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Article SYMBOL OF GLORY* ← Page 2 of 11 →
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Symbol Of Glory*
and speculative , as distinguished from the mass of more conventional and convivial , Masons . AVo proceed to insist upon the spirit and vital intention of the Order . AVo livo in days of change and movement so rapid and profound , of problems so dangerous and difficult , implacable as tho Sphynx to punishif not rightly solvedthat we cannot waste a moment on the
, , shadows of the Past . Let us plunge deeply and fearlessly into tho very innermost spirit of the Order , and , without prejudice or passion , search out the last expression , the inevitable intent and purpose of our words , signs , tokens , degrees , doctrine , dress , discipline . Political and religious discussions never cross the threshold of the Lodge . Far , far , from its precincts the religion of antagonistic forms and
exclusive systems and official alliances ; far , far , the miserable phantasmagoria of puppets , the ignoble juggle of mean servilities and vulgar ambitions , dignified by the name of politics , which consists in sacrificing the many to the aggrandisement of the few ; in sowing and reaping war , discord , confusion , pauperism , ignorance ; in creating castes at homeand setting up artificial barriers between
, nations and people . But the religion of the spirit and of truth , the religion of the mount , teaching meekness , toleration , forgiveness , charity , long suffering , divine equality , and the NEW political science —the science of peace and unity , domestic and internationalbreaking down conventional barriers and artificial distinctions :
abohshing the last vestiges of servitude and intolerance ; appeasing ancient grudges ; healing the sufferings of humanity , by union in one common interest , and working out the better future of a more liberal civilisation—these are the vital and eternal watchwords of the Order ; the life-breath and the heart ' s-blood of the Brotherhood ; without which it were the most vulgar and ridiculous of impostures ; a tawdry rag of false pretence and histrionic
masquerading ; an object of contempt and pity to all men of heart . It is- sad enough to hear some post-prandial expositor , at a banquet , giving us this or that little narrow pocket definition of Freemasonry , measuring its purpose , like a doctrinaire , by some meagre standard of complacent optimism , as , " that it is peculiarly loyal , " or " eminently conservative , " or " useful and agreeable in bringing men
together , who never meet elsewhere on the same terms . " All this is very true and satisfactory , so far as it extends ; but we contend that it is true in a far higher and broader sense than these common-places indicate . Our Order is not idly " loyal" from respect to certain persons or titles ; nor is it " conservative " from blind and narrow adherence to particular institutions . It is undoubtedl
y antecedent and superior to , and independent of , all mere forms of government . It has known how to exist and nourish under , and in harmony with , the most various and discordant civil and religious polities . The lo-yalt-y of a Mason , as a Mason , is not a mere effervescent sentiment , but a deep and well-rooted respect for
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Symbol Of Glory*
and speculative , as distinguished from the mass of more conventional and convivial , Masons . AVo proceed to insist upon the spirit and vital intention of the Order . AVo livo in days of change and movement so rapid and profound , of problems so dangerous and difficult , implacable as tho Sphynx to punishif not rightly solvedthat we cannot waste a moment on the
, , shadows of the Past . Let us plunge deeply and fearlessly into tho very innermost spirit of the Order , and , without prejudice or passion , search out the last expression , the inevitable intent and purpose of our words , signs , tokens , degrees , doctrine , dress , discipline . Political and religious discussions never cross the threshold of the Lodge . Far , far , from its precincts the religion of antagonistic forms and
exclusive systems and official alliances ; far , far , the miserable phantasmagoria of puppets , the ignoble juggle of mean servilities and vulgar ambitions , dignified by the name of politics , which consists in sacrificing the many to the aggrandisement of the few ; in sowing and reaping war , discord , confusion , pauperism , ignorance ; in creating castes at homeand setting up artificial barriers between
, nations and people . But the religion of the spirit and of truth , the religion of the mount , teaching meekness , toleration , forgiveness , charity , long suffering , divine equality , and the NEW political science —the science of peace and unity , domestic and internationalbreaking down conventional barriers and artificial distinctions :
abohshing the last vestiges of servitude and intolerance ; appeasing ancient grudges ; healing the sufferings of humanity , by union in one common interest , and working out the better future of a more liberal civilisation—these are the vital and eternal watchwords of the Order ; the life-breath and the heart ' s-blood of the Brotherhood ; without which it were the most vulgar and ridiculous of impostures ; a tawdry rag of false pretence and histrionic
masquerading ; an object of contempt and pity to all men of heart . It is- sad enough to hear some post-prandial expositor , at a banquet , giving us this or that little narrow pocket definition of Freemasonry , measuring its purpose , like a doctrinaire , by some meagre standard of complacent optimism , as , " that it is peculiarly loyal , " or " eminently conservative , " or " useful and agreeable in bringing men
together , who never meet elsewhere on the same terms . " All this is very true and satisfactory , so far as it extends ; but we contend that it is true in a far higher and broader sense than these common-places indicate . Our Order is not idly " loyal" from respect to certain persons or titles ; nor is it " conservative " from blind and narrow adherence to particular institutions . It is undoubtedl
y antecedent and superior to , and independent of , all mere forms of government . It has known how to exist and nourish under , and in harmony with , the most various and discordant civil and religious polities . The lo-yalt-y of a Mason , as a Mason , is not a mere effervescent sentiment , but a deep and well-rooted respect for