Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Prussian Grand Lodge And The Jewish Freemasons.
with his Masonic obligation ; and much more likely to inculcate , on the one side , an intolerant religious or bigotted prejudice , while on the other it will ctiuse a hatred of the oppressors , and a disgust for the order , rather than universal love of mankind , anil a desire to make Freemasonry the neutral ground for the display of brotherly love . Our ( the English ) Grand Lodge , in its own publication , disfrnetly tells us" we are to ledge ourselves to discountenance all impostors
, p from the original plan of Freemasonry , to promote the general good of society , and to cultivate the social virtues . " Bat how have the Prussian Masons acted in this respect , and what course has been adopted by our rulers to enforce this doctrine ? The first page of the Book of Constitutions says , — " Masons unite with the virtuous of every persuasion in the firm and pleasing bond of fraternal love . " This is either true or false ; if true , how is it that the Prussian Freemasons have been allowed
for the space of nine years to disregard this first Masonic law ?—if false , what is Freemasonry , and for what purposes is it continued ? Our Brethren in Holland , France , America , & c , have upon the very first intimation of the intolerance and injustice of the Prussian Freemasons , adopted the mildest but readiest course open to them , namely , remonstrance , to the Royal York Lodge at Berlin ; ' , seeing clearly that the attempt to make Freemasonry a reliious question is improperand
g , in direct violation of every Masonic feeling ; which , if allowed to continue , must strike at the very root of the existence of the society , and cause Masonic Lodges ( as they may be called ) to be established for the purposes of supporting Mahomedanism , Judaism , certain Christian or Hindu sects . We annex a couple of the addresses , copies of which have been forwarded to us , not having room for more ; but we are delighted to find the Grand Lodge of Hambro ' which has hitherto acted under
, the instructions of the Royal York of Berlin , has , among others , within the last few weeks , requested the Royal York to admit . the Masonic Jews to the Lodges under its controul . AVe can onl y , suppose , this change in their opinions . has taken place from the publicity lately given to the question , and the assurance of their representative in the Grand Lodge of England , that all religious distinctions would be abolished in Plambro ' . . .
AA e are pleased to find that our Jewish Brethren are not disposed to enforce their , claim while any other course remains open to them , for in the true spirit of . Masonry they write to , usi— " We doubt not , were we to come as complainants to our Grand Lodge ( for we are English Freemasons , duly and regularly initiated ) , it would interfere for us , and we cannot but suppose , tliat . it has the means and the power , as it unquestionably has the . inclination ;; to obtain justice for its members , and that
it will carry out , the , system ; of , universality , upon which Masonry is founded , and . which , can . onljrjbe its , support ; , "but , we come / not as complainants , we , ask of the , Grand , Lodge , of , Prussia ,: the Royal York , to withdraw a strange incongruous absurdity , which has crept into its laws , and we doubt not that what . we , claim'Avill be granted magnanimousl y by them , instead of waiting until the , Grand Lodge ofEngland insists upon its being ielded as a riht . A remonstrance from the Grand
y g Lodge of England would certainly , much facilitate the subject , and perhaps prevent the unpleasant alternative , of the public seeing an angry altercation in our day ; for we cannot but think the Grand Lodge of England , the source as it is the home of Masonry , will not be bearded , nor tacitly admit itself to be powerless to carry , out its own laws , its
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Prussian Grand Lodge And The Jewish Freemasons.
with his Masonic obligation ; and much more likely to inculcate , on the one side , an intolerant religious or bigotted prejudice , while on the other it will ctiuse a hatred of the oppressors , and a disgust for the order , rather than universal love of mankind , anil a desire to make Freemasonry the neutral ground for the display of brotherly love . Our ( the English ) Grand Lodge , in its own publication , disfrnetly tells us" we are to ledge ourselves to discountenance all impostors
, p from the original plan of Freemasonry , to promote the general good of society , and to cultivate the social virtues . " Bat how have the Prussian Masons acted in this respect , and what course has been adopted by our rulers to enforce this doctrine ? The first page of the Book of Constitutions says , — " Masons unite with the virtuous of every persuasion in the firm and pleasing bond of fraternal love . " This is either true or false ; if true , how is it that the Prussian Freemasons have been allowed
for the space of nine years to disregard this first Masonic law ?—if false , what is Freemasonry , and for what purposes is it continued ? Our Brethren in Holland , France , America , & c , have upon the very first intimation of the intolerance and injustice of the Prussian Freemasons , adopted the mildest but readiest course open to them , namely , remonstrance , to the Royal York Lodge at Berlin ; ' , seeing clearly that the attempt to make Freemasonry a reliious question is improperand
g , in direct violation of every Masonic feeling ; which , if allowed to continue , must strike at the very root of the existence of the society , and cause Masonic Lodges ( as they may be called ) to be established for the purposes of supporting Mahomedanism , Judaism , certain Christian or Hindu sects . We annex a couple of the addresses , copies of which have been forwarded to us , not having room for more ; but we are delighted to find the Grand Lodge of Hambro ' which has hitherto acted under
, the instructions of the Royal York of Berlin , has , among others , within the last few weeks , requested the Royal York to admit . the Masonic Jews to the Lodges under its controul . AVe can onl y , suppose , this change in their opinions . has taken place from the publicity lately given to the question , and the assurance of their representative in the Grand Lodge of England , that all religious distinctions would be abolished in Plambro ' . . .
AA e are pleased to find that our Jewish Brethren are not disposed to enforce their , claim while any other course remains open to them , for in the true spirit of . Masonry they write to , usi— " We doubt not , were we to come as complainants to our Grand Lodge ( for we are English Freemasons , duly and regularly initiated ) , it would interfere for us , and we cannot but suppose , tliat . it has the means and the power , as it unquestionably has the . inclination ;; to obtain justice for its members , and that
it will carry out , the , system ; of , universality , upon which Masonry is founded , and . which , can . onljrjbe its , support ; , "but , we come / not as complainants , we , ask of the , Grand , Lodge , of , Prussia ,: the Royal York , to withdraw a strange incongruous absurdity , which has crept into its laws , and we doubt not that what . we , claim'Avill be granted magnanimousl y by them , instead of waiting until the , Grand Lodge ofEngland insists upon its being ielded as a riht . A remonstrance from the Grand
y g Lodge of England would certainly , much facilitate the subject , and perhaps prevent the unpleasant alternative , of the public seeing an angry altercation in our day ; for we cannot but think the Grand Lodge of England , the source as it is the home of Masonry , will not be bearded , nor tacitly admit itself to be powerless to carry , out its own laws , its