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Article MASONRY—ITS PAST AND FUTURE. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Masonry—Its Past And Future.
junction of Operative and Speculative Masonry ! but the S p irit the Essence has existed in various forms since the creation of the world ! it is the origin , tbe foundation of all relig ious relief ! the groundAvork of the teachings of the Bible ! aye , I may say also of the Koran ! the Zend Avesta ! and the Antient Philosophical Schools of the Greeks ! is is the " TO OV " of the human race . The Spirit of Masonry worked in the minds of Noah , Abraham , & c , but hoAv various the forms thereof . ' . ' h then for
Enoug Masonry of remote Antiquity . Let us now turn to the Speculative and Symbolical of the present day . In 1717 , four old London Lodges met , and constituted a Grand Lodge of England to rule over tbe Craft , arrange disputes , and many other matters . From that period Ave must date our present Edifice . I confess I am not a disciple of those very cautious Brethren Avho draw a hard and fast line , and say , that because there are no proofs to tbe contrarytherefore Speculative Masonry only commenced
, at that date . No doubt it then received its first touch of its present perfection . Speculative Masonry must have been the outgroAvth of the Operative , ancl taken time to mature itself . However , " its new birth " Avas then thoroughly established , and from that time it has pursued an uninterrupted course of prosperity in the British Empire up to the present day .
Before many years had passed aAvay , Ave find Lodges established , under the cegis of the Grand Lodge of England , in France , America , Hamburg , India , Germany , and many other countries . In the British Empire alone can Ave say that its course of prosperity has been uninterrupted—in Catholic countries the Jesuits and others have fiercely assailed our noble Order ; but it has emerged triumphant from all attacks , aud we can assert in all truth , that from " the tight little Island " there has gone forth a sound into the very ends of the Avorld . In India , in nearly every country of Europe , in the United States of America , in the British Colonies , in tbe nations of South and
Central America , in many parts of Africa , " the Banner of Masonry has been unfurled , " and it is our proud boast , " that go where you will , north , south , east , or Avest , in all lands and climes , iu all nations and countries , among all sects ancl religions , a Mason will find a Brother , whose open hand , Avhose open heart , will be ready to Avelcome him , and succour him in difficulty aud distress . " Of Avhat more noble theme , then , than Masonry can we sing , especially as the time of" Peace and good Avill to all mankind . " is now coming upon us Avith iant strides . Soon another will have passed and we
g year away , are reminded of " the future . " Before however turning to that subject , let us consider the present . In speaking of the material prosperity of the Order , spread throughout the Globe , I have omitted to mention the various sects and reli gions that contribute their quota to the Muster Boll of our votaries . This , in my mind , is not only the criterion of its great success , but also a solid proof of the necessity of the first and greatest landmark— " Belief in God . " Though creeds ancl sects and religions may agree to differ
in forms ancl dogmas , they have one common standpoint , "Belief in a Supreme Being . " This is the " ro ov" of Masonry ! the groundwork of every religious faith ! the corner stone of the Great Superstructure . We know from the books and muster rolls of the Order , not only does every Christian sect send its battalions , but also the Jews , the Parsees , the Mabommedans , the Hindus , the Brahmins , the Wild Savage of America , the Islanders of the Southern Seas , all send their quota to the various "Corps ¦ f
Armees" of Masonry . bi addition to this , I am informed that strong traces of Masonry are found in China and Japan , which if correct , will go far to prove not only the universality ancl comprehensiveness of the Craft , but also to establish its great Antiquity . Contemp late this magnificent structure extending throughout the length ancl breadth « the Globe , ancl rising to the four winds of Heaven , and eA'ery Brother is bound to lDol like
King Solomon , aud be dazzled by the " glory of the Edifice , far surpassing our most sanguine hopes or imaginations . But here again , in looking to the future , and ' einewbering the destruction of the wondrous Temple of Jerusalem—the Glory of all aada—we must look at the reverse side of the picture . In that Temple every stone was carefull y wrought , squared , and tested , so that the building could defy time . Though the V 01 'k of man , directed by God Himself , it failed , because God ' s chosen people forsook T 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry—Its Past And Future.
junction of Operative and Speculative Masonry ! but the S p irit the Essence has existed in various forms since the creation of the world ! it is the origin , tbe foundation of all relig ious relief ! the groundAvork of the teachings of the Bible ! aye , I may say also of the Koran ! the Zend Avesta ! and the Antient Philosophical Schools of the Greeks ! is is the " TO OV " of the human race . The Spirit of Masonry worked in the minds of Noah , Abraham , & c , but hoAv various the forms thereof . ' . ' h then for
Enoug Masonry of remote Antiquity . Let us now turn to the Speculative and Symbolical of the present day . In 1717 , four old London Lodges met , and constituted a Grand Lodge of England to rule over tbe Craft , arrange disputes , and many other matters . From that period Ave must date our present Edifice . I confess I am not a disciple of those very cautious Brethren Avho draw a hard and fast line , and say , that because there are no proofs to tbe contrarytherefore Speculative Masonry only commenced
, at that date . No doubt it then received its first touch of its present perfection . Speculative Masonry must have been the outgroAvth of the Operative , ancl taken time to mature itself . However , " its new birth " Avas then thoroughly established , and from that time it has pursued an uninterrupted course of prosperity in the British Empire up to the present day .
Before many years had passed aAvay , Ave find Lodges established , under the cegis of the Grand Lodge of England , in France , America , Hamburg , India , Germany , and many other countries . In the British Empire alone can Ave say that its course of prosperity has been uninterrupted—in Catholic countries the Jesuits and others have fiercely assailed our noble Order ; but it has emerged triumphant from all attacks , aud we can assert in all truth , that from " the tight little Island " there has gone forth a sound into the very ends of the Avorld . In India , in nearly every country of Europe , in the United States of America , in the British Colonies , in tbe nations of South and
Central America , in many parts of Africa , " the Banner of Masonry has been unfurled , " and it is our proud boast , " that go where you will , north , south , east , or Avest , in all lands and climes , iu all nations and countries , among all sects ancl religions , a Mason will find a Brother , whose open hand , Avhose open heart , will be ready to Avelcome him , and succour him in difficulty aud distress . " Of Avhat more noble theme , then , than Masonry can we sing , especially as the time of" Peace and good Avill to all mankind . " is now coming upon us Avith iant strides . Soon another will have passed and we
g year away , are reminded of " the future . " Before however turning to that subject , let us consider the present . In speaking of the material prosperity of the Order , spread throughout the Globe , I have omitted to mention the various sects and reli gions that contribute their quota to the Muster Boll of our votaries . This , in my mind , is not only the criterion of its great success , but also a solid proof of the necessity of the first and greatest landmark— " Belief in God . " Though creeds ancl sects and religions may agree to differ
in forms ancl dogmas , they have one common standpoint , "Belief in a Supreme Being . " This is the " ro ov" of Masonry ! the groundwork of every religious faith ! the corner stone of the Great Superstructure . We know from the books and muster rolls of the Order , not only does every Christian sect send its battalions , but also the Jews , the Parsees , the Mabommedans , the Hindus , the Brahmins , the Wild Savage of America , the Islanders of the Southern Seas , all send their quota to the various "Corps ¦ f
Armees" of Masonry . bi addition to this , I am informed that strong traces of Masonry are found in China and Japan , which if correct , will go far to prove not only the universality ancl comprehensiveness of the Craft , but also to establish its great Antiquity . Contemp late this magnificent structure extending throughout the length ancl breadth « the Globe , ancl rising to the four winds of Heaven , and eA'ery Brother is bound to lDol like
King Solomon , aud be dazzled by the " glory of the Edifice , far surpassing our most sanguine hopes or imaginations . But here again , in looking to the future , and ' einewbering the destruction of the wondrous Temple of Jerusalem—the Glory of all aada—we must look at the reverse side of the picture . In that Temple every stone was carefull y wrought , squared , and tested , so that the building could defy time . Though the V 01 'k of man , directed by God Himself , it failed , because God ' s chosen people forsook T 2