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Article LITERARY NOTICES. ← Page 6 of 8 →
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Literary Notices.
anarchy , and dispute . But good frequently springs out of evil . The bee has a sting , but it produces honey . These movements excited the attention of the Fraternity , and also of the public . Ancient feelings , which had long been dormant in some of the initiated , began to revive , and they renewed their connection with the Lodges they had abandoned . Lukewarm Brethren became partizans on either side , and Freemasonry reaped the benefit of these misunderstandings by an increase both in
numbers and influence . A more active study of its principles led to a greater perfection in the science , and many initiations took place amongst persons who had not previously given the institution a serious thought . Thus the ranks of both ancient and modern were increased , and the funds of benevolence for the widow and orphan augmented from new and unexpected sources ; a result that cemented the popularity of the Order . Its beauties and excellencies were placed in a clearer and more
prominent point of view , arid the public became convinced that , though the two hostile parties might differ on some unimportant points of discipline , both were pursuing the same laudable course , —the investigation of science , and the benefit of mankind . "
We would recommend our Brethren carefully to read this interesting pamphlet , and judge for themselves—it will amply repay them for the trouble . Every Mason ought to have it in his library , as ' it is a book of reference , valuable on many accounts , and gives an insight into the state of Masonry during the last century , which is not to be met with elsewhere . The schism is treated throughout with great impartiality .
" The jealousies which it excited , and the divisions and heart-burnings which it produced , have now subsided . Thirty y-: ars of peaceful union have extinguished all that unappeasable hostility which marked its progress ; and the historian may now venture on the details withdut'iricurring the hazard of exciting an angry feeling either in one party or the other , by faithfully unfolding the circumstances that gave rise to the secession , and attended its course till it was ultimately absorbed iii the great body of English Freemasonry , at the re-union in 1813 . "
The pages on the origin of the Royal Arch are peculiarly valuable , as it is important for every Brother to know the true foundation on which the Order is based . The reverend Doctor considerately expresses his apprehension— : ¦ :. " That those Brethren and Companions who have been in the habit of valuing the Royal Arch on account of its antiquity , will be sadly disappointed to find it thus shorn of one of its brihtest attributes . But
g there is rather cause for congratulation than regret ; for what can'be fairer or more desirable than truth ? The degree loses none of its excellencies by being shown to be of modern origin . If its claims to antiquity were not well founded , its advocates were maintaining a fallacy ; and often found themselves in a dilemma when proofs were demanded , which it was impossible to produce . The above arguments will remove many doubtsby at least placing the matter in a clearer point of view
, , even if . they be not allowed the merit of absolute demonstration . And : as the case has been candidly stated , without any offensivereflectionsbn the . parties concerned in the transaction , who , it is ; believed ,, were cpnsc'ientibusly . persuaded that the design would confer , dignity on the Order , ; no ^ xceptibris can be taken , on the score of partiality , to , the end I have hadiri ' yfew , whichis the discovery of truth . " . ¦! .,. . ' . :., ' :..,..-,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Literary Notices.
anarchy , and dispute . But good frequently springs out of evil . The bee has a sting , but it produces honey . These movements excited the attention of the Fraternity , and also of the public . Ancient feelings , which had long been dormant in some of the initiated , began to revive , and they renewed their connection with the Lodges they had abandoned . Lukewarm Brethren became partizans on either side , and Freemasonry reaped the benefit of these misunderstandings by an increase both in
numbers and influence . A more active study of its principles led to a greater perfection in the science , and many initiations took place amongst persons who had not previously given the institution a serious thought . Thus the ranks of both ancient and modern were increased , and the funds of benevolence for the widow and orphan augmented from new and unexpected sources ; a result that cemented the popularity of the Order . Its beauties and excellencies were placed in a clearer and more
prominent point of view , arid the public became convinced that , though the two hostile parties might differ on some unimportant points of discipline , both were pursuing the same laudable course , —the investigation of science , and the benefit of mankind . "
We would recommend our Brethren carefully to read this interesting pamphlet , and judge for themselves—it will amply repay them for the trouble . Every Mason ought to have it in his library , as ' it is a book of reference , valuable on many accounts , and gives an insight into the state of Masonry during the last century , which is not to be met with elsewhere . The schism is treated throughout with great impartiality .
" The jealousies which it excited , and the divisions and heart-burnings which it produced , have now subsided . Thirty y-: ars of peaceful union have extinguished all that unappeasable hostility which marked its progress ; and the historian may now venture on the details withdut'iricurring the hazard of exciting an angry feeling either in one party or the other , by faithfully unfolding the circumstances that gave rise to the secession , and attended its course till it was ultimately absorbed iii the great body of English Freemasonry , at the re-union in 1813 . "
The pages on the origin of the Royal Arch are peculiarly valuable , as it is important for every Brother to know the true foundation on which the Order is based . The reverend Doctor considerately expresses his apprehension— : ¦ :. " That those Brethren and Companions who have been in the habit of valuing the Royal Arch on account of its antiquity , will be sadly disappointed to find it thus shorn of one of its brihtest attributes . But
g there is rather cause for congratulation than regret ; for what can'be fairer or more desirable than truth ? The degree loses none of its excellencies by being shown to be of modern origin . If its claims to antiquity were not well founded , its advocates were maintaining a fallacy ; and often found themselves in a dilemma when proofs were demanded , which it was impossible to produce . The above arguments will remove many doubtsby at least placing the matter in a clearer point of view
, , even if . they be not allowed the merit of absolute demonstration . And : as the case has been candidly stated , without any offensivereflectionsbn the . parties concerned in the transaction , who , it is ; believed ,, were cpnsc'ientibusly . persuaded that the design would confer , dignity on the Order , ; no ^ xceptibris can be taken , on the score of partiality , to , the end I have hadiri ' yfew , whichis the discovery of truth . " . ¦! .,. . ' . :., ' :..,..-,