis medicine , meat , for young and old ; Elixir , —blood of tortured gold .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry Restored To Its Genuine Principles.
overcome . Thus , then , Masonry will have a complete ritual , and will present a rational system in the hierarchy of its initiatory rites . And the initiated will no longer complain of being left without guides , or interest in the new career upon which they have chosen to enter . All those who understand our meaning will remain forever as greatly attached to Masonry as to honour and reason personified . They will teach it and diffuse it far and wide , and thus
render more service to the u-orld than all legislators together . Such , then , is the end of our labours . It is for our Brethren to assist us in them , and their reward as well as ours shall be the prosperity of our Order and the happiness of having done well . "
The Songs Of Masonry.
THE SONGS OF MASONRY .
No . 2 . BY THE REV . G . OLIVER , D . D . MY DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —It has been said that some of our songs are bibulous . I admit the fact . Many of them were written in the eighteenth century ; and it is well known that the prevailing vice of that period , amongst the higher and middle classes was , an inordinate
attachment to the pleasures of the table . All our hunting songs , written in the same age , are bacchanalian ; and even the professedly moral songs hear the same character . As for example ; " Says Plato why should man be vain ;"— "What Cato advises : "— "On fragrant myrtles let me lie ;"— " Cease Boreas , cease ;"— " Diogenes surly and proud ; " and many others . It is true , we find drinking songs of an earlier date . The following was written b y Thomas Nabbes so early as 1639 ; anil I quote it to illustrate the fact , that the songs of any period are characteristic of the prevailing habits of a people .
" Thou , ever youthful god of wine Whose burnished cheeks with rubies shine , Thy brows with ivy chaplets crowned ; We dare thee here to pledge a round ! Thy wanton grapes we do detest , Here ' s richer juice from barley pressed . " Let not the Muses vainltell
y What virtues in the horse-hoof dwell , That scarce one drop of good blood breeds , But , with mere inspiration feeds ; Oh , let them come , and taste this beer , And water henceforth they'll forswear . " If that the Paracelsian crew
, The virtues of this liquor knew , Their endless toils they would give o ' er , Aud never use extractions more ; 'Tis medicine , meat , for young and old ; Elixir , —blood of tortured gold .