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Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 6 →
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Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
[ THE EDITOE does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ]
TO THE EDITOR . SIR AND BROTHER . —In tho last number of your magazine , I observed that a Correspondent , who is a "Novitiate" in the Order , makes a very natural and very proper enquiry , viz ., " Whether Masonry , as practised under the English Constitution in the present day , is a system of pure deism , or a type of Christianity , and what has been tho generally received opinion amongst its professors throughout all ages ? " and you refer him to your article on Trevilian ' s
book , & c . You will allow me , but in the most fraternal spirit , to express an opinion , that your reply is rather too indirect , and can scarcely be considered satisfactory to a " Novitiate . " It is a question upon whicli there exists much difference of opinion amongst the Craft of the present day , though apparently well understood by the Brethren of tho last century ; and I think it better to recommend him to study the ancient landmarks , and consult the earliest authorities , for , like other institutions , Masonry has undergone many changes since the commencement of the present century . I have known many hihlintelligent
gy Novitiates retire from the Order , or at least discontinue their attendance on their Lodges , because , say they , " Masonry is so undefined , that it appears to us to have no object beyond that of a mere charitable institution ; " consequently , they cannot conceive why it should be considered a secret society , or have any mystic rites and ceremonies attached to it ; but the circumstance of the existence of mystic rites is sufficient evidence that its origin and design point far beyond the limits of a mere charitable institution , to subjects of a most sacred and sublime nature . The only definition which our Lodge instructions present , and which is too often
lost sight of , is , that it is " a peculiar system of morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols . " As I take a great interest in Masonry , and being an old Past Master in the Craft , and Past Principal in B . A . degrees , I think I may consider myself qualified to answer " Novitiate ' s " enquiries . I may here observe that I have read Trevilian ' s book alluded to , although it required an effort of patience , and I am sorry to be obliged to say , that , although it is professedly a defence of Christianity , it contains as little of its spirit as any book I have ever met with upon the subject .
There is so much of exaggeration , and so much which is literally untrue , that it is impossible to give the author credit for the motives by which he professes to be actuated ; added to which , the fact of his having taken only his first degree , and that upwards of thirty years ago , renders it a perfect absurdity to suppose that he can know anything of the symbolical character of Masonry . There are some few remarks , however , in your strictures on Trevilian , to which I cannot give my unqualified assent , but which I shall not further notice at present . But with respect to " Novitiate ' s " enquiries , allow me to say , that , from the day of my
initiation , I became fascinated with Freemasonry , and as I progressed , felt an ardent desire to draw aside the veil by which it was shrouded in order to penetrate its mysteries ; and by means of some years diligent attention to its mechanism and symbolism , I have not the sli ghtest hesitation in saying that I arrived at the conclusion that its origin is Christian , and its design to present and preserve to the initiated a beautiful developement of the grand scheme of Human Redemption , but " veiled in allegory ar . d illustrated by symbols . " The allegory , vol ., i . ' x x
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
[ THE EDITOE does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ]
TO THE EDITOR . SIR AND BROTHER . —In tho last number of your magazine , I observed that a Correspondent , who is a "Novitiate" in the Order , makes a very natural and very proper enquiry , viz ., " Whether Masonry , as practised under the English Constitution in the present day , is a system of pure deism , or a type of Christianity , and what has been tho generally received opinion amongst its professors throughout all ages ? " and you refer him to your article on Trevilian ' s
book , & c . You will allow me , but in the most fraternal spirit , to express an opinion , that your reply is rather too indirect , and can scarcely be considered satisfactory to a " Novitiate . " It is a question upon whicli there exists much difference of opinion amongst the Craft of the present day , though apparently well understood by the Brethren of tho last century ; and I think it better to recommend him to study the ancient landmarks , and consult the earliest authorities , for , like other institutions , Masonry has undergone many changes since the commencement of the present century . I have known many hihlintelligent
gy Novitiates retire from the Order , or at least discontinue their attendance on their Lodges , because , say they , " Masonry is so undefined , that it appears to us to have no object beyond that of a mere charitable institution ; " consequently , they cannot conceive why it should be considered a secret society , or have any mystic rites and ceremonies attached to it ; but the circumstance of the existence of mystic rites is sufficient evidence that its origin and design point far beyond the limits of a mere charitable institution , to subjects of a most sacred and sublime nature . The only definition which our Lodge instructions present , and which is too often
lost sight of , is , that it is " a peculiar system of morality , veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols . " As I take a great interest in Masonry , and being an old Past Master in the Craft , and Past Principal in B . A . degrees , I think I may consider myself qualified to answer " Novitiate ' s " enquiries . I may here observe that I have read Trevilian ' s book alluded to , although it required an effort of patience , and I am sorry to be obliged to say , that , although it is professedly a defence of Christianity , it contains as little of its spirit as any book I have ever met with upon the subject .
There is so much of exaggeration , and so much which is literally untrue , that it is impossible to give the author credit for the motives by which he professes to be actuated ; added to which , the fact of his having taken only his first degree , and that upwards of thirty years ago , renders it a perfect absurdity to suppose that he can know anything of the symbolical character of Masonry . There are some few remarks , however , in your strictures on Trevilian , to which I cannot give my unqualified assent , but which I shall not further notice at present . But with respect to " Novitiate ' s " enquiries , allow me to say , that , from the day of my
initiation , I became fascinated with Freemasonry , and as I progressed , felt an ardent desire to draw aside the veil by which it was shrouded in order to penetrate its mysteries ; and by means of some years diligent attention to its mechanism and symbolism , I have not the sli ghtest hesitation in saying that I arrived at the conclusion that its origin is Christian , and its design to present and preserve to the initiated a beautiful developement of the grand scheme of Human Redemption , but " veiled in allegory ar . d illustrated by symbols . " The allegory , vol ., i . ' x x