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Article PEEEMASONET ILLTJSTEATED. ← Page 8 of 10 →
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Peeemasonet Illtjsteated.
We do not hesitate to appeal to the world in justification of the purity of our moral system . Our constitutions are well known , "We have submitted them freely to general investigation . We solemnly avow them as the principles by which we are governed , the foundation on which we build , and the rules by which we work . We challenge the most severe critic , the most precise moralist , the
most perfect Christian , to point out anything in these constitutiona inconsistent with good manners , fair morals , or pure religion . We feel assured that every one who will take the pains to inquire into the subject must be convinced that the institution is friendly to the best interests of mankind—well calculated to ameliorate the disposition and improve the character—and to adorn its faithful adherents with every natural , moral , and social virtue .
By the use of the universal language of Masons , members of the fraternity of all nations communicate easily and freely with each other . On every part of the globe they can make known their wishes , and be sure of finding an attentive friend , a hospitable asylum , and liberal assistance . The order , though composed of persons from various countries , separated by all the natural barriers which prevent men from combining into coherent masses , yet seems to be one body actuated by one soul . Thousands and thousands
have but one heart , one hand , —the heart of benevolence , the hand of charity . . Sweet are the uses of Masonry in adversity ! Then , when the offices of general philanthropy would not reach us , or our share in its benignities prove inadequate to our need- —when Friendship grows cold , and its most zealous professor forsakes us—Masonry triumphs in the exercise of its lovely charities . The brethren should ever bear in mind that the interests of Free-• . % " . -. ..--1 - t - % m > -. . . n-
. masonry are in their hands . They should therefore be careiui not to blend with it their weaknesses nor to stain it with their vices . They should consider how much the world expects of them , and how unwilling it is to make any abatement . It is highly incumbent on them to " walk in wisdom towards them that are without ; " doing nothing that should render their principles suspicious , or disgrace the institution in the eyes of the world . For assuredly , if the brethren , in
their conduct , forget they are men , the world , with its usual severity , will remember they are Masons . The Rev . Charles Brockwell , a minister of the Church of England , in a sermon preached before a Grand Lodge more than a century back , said , " I have had the honour of being a member of this ancient and honourable society many years , have sustained many of its offices , and can and do own in this sacred place , and before the
Grand Architect of the Universe , that I never could observe aught therein but what was justifiable and commendable , according to the strictest rules of society ; this being founded on the precepts of the Gospel , the doing the will of God , and subduing the passions , and highly conducing to every sacred and social virtue . But not to insist on my own experience , the yery antiquity of our institution furnishes
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Peeemasonet Illtjsteated.
We do not hesitate to appeal to the world in justification of the purity of our moral system . Our constitutions are well known , "We have submitted them freely to general investigation . We solemnly avow them as the principles by which we are governed , the foundation on which we build , and the rules by which we work . We challenge the most severe critic , the most precise moralist , the
most perfect Christian , to point out anything in these constitutiona inconsistent with good manners , fair morals , or pure religion . We feel assured that every one who will take the pains to inquire into the subject must be convinced that the institution is friendly to the best interests of mankind—well calculated to ameliorate the disposition and improve the character—and to adorn its faithful adherents with every natural , moral , and social virtue .
By the use of the universal language of Masons , members of the fraternity of all nations communicate easily and freely with each other . On every part of the globe they can make known their wishes , and be sure of finding an attentive friend , a hospitable asylum , and liberal assistance . The order , though composed of persons from various countries , separated by all the natural barriers which prevent men from combining into coherent masses , yet seems to be one body actuated by one soul . Thousands and thousands
have but one heart , one hand , —the heart of benevolence , the hand of charity . . Sweet are the uses of Masonry in adversity ! Then , when the offices of general philanthropy would not reach us , or our share in its benignities prove inadequate to our need- —when Friendship grows cold , and its most zealous professor forsakes us—Masonry triumphs in the exercise of its lovely charities . The brethren should ever bear in mind that the interests of Free-• . % " . -. ..--1 - t - % m > -. . . n-
. masonry are in their hands . They should therefore be careiui not to blend with it their weaknesses nor to stain it with their vices . They should consider how much the world expects of them , and how unwilling it is to make any abatement . It is highly incumbent on them to " walk in wisdom towards them that are without ; " doing nothing that should render their principles suspicious , or disgrace the institution in the eyes of the world . For assuredly , if the brethren , in
their conduct , forget they are men , the world , with its usual severity , will remember they are Masons . The Rev . Charles Brockwell , a minister of the Church of England , in a sermon preached before a Grand Lodge more than a century back , said , " I have had the honour of being a member of this ancient and honourable society many years , have sustained many of its offices , and can and do own in this sacred place , and before the
Grand Architect of the Universe , that I never could observe aught therein but what was justifiable and commendable , according to the strictest rules of society ; this being founded on the precepts of the Gospel , the doing the will of God , and subduing the passions , and highly conducing to every sacred and social virtue . But not to insist on my own experience , the yery antiquity of our institution furnishes