Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Didactics; Or, Short Moral Essays Of Universal Adaptaton.
MASONIC DIDACTICS ; OR , SHORT MORAL ESSAYS OF UNIVERSAL ADAPTATON .
BV BROTHER H . R . SLADE , LL . B . " Masonary is a peculiar system of morals . "
No . VII . —THE MALIGNANT CHARACTER OF ENVY . Invhlus alterius rebus mncrcscit opimts . —Horace . Orestes—thy merit is to thy neighbour pain . —Author . Envy is an evil passion , which , more or less , takes possession of every man ' s mind ; andalthough it is most commonlfound in weak
, y and uneducated persons , it is also too frequently discovered lurking in bosoms least suspected of being tainted by such an execrable vice . For proof of what is above asserted let every man scrutinize his own heart , and enquire , if , during a long intercourse with his fellowcreatures , he has not envied one or other of them the possession of some quality or virtue which he had not the ability or power to attain . The mental response to this self-appeal will add " confirmation strong
as truths of holy writ . " The fact , then , is substantiated , that , the infirmity of man ' s nature is such , that , however wise and virtuous he may be , it will not exempt him from being subjected at seasons to the baneful influence of this passion equally with the most foolish and weak , though his self-command perhaps will often make him discreet enough not to give vent to its gangrene suggestions . The wise Plutarch has compared envious persons to " cupping glasses , which ever draw forth the worst humors of the body . " For
it is the unfortunate frailty of mortals to regard the superior acquirements and actions of one another with an eye of jealous spleen , and to endeavour , by some illnatured and calumnious remark , to detract from any merit which might seem to belong to those individuals . History , indeed , tells us of one Mutius of Rome , who was noted for being of such a spiteful and malevolent disposition , that Publius one day observing him to be sad made the following remark : " either some evil has
great happened to Mutius , or some great good to another . " _ After this excellent piece of satire , we close the book , it being impossible to find a more striking picture of envy . But , while the feeling of utter contempt for such a character is still fresh on the mind , let us not forget the trite apothegm of the profound Bacon . He says : " that envy is agadding passion , and walketh the street , and doth not keep at home" therebintimating that it has into all hearts
, y access . How necessary then it is to ask the Divine Aid to protect us against the malignant intrusion of a passion over which we ourselves have so little contaml . It is too constantl y to be remembered that , as calumny and defamation , which are the twin offsprings of envy , never , or seldom , attack where there is hot a weak point in our character , so Ine best and safest policy is to guard that from error . Religion , reflection , and experience combined , will teach us the fallibility of our own
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Didactics; Or, Short Moral Essays Of Universal Adaptaton.
MASONIC DIDACTICS ; OR , SHORT MORAL ESSAYS OF UNIVERSAL ADAPTATON .
BV BROTHER H . R . SLADE , LL . B . " Masonary is a peculiar system of morals . "
No . VII . —THE MALIGNANT CHARACTER OF ENVY . Invhlus alterius rebus mncrcscit opimts . —Horace . Orestes—thy merit is to thy neighbour pain . —Author . Envy is an evil passion , which , more or less , takes possession of every man ' s mind ; andalthough it is most commonlfound in weak
, y and uneducated persons , it is also too frequently discovered lurking in bosoms least suspected of being tainted by such an execrable vice . For proof of what is above asserted let every man scrutinize his own heart , and enquire , if , during a long intercourse with his fellowcreatures , he has not envied one or other of them the possession of some quality or virtue which he had not the ability or power to attain . The mental response to this self-appeal will add " confirmation strong
as truths of holy writ . " The fact , then , is substantiated , that , the infirmity of man ' s nature is such , that , however wise and virtuous he may be , it will not exempt him from being subjected at seasons to the baneful influence of this passion equally with the most foolish and weak , though his self-command perhaps will often make him discreet enough not to give vent to its gangrene suggestions . The wise Plutarch has compared envious persons to " cupping glasses , which ever draw forth the worst humors of the body . " For
it is the unfortunate frailty of mortals to regard the superior acquirements and actions of one another with an eye of jealous spleen , and to endeavour , by some illnatured and calumnious remark , to detract from any merit which might seem to belong to those individuals . History , indeed , tells us of one Mutius of Rome , who was noted for being of such a spiteful and malevolent disposition , that Publius one day observing him to be sad made the following remark : " either some evil has
great happened to Mutius , or some great good to another . " _ After this excellent piece of satire , we close the book , it being impossible to find a more striking picture of envy . But , while the feeling of utter contempt for such a character is still fresh on the mind , let us not forget the trite apothegm of the profound Bacon . He says : " that envy is agadding passion , and walketh the street , and doth not keep at home" therebintimating that it has into all hearts
, y access . How necessary then it is to ask the Divine Aid to protect us against the malignant intrusion of a passion over which we ourselves have so little contaml . It is too constantl y to be remembered that , as calumny and defamation , which are the twin offsprings of envy , never , or seldom , attack where there is hot a weak point in our character , so Ine best and safest policy is to guard that from error . Religion , reflection , and experience combined , will teach us the fallibility of our own