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Freemasonry Attacked And Defended.
Tho fifth libel is , that Masonry " teaches that all Masons will be saved , whether believers or unbelievers , Christians or Pagans , etc . " It teaches nothing of the kind . It asserts nothing whatever of the future . It deals with the now , not with the hereafter , except indirectly . If making men better here will make them happier hereafter , then probably it accomplishes lasting good ; but it does this only incidentally . Freemasonry holds up no scheme of salvation ,
professes to supply or supplant no religion , and is simply its servant and handmaid . Under this head wo may notice the allegation , that " at death Masonry removes its members from the lodge below to the Grand Lodge above . " To which we remark , " which things are an allegory . " It is true that obituary eulogists love to use the p hrase , "the Grand Lodge above , " yet it is but a pretty figure of speech which has very little meaning in it . It is the language of panegyric , of benediction , of trust and hope rather than of belief . Clothing can be argued from it , for it is hut a complimentary figure of speech , used , unci i'i"'htlv used , on tho principle of nil ni * i brmmn .
' " The sixth libel is , that Masonry " is a soul-destroying . institution . " The reader may well ask—Can this ho so , when clergymen of almost all denominations are active Freemasons ? Then have the souls of many of the world ' s greatest benefactors and most exemplary Christians been destroyed ! Then does the immortal Washington now lift up his eyes , being in torments ! Who has constituted these Reformed Presbyterians an " inquisition , " to misrepresent , vilify , aud sit in judgment upon their fellow-men ? Freemasons , leave
them to be judged b y their God , and let these slanderers and libellers follow our charitable example . We need say untiring more ; we would rather not have said so much . Wo always reluctantly say a word in defence of Freemasonry . Its works are its best defence . But when it is openly , persistently , and falsely maligned , and that , too , in "the city of brotherly love , " we cannot but tell the truth , and shame the allies of the—other side .
Beatrice.
BEATRICE .
BT THE AUTHOR OF THE " 010 , OLD STORY , " " ADVENTURES OF BOS PASQUALE , " ETC . CHAPTER XV . POOR Mr . Miller was for a time in great tribulationinasmuch as the
, amusement being over the reckoning had come in , and whatever else Grogwitz could or could not do , it was quite clear he knew how to " charge . " Still , as there are many things in life which have to be borne with patiently and serenely , whether it bo a talkative wife , a troublesome servant , or a heavy bill , so in due time Mr . Miller paid his little account , and recovered his wonted
equanimity . I do not think that ever again in this "daily pathway of life , ' or in this "humid vale of tears , " as sensational writers like to say . will Mr . Miller ever trouble the accomodating Grogwitz under any circumstances whatever , and so wo will leave that remarkable individuality , his fascinating female accompaniment , and the ingenious and agreeable Kirsohenwasser in that region of forgetfufness and shade which perhaps , however , best accords with their retired lives , their normal pursuits , and their peculiar modesty of thought , speech , and action . But it has struck me as I have been describing
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry Attacked And Defended.
Tho fifth libel is , that Masonry " teaches that all Masons will be saved , whether believers or unbelievers , Christians or Pagans , etc . " It teaches nothing of the kind . It asserts nothing whatever of the future . It deals with the now , not with the hereafter , except indirectly . If making men better here will make them happier hereafter , then probably it accomplishes lasting good ; but it does this only incidentally . Freemasonry holds up no scheme of salvation ,
professes to supply or supplant no religion , and is simply its servant and handmaid . Under this head wo may notice the allegation , that " at death Masonry removes its members from the lodge below to the Grand Lodge above . " To which we remark , " which things are an allegory . " It is true that obituary eulogists love to use the p hrase , "the Grand Lodge above , " yet it is but a pretty figure of speech which has very little meaning in it . It is the language of panegyric , of benediction , of trust and hope rather than of belief . Clothing can be argued from it , for it is hut a complimentary figure of speech , used , unci i'i"'htlv used , on tho principle of nil ni * i brmmn .
' " The sixth libel is , that Masonry " is a soul-destroying . institution . " The reader may well ask—Can this ho so , when clergymen of almost all denominations are active Freemasons ? Then have the souls of many of the world ' s greatest benefactors and most exemplary Christians been destroyed ! Then does the immortal Washington now lift up his eyes , being in torments ! Who has constituted these Reformed Presbyterians an " inquisition , " to misrepresent , vilify , aud sit in judgment upon their fellow-men ? Freemasons , leave
them to be judged b y their God , and let these slanderers and libellers follow our charitable example . We need say untiring more ; we would rather not have said so much . Wo always reluctantly say a word in defence of Freemasonry . Its works are its best defence . But when it is openly , persistently , and falsely maligned , and that , too , in "the city of brotherly love , " we cannot but tell the truth , and shame the allies of the—other side .
Beatrice.
BEATRICE .
BT THE AUTHOR OF THE " 010 , OLD STORY , " " ADVENTURES OF BOS PASQUALE , " ETC . CHAPTER XV . POOR Mr . Miller was for a time in great tribulationinasmuch as the
, amusement being over the reckoning had come in , and whatever else Grogwitz could or could not do , it was quite clear he knew how to " charge . " Still , as there are many things in life which have to be borne with patiently and serenely , whether it bo a talkative wife , a troublesome servant , or a heavy bill , so in due time Mr . Miller paid his little account , and recovered his wonted
equanimity . I do not think that ever again in this "daily pathway of life , ' or in this "humid vale of tears , " as sensational writers like to say . will Mr . Miller ever trouble the accomodating Grogwitz under any circumstances whatever , and so wo will leave that remarkable individuality , his fascinating female accompaniment , and the ingenious and agreeable Kirsohenwasser in that region of forgetfufness and shade which perhaps , however , best accords with their retired lives , their normal pursuits , and their peculiar modesty of thought , speech , and action . But it has struck me as I have been describing