-
Articles/Ads
Article TREVILIAN ON FREEMASONRY. ← Page 4 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Trevilian On Freemasonry.
and upon special occasions it rests with the Grand Master or the Provincial Grand Master to allow their use or otherwise ; but it would be just as fair to charge any absurdities which might be introduced by a regimental chaplain into his prayers for the consecration of colours , to the Church of England , as to consider the Craft responsible for the
compilations of any Masonic writer however respectable . We must now conclude our remarks , but cannot do so without expressing the regret we feel that Mr . Trevilian should have thought it necessary to speak and write as he has done . It is useless for him to persist in misunderstanding the objects of Masonry , and the principles upon which it is founded—to insist that we intend to found a
new and comprehensive creed , when our object is to induce those who have not the light of revelation to lead a decent life , and to practice charity at any rate towards their brethren in Masonry . It is idle to attempt to persuade us that we are betraying the Cross , while we feel that our love for Christianity and the Church , is a part of our every
day life . To talk thus is an assumption of authority , and an attempt to discern motives of action , which is as presumptuous as it is uncharitable . To persist in this course , does little credit to the intelligence or to the fairness of the writer ; and it is one which , while it engenders some pity , cannot but make us feel no little contempt for its daring
absurdity . We give Mr . Trevilian credit for sincerity and depth of zeal—we wish we could add for good feeling and moderation ; as it is , if he will be advised by us he will let
the subject drop . If he had , as a Mason , put forward temperately and kindly the dangers he conceived likely to result from carrying Masonry into excess , though we might not have agreed with him as to its magnitude ( never having heard of a Christian turning infidel or deist through it ) , still we should have been glad to assist his views ; and he
might fairly have argued , that as the undue development of all good principles has led into extremes , e . g ., liberality to socialism , love of order to tyranny , and so on , that there was or might be a tendency in Masonry to look down upon differences of creeds ; such a course would have been a fair one , but by the line he has chosen to pursue he has
deprived himself of the power of influencing those whom he considers in danger , and has by his own act put himself in the place of an enemy , when he mi ght have appeared as an honest and well meaning , though perhaps mistaken friend .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Trevilian On Freemasonry.
and upon special occasions it rests with the Grand Master or the Provincial Grand Master to allow their use or otherwise ; but it would be just as fair to charge any absurdities which might be introduced by a regimental chaplain into his prayers for the consecration of colours , to the Church of England , as to consider the Craft responsible for the
compilations of any Masonic writer however respectable . We must now conclude our remarks , but cannot do so without expressing the regret we feel that Mr . Trevilian should have thought it necessary to speak and write as he has done . It is useless for him to persist in misunderstanding the objects of Masonry , and the principles upon which it is founded—to insist that we intend to found a
new and comprehensive creed , when our object is to induce those who have not the light of revelation to lead a decent life , and to practice charity at any rate towards their brethren in Masonry . It is idle to attempt to persuade us that we are betraying the Cross , while we feel that our love for Christianity and the Church , is a part of our every
day life . To talk thus is an assumption of authority , and an attempt to discern motives of action , which is as presumptuous as it is uncharitable . To persist in this course , does little credit to the intelligence or to the fairness of the writer ; and it is one which , while it engenders some pity , cannot but make us feel no little contempt for its daring
absurdity . We give Mr . Trevilian credit for sincerity and depth of zeal—we wish we could add for good feeling and moderation ; as it is , if he will be advised by us he will let
the subject drop . If he had , as a Mason , put forward temperately and kindly the dangers he conceived likely to result from carrying Masonry into excess , though we might not have agreed with him as to its magnitude ( never having heard of a Christian turning infidel or deist through it ) , still we should have been glad to assist his views ; and he
might fairly have argued , that as the undue development of all good principles has led into extremes , e . g ., liberality to socialism , love of order to tyranny , and so on , that there was or might be a tendency in Masonry to look down upon differences of creeds ; such a course would have been a fair one , but by the line he has chosen to pursue he has
deprived himself of the power of influencing those whom he considers in danger , and has by his own act put himself in the place of an enemy , when he mi ght have appeared as an honest and well meaning , though perhaps mistaken friend .