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Article ON THE STUDY OF MASONIC ANTIQUITIES. ← Page 16 of 16
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On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
barrier against the extinction of that species of idolatry and wild fanaticism disclosed in many of the phases of modern Brahmanism ; and consequently offers , by its continuaHce , one of the greatest obstacles to the introduction of Christianity and its attendant civilizing influences . It is , indeed , a melancholy spectacle to behold so many millions of our fellow-creatures and fellow subjects walking in utter darkness , and following the visionary influences of a blind and degrading superstition ,
which , enslaving the mind through life in the fetters of gross ignorance and error , presents , as its climax , the horrid car of Juggernaut and the voluntary immolation of human victims at the sanguinary shrine of the monster deity . Attempts have been made by zealous , but , in many instances , inefficient missionaries , to open the eyes of the Hindoo to the light of the Gospel . Littlehowever ( comparativelspeaking ) has yet been
, y , effected in the way of sincere conversion . The prejudices of the natives have been attacked , but their minds remain unconvinced ; and herein misguided zeal , so far from achieving any beneficial result , has been productive of lasting mischief . Let us , however , hope that FREEMASONRY ( whose beneficent rays are again illumining those oriental regions from which they originally sprung ) may , if properly directed , and
regarded in its true mission , as the " harbinger of glad tidings , " and " the handmaid of religion , " become an important auxiliary in the dissemination of TRUTH , spiritual as well as moral . Tending to break down the barrier of caste , by unfolding the banner of " Brotherly love ;" demonstrating the natural equality of both Brahmin and Sudra , and showing that they are both children of the same Great Father , Brethren by the same mortal tie , and partakers of the same glorious hope , the promulgation of our principles cannot fail to exert a powerful influence .
Whilst attacking the reigning superstition in its vital part , by unveiling the whole of its symbolical machinery , and shewing the true meaning of its emblems—exposing thus the foundation upon which the superstructure of idolatry has been erected , and clearly tracing the elementary principles to that pure patriarchal fount , recognized as well by Hebrew and Christian , we may hope that the spread of our Ordernow wisely encouraged among the most distinguished and
in-, fluential natives of India , may ultimately tend to the overthrow of ignorance , the suppression of idolatry , and the diffusion of those principles of faith , and truth , and universal charity , the basis alike of Christianity and Freemasonry , and which first hymned in choral symphony by seraphic voices , proclaimed before men and angels , through earth ' s wide regions ,
"GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST , AND ON EARTH PEACE , GOOD-WILL TOWARD MEN . " END OF CHAPTER VI .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Study Of Masonic Antiquities.
barrier against the extinction of that species of idolatry and wild fanaticism disclosed in many of the phases of modern Brahmanism ; and consequently offers , by its continuaHce , one of the greatest obstacles to the introduction of Christianity and its attendant civilizing influences . It is , indeed , a melancholy spectacle to behold so many millions of our fellow-creatures and fellow subjects walking in utter darkness , and following the visionary influences of a blind and degrading superstition ,
which , enslaving the mind through life in the fetters of gross ignorance and error , presents , as its climax , the horrid car of Juggernaut and the voluntary immolation of human victims at the sanguinary shrine of the monster deity . Attempts have been made by zealous , but , in many instances , inefficient missionaries , to open the eyes of the Hindoo to the light of the Gospel . Littlehowever ( comparativelspeaking ) has yet been
, y , effected in the way of sincere conversion . The prejudices of the natives have been attacked , but their minds remain unconvinced ; and herein misguided zeal , so far from achieving any beneficial result , has been productive of lasting mischief . Let us , however , hope that FREEMASONRY ( whose beneficent rays are again illumining those oriental regions from which they originally sprung ) may , if properly directed , and
regarded in its true mission , as the " harbinger of glad tidings , " and " the handmaid of religion , " become an important auxiliary in the dissemination of TRUTH , spiritual as well as moral . Tending to break down the barrier of caste , by unfolding the banner of " Brotherly love ;" demonstrating the natural equality of both Brahmin and Sudra , and showing that they are both children of the same Great Father , Brethren by the same mortal tie , and partakers of the same glorious hope , the promulgation of our principles cannot fail to exert a powerful influence .
Whilst attacking the reigning superstition in its vital part , by unveiling the whole of its symbolical machinery , and shewing the true meaning of its emblems—exposing thus the foundation upon which the superstructure of idolatry has been erected , and clearly tracing the elementary principles to that pure patriarchal fount , recognized as well by Hebrew and Christian , we may hope that the spread of our Ordernow wisely encouraged among the most distinguished and
in-, fluential natives of India , may ultimately tend to the overthrow of ignorance , the suppression of idolatry , and the diffusion of those principles of faith , and truth , and universal charity , the basis alike of Christianity and Freemasonry , and which first hymned in choral symphony by seraphic voices , proclaimed before men and angels , through earth ' s wide regions ,
"GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST , AND ON EARTH PEACE , GOOD-WILL TOWARD MEN . " END OF CHAPTER VI .