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Article THE FREEMASONS' QUARTERLY REVIEW. ← Page 8 of 8 Article PRAYER OF JOSEPH, THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY* Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Quarterly Review.
in directing each party to a sense of duty , cannot be without effect . AMERICA , ( U . S . ) — We invite the serious attention of our readers to the intelligence from this part of the world .
Prayer Of Joseph, The Emperor Of Germany*
PRAYER OF JOSEPH , THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY *
0 Thou eternal , incomprehensible Being ! who art the fountain of mercy and the source of love : —Thy sun lights equally the Christian and the Atheist : Thy showers equally nourish thc fields ofthe believers and the infidels : the seed of virtue is found even in the heart of the impious and the heretic . From thee I learn , therefore , that diversity of opinion does not prevent Thee from being a beneficent Father to all
mankind . Shall I then , Thy feeble creature , be less indulgent ? Shall I not permit my subjects to adore Thee in whatever manner they please ? Shall I persecute those who differ from me in point of thinking ? Shall I spread my religion with the point of my sword ? O Thou ! whose mighty power and ineffable love embrace the universe , grant that such erroneous principles may never harbour in my breast ! I will try to
be like Thee , as far as human efforts can approach infinite perfection . I will be as indulgent as Thou to all men whose tenets differ from mine , and all unnatural compulsion in point of conscience shall be
banished for ever from my kingdom . Where is the religion that does not instruct us to love virtue and to detest vice ? Let all religions therefore be tolerated- Let all mankind pay their worship to Thee , thou eternal Being ! in the manner they think best . Does an error in judgment deserve expulsion from society ? And is force the proper way to win the heart , or bring the swerving mind to a true sense of
religion ? Let the shameful chains of religious tyranny be parted asunder , and the sweet bonds of fraternal amity unite all my subjects for ever . I am sensible that many difficulties will occur to me in this bold attempt , and that most of them will be thrown in my way by those very persons who style themselves Thy ministers ? but may Thy almighty power never forsake me ! 0 Thou eternal and
incomprehensible Being ! fortify my holy resolutions with Thy love , that I may surmount every obstacle ; and let that law of our Divine Master , which inculcates charity and patience , be always impressed upon my heart . Amen .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Quarterly Review.
in directing each party to a sense of duty , cannot be without effect . AMERICA , ( U . S . ) — We invite the serious attention of our readers to the intelligence from this part of the world .
Prayer Of Joseph, The Emperor Of Germany*
PRAYER OF JOSEPH , THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY *
0 Thou eternal , incomprehensible Being ! who art the fountain of mercy and the source of love : —Thy sun lights equally the Christian and the Atheist : Thy showers equally nourish thc fields ofthe believers and the infidels : the seed of virtue is found even in the heart of the impious and the heretic . From thee I learn , therefore , that diversity of opinion does not prevent Thee from being a beneficent Father to all
mankind . Shall I then , Thy feeble creature , be less indulgent ? Shall I not permit my subjects to adore Thee in whatever manner they please ? Shall I persecute those who differ from me in point of thinking ? Shall I spread my religion with the point of my sword ? O Thou ! whose mighty power and ineffable love embrace the universe , grant that such erroneous principles may never harbour in my breast ! I will try to
be like Thee , as far as human efforts can approach infinite perfection . I will be as indulgent as Thou to all men whose tenets differ from mine , and all unnatural compulsion in point of conscience shall be
banished for ever from my kingdom . Where is the religion that does not instruct us to love virtue and to detest vice ? Let all religions therefore be tolerated- Let all mankind pay their worship to Thee , thou eternal Being ! in the manner they think best . Does an error in judgment deserve expulsion from society ? And is force the proper way to win the heart , or bring the swerving mind to a true sense of
religion ? Let the shameful chains of religious tyranny be parted asunder , and the sweet bonds of fraternal amity unite all my subjects for ever . I am sensible that many difficulties will occur to me in this bold attempt , and that most of them will be thrown in my way by those very persons who style themselves Thy ministers ? but may Thy almighty power never forsake me ! 0 Thou eternal and
incomprehensible Being ! fortify my holy resolutions with Thy love , that I may surmount every obstacle ; and let that law of our Divine Master , which inculcates charity and patience , be always impressed upon my heart . Amen .