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Article MASONIC CHARGE, ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Masonic Charge,
we hope for , what can we enjoy ? Our path through this world is through various dangers and difficulties , designed by an All-wise superintending Providence to teach us to look up to Him at all times and seasons for aid , support , and help ; but at the same time that the Great Architect of the Universe requires our allegiance and subservience to him , he has not only inspired us with , but expects from us , the practice of brotherly love . From this springs our best and warmest affectionsfrom the
, practice of this emanates every virtue and perfection which can adorn the human heart , whence springs relief which may be shortly described as true kindness of heart and soul . Genuine philanthropy , is it not the first-born child of brotherly love , aye , and truth , without which nothing is beautiful , nothing in this life amiable or sweet , is she not relief ' s twin sister ? These virtues practised will soon work out to its highest pitch charity , wholike her sister mercyequallblesses both him who ives
, , y g , and him who receives . Let us all , then , endeavour to abide by the principles which we profess , more especially in the practice and adornment of these the highest of human virtues . Much has been said on the antiquity of our Order ; many speculations have been hazarded , and many opinions broached ; of these some are extremely curious and worthy of notice , and others are more vague and uncertain . That Freemasonry has existedunder one form or another
, , from the very earliest period , is , I think , admitted by all , even by those who would , if they could , cast a sneer on our Order . I am inclined myself to think that it existed long before the building of King Solomon ' s temple ; however , here we will take it up , because we have full and ample proof that it did then exist , and was practised in its full
perfection , both operative and speculative , by the three Grand Masters then presiding . The wisdom of Solomon , the strength of the King of Tyre , as exhibited in the cedar wood and other necessaries for this stupendous building , which he sent to Solomon ; together with that cunning workman Hiram , who added beauty and skill to every part , succeeded in producing an edifice such as none of ancient days ever approached , and such as none in modern have ever attempted to vie with . No part of the workrememberwas wrought on the place
, , , every joint , whether of wood or stone , was aptly fitted in the forest or quarry , so that on being brought to the building , no noise either of axe or hammer could be heard ; truly this was the fit manner iu which the temple of the Lord should be built . The building of the second Temple under Zerubbabel is another remarkable instance of masonic skill and perseverance , where the builders worked with the sword in one hand and the trowel in the otherand that
, under a charter granted to them by King Cyrus , as recorded in the last verse of the Second Book of Chronicles , and again in the commencement of the Book of the scribe Ezra , " Now in the first year of Cyrus , King of Persia ( that the word of the Lord , by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled ) the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus , King of Persia , that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it also in writingsayingThus saith CyrusKing of Persiathe Lord
, , , , God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth ; and He hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem , which is in Judah . Who is there among you of all His people ; his God be with him , and let him go up to Jerusalem , which is in Judah , and build the house of the Lord God of Israel , ( He is the God ) which is in Jerusalem . And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth , let the men of his
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Charge,
we hope for , what can we enjoy ? Our path through this world is through various dangers and difficulties , designed by an All-wise superintending Providence to teach us to look up to Him at all times and seasons for aid , support , and help ; but at the same time that the Great Architect of the Universe requires our allegiance and subservience to him , he has not only inspired us with , but expects from us , the practice of brotherly love . From this springs our best and warmest affectionsfrom the
, practice of this emanates every virtue and perfection which can adorn the human heart , whence springs relief which may be shortly described as true kindness of heart and soul . Genuine philanthropy , is it not the first-born child of brotherly love , aye , and truth , without which nothing is beautiful , nothing in this life amiable or sweet , is she not relief ' s twin sister ? These virtues practised will soon work out to its highest pitch charity , wholike her sister mercyequallblesses both him who ives
, , y g , and him who receives . Let us all , then , endeavour to abide by the principles which we profess , more especially in the practice and adornment of these the highest of human virtues . Much has been said on the antiquity of our Order ; many speculations have been hazarded , and many opinions broached ; of these some are extremely curious and worthy of notice , and others are more vague and uncertain . That Freemasonry has existedunder one form or another
, , from the very earliest period , is , I think , admitted by all , even by those who would , if they could , cast a sneer on our Order . I am inclined myself to think that it existed long before the building of King Solomon ' s temple ; however , here we will take it up , because we have full and ample proof that it did then exist , and was practised in its full
perfection , both operative and speculative , by the three Grand Masters then presiding . The wisdom of Solomon , the strength of the King of Tyre , as exhibited in the cedar wood and other necessaries for this stupendous building , which he sent to Solomon ; together with that cunning workman Hiram , who added beauty and skill to every part , succeeded in producing an edifice such as none of ancient days ever approached , and such as none in modern have ever attempted to vie with . No part of the workrememberwas wrought on the place
, , , every joint , whether of wood or stone , was aptly fitted in the forest or quarry , so that on being brought to the building , no noise either of axe or hammer could be heard ; truly this was the fit manner iu which the temple of the Lord should be built . The building of the second Temple under Zerubbabel is another remarkable instance of masonic skill and perseverance , where the builders worked with the sword in one hand and the trowel in the otherand that
, under a charter granted to them by King Cyrus , as recorded in the last verse of the Second Book of Chronicles , and again in the commencement of the Book of the scribe Ezra , " Now in the first year of Cyrus , King of Persia ( that the word of the Lord , by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled ) the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus , King of Persia , that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it also in writingsayingThus saith CyrusKing of Persiathe Lord
, , , , God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth ; and He hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem , which is in Judah . Who is there among you of all His people ; his God be with him , and let him go up to Jerusalem , which is in Judah , and build the house of the Lord God of Israel , ( He is the God ) which is in Jerusalem . And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth , let the men of his