Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor Of The Freemasons' Quarterly Magazine.
does not appear but in one work , and that of the Erench author , Clarel . I have troubled you with this , thinking it might be interesting . Tours fraternally , J . W .
To The Editor Of The Freemasons Quarterly Magazine.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS QUARTERLY MAGAZINE .
Gray ' s Inn , February 23 rc ? , 1854 . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — I HAVE long contemplated addressing you on the subject of Sunday Evening Lodges of Instruction , and feel glad that my . delay has not prejudiced the argument I wish to raise against them , but afforded Brother P . T . W . an opportunity to open the subject , by his excehent letter which appeared in the October number of the
Freemasons' Quarterly Magazine . Brother A . S . D . has replied in the last number of the Magazine , ¦ and his temperate remarks form such an agreeable contrast to the vituperation , which is too generally indulged in by the defenders of a proposition that cannot be maintained , that one is inclined to Avish he were in the right ; indeed , in one sense he is , for although he
comes forward as the defender of Sunday Lodges , yet the substance of his letter , so far as it relates to the matter in question , only deprecates a harsh judgment being passed , and asserts that pure and pious feelings may be excited by the study of Ereemasonry , to which expressions assent may very readily be given . While I remember Avith him that it is written " Judge not that ye be not judged , and with what measure ye mete , it shall be measured
to you again , " I Avould premise that I have no wish to condemn those Avho think attendance in a Sunday Lodge innocent , or at least allowable under peculiar circumstances to some ; my object is to remove from the fair escutcheon of Ereemasonry a blot , which , if known to the Avorld , would deter right-thinking individuals from Avishing to enter our Order . I was so surprised and pained at learning , soon after my initiation , that Sunday Lodges were permitted to be
held , that I entertained serious doubts of the propriety of remaining a member of an Institution , Avhich apparently sanctions that which is a desecration of the Lord's clay ; but subsequent conversations with several brethren who think such Lodges ought to be discountenanced , have led me to hope that the subject AVUI receive due consideration , and that they Avill be declared irregular . The spirit of so-called liberalism of the present dayAvhich affects
, to consider " : he strict observance of the Sabbath as only obligatory under an obsolete law , would turn the latter half of the day into a time to be devoted to amusement ; but I Avould ask all who hold such vieAvs , to consider Avhat the continental Sabbath is , and whether , if amusement be once permitted , trade and business , buying and selling , Avill not assuredl y follow . There are , doubtless , Brethren Avho are unable to acquire Masonic
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor Of The Freemasons' Quarterly Magazine.
does not appear but in one work , and that of the Erench author , Clarel . I have troubled you with this , thinking it might be interesting . Tours fraternally , J . W .
To The Editor Of The Freemasons Quarterly Magazine.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS QUARTERLY MAGAZINE .
Gray ' s Inn , February 23 rc ? , 1854 . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — I HAVE long contemplated addressing you on the subject of Sunday Evening Lodges of Instruction , and feel glad that my . delay has not prejudiced the argument I wish to raise against them , but afforded Brother P . T . W . an opportunity to open the subject , by his excehent letter which appeared in the October number of the
Freemasons' Quarterly Magazine . Brother A . S . D . has replied in the last number of the Magazine , ¦ and his temperate remarks form such an agreeable contrast to the vituperation , which is too generally indulged in by the defenders of a proposition that cannot be maintained , that one is inclined to Avish he were in the right ; indeed , in one sense he is , for although he
comes forward as the defender of Sunday Lodges , yet the substance of his letter , so far as it relates to the matter in question , only deprecates a harsh judgment being passed , and asserts that pure and pious feelings may be excited by the study of Ereemasonry , to which expressions assent may very readily be given . While I remember Avith him that it is written " Judge not that ye be not judged , and with what measure ye mete , it shall be measured
to you again , " I Avould premise that I have no wish to condemn those Avho think attendance in a Sunday Lodge innocent , or at least allowable under peculiar circumstances to some ; my object is to remove from the fair escutcheon of Ereemasonry a blot , which , if known to the Avorld , would deter right-thinking individuals from Avishing to enter our Order . I was so surprised and pained at learning , soon after my initiation , that Sunday Lodges were permitted to be
held , that I entertained serious doubts of the propriety of remaining a member of an Institution , Avhich apparently sanctions that which is a desecration of the Lord's clay ; but subsequent conversations with several brethren who think such Lodges ought to be discountenanced , have led me to hope that the subject AVUI receive due consideration , and that they Avill be declared irregular . The spirit of so-called liberalism of the present dayAvhich affects
, to consider " : he strict observance of the Sabbath as only obligatory under an obsolete law , would turn the latter half of the day into a time to be devoted to amusement ; but I Avould ask all who hold such vieAvs , to consider Avhat the continental Sabbath is , and whether , if amusement be once permitted , trade and business , buying and selling , Avill not assuredl y follow . There are , doubtless , Brethren Avho are unable to acquire Masonic