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Article GLEANINGS FROM MASONRY. ← Page 3 of 3
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Gleanings From Masonry.
There are animals whose every action conduces to the welfare of their master man ; others who evince an attachment , worthy even of the name of friendship—attachment ivhich neither neglect or crueltv can estrange : ( owls whose plumage transcends even imagination ' s < rlowin « - pencil ,-others , which , poor in attire , pour forth melodious music- flowers whose gorgeous colouring charms the eyc ,-others from whose humble bosoms exhales perfumesneetas a poet ' mind ivould deem the atmos
, s - phere of heaven : the day displays the sun ' s effulgent blaze , the night unfolds the moon and all her starry train . AVh y lives such sweet enchantment ? All . ' all invite that last creation of eternal mind to know enjoyment .
lo totally abstain from a participation in this bountiful provision would be an act of self-willed presumption ; to abuse such kindness bv an intemperate indulgence , is the act of one unendued with reason ' In the just medium between abstinence and intemperance , consists that ttue enjoyment to which nature ministers , ancl for which our bodies are so admirably calculated lis not in Masonry to bid tlie creature spurn the good gifts of the Creator . While she bids her disciples to rule and subdue their passions , she means not to convert them into mere human automatons , uninfluenced b y the soft affections , and those delicious sensations
oi tlie Heart which are to ourselves enjoyment , and a means of conveying happiness to others . She means not to debar her children irom tasting the good gifts , which nature ' s liberal hand is scattering around them . She inculcates not torpid indifference to , or total abstinence from , the enjoyments of sense , but the legitimate use of them that we may not , through intemperance , deprive them of their sweet * ' and our minds and bodies of the capacity of enjoying them . Prudence ' likeivise enjoins the of this virtue
practice , that we may keep a guarded - tongue . But idle are his protestations of prudence , who yeilds unto the seductions oi intemperance . Temperance is the chain which binds the passions , intemperance the key which looses them , ancl sets them free to lord it oyer the proper sovereignty of reason . How can we exercise that virtue which enables us to judge prudentinll y of all things relative to our present and future felicity , if we are the slaves of intemperance 1 he Cardinal Virtues
are inseperable ; they are links of one beautiful chain—beautiful as a whole , but imperfect and useless if either of the links is wanting ; the loss of one negativing the other three . Temperance 1 rudence , Fortitude , ancl Justice , are the cement which has attached tlie different parts of our system to each other , unshaken through the lapse of ages , and those revolutions which have shaken empires to their foundations , and even ingulphed a world within the wrathful waves of des ruction 1 hen let those virtues ivhich have
preserved our institution in toe midst of such convulsions , be the Mason ' s rule of action ; his polar star , in steering over the seas of passion ; that he may preserve his health and intellect unimpaired , his trust inviolate , his character stainless and stand forth a pious example to the popular world who are not Masons . May Brotherly Loye , Relief and Truth , in conjunction with lemperance , Fortitude , Prudence , and Justice , ever actuate our minds and guard passions shall heartfelt
our ; so a satisfaction reward our labours , and the approving smile of Deity gild our dying hour . ( To he continued . J
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Gleanings From Masonry.
There are animals whose every action conduces to the welfare of their master man ; others who evince an attachment , worthy even of the name of friendship—attachment ivhich neither neglect or crueltv can estrange : ( owls whose plumage transcends even imagination ' s < rlowin « - pencil ,-others , which , poor in attire , pour forth melodious music- flowers whose gorgeous colouring charms the eyc ,-others from whose humble bosoms exhales perfumesneetas a poet ' mind ivould deem the atmos
, s - phere of heaven : the day displays the sun ' s effulgent blaze , the night unfolds the moon and all her starry train . AVh y lives such sweet enchantment ? All . ' all invite that last creation of eternal mind to know enjoyment .
lo totally abstain from a participation in this bountiful provision would be an act of self-willed presumption ; to abuse such kindness bv an intemperate indulgence , is the act of one unendued with reason ' In the just medium between abstinence and intemperance , consists that ttue enjoyment to which nature ministers , ancl for which our bodies are so admirably calculated lis not in Masonry to bid tlie creature spurn the good gifts of the Creator . While she bids her disciples to rule and subdue their passions , she means not to convert them into mere human automatons , uninfluenced b y the soft affections , and those delicious sensations
oi tlie Heart which are to ourselves enjoyment , and a means of conveying happiness to others . She means not to debar her children irom tasting the good gifts , which nature ' s liberal hand is scattering around them . She inculcates not torpid indifference to , or total abstinence from , the enjoyments of sense , but the legitimate use of them that we may not , through intemperance , deprive them of their sweet * ' and our minds and bodies of the capacity of enjoying them . Prudence ' likeivise enjoins the of this virtue
practice , that we may keep a guarded - tongue . But idle are his protestations of prudence , who yeilds unto the seductions oi intemperance . Temperance is the chain which binds the passions , intemperance the key which looses them , ancl sets them free to lord it oyer the proper sovereignty of reason . How can we exercise that virtue which enables us to judge prudentinll y of all things relative to our present and future felicity , if we are the slaves of intemperance 1 he Cardinal Virtues
are inseperable ; they are links of one beautiful chain—beautiful as a whole , but imperfect and useless if either of the links is wanting ; the loss of one negativing the other three . Temperance 1 rudence , Fortitude , ancl Justice , are the cement which has attached tlie different parts of our system to each other , unshaken through the lapse of ages , and those revolutions which have shaken empires to their foundations , and even ingulphed a world within the wrathful waves of des ruction 1 hen let those virtues ivhich have
preserved our institution in toe midst of such convulsions , be the Mason ' s rule of action ; his polar star , in steering over the seas of passion ; that he may preserve his health and intellect unimpaired , his trust inviolate , his character stainless and stand forth a pious example to the popular world who are not Masons . May Brotherly Loye , Relief and Truth , in conjunction with lemperance , Fortitude , Prudence , and Justice , ever actuate our minds and guard passions shall heartfelt
our ; so a satisfaction reward our labours , and the approving smile of Deity gild our dying hour . ( To he continued . J