-
Articles/Ads
Article MASONIC DIDACTICS; Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Didactics;
MASONIC DIDACTICS ;
OH , SHORT MORAL ESSAYS OF UNIVERSAL ADAPTATION . BY BROTHER H . I * . SLADE , LL . B ., CLERK , M . M ., AND AUTHOR OF THE " TRANSLATION OF THE DEFENCE OF SOCRATES , " AND OTHER
WORKS" Masonry is a peculiar system of morals . " No . XV . —THE TEST AND UNIVERSALITY OF DEATH . " Magnifica verba mors prope admota excuti ' . "—SENECA . " impending death tests the braggart's speech . " —AUTHOR . DEATH exercises a which is generaluniversaland unlimited
sway , , . No sublunary matter is invulnerable to the fabled monster ' s darts . He ranges with devastating strides through all ranks and conditions of mankind , displaying partiality towards neither kings nor beggars . He proves the futility of any defence against his assaults but that of a virtuous and well-spent life . " Mortalia cuncta peribunt , " is a melancholy fact , not merely proverbial b" wise saws" but statisticalldemonstrable from " modern
y , y instances . " The parochial bills of mortality , as regards man , tell us in dismal figures that , out of a multitude of infants a surprising few ever live to reach the age of sixty , and numbers are cut off even long before the age of maturity . As regards Nature herself her decay is but too visible in various parts of the globe , and her productions are subjected mostly to an annual death . The works , both of nature and art , wherever we travelfall under this universal law of dilapidation . The Deity
cer-, tainly breathed into man a soul , which is to live for ever ; but its tabernacle , the body , we know , by the science of anatomy , is not constructed on such a durable principle . And , however protracted the lives of some men are , and , however brief the space of animal existence in others , mors omnibus est communis . "Men fear death as children fear to go into the dark , " says Lord Bacon ; but the fell tyrant is inexorable . It is the duty , therefore , of mankind to he prepared for his approach , as
mors est certa , sed tempus incertum , and mere words or opinions , however grand , boastful , or imposing , will not banish him from our habitations . Man may be compared to the fragrant rose , which blooms to-day and withers in the night ; so that the sun which set upon its beauty rises to shine upon a blasted germ . Thus it often is with man ; he retires to his couch in perfect health , and , perhaps , ere the morning ' s dawn ,
departs to the resting place of his fathers . Children of men , whoever you are . ' you live your little hour—die—and are forgot ! Remember , that when Death is nigh at hand , no sentimentality can supply the conviction of a life devoted to the honour of God , and the welfare of man .
" What tnen avail thejewell'd crown ofpow'r , Pomp ' s ermin ' il robe , or glory's death red sword ? What then the wise one ' s dream , the miser ' s hoard , When death proclaims the unavoidable hour ? Life ' s vain distinctions cease , the eternal doom , Bids all the sons ol' clay be equal in the tomb . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Didactics;
MASONIC DIDACTICS ;
OH , SHORT MORAL ESSAYS OF UNIVERSAL ADAPTATION . BY BROTHER H . I * . SLADE , LL . B ., CLERK , M . M ., AND AUTHOR OF THE " TRANSLATION OF THE DEFENCE OF SOCRATES , " AND OTHER
WORKS" Masonry is a peculiar system of morals . " No . XV . —THE TEST AND UNIVERSALITY OF DEATH . " Magnifica verba mors prope admota excuti ' . "—SENECA . " impending death tests the braggart's speech . " —AUTHOR . DEATH exercises a which is generaluniversaland unlimited
sway , , . No sublunary matter is invulnerable to the fabled monster ' s darts . He ranges with devastating strides through all ranks and conditions of mankind , displaying partiality towards neither kings nor beggars . He proves the futility of any defence against his assaults but that of a virtuous and well-spent life . " Mortalia cuncta peribunt , " is a melancholy fact , not merely proverbial b" wise saws" but statisticalldemonstrable from " modern
y , y instances . " The parochial bills of mortality , as regards man , tell us in dismal figures that , out of a multitude of infants a surprising few ever live to reach the age of sixty , and numbers are cut off even long before the age of maturity . As regards Nature herself her decay is but too visible in various parts of the globe , and her productions are subjected mostly to an annual death . The works , both of nature and art , wherever we travelfall under this universal law of dilapidation . The Deity
cer-, tainly breathed into man a soul , which is to live for ever ; but its tabernacle , the body , we know , by the science of anatomy , is not constructed on such a durable principle . And , however protracted the lives of some men are , and , however brief the space of animal existence in others , mors omnibus est communis . "Men fear death as children fear to go into the dark , " says Lord Bacon ; but the fell tyrant is inexorable . It is the duty , therefore , of mankind to he prepared for his approach , as
mors est certa , sed tempus incertum , and mere words or opinions , however grand , boastful , or imposing , will not banish him from our habitations . Man may be compared to the fragrant rose , which blooms to-day and withers in the night ; so that the sun which set upon its beauty rises to shine upon a blasted germ . Thus it often is with man ; he retires to his couch in perfect health , and , perhaps , ere the morning ' s dawn ,
departs to the resting place of his fathers . Children of men , whoever you are . ' you live your little hour—die—and are forgot ! Remember , that when Death is nigh at hand , no sentimentality can supply the conviction of a life devoted to the honour of God , and the welfare of man .
" What tnen avail thejewell'd crown ofpow'r , Pomp ' s ermin ' il robe , or glory's death red sword ? What then the wise one ' s dream , the miser ' s hoard , When death proclaims the unavoidable hour ? Life ' s vain distinctions cease , the eternal doom , Bids all the sons ol' clay be equal in the tomb . "