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Article PREJUDICE AGAINST FREEMASONRY. ← Page 3 of 4 →
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Prejudice Against Freemasonry.
which declares and repeats to all its candidates and in all its lodges that it can never countenance anything contrary to Morals , Religion , or the State ; ivhich expects and requires the highest reverence to the Supreme Being , obedience to rulers , respect to superiors , kindness to equals , and condescension to inferiors ; I say , that such an institution should be declared , or even suspected to militate with religion , peaceand social orderis matter of astonishment .
, , It must require the prejudices of an ex-Jesuit to draw so strange an inference from such opposing premises , or the faculty of Scotch second light to see things less awry . * Are not Masons , as well as other men , members of civil society , equally interested in preserving its order and peace ? Do they not owe their personal and their associate security to the laws , their protection to the magistrate ?
What possible inducement could they have for endangering that security or forfeiting that protection ? Whatever interferes with the prosperity of any nation , persuasion , or individual , forms no part of the Masonic theme . While the real Mason acts within his sphere he is a friend to every government which affords him protection , and particularly attached to that country wherein he first drew breath .
That is the centre of his circle , the point where his affections are warmest . His philanthropy is by no means incompatible with patriotism ; ancl when he speaks of being free , and of standing on a level with his brethren , he advances no sentiment in militancy with social or political grades ancl dignities .- He admits , and is familiar with , the principle of due subordination . He finds its expediency in his own institution , ancl he knows it is essential to good government and order in the community . " To be free is one of the characteristics
of his profession , but it is that stead y freedom which prudence feels and wisdom dictates , " a freedom which reason honours and virtue sanctions , a freedom from the dominion of passion and the slavery of vice . Appeal we to fact , to the history of all nations , and we shall find that Freemasons have always been peaceable and orderly members of society , f Submissive , even under governments the most intolerant ancl oppressive , they
silently cultivated their benevolent plan , ancl secured it confidence and protection by exhibiting in their conduct its mild , pacific , and charitable tendencies . They excited no factious resistance to established authorities , conspired in . no turbulent ancl seditious schemes , exaggerated no grievances , nor even joined in the clamours of popular discontent . Making it a rule never to speak evil of dignitiesnor interfere with the claims of lawful authorit they
, y , , at all times and in all places supported the character and obtained the praise of liege subjects and good citizens . Recur we to the American history . Were Price , Oxnard , Tomlinson , Gridley , leaders in rebellion P Was Warren a seditions person ? Or does Washington countenance conspiracy against government ? Are not the mem-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Prejudice Against Freemasonry.
which declares and repeats to all its candidates and in all its lodges that it can never countenance anything contrary to Morals , Religion , or the State ; ivhich expects and requires the highest reverence to the Supreme Being , obedience to rulers , respect to superiors , kindness to equals , and condescension to inferiors ; I say , that such an institution should be declared , or even suspected to militate with religion , peaceand social orderis matter of astonishment .
, , It must require the prejudices of an ex-Jesuit to draw so strange an inference from such opposing premises , or the faculty of Scotch second light to see things less awry . * Are not Masons , as well as other men , members of civil society , equally interested in preserving its order and peace ? Do they not owe their personal and their associate security to the laws , their protection to the magistrate ?
What possible inducement could they have for endangering that security or forfeiting that protection ? Whatever interferes with the prosperity of any nation , persuasion , or individual , forms no part of the Masonic theme . While the real Mason acts within his sphere he is a friend to every government which affords him protection , and particularly attached to that country wherein he first drew breath .
That is the centre of his circle , the point where his affections are warmest . His philanthropy is by no means incompatible with patriotism ; ancl when he speaks of being free , and of standing on a level with his brethren , he advances no sentiment in militancy with social or political grades ancl dignities .- He admits , and is familiar with , the principle of due subordination . He finds its expediency in his own institution , ancl he knows it is essential to good government and order in the community . " To be free is one of the characteristics
of his profession , but it is that stead y freedom which prudence feels and wisdom dictates , " a freedom which reason honours and virtue sanctions , a freedom from the dominion of passion and the slavery of vice . Appeal we to fact , to the history of all nations , and we shall find that Freemasons have always been peaceable and orderly members of society , f Submissive , even under governments the most intolerant ancl oppressive , they
silently cultivated their benevolent plan , ancl secured it confidence and protection by exhibiting in their conduct its mild , pacific , and charitable tendencies . They excited no factious resistance to established authorities , conspired in . no turbulent ancl seditious schemes , exaggerated no grievances , nor even joined in the clamours of popular discontent . Making it a rule never to speak evil of dignitiesnor interfere with the claims of lawful authorit they
, y , , at all times and in all places supported the character and obtained the praise of liege subjects and good citizens . Recur we to the American history . Were Price , Oxnard , Tomlinson , Gridley , leaders in rebellion P Was Warren a seditions person ? Or does Washington countenance conspiracy against government ? Are not the mem-