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Article PREJUDICE AGAINST FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 4 →
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Prejudice Against Freemasonry.
PREJUDICE AGAINST FREEMASONRY .
( Concluded from page 352 ) . WE cannot too often repeat that , while our institution is known to require a firm belief in the existence , a devout reverence for the character , ancl a cheerful obedience to the laws of the Supreme Architect of the Universe , the Eternal God ; while it is evidently built upon , and venerates the Holy Scriptures ;* that construction must be a forced oneindeedwhich imputes to it
, , principles ancl plans of irreligious tendency ! If it were an immoral or anti-Christian association , how happens it that so many of the clergy aro not onl y members , but zealously attached to it ; not only its apologists , but its patrons ? For myself , I declare that such is my high reverence for Christianity ancl my devotedness to its cause , that , did I believe Freemasonry , as it is known ancl cultivated among us , ancl as I have been acquainted with ithad a tendency to
, weaken or destroy the faith of the Gospel , I would openly ancl immediatel y renounce the order , ancl spum with indignation its badges ancl its bonds ! f It is equally incredible to suppose it calculated to effect any change of political opinion , much less to promote a revolution in any government irnder which it may be permitted to operate . For one of the most positive injunctions imposed on a candidate for our Order , and one of the admonitions most
frequently repeated in our assemblies , is " to fulfil all civil duties in the most distinguished manner ancl from the purest motives . " This , it is well known , if among our most positive and binding regulations ; yet it seems as if our ancestors , fearful of not sufficientl y guarding the fraternit y against the possibility of being suspected of disloyalty , had judged it necessary , in their general laws , positively to prohibit the uttering of a single sentence in our
meetings on any political subject whatever , In the " ancient charges collected from old records " is the following : " No private piques or quarrels must be brought within the door of the lodge , far less any quarrels about religion , or nations , or State policy ; being of all nations , tongues , kindreds , ancl languages , we are resolved against all politics , as what never yet conduced to the welfare of the lodge nor ever will . " Again : "as political affairs have occasioned discord amongst the nearest relations ancl mose intimate friends , Masons are enjoined never to speak of or discuss them in the lodge . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Prejudice Against Freemasonry.
PREJUDICE AGAINST FREEMASONRY .
( Concluded from page 352 ) . WE cannot too often repeat that , while our institution is known to require a firm belief in the existence , a devout reverence for the character , ancl a cheerful obedience to the laws of the Supreme Architect of the Universe , the Eternal God ; while it is evidently built upon , and venerates the Holy Scriptures ;* that construction must be a forced oneindeedwhich imputes to it
, , principles ancl plans of irreligious tendency ! If it were an immoral or anti-Christian association , how happens it that so many of the clergy aro not onl y members , but zealously attached to it ; not only its apologists , but its patrons ? For myself , I declare that such is my high reverence for Christianity ancl my devotedness to its cause , that , did I believe Freemasonry , as it is known ancl cultivated among us , ancl as I have been acquainted with ithad a tendency to
, weaken or destroy the faith of the Gospel , I would openly ancl immediatel y renounce the order , ancl spum with indignation its badges ancl its bonds ! f It is equally incredible to suppose it calculated to effect any change of political opinion , much less to promote a revolution in any government irnder which it may be permitted to operate . For one of the most positive injunctions imposed on a candidate for our Order , and one of the admonitions most
frequently repeated in our assemblies , is " to fulfil all civil duties in the most distinguished manner ancl from the purest motives . " This , it is well known , if among our most positive and binding regulations ; yet it seems as if our ancestors , fearful of not sufficientl y guarding the fraternit y against the possibility of being suspected of disloyalty , had judged it necessary , in their general laws , positively to prohibit the uttering of a single sentence in our
meetings on any political subject whatever , In the " ancient charges collected from old records " is the following : " No private piques or quarrels must be brought within the door of the lodge , far less any quarrels about religion , or nations , or State policy ; being of all nations , tongues , kindreds , ancl languages , we are resolved against all politics , as what never yet conduced to the welfare of the lodge nor ever will . " Again : "as political affairs have occasioned discord amongst the nearest relations ancl mose intimate friends , Masons are enjoined never to speak of or discuss them in the lodge . "