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Article ON FREEMASONRY. ← Page 3 of 7 →
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On Freemasonry.
things that are , to reject all medlers in state affairs or religion , or of a trifling nature ; to embrace those of real moment and worthy tendency , with fervency and zeal unfeigned , as sure of being unchangeable , as ending in happiness . They are rich without riches , intrinsically possessing all desirable good ; and have the less to wish for by the enjoyment of what they have . Liberty , peace , and tranquillity , are the only objects worthy of their diligence and trouble . ' ' But this , as well as almost all the testimonies of that period to its superior excellence , is confined exclusively to morals . Modern revision has however extended the limits of scientific
investigation in the Order of Freemasonry beyond what was intended by those who decreed that " the privileges of Masonry should no longer be restricted to operative Masons , but extend to men of various professions , provided they were regularly approved and initiated into the Order . " And Dr . Hemming and his associates , at the Union in 1813 , thought it expedient to add some peculiar disquisitions from the system of Pythagoras , on the combinations of the point , the line , the superficies , and the solidto form rectangulartrilateral , quadrilateralmultilateral
, , , figures , and the regular bodies ; the latter of which , on account of their singularity , and the mysterious nature usually ascribed to them , were formerly known by the name of the five Platonic bodies ; and they were so highly regarded by the ancient Geometricians , that Euclid is said to have composed his celebrated work on the Elements , chiefly for the purpose of being able to display some of their most remarkable properties . These disquisitions usually conclude with an explanation of the
fortyseventh problem of Euclid , which is called the Eureka of Pythagoras . Our transatlantic Brethren have improved upon this still further . Some of the Grand Lodges have given a public sanction to the introduction of literary and scientific subjects , not contained in the usual lectures , and the open discussion of them at the private meetings of the society . And
a committee of the Grand Lodge of New York , in their report for the year 1842 , decided that "Masonic periodicals , if judiciously conducted , are calculated to accomplish a vast amount of good , b y diffusing more extensively those sound , moral , and benevolent princi ples , which so eminently characterize this venerable institution ; your committee , therefore , recommend those publications to the liberal patronage of the Fraternity . " To promote this laudable purposethe Grand Lodges have
recom-, mended to the Fraternity temperance ancl early hours ; a general observance of which , I am persuaded , would not only afford ample leisure for scientific investigations , but would also operate very favourably both for the welfare and credit of society ; and it is much to be wished that such a system of discipline could be established by authority in our own Lodges ; for a laxity of practice in these particulars is calculated to introduce loose and incorrect habits , which cannot fail to prove injurious to
the popularity of the Order . If a Lodge be opened beyond the prescribed time , its labours may be protracted , particularly if its members are too much attached to its refreshments , to a late hour , which is inconsistent with domestic comfort , and promises to create female dissatisfaction , and perhaps hostility . There is a delicate sensibility in the female mind which is easily excited , and an impression may be made in a moment , which will be found
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Freemasonry.
things that are , to reject all medlers in state affairs or religion , or of a trifling nature ; to embrace those of real moment and worthy tendency , with fervency and zeal unfeigned , as sure of being unchangeable , as ending in happiness . They are rich without riches , intrinsically possessing all desirable good ; and have the less to wish for by the enjoyment of what they have . Liberty , peace , and tranquillity , are the only objects worthy of their diligence and trouble . ' ' But this , as well as almost all the testimonies of that period to its superior excellence , is confined exclusively to morals . Modern revision has however extended the limits of scientific
investigation in the Order of Freemasonry beyond what was intended by those who decreed that " the privileges of Masonry should no longer be restricted to operative Masons , but extend to men of various professions , provided they were regularly approved and initiated into the Order . " And Dr . Hemming and his associates , at the Union in 1813 , thought it expedient to add some peculiar disquisitions from the system of Pythagoras , on the combinations of the point , the line , the superficies , and the solidto form rectangulartrilateral , quadrilateralmultilateral
, , , figures , and the regular bodies ; the latter of which , on account of their singularity , and the mysterious nature usually ascribed to them , were formerly known by the name of the five Platonic bodies ; and they were so highly regarded by the ancient Geometricians , that Euclid is said to have composed his celebrated work on the Elements , chiefly for the purpose of being able to display some of their most remarkable properties . These disquisitions usually conclude with an explanation of the
fortyseventh problem of Euclid , which is called the Eureka of Pythagoras . Our transatlantic Brethren have improved upon this still further . Some of the Grand Lodges have given a public sanction to the introduction of literary and scientific subjects , not contained in the usual lectures , and the open discussion of them at the private meetings of the society . And
a committee of the Grand Lodge of New York , in their report for the year 1842 , decided that "Masonic periodicals , if judiciously conducted , are calculated to accomplish a vast amount of good , b y diffusing more extensively those sound , moral , and benevolent princi ples , which so eminently characterize this venerable institution ; your committee , therefore , recommend those publications to the liberal patronage of the Fraternity . " To promote this laudable purposethe Grand Lodges have
recom-, mended to the Fraternity temperance ancl early hours ; a general observance of which , I am persuaded , would not only afford ample leisure for scientific investigations , but would also operate very favourably both for the welfare and credit of society ; and it is much to be wished that such a system of discipline could be established by authority in our own Lodges ; for a laxity of practice in these particulars is calculated to introduce loose and incorrect habits , which cannot fail to prove injurious to
the popularity of the Order . If a Lodge be opened beyond the prescribed time , its labours may be protracted , particularly if its members are too much attached to its refreshments , to a late hour , which is inconsistent with domestic comfort , and promises to create female dissatisfaction , and perhaps hostility . There is a delicate sensibility in the female mind which is easily excited , and an impression may be made in a moment , which will be found