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Article THE ANNALIST. THE CHARTER OF COLNE , ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Annalist. The Charter Of Colne ,
objects it has in view , as those have been discovered by the principal and most experienced Masters in our excellent science , who , enlightened with true wisdom , have diligently searched and proved the truth ; and who , in consequence are enabled to make this declaration written , signed , and sealed by us , to be sent to each of the Lodges of our Brotherhood , in order that it may serve as an eternal memorial hereof , and to unviolated the purity of our intentionsancl whereasbthe
preserve ; , y daily increasing lust of the citizens and people for hatred , envy , intolerance and war , our Brotherhood may in future become more and more oppressed , and rendered less able to protect and preserve itself , and thus , in the course of time , become less pure , less undefiled , less corrupted , or in some parts of the earth entirely destroyed ; those letters may in future and better days become useful ; should the whole of those letters not be preserved , yet some of them may ; and that into
whatever disorder or distress the Order may have fallen , it may , by those means , be restored to its original purity . For those reasons , we installed Masters , induced by the love of true knowledge , have composed this Charter from the most ancient and authentic records of our Order concerning its objects , usages , and duties , in the holy hope , that none of our fellow-labourers either noiv , or in future ages , will deviate from this testimony to the truth ; and this we declare and make known to the enlightened as well as to the profane world , the welfare of both being
dear unto our hearts . A . The Brotherhood , or Order of Free and Accepted Masons dedicated to the holy St . John , is not a branch of the Temple , nor of any other spiritual or temporal order , neither is it united with one or the other , neither has it derived its origin from them , nor has it the least communion with them in any shape or manner whatever ; but it is much more ancient than all those orders of knighthood , ancl existed in
Palestine ancl Greece , as well as in both divisions of the Roman empire before the Crusades , and the departure of the above-named knights for Palestine . It is proved unto us by the existence of many monuments whose ages are well known , that our Brotherhood had its origin in those times when a few of the initiated , rilled with desire of true knowledge and a correct interpretation of the mysteries of Christianity , separated themselves from the various sects who professed the Christian
religion ; for in those times , a few wise and enlightened men who could not agree to the heathenish customs and ceremonies introduced into Christianity , and perceiving that by this unhallowed service neither peace , nor love , nor unanimity could ensue , but that cruel wars must arise , united themselves with an holy oath to preserve ancl maintain in its original purity , the hallowed origin of the Christian religion , with its benign influence on the hearts and consciences of mankind ; to bring the True Light more and more out of darkness , and to labour together in combatting ignorance , intolerance , ancl superstition , and to establish peace and happiness among mankind , by teaching and enforcing every
human virtue . Thus the Masters of our Order took the name of Initiated Brethren of St . John , following the footsteps and imitating the conduct of St . John the Baptist , the forerunner of the Light , and the first martyr of the enlightened . The teachers and writers , according to the customs of the times , were called masters , ancl chosen from the experienced and learned of their disciples , or fellow-labourers , from whence
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Annalist. The Charter Of Colne ,
objects it has in view , as those have been discovered by the principal and most experienced Masters in our excellent science , who , enlightened with true wisdom , have diligently searched and proved the truth ; and who , in consequence are enabled to make this declaration written , signed , and sealed by us , to be sent to each of the Lodges of our Brotherhood , in order that it may serve as an eternal memorial hereof , and to unviolated the purity of our intentionsancl whereasbthe
preserve ; , y daily increasing lust of the citizens and people for hatred , envy , intolerance and war , our Brotherhood may in future become more and more oppressed , and rendered less able to protect and preserve itself , and thus , in the course of time , become less pure , less undefiled , less corrupted , or in some parts of the earth entirely destroyed ; those letters may in future and better days become useful ; should the whole of those letters not be preserved , yet some of them may ; and that into
whatever disorder or distress the Order may have fallen , it may , by those means , be restored to its original purity . For those reasons , we installed Masters , induced by the love of true knowledge , have composed this Charter from the most ancient and authentic records of our Order concerning its objects , usages , and duties , in the holy hope , that none of our fellow-labourers either noiv , or in future ages , will deviate from this testimony to the truth ; and this we declare and make known to the enlightened as well as to the profane world , the welfare of both being
dear unto our hearts . A . The Brotherhood , or Order of Free and Accepted Masons dedicated to the holy St . John , is not a branch of the Temple , nor of any other spiritual or temporal order , neither is it united with one or the other , neither has it derived its origin from them , nor has it the least communion with them in any shape or manner whatever ; but it is much more ancient than all those orders of knighthood , ancl existed in
Palestine ancl Greece , as well as in both divisions of the Roman empire before the Crusades , and the departure of the above-named knights for Palestine . It is proved unto us by the existence of many monuments whose ages are well known , that our Brotherhood had its origin in those times when a few of the initiated , rilled with desire of true knowledge and a correct interpretation of the mysteries of Christianity , separated themselves from the various sects who professed the Christian
religion ; for in those times , a few wise and enlightened men who could not agree to the heathenish customs and ceremonies introduced into Christianity , and perceiving that by this unhallowed service neither peace , nor love , nor unanimity could ensue , but that cruel wars must arise , united themselves with an holy oath to preserve ancl maintain in its original purity , the hallowed origin of the Christian religion , with its benign influence on the hearts and consciences of mankind ; to bring the True Light more and more out of darkness , and to labour together in combatting ignorance , intolerance , ancl superstition , and to establish peace and happiness among mankind , by teaching and enforcing every
human virtue . Thus the Masters of our Order took the name of Initiated Brethren of St . John , following the footsteps and imitating the conduct of St . John the Baptist , the forerunner of the Light , and the first martyr of the enlightened . The teachers and writers , according to the customs of the times , were called masters , ancl chosen from the experienced and learned of their disciples , or fellow-labourers , from whence