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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 5 of 19 →
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Provincial.
It should be the ruling motive of every man to endeavour to do impartial justice to his neighbours , not only with respect to their individual conduct , but in regard to their general transactions , associations , and societies ,
' * Nothing to extenuate . Nor aught set down in n _ aUte . " Aiid Sir , if such had been the object of the lecturer on the above occasion , I doubt not but that we should have had a much more temperate , just , and fair disquisition of Freemasonry . You will , I think , agree with me , that every institution which is established for the inculcation of principle * among its members , decidedly benevolent , social ,
and philanthropic , must be productive of good , and merits at least the approval of every honest mind . It is a fact generally admitted , and too " stubborn" to be controverted by the assertions of any ephemeral lecturer , that the fundamental principle of Masonry is the preservation of a bond of social and brotherl y union between man and man ; which tends to restrain the fierce passions
of anger and resentment ; to correct the all-absorbing feelings of selfinterest and avarice , so inimical to the exercise of every social virtue ; and to encourage the kindly sentiments of an extended charity . It removes the land-marks of national hostility , and causes the hand of friendship to be extended between men of adverse countries and distant climes . It brings men of all creeds , castes , and gradations , into immediate acquaintance , and enables them to distinguish in the face of a
stranger , the lineaments and the feelings of a friend . In poverty ancl affliction it enjoins the tender sympathy and relief of the Samaritan of old , and in situations of difficulty the assistance of a nei ghbour and a friend . In a word , it cherishes the best sentiments of humanity , and imposes the conscientious discharge of those universal duties which promote the highest degree of happiness in this state of existence .
But , Sir , it has been urged that men may observe all such virtues without the aid and existence of Masonry . That Christianity offers a more solemn and imperative reason for their observance than any human institution or code of laws . I admit it without hesitation . But man , to . quote the words of the lecturer , "is a microcosm . " ( This is a truism , notwithstanding the lecturer with his characteristic complacency
and evident self satisfaction vainly attempted to ridicule the comparison , it being part of a quotation from some Masonic author ) . Man in the common intercourse of society is a compound of inconsistencies and anomalies . Incessantly actuated by different passions or propensities , subjected to different causes of excitement , physical and moral , and alternately governed by both . It too frequently happens that neither Christianity nor reason can constrain mankind to act wisely , and promote their cvn temporal happiness . Is there anything therefore absurd
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
It should be the ruling motive of every man to endeavour to do impartial justice to his neighbours , not only with respect to their individual conduct , but in regard to their general transactions , associations , and societies ,
' * Nothing to extenuate . Nor aught set down in n _ aUte . " Aiid Sir , if such had been the object of the lecturer on the above occasion , I doubt not but that we should have had a much more temperate , just , and fair disquisition of Freemasonry . You will , I think , agree with me , that every institution which is established for the inculcation of principle * among its members , decidedly benevolent , social ,
and philanthropic , must be productive of good , and merits at least the approval of every honest mind . It is a fact generally admitted , and too " stubborn" to be controverted by the assertions of any ephemeral lecturer , that the fundamental principle of Masonry is the preservation of a bond of social and brotherl y union between man and man ; which tends to restrain the fierce passions
of anger and resentment ; to correct the all-absorbing feelings of selfinterest and avarice , so inimical to the exercise of every social virtue ; and to encourage the kindly sentiments of an extended charity . It removes the land-marks of national hostility , and causes the hand of friendship to be extended between men of adverse countries and distant climes . It brings men of all creeds , castes , and gradations , into immediate acquaintance , and enables them to distinguish in the face of a
stranger , the lineaments and the feelings of a friend . In poverty ancl affliction it enjoins the tender sympathy and relief of the Samaritan of old , and in situations of difficulty the assistance of a nei ghbour and a friend . In a word , it cherishes the best sentiments of humanity , and imposes the conscientious discharge of those universal duties which promote the highest degree of happiness in this state of existence .
But , Sir , it has been urged that men may observe all such virtues without the aid and existence of Masonry . That Christianity offers a more solemn and imperative reason for their observance than any human institution or code of laws . I admit it without hesitation . But man , to . quote the words of the lecturer , "is a microcosm . " ( This is a truism , notwithstanding the lecturer with his characteristic complacency
and evident self satisfaction vainly attempted to ridicule the comparison , it being part of a quotation from some Masonic author ) . Man in the common intercourse of society is a compound of inconsistencies and anomalies . Incessantly actuated by different passions or propensities , subjected to different causes of excitement , physical and moral , and alternately governed by both . It too frequently happens that neither Christianity nor reason can constrain mankind to act wisely , and promote their cvn temporal happiness . Is there anything therefore absurd