Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Thoughts On The Distress In Scotland And Ireland.
Masonic literature of the universe has ever formed , even through tlie darkness of past ages , svhen there svere many encroachments upon the civil rights of society , —svhen strange spectacles svere exhibited on the stage of European state government , and but fesv gleams of light could he discerned to shine among the clouds of social evil then more or less darkening the svhole world . Then , the genius of our institution burstingas it ss'erefrom all earthly bondsrose triumphantsoared above
, , , , the level of all popular degradation , separated itself from the superstitious character of the period , and reserved to itself the elements of a renesving posver over the minds of men , ss-hen the thick clouds that then , by means of private feuds , overhung the church , the palace , and the feudal hall might be for es'er dispersed , —ss'hen such a parenthesis in
the history of human intellect might be brought to a close , and that revival of learning follosv , the spirit of svhich in its migrations from land to land svould find congenial homes in the most distant and classic climes . We are assured by profound historians that the ancient city of Rome ss'as the type and centre of the civilization of the ssdiole world , reflecting her image over the nations linked to it by manifold ties ; and although Freemasonry mayas regards her universal territorieshe said
, , in more than one sense , to realise the same idea , yet , unlike the Imperial City , she has maintained her supremacy , as the forms of ancient society have been melted down , nesv elements of posver infused into the masses , and materials furnished for the civil and social polity of modern times . Thus Masonry has been the casket wherein svere locked the gems that svere intended in the ripeness of God ' s appointed moment—His seed-time and harvest of the mind—to adorn the brosvs of the
Modern Angel of Civilization , svhen the popular intellect , in its onsvard march of high attainment and ricli promise , ss'as also destined to exhibit undeniable traces of a philosophic and Christian spirit , by devoting her energies to the relief of human suffering , the vindication of injured character , and the protection of the oppressed ; so overcoming error , prejudice , superstition , bigotry , intolerance , blindness of heart and contempt of all the nobler virtues svhich exalt intellectual humanity ; successfully giving battle to the giant foesignorance and uncharitablenesssvho
, , marshalled their forces in all physical stalsvartness ; and thus vanquishing an enemy ever insiduously at svork , svith the cunning antl adroitness too frequently to be found characterising the meanest intellect and moral capacity . Remembering , I repeat , all these considerations , breathing forth antiquity of existence , elevation of purpose , and advancement
of some great and righteous end , ' —it would ill become us , whilst recollecting all these noble themes , not to feel that they are impressed upon us , as Freemasons , by their intimate connexion svith the lives of throned monarchs , mitred priests , belted knights , martyred saints , expatriated sons of freedom , profound scholars , enlightened statesmen , sturtly tillers of the soil , and that struggling race of contented minds—the middleocracy of England . Yes : it svould redound to our discredit , to let so
glorious a retrospect render us unmindful of that spiritualization svhich our fraternal principles , universal in their nature as the winds of Heaven that svaft to every shore the glad Message of Living Peace , are intended to accomplish in the hearts of men , in their daily intercourse svith kindred spirits amidst those " busy haunts " svhere the gifts of learning , the ss-ealth of commerce , and the immensity of science give so many different aspects to our ordinary feelings and susceptibilities . It is in such scenes as these , that , in truth , sve are too apt to lull the conscience
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Thoughts On The Distress In Scotland And Ireland.
Masonic literature of the universe has ever formed , even through tlie darkness of past ages , svhen there svere many encroachments upon the civil rights of society , —svhen strange spectacles svere exhibited on the stage of European state government , and but fesv gleams of light could he discerned to shine among the clouds of social evil then more or less darkening the svhole world . Then , the genius of our institution burstingas it ss'erefrom all earthly bondsrose triumphantsoared above
, , , , the level of all popular degradation , separated itself from the superstitious character of the period , and reserved to itself the elements of a renesving posver over the minds of men , ss-hen the thick clouds that then , by means of private feuds , overhung the church , the palace , and the feudal hall might be for es'er dispersed , —ss'hen such a parenthesis in
the history of human intellect might be brought to a close , and that revival of learning follosv , the spirit of svhich in its migrations from land to land svould find congenial homes in the most distant and classic climes . We are assured by profound historians that the ancient city of Rome ss'as the type and centre of the civilization of the ssdiole world , reflecting her image over the nations linked to it by manifold ties ; and although Freemasonry mayas regards her universal territorieshe said
, , in more than one sense , to realise the same idea , yet , unlike the Imperial City , she has maintained her supremacy , as the forms of ancient society have been melted down , nesv elements of posver infused into the masses , and materials furnished for the civil and social polity of modern times . Thus Masonry has been the casket wherein svere locked the gems that svere intended in the ripeness of God ' s appointed moment—His seed-time and harvest of the mind—to adorn the brosvs of the
Modern Angel of Civilization , svhen the popular intellect , in its onsvard march of high attainment and ricli promise , ss'as also destined to exhibit undeniable traces of a philosophic and Christian spirit , by devoting her energies to the relief of human suffering , the vindication of injured character , and the protection of the oppressed ; so overcoming error , prejudice , superstition , bigotry , intolerance , blindness of heart and contempt of all the nobler virtues svhich exalt intellectual humanity ; successfully giving battle to the giant foesignorance and uncharitablenesssvho
, , marshalled their forces in all physical stalsvartness ; and thus vanquishing an enemy ever insiduously at svork , svith the cunning antl adroitness too frequently to be found characterising the meanest intellect and moral capacity . Remembering , I repeat , all these considerations , breathing forth antiquity of existence , elevation of purpose , and advancement
of some great and righteous end , ' —it would ill become us , whilst recollecting all these noble themes , not to feel that they are impressed upon us , as Freemasons , by their intimate connexion svith the lives of throned monarchs , mitred priests , belted knights , martyred saints , expatriated sons of freedom , profound scholars , enlightened statesmen , sturtly tillers of the soil , and that struggling race of contented minds—the middleocracy of England . Yes : it svould redound to our discredit , to let so
glorious a retrospect render us unmindful of that spiritualization svhich our fraternal principles , universal in their nature as the winds of Heaven that svaft to every shore the glad Message of Living Peace , are intended to accomplish in the hearts of men , in their daily intercourse svith kindred spirits amidst those " busy haunts " svhere the gifts of learning , the ss-ealth of commerce , and the immensity of science give so many different aspects to our ordinary feelings and susceptibilities . It is in such scenes as these , that , in truth , sve are too apt to lull the conscience