-
Articles/Ads
Article COIRESPGNDENCE. Page 1 of 11 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Coirespgndence.
COIRESPGNDENCE .
[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ^
UNIVERSALITY versus CHRISTIANITY * TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE , AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —We have abundant evidence in the old York Constitutions to prove thaty ^ the earliest times on record , Freemasonry was inseparably united with the u Holy Catholic Church , " and the fraternity were strictly enjoined to a constant and regular" attendance on its religious services , under a denunciation of heavy penalties for disobedience ; and in the Lodge
prayers the divine blessing was invoked through the mediation of Jesus Christ . This continued till the Reformation , when the Order began to be repudiated by the Romish Church , which had hitherto been its steady and consistent patron ; and it was then identified with the Church of England / whose liturgy was added to the first Great Light as an indispensable part of the Lodge furniture , and an intelligible demonstration of its Christian character . The lecture was newly
revised and constructed on a principle which might prevent any mistake on this important point ; for not only was the floor of the Lodge consecrated by an admitted type of Christ—not only were the three great theological virtues of Christianity prominently introduced—but the G . A . O . T . U . was authoritatively and truly pronounced to signify " Him that was placed on the pinnacle of the Temple , because by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth , ' * as the first ¦ " Great Light" reveals to us . ( Col . i . 16 . )
It would be curious to inquire then , since these have ever been the established principles of the Craft , how it happens that in the nineteenth century a party should have arisen , who not only deny its Christian reference , but ignore the dominant religion altogether , which they venture to denominate " sectarianism ; " and while admitting that it may be Pagan , or Jewish , or cosmopolitical , or infidel , will not allow the Christian element to exist in any of its ordinances , and , like the late government of India , would abnegate the true faith altogether ( while at the same time professing its belief ) under a morbid apprehension lest they should
* Prior to the Union in 1813 , the Lodges in this country had to a great extent assumed an almost entirely Christian character , and were dedicated to St . John . "When the Union took place , in order to prevent the charge of sectarianism being brought against the Craft , that practice was discontinued , and the Lodges dedicated to King Solomon . As we claim for our institution a high antiquity , we ought not to allow a limit to the present era ; and to preserve its universality with all who acknowledged the true and living God Most High we must adhere to King Solomon ; it having been the great object at the Union to preserve the
universality The principles of Masonry can be held irrespective of any sect of religion , and any attempt to expand them into Christianity more than our established rites allow , must be destructive of the principle of universality , which is our great claim on the good-will of all mankind . "—Freemasons' Magazine , 1858 , pages 70 , 71 , 72 . yoL . iy . 2 ] sr
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Coirespgndence.
COIRESPGNDENCE .
[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ^
UNIVERSALITY versus CHRISTIANITY * TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE , AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —We have abundant evidence in the old York Constitutions to prove thaty ^ the earliest times on record , Freemasonry was inseparably united with the u Holy Catholic Church , " and the fraternity were strictly enjoined to a constant and regular" attendance on its religious services , under a denunciation of heavy penalties for disobedience ; and in the Lodge
prayers the divine blessing was invoked through the mediation of Jesus Christ . This continued till the Reformation , when the Order began to be repudiated by the Romish Church , which had hitherto been its steady and consistent patron ; and it was then identified with the Church of England / whose liturgy was added to the first Great Light as an indispensable part of the Lodge furniture , and an intelligible demonstration of its Christian character . The lecture was newly
revised and constructed on a principle which might prevent any mistake on this important point ; for not only was the floor of the Lodge consecrated by an admitted type of Christ—not only were the three great theological virtues of Christianity prominently introduced—but the G . A . O . T . U . was authoritatively and truly pronounced to signify " Him that was placed on the pinnacle of the Temple , because by Him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth , ' * as the first ¦ " Great Light" reveals to us . ( Col . i . 16 . )
It would be curious to inquire then , since these have ever been the established principles of the Craft , how it happens that in the nineteenth century a party should have arisen , who not only deny its Christian reference , but ignore the dominant religion altogether , which they venture to denominate " sectarianism ; " and while admitting that it may be Pagan , or Jewish , or cosmopolitical , or infidel , will not allow the Christian element to exist in any of its ordinances , and , like the late government of India , would abnegate the true faith altogether ( while at the same time professing its belief ) under a morbid apprehension lest they should
* Prior to the Union in 1813 , the Lodges in this country had to a great extent assumed an almost entirely Christian character , and were dedicated to St . John . "When the Union took place , in order to prevent the charge of sectarianism being brought against the Craft , that practice was discontinued , and the Lodges dedicated to King Solomon . As we claim for our institution a high antiquity , we ought not to allow a limit to the present era ; and to preserve its universality with all who acknowledged the true and living God Most High we must adhere to King Solomon ; it having been the great object at the Union to preserve the
universality The principles of Masonry can be held irrespective of any sect of religion , and any attempt to expand them into Christianity more than our established rites allow , must be destructive of the principle of universality , which is our great claim on the good-will of all mankind . "—Freemasons' Magazine , 1858 , pages 70 , 71 , 72 . yoL . iy . 2 ] sr