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Article CHAPTER III. ← Page 2 of 5 →
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Chapter Iii.
tected , be his station in life whatever it may , has no regard for the rights and property of his neighbour . What at first was simple fraud becomes dishonesty . A defect in the accredited rulers and governors of any society , induces distrust and disaffection , as insubordination sometimes terminates in rebellion ; and the chain of crime leads on by gradual links to every species of disorder ; which is destruction of human happiness . Whatever may have a tendency to prevent such unhappy results must he considered of great public utility . And such is Freemasonry , as will appear from a very slight view of the laws and
constitutions of the Order . These laws and constitutions have been constructed on the principle of preventing the commission of crime ; thus rendering punishment unnecessary . It is not often that the extreme penalties of the Order are inflicted on Masons , because admonition is generally sufficient to produce the tlesired effect . " If a brother err , admonish him , —perhaps he may be saved , " says the most sacred of all books . In like manner the Constitutions of Masonry providethat if a brother shall behave in
, such a way as to disturb the harmony of the lodge , he shall thrice be formally admonished by the W , M . ; and if he persist in his irregular conduct , he will be subject to punishment according to the provisions named in the by-laws of the lodge , except it shall be considered necessary or prudent to report the case to the P . G . Master . But no member can be expelled without due notice being given him of the charge which has been preferred against him , and of the time appointed for its
consideration , that he may have a full opportunity of proving his innocence . And in no case can a brother be excluded from his lodge on any charge , except a statement of the cause of his exclusion be forwarded to the Grand and P . G . Masters . This is in strict conformity with the ancient charges of Masonry , which conclude with these truly excellent directions : — "All these charges you are to observe , and also those that shall be communicated to you in another way ; cultivating brotherly lovethe foundation and
, cape-stone , the cement and glory , of this ancient fraternity ; avoiding all wrangling and quarrelling , slandering and backbiting ; not permitting others to slander any honest brother , but defending his character and doing him all good offices as far as is consistent with your own honour and safety , but no farther ; that all mankind may see the benign influence of Masonry , as all true Masons have done from the beginning of the world , and will do to the end of time . "
These appropriate lessons are reduced to practice , and beautifully illustrated in the government of the lodge . Here we find power blended with gentleness , justice with mercy , and strict discipline tempered by harmony and peace . A disposition which produces that concord and agreement amongst the brethren which have characterised the proceedings of Masonry from its first institution , when the absence of metal tools was intended to symbolize the harmony and union of the members , and have caused it to outlive all other societies of a similar nature which have severally risen , flourished , and decayed , throughout the whole of its quiet and steady progress along the resistless stream of
time . Its operation has realised the picture of a well-regulated and happy society , described by a writer of the last century , where order and harmony are preserved , where peace , tenderness , love , and affection reign , untainted with discord , unembittered by strife or animosities , because
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Chapter Iii.
tected , be his station in life whatever it may , has no regard for the rights and property of his neighbour . What at first was simple fraud becomes dishonesty . A defect in the accredited rulers and governors of any society , induces distrust and disaffection , as insubordination sometimes terminates in rebellion ; and the chain of crime leads on by gradual links to every species of disorder ; which is destruction of human happiness . Whatever may have a tendency to prevent such unhappy results must he considered of great public utility . And such is Freemasonry , as will appear from a very slight view of the laws and
constitutions of the Order . These laws and constitutions have been constructed on the principle of preventing the commission of crime ; thus rendering punishment unnecessary . It is not often that the extreme penalties of the Order are inflicted on Masons , because admonition is generally sufficient to produce the tlesired effect . " If a brother err , admonish him , —perhaps he may be saved , " says the most sacred of all books . In like manner the Constitutions of Masonry providethat if a brother shall behave in
, such a way as to disturb the harmony of the lodge , he shall thrice be formally admonished by the W , M . ; and if he persist in his irregular conduct , he will be subject to punishment according to the provisions named in the by-laws of the lodge , except it shall be considered necessary or prudent to report the case to the P . G . Master . But no member can be expelled without due notice being given him of the charge which has been preferred against him , and of the time appointed for its
consideration , that he may have a full opportunity of proving his innocence . And in no case can a brother be excluded from his lodge on any charge , except a statement of the cause of his exclusion be forwarded to the Grand and P . G . Masters . This is in strict conformity with the ancient charges of Masonry , which conclude with these truly excellent directions : — "All these charges you are to observe , and also those that shall be communicated to you in another way ; cultivating brotherly lovethe foundation and
, cape-stone , the cement and glory , of this ancient fraternity ; avoiding all wrangling and quarrelling , slandering and backbiting ; not permitting others to slander any honest brother , but defending his character and doing him all good offices as far as is consistent with your own honour and safety , but no farther ; that all mankind may see the benign influence of Masonry , as all true Masons have done from the beginning of the world , and will do to the end of time . "
These appropriate lessons are reduced to practice , and beautifully illustrated in the government of the lodge . Here we find power blended with gentleness , justice with mercy , and strict discipline tempered by harmony and peace . A disposition which produces that concord and agreement amongst the brethren which have characterised the proceedings of Masonry from its first institution , when the absence of metal tools was intended to symbolize the harmony and union of the members , and have caused it to outlive all other societies of a similar nature which have severally risen , flourished , and decayed , throughout the whole of its quiet and steady progress along the resistless stream of
time . Its operation has realised the picture of a well-regulated and happy society , described by a writer of the last century , where order and harmony are preserved , where peace , tenderness , love , and affection reign , untainted with discord , unembittered by strife or animosities , because