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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 35 of 49 →
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Provincial.
report the proceedings . The imagination is taken captive by the senses —the ideal shadowings of antiquity , the solemn recital , the devotional offerings of all prejudices and opinions upon the altar of a temple dedicated to its own Divine Architect , and consecrated to the song of the cherubim and seraphim , " Glory to God in the hi ghest , and on earth peace , and good will toivards men , "—all this accompanied by gorgeous pageantryby exquisite musicby reciprocated vows of fraternal
affec-, , tion among men of all classes , all countries , and all ranks , who have laid aside the sordid selfishness of every-day life , for the emblematical admiration and delight of the skies ; suiely such a scene may excuse the humble writer , who , with his readers , must admire and adore Wednesday ' s proceedings . At a time , too , when mankind are steeped in politics and polemics , it is sweet to find a neutral spot where all is peacewhere the idealities and follies that distract mankind are banished
, , where meek-eyed Charity takes her place , where the Orangeman—politically so called—becomes instantly Catholic , and where the Romanist acknowledges an universal church ; where the Conservative becomes a Republican , and where the Republican , if any , pays the profoundest homage to the powers that be , where the angry is soothed to gentleness , and where the gentle is excited to enthusiasm . It is ,
indeed—* ' All that painting can express , Or youthful poets fancy when they love . " By many people it is often asked— " What is Masonry ? " So far as is consistent with its regulations , we will describe it . It is a most beautiful system of morality , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols , every one of ivhich conveys some important lesson of truth and soberness to our limited understandings . A Freemason is obligedbhis tenureto
, y , obey the moral law ; and , if he rightly understand the arts , he will never be a stupid atheist , or an irreligious libertine . He , in the words of an eminent member , should "best understand that God seeth not as man seeth ; for man looketh at the outside appearance , but God seeth the heart . " Masons unite with the virtuous of every persuasion , in the firm and pleasing bond of mutual love ; they are taught to view the errors of mankind with compassion , and to strive , by the purity of their
own conduct , to demonstrate the superior excellence of the faith they profess . Men of all conditions , countries , and climes belong to the Order of Freemasonry ; and , strange as it may appear , every one is known to each other by certain symbolical signs . But there are higher thoughts and higher principles which unite Freemasons ; and these are the due acknowledgment of the supreme power and goodness of the Almighty Architect of Heaven and Earth—his ever pervading influence
on their actions and views , whether as simple and humble subjects of any country or clime , or as superior rulers , armed with authority over others . The system of Freemasonry teaches us to reverence and admire every thing celestial . It imports that , in the open arch of Heaven , the finger of Divinity may be seen—that we ought to admire the glittering canopy , when every orb of light chaunts forth a song of praise , inducing the contemplative Mason to lift up his heart to his Makerassured that
, , in whatever circumstances he may be placed , if he be the friend of virtue , he still enjoys the sunshine of God Almighty ' s protection . These things elevate the minds of Masons—these ideas accompany all their labours , and all their recreations . These principles make them contemplate in peace and brotherly love the goodness and infinite per-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
report the proceedings . The imagination is taken captive by the senses —the ideal shadowings of antiquity , the solemn recital , the devotional offerings of all prejudices and opinions upon the altar of a temple dedicated to its own Divine Architect , and consecrated to the song of the cherubim and seraphim , " Glory to God in the hi ghest , and on earth peace , and good will toivards men , "—all this accompanied by gorgeous pageantryby exquisite musicby reciprocated vows of fraternal
affec-, , tion among men of all classes , all countries , and all ranks , who have laid aside the sordid selfishness of every-day life , for the emblematical admiration and delight of the skies ; suiely such a scene may excuse the humble writer , who , with his readers , must admire and adore Wednesday ' s proceedings . At a time , too , when mankind are steeped in politics and polemics , it is sweet to find a neutral spot where all is peacewhere the idealities and follies that distract mankind are banished
, , where meek-eyed Charity takes her place , where the Orangeman—politically so called—becomes instantly Catholic , and where the Romanist acknowledges an universal church ; where the Conservative becomes a Republican , and where the Republican , if any , pays the profoundest homage to the powers that be , where the angry is soothed to gentleness , and where the gentle is excited to enthusiasm . It is ,
indeed—* ' All that painting can express , Or youthful poets fancy when they love . " By many people it is often asked— " What is Masonry ? " So far as is consistent with its regulations , we will describe it . It is a most beautiful system of morality , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols , every one of ivhich conveys some important lesson of truth and soberness to our limited understandings . A Freemason is obligedbhis tenureto
, y , obey the moral law ; and , if he rightly understand the arts , he will never be a stupid atheist , or an irreligious libertine . He , in the words of an eminent member , should "best understand that God seeth not as man seeth ; for man looketh at the outside appearance , but God seeth the heart . " Masons unite with the virtuous of every persuasion , in the firm and pleasing bond of mutual love ; they are taught to view the errors of mankind with compassion , and to strive , by the purity of their
own conduct , to demonstrate the superior excellence of the faith they profess . Men of all conditions , countries , and climes belong to the Order of Freemasonry ; and , strange as it may appear , every one is known to each other by certain symbolical signs . But there are higher thoughts and higher principles which unite Freemasons ; and these are the due acknowledgment of the supreme power and goodness of the Almighty Architect of Heaven and Earth—his ever pervading influence
on their actions and views , whether as simple and humble subjects of any country or clime , or as superior rulers , armed with authority over others . The system of Freemasonry teaches us to reverence and admire every thing celestial . It imports that , in the open arch of Heaven , the finger of Divinity may be seen—that we ought to admire the glittering canopy , when every orb of light chaunts forth a song of praise , inducing the contemplative Mason to lift up his heart to his Makerassured that
, , in whatever circumstances he may be placed , if he be the friend of virtue , he still enjoys the sunshine of God Almighty ' s protection . These things elevate the minds of Masons—these ideas accompany all their labours , and all their recreations . These principles make them contemplate in peace and brotherly love the goodness and infinite per-