Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Time.
ness have , by the injustice of patrons , and the selfish stupidity of literary controllers , perished in the waste-basket of the last year ! Should , by some extraordinary conjuncture of the stars , the country turn over in 1856 the leaves of its conscience , which have hitherto stuck so closely together , we may expect some strange sequels ! Pancy for a moment the astonishment of hearing a bishop preach a
good sermon—nay , perhaps , at present a super-episcopal effort , almost , without a book ! Imagine a Life-guard who had really smelt powder from other cannon than St . James ' s Park , or Chobham ! Conceive a minister of the Government with so true , conscientious a desire for the public good as to be careful not to give preferment to a fool , though he was his own son ! Picture honesty and
real patriotism in Downing Street ; competency , activity , and justice at the Horse-guards ; on the Bench of Prelates ; in the Commons ! Think of honesty trampling over shilling-seeking everywhere , so that instead of the former being now an episode and anomaly , it should become the index of our social life ! Just conceive an Englishman bold enough to tell a "Lord , "—now mind , only think , a Lord /—to his face , that he is wrong . Alas ! it is all
imagination ; you may as well expect to draw out the horn of a rhinoceros with tweezers , or to get employment because you are an honest man , as to suppose that any of our time-serving worship of Mammon , or national apathy under * gross evils , would be altered ; but if 1856 produce even the slightest amelioration in these respects , so that the huge iaundice of abuses be but of a straw colour instead of a deep
yellow , it will bring with it a far better New Tear ' s gift than any of its predecessors . Masons ! let us begin at home , and let the opening year see us no longer falsifying our oath hourly by neglecting our Brother , but let us search out , and aid , not wait until we are called upon . Great duties devolve upon us , for , if the world perceive those who are confederate against evil , apathetic as to its existence , and satisfied with
the old exclamation , "We did not know it "—if they see us mdiHerent as to whether our offices be truly and efficiently , or whether they be indifferently , filled ; whether our patronage be justly or unjustly dispensed ; with what aspect will they regard us , with what shall we regard ourselves ? The present condition of Masonry is publicly prosperous , internally unsatisfactory and menacing . Like
a tree , its root and fibres have their grasp upon the noblest principles of poor human nature , —these constitute its potency ; but its top is blighted ; talent , fairness , ability are withering there , in all but a few leaves , —and these augur its decay ! I ' or ourselves as a Masonic periodical , we , in the combined form , shall continue to exhibit the same inflexible impartiality in the exposure of evil and the vindication of the weakest Brother ' s wrongs as when we appeared distinct ; but as combination increases power to promote the " public benefit , so we call upon all those who are real Masons to uphold our efforts for the Craft . Union is a good augury for 1856 ; but it is the Craft , whose interests we fearlessly maintain ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Time.
ness have , by the injustice of patrons , and the selfish stupidity of literary controllers , perished in the waste-basket of the last year ! Should , by some extraordinary conjuncture of the stars , the country turn over in 1856 the leaves of its conscience , which have hitherto stuck so closely together , we may expect some strange sequels ! Pancy for a moment the astonishment of hearing a bishop preach a
good sermon—nay , perhaps , at present a super-episcopal effort , almost , without a book ! Imagine a Life-guard who had really smelt powder from other cannon than St . James ' s Park , or Chobham ! Conceive a minister of the Government with so true , conscientious a desire for the public good as to be careful not to give preferment to a fool , though he was his own son ! Picture honesty and
real patriotism in Downing Street ; competency , activity , and justice at the Horse-guards ; on the Bench of Prelates ; in the Commons ! Think of honesty trampling over shilling-seeking everywhere , so that instead of the former being now an episode and anomaly , it should become the index of our social life ! Just conceive an Englishman bold enough to tell a "Lord , "—now mind , only think , a Lord /—to his face , that he is wrong . Alas ! it is all
imagination ; you may as well expect to draw out the horn of a rhinoceros with tweezers , or to get employment because you are an honest man , as to suppose that any of our time-serving worship of Mammon , or national apathy under * gross evils , would be altered ; but if 1856 produce even the slightest amelioration in these respects , so that the huge iaundice of abuses be but of a straw colour instead of a deep
yellow , it will bring with it a far better New Tear ' s gift than any of its predecessors . Masons ! let us begin at home , and let the opening year see us no longer falsifying our oath hourly by neglecting our Brother , but let us search out , and aid , not wait until we are called upon . Great duties devolve upon us , for , if the world perceive those who are confederate against evil , apathetic as to its existence , and satisfied with
the old exclamation , "We did not know it "—if they see us mdiHerent as to whether our offices be truly and efficiently , or whether they be indifferently , filled ; whether our patronage be justly or unjustly dispensed ; with what aspect will they regard us , with what shall we regard ourselves ? The present condition of Masonry is publicly prosperous , internally unsatisfactory and menacing . Like
a tree , its root and fibres have their grasp upon the noblest principles of poor human nature , —these constitute its potency ; but its top is blighted ; talent , fairness , ability are withering there , in all but a few leaves , —and these augur its decay ! I ' or ourselves as a Masonic periodical , we , in the combined form , shall continue to exhibit the same inflexible impartiality in the exposure of evil and the vindication of the weakest Brother ' s wrongs as when we appeared distinct ; but as combination increases power to promote the " public benefit , so we call upon all those who are real Masons to uphold our efforts for the Craft . Union is a good augury for 1856 ; but it is the Craft , whose interests we fearlessly maintain ,