Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
German Masonic Teaching One Hundred Years Ago.
for ever , until God shall revivify these ashes , call me back to life , in which we all have a common share . I follow my destiny , and leave Leipsic , whither I came from a far land to cultivate my understanding and my heart , to collect together fruits of wisdom ancl virtue , and to make myself useful to the world and to my Fatherland . How far I have fulfilled these my immediate and pleasant duties , I leave to my future superiors to decide , or to God when He demands a reckoning of the " talents " lent to me . Here fail me neither tho applause of my teachers and my friends nor the far more elevated approbation of my
own . My constant wish was in the Church and citizen life to accomplish something of good , ancl so long as this heart beats in me I will zealously seek to carry it out . Soon I leave Leipsic , where I have lived full three years in happy youthful content , and have learned to bear with a manly soul the pleasant and the unpleasant . Soon leave I the friends of my heart , yes , dear to my heart , and impressed for ever upon it with imperishable traits—a painful thought when one feels the true worth of friendship , the
, noblest gift of G-od . Soon , too , I leave thee , beloved " Minerva , " teacher of Masonic wisdom as well as my personal teacher ; born and educated in thy bosom , under thy " Palms " often have I enjoyed the social glass . I leave you , my brethren , whose consideration , love , and friendship I never can , never will forget .
And now listen to the entreaties which I in this cruel , sad separation from you all , which I put before you in this last discharge of duty as your Orator . Listen to my wishes , my last wishes—as the last wishes of a dying person—and their fulfilment , which alone depends on yourselves , will be my reward and my happiness . First , Honour God and Religion . This is my first most urgent request . God , whom the whole of nature praises , and through unutterable marvels glorifies ; whom
Christendom proclaims as Father and Benefactor of the whole human race ; whom the intellect recognizes , regards with awe , addresses ; whom the heart feels and receives . Then is our morality pure , issuing from the best source , a blessing for us , a blessing for the world ; if ambition be not our elastic spring ; if our pride be not the impulse of our integrity and magnanimity ; if avarice be not the spur of industry and general utility ; if fear for injurious consequences of excess be not the ground of self-control and
moderation ; if our piety be not the mask of wickedness and artifice . Honour Him through compassion and heartfelt mercy , through " good works " and helpful assistance to those who need the help of consolation and salvation . Wo are all children of one God , created to happiness and perfection , all of us enjoined to seek the same for ourselves and others .
Oh , if the honour of all men only was to be found in 16 ve and gentleness , and to rejoice in the affection of another , how happy would it be to be a man ! What a joyous prospect opens before my eyes , my dearest brethren , when I shall see this my first , this my heartfelt entreaty , for zeal in knowledge of God , in honouring of God , in love of God , fulfilled by you ! I see men in this their perfection overstreaming with happiness—this habitation changed into a heaven ; unstained hearts consecrated to
God ancl virtue ; patriotic citizens , true to their country , benefactors of the State and its members ; friends of mankind whom a warmer and . more intelligent religious zeal excites to deeds of beneficence ; Masons , the " ornaments of their order , and promoters of its ever-increasing renown ; brethren , with brotherly hearts;—and in all these things believers , who hope , with rejoicing soul , for a happy future . Have Self-respectmy Brethren . This is my second ancl as earnest entreat
, y , my next solemn wish . With right can we regard true honour as a spur to great deeds , and as a restraint in unbridled follies . Without it , all our powers would succumb to apathy , and , like standing waters , overflow in foulness . You know your own worth as men and as Masons .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
German Masonic Teaching One Hundred Years Ago.
for ever , until God shall revivify these ashes , call me back to life , in which we all have a common share . I follow my destiny , and leave Leipsic , whither I came from a far land to cultivate my understanding and my heart , to collect together fruits of wisdom ancl virtue , and to make myself useful to the world and to my Fatherland . How far I have fulfilled these my immediate and pleasant duties , I leave to my future superiors to decide , or to God when He demands a reckoning of the " talents " lent to me . Here fail me neither tho applause of my teachers and my friends nor the far more elevated approbation of my
own . My constant wish was in the Church and citizen life to accomplish something of good , ancl so long as this heart beats in me I will zealously seek to carry it out . Soon I leave Leipsic , where I have lived full three years in happy youthful content , and have learned to bear with a manly soul the pleasant and the unpleasant . Soon leave I the friends of my heart , yes , dear to my heart , and impressed for ever upon it with imperishable traits—a painful thought when one feels the true worth of friendship , the
, noblest gift of G-od . Soon , too , I leave thee , beloved " Minerva , " teacher of Masonic wisdom as well as my personal teacher ; born and educated in thy bosom , under thy " Palms " often have I enjoyed the social glass . I leave you , my brethren , whose consideration , love , and friendship I never can , never will forget .
And now listen to the entreaties which I in this cruel , sad separation from you all , which I put before you in this last discharge of duty as your Orator . Listen to my wishes , my last wishes—as the last wishes of a dying person—and their fulfilment , which alone depends on yourselves , will be my reward and my happiness . First , Honour God and Religion . This is my first most urgent request . God , whom the whole of nature praises , and through unutterable marvels glorifies ; whom
Christendom proclaims as Father and Benefactor of the whole human race ; whom the intellect recognizes , regards with awe , addresses ; whom the heart feels and receives . Then is our morality pure , issuing from the best source , a blessing for us , a blessing for the world ; if ambition be not our elastic spring ; if our pride be not the impulse of our integrity and magnanimity ; if avarice be not the spur of industry and general utility ; if fear for injurious consequences of excess be not the ground of self-control and
moderation ; if our piety be not the mask of wickedness and artifice . Honour Him through compassion and heartfelt mercy , through " good works " and helpful assistance to those who need the help of consolation and salvation . Wo are all children of one God , created to happiness and perfection , all of us enjoined to seek the same for ourselves and others .
Oh , if the honour of all men only was to be found in 16 ve and gentleness , and to rejoice in the affection of another , how happy would it be to be a man ! What a joyous prospect opens before my eyes , my dearest brethren , when I shall see this my first , this my heartfelt entreaty , for zeal in knowledge of God , in honouring of God , in love of God , fulfilled by you ! I see men in this their perfection overstreaming with happiness—this habitation changed into a heaven ; unstained hearts consecrated to
God ancl virtue ; patriotic citizens , true to their country , benefactors of the State and its members ; friends of mankind whom a warmer and . more intelligent religious zeal excites to deeds of beneficence ; Masons , the " ornaments of their order , and promoters of its ever-increasing renown ; brethren , with brotherly hearts;—and in all these things believers , who hope , with rejoicing soul , for a happy future . Have Self-respectmy Brethren . This is my second ancl as earnest entreat
, y , my next solemn wish . With right can we regard true honour as a spur to great deeds , and as a restraint in unbridled follies . Without it , all our powers would succumb to apathy , and , like standing waters , overflow in foulness . You know your own worth as men and as Masons .