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Article MASONET AND HER MISSION; ← Page 4 of 5 →
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Masonet And Her Mission;
his righteous life and glorious death , will live for ever in the traditions of Masonry , and whisper to the heart of every Brother words at once encouraging and warning , * ' Go , thou , and do likewise . "
Masonry , then , starting with this confidence in human nature ; laying down a regular and well-directed course of moral and mental training ; pointing ever and always to oneprominent and distinguished character as an example of what an honest-hearted , true-minded man can effect in the great work of elevating himself doing good to his f el low-men , and influencing posterity as long as one member of Adam ' s race shall live upon the earthy—affords the best practical school in whicli a man can duties and responsibilities as a rational and immortal being .
Let me now call your attention to One special instance of the consistency of Masonry with the schemes of the ^ M piness and ' well-being of the human family , viz ., its promoting the ^ h ness of mankind by incorporating theni into a society . Solitude wretchedness are almost synoriymous term s—to be lonely and loveless is the lowest depth of earthly calamity . Eden without Eve would have been to Adam but an unblooming desert . The delight of Paradise is ( so far as we
can judge ) the unanimity of myriad hearts of all nations , tongues , and people , of all diversities of clime and space and time , blending together as with one soul , one heart , and one accordant voice , to render honour and praise to the Father of Spirits in the land where the olive of peace blooms for . ever * and the All-seeing Eye beholds the wisdom of the serpent united to the innocence of the dove , and the consummation of brotherly love .
Such society and companionship it is the office of Masonry to extend among men , by teaching them to have faith in one another—to share their joys with , and confide their griefs to their fellows—that by sharing they may multiply the one , and by confiding , diminish the other . So it is that Masonry would lessen the load of life , and lead our feet into that path , which , although it may seem long , steep , and rugged , will conduct to the inner chambers of the Grand Lodge above .
I commenced this course of lectures with an allusion to those wars and tumults which were , and alas' ! are still raging throughout Europe , and I cannot close them without calling on yon to tender the tribute of respect and reverential affection to those Brethren who have fallen in a foreign land . The sword and the banner have been wrested from their hand by death , and the mattock and the shovel have hollowed out and smoothed
the soldier's grave , and they lie with their upturned faces waiting for the coming light , and leaving a memorial , to all living men , of valour boldly daring where nature would shrink back , and duty nobly venturing what humanity would shudder to relinquish . Doubtless , in preparing these stout hearts for their duties , and nerving them for their struggles , Masonry has borne her part ,, Doubtless her pure truth and loving discipline soothed the sad hour of suffering , and threw a gleam of light over the dark waters of death . Doubtless many a Brother Mason kindly gave them much sympathy and assistance in the hour of weakness and agony . Yes , Brethren
as Masons let us join and say , " Honour to their remains , immortality to their memories , peace to their souls . " Masonry is an institution of peace . Her whole scope and aim is to promulgate truth , to cultivate the arts and sciences , and to promote goodwill among the inhabitants of the earth
But she who would slay the intruder , and execute summary justice upon him , hates the despotic ambition that would by force give laws to the world and curtail the liberties and privileges of a people—and would have her sons shed their life ' s blood to preserve liberty and right , and to transmit this precious inheritance to their posterity unsullied and undiminished , War she esteems a curse , but dishonourable peace a degradation , M 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonet And Her Mission;
his righteous life and glorious death , will live for ever in the traditions of Masonry , and whisper to the heart of every Brother words at once encouraging and warning , * ' Go , thou , and do likewise . "
Masonry , then , starting with this confidence in human nature ; laying down a regular and well-directed course of moral and mental training ; pointing ever and always to oneprominent and distinguished character as an example of what an honest-hearted , true-minded man can effect in the great work of elevating himself doing good to his f el low-men , and influencing posterity as long as one member of Adam ' s race shall live upon the earthy—affords the best practical school in whicli a man can duties and responsibilities as a rational and immortal being .
Let me now call your attention to One special instance of the consistency of Masonry with the schemes of the ^ M piness and ' well-being of the human family , viz ., its promoting the ^ h ness of mankind by incorporating theni into a society . Solitude wretchedness are almost synoriymous term s—to be lonely and loveless is the lowest depth of earthly calamity . Eden without Eve would have been to Adam but an unblooming desert . The delight of Paradise is ( so far as we
can judge ) the unanimity of myriad hearts of all nations , tongues , and people , of all diversities of clime and space and time , blending together as with one soul , one heart , and one accordant voice , to render honour and praise to the Father of Spirits in the land where the olive of peace blooms for . ever * and the All-seeing Eye beholds the wisdom of the serpent united to the innocence of the dove , and the consummation of brotherly love .
Such society and companionship it is the office of Masonry to extend among men , by teaching them to have faith in one another—to share their joys with , and confide their griefs to their fellows—that by sharing they may multiply the one , and by confiding , diminish the other . So it is that Masonry would lessen the load of life , and lead our feet into that path , which , although it may seem long , steep , and rugged , will conduct to the inner chambers of the Grand Lodge above .
I commenced this course of lectures with an allusion to those wars and tumults which were , and alas' ! are still raging throughout Europe , and I cannot close them without calling on yon to tender the tribute of respect and reverential affection to those Brethren who have fallen in a foreign land . The sword and the banner have been wrested from their hand by death , and the mattock and the shovel have hollowed out and smoothed
the soldier's grave , and they lie with their upturned faces waiting for the coming light , and leaving a memorial , to all living men , of valour boldly daring where nature would shrink back , and duty nobly venturing what humanity would shudder to relinquish . Doubtless , in preparing these stout hearts for their duties , and nerving them for their struggles , Masonry has borne her part ,, Doubtless her pure truth and loving discipline soothed the sad hour of suffering , and threw a gleam of light over the dark waters of death . Doubtless many a Brother Mason kindly gave them much sympathy and assistance in the hour of weakness and agony . Yes , Brethren
as Masons let us join and say , " Honour to their remains , immortality to their memories , peace to their souls . " Masonry is an institution of peace . Her whole scope and aim is to promulgate truth , to cultivate the arts and sciences , and to promote goodwill among the inhabitants of the earth
But she who would slay the intruder , and execute summary justice upon him , hates the despotic ambition that would by force give laws to the world and curtail the liberties and privileges of a people—and would have her sons shed their life ' s blood to preserve liberty and right , and to transmit this precious inheritance to their posterity unsullied and undiminished , War she esteems a curse , but dishonourable peace a degradation , M 2