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Article MASONIC ANECDOTES. ← Page 3 of 3 Article TO THE EDITOR. Page 1 of 1
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Masonic Anecdotes.
many mysterious instances of the power of the human heart , however depraved , to correct itself . But to the sequel : —The snuff-box became dear to the party thus restored to prosperity ; and in time , was bequeathed to a gentleman , who considering it should remain in the hands of a zealous Mason , presented it to Bro . Blaquierre , whose successors will , no doubt , prize it as a sign and token of Masonic interest .
To The Editor.
TO THE EDITOR .
SIR , —Permit me , through the wide-spread circulation of your valuable " Review , to call the attention of those for whose use and instruction it is published , to an evil which is likely to be , if not checked , a shame and a reproach to Masonry . I grant that it cannot be expected that all who are initiated into its mysteries , should feel alike its regenerating influence ; among the many who penetrate into its holy temple , there must be some who seek to
unravel its mysteries , for the sake of gratifying curiosity alone , and who feel not the benign effect which they are calculated to impress upon the hearts of those who worthily , and for the sake of truth , seek them : yet , still it is , and ought to be expected , that when Masons are congregated together , an universal and palpable strain of morality should pervade their conversation and behaviour , and in no case should a deviation from this great principle be tolerated . And should any Brother so
far forget himself , as to offend the ears of his Brethren by an impure expression , it is the duty , and should be the practice of the Master , to admonish him that such conduct cannot be permitted to pass over without animadversion . Such , I am sorry to say , is the case ; and woe to the Master , who from weakness , and want of that moral courage which every Mason ought to possess , shrinks from his duty , and permits such things within the circle over which he rules ! I allude to the more
than equivocal song , and the improper toast , which are too frequentl y accompaniments to the social meeting which follows the working of the Lodge . AVhat a pernicious effect must it have upon the mind of the newly-initiated Brother ! How must it lower the moral standard of the Order ! How must it jar with the beautiful admonitions he has received to follow Virtue whithersoever she leads , to study her beauties , and practice her precepts .
To a Mason with a strong thinking mind , what I allude to may not be detrimental ; he perceives the truth of the Divine Revelation—that its treasure is hid in earthen vessels , that no man may boast before God ; he knows that the unworthiness of professors ought not to detract from the truth which they profess . But to him who cannot thus weigh mind and matter in a due balance , the evil I allude to may tend to disgust him with that science which is truly " Light , " or create in him a looseness of
purpose , and a negligence to the commands of Masonry . I would humbly suggest , that a resolution pass the Grand Lodge , taking the matter into consideration , and forbidding Masters of Lodges to countenance or allow such misconduct . Then , if unworthy Brethren will act unbecoming of their glorious calling , let the evil rankle in their own corrupt breasts , and not be thrown like a blight among their more virtuous Brethren . CATO . VOL . IX . 3 G
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Anecdotes.
many mysterious instances of the power of the human heart , however depraved , to correct itself . But to the sequel : —The snuff-box became dear to the party thus restored to prosperity ; and in time , was bequeathed to a gentleman , who considering it should remain in the hands of a zealous Mason , presented it to Bro . Blaquierre , whose successors will , no doubt , prize it as a sign and token of Masonic interest .
To The Editor.
TO THE EDITOR .
SIR , —Permit me , through the wide-spread circulation of your valuable " Review , to call the attention of those for whose use and instruction it is published , to an evil which is likely to be , if not checked , a shame and a reproach to Masonry . I grant that it cannot be expected that all who are initiated into its mysteries , should feel alike its regenerating influence ; among the many who penetrate into its holy temple , there must be some who seek to
unravel its mysteries , for the sake of gratifying curiosity alone , and who feel not the benign effect which they are calculated to impress upon the hearts of those who worthily , and for the sake of truth , seek them : yet , still it is , and ought to be expected , that when Masons are congregated together , an universal and palpable strain of morality should pervade their conversation and behaviour , and in no case should a deviation from this great principle be tolerated . And should any Brother so
far forget himself , as to offend the ears of his Brethren by an impure expression , it is the duty , and should be the practice of the Master , to admonish him that such conduct cannot be permitted to pass over without animadversion . Such , I am sorry to say , is the case ; and woe to the Master , who from weakness , and want of that moral courage which every Mason ought to possess , shrinks from his duty , and permits such things within the circle over which he rules ! I allude to the more
than equivocal song , and the improper toast , which are too frequentl y accompaniments to the social meeting which follows the working of the Lodge . AVhat a pernicious effect must it have upon the mind of the newly-initiated Brother ! How must it lower the moral standard of the Order ! How must it jar with the beautiful admonitions he has received to follow Virtue whithersoever she leads , to study her beauties , and practice her precepts .
To a Mason with a strong thinking mind , what I allude to may not be detrimental ; he perceives the truth of the Divine Revelation—that its treasure is hid in earthen vessels , that no man may boast before God ; he knows that the unworthiness of professors ought not to detract from the truth which they profess . But to him who cannot thus weigh mind and matter in a due balance , the evil I allude to may tend to disgust him with that science which is truly " Light , " or create in him a looseness of
purpose , and a negligence to the commands of Masonry . I would humbly suggest , that a resolution pass the Grand Lodge , taking the matter into consideration , and forbidding Masters of Lodges to countenance or allow such misconduct . Then , if unworthy Brethren will act unbecoming of their glorious calling , let the evil rankle in their own corrupt breasts , and not be thrown like a blight among their more virtuous Brethren . CATO . VOL . IX . 3 G