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Article MASONIC DIDACTICS; Page 1 of 2 →
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Masonic Didactics;
MASONIC DIDACTICS ;
OR , SHORT MORAL ESSAYS OF UNIVERSAL ADAPTATION . BY BROTHER II . R . SLADE , LL . B . " Masonry is a peculiar system of morals . " No . XXIII . —THE MERIT OF A FORGIVING TEMPER .
Det ille veniam facile , cui venia est . —SENECA . To forgive an injury is an indication of an exalted mind , displaying in its exercise one of the noblest qualities of the human heart . It is likewise a duty enjoined by the Divine invocation , " forgive us our trespasses ( or debts ) as we forgive them who trespass against us , " ( or our debtors ); and , unless a man has attained sufficient self-command over his choleric passions habituallto restrain themand coolly
disy , regard the provocations of malice or ire , he knows not how to forgive , nor can he merit forgiveness . It is the act of a devout , a rational , and enlightened mind , to pardon . For , he who takes revenge for any affront , makes himself equal with his adversary , and betrays a little mind ; but he , who passes it over , renders himself the superior , and commands the applause of Virtue . It is the attribute of Virtue to forgive , but of Folly to resent .
Mercy is an amiable goddess , who sits smiling benevolence and charity upon all her suppliants ; while Revenge is a bloodthirsty demon , who infuses nothing but relentless fury into the imagination of all who submit themselves to her fiendish rule . History , out of numerous examples illustrative of the admiration which a generous remission of offences excites , mentions that of Cn . Domitiusa Tribune at Romewhoburning to ruin his enemy M .
, , , Laurus , publicly accused him of certain high crimes and misdemeanors . His zeal in the prosecution incited a slave of Lauras , through the hope of a reward , privately to offer himself as a witness against his master . But justice prevailed over revenge . As Domitius , without hearing a word , ordered him to be put in fetters and carried to his master—an action that deservedly gained Domitius the highest honours .
" To err is human , —to forgive divine . " Consequently , all who aim after a celestial perfection of character , must make the attempt at least to imitate that which is truly an attribute of the angelic nature . If no other and greater merit attended our exercise of the virtue of forgiveness , certainly the peace and harmony of society would be promoted . But it has infinitel y higher claims to our adoption . The Supreme Being is represented to ' us as incapable of beholding
iniquity unmoved b y a holy indignation , and that no mortal is guiltless in his sight . Yet we presume to seek and expect his forgiveness of our faults . How can we , with any pretension to humility and a knowledge of ourselves , dare to prefer our request for the pardon of the Omnipotent if we forgive not our brother his trespasses ?
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Didactics;
MASONIC DIDACTICS ;
OR , SHORT MORAL ESSAYS OF UNIVERSAL ADAPTATION . BY BROTHER II . R . SLADE , LL . B . " Masonry is a peculiar system of morals . " No . XXIII . —THE MERIT OF A FORGIVING TEMPER .
Det ille veniam facile , cui venia est . —SENECA . To forgive an injury is an indication of an exalted mind , displaying in its exercise one of the noblest qualities of the human heart . It is likewise a duty enjoined by the Divine invocation , " forgive us our trespasses ( or debts ) as we forgive them who trespass against us , " ( or our debtors ); and , unless a man has attained sufficient self-command over his choleric passions habituallto restrain themand coolly
disy , regard the provocations of malice or ire , he knows not how to forgive , nor can he merit forgiveness . It is the act of a devout , a rational , and enlightened mind , to pardon . For , he who takes revenge for any affront , makes himself equal with his adversary , and betrays a little mind ; but he , who passes it over , renders himself the superior , and commands the applause of Virtue . It is the attribute of Virtue to forgive , but of Folly to resent .
Mercy is an amiable goddess , who sits smiling benevolence and charity upon all her suppliants ; while Revenge is a bloodthirsty demon , who infuses nothing but relentless fury into the imagination of all who submit themselves to her fiendish rule . History , out of numerous examples illustrative of the admiration which a generous remission of offences excites , mentions that of Cn . Domitiusa Tribune at Romewhoburning to ruin his enemy M .
, , , Laurus , publicly accused him of certain high crimes and misdemeanors . His zeal in the prosecution incited a slave of Lauras , through the hope of a reward , privately to offer himself as a witness against his master . But justice prevailed over revenge . As Domitius , without hearing a word , ordered him to be put in fetters and carried to his master—an action that deservedly gained Domitius the highest honours .
" To err is human , —to forgive divine . " Consequently , all who aim after a celestial perfection of character , must make the attempt at least to imitate that which is truly an attribute of the angelic nature . If no other and greater merit attended our exercise of the virtue of forgiveness , certainly the peace and harmony of society would be promoted . But it has infinitel y higher claims to our adoption . The Supreme Being is represented to ' us as incapable of beholding
iniquity unmoved b y a holy indignation , and that no mortal is guiltless in his sight . Yet we presume to seek and expect his forgiveness of our faults . How can we , with any pretension to humility and a knowledge of ourselves , dare to prefer our request for the pardon of the Omnipotent if we forgive not our brother his trespasses ?