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frequently snubbed by him . Now , as Masonry asserts the dignity of virtue , and wishes to encourage the moral elevation of man , a recognition of social evils , with their cure , appropriately belongs to her , more especially when such evils threaten imminently , as at present , ner own expansion for the benefit of mankind . We shall ,
therefore , remark upon the too prevalent spirit abroad of toadyism , with a view of showing the mistake , not to enlarge upon the disgrace , of those who practise it . Our observations , be it also understood , are in no case to be considered personal , but as educed from the social state at present painfully apparent , and directed to Masonic and national good .
Now there may be several much better things and more elevating to the human character than a close acquaintance with the princes and potentates of the earth , who generally give a promissory note , not unfrequently dishonoured , for an uncertain amount of temporal dignity , receiving in exchange a certain payment of our moral independence . Thus , in the anecdote recited of the parasite who asked Greorge . the Pourth to dine with him , and upon the Regent ' s acceptance of the courtesy , was induced to make himself scarce on the
occasion , and submitted to be banished from his own table , at which he was deemed unworthy to sit , whilst his tittering guests enjoyed the good things and sycophancy of the vulgar parvenu . It would surely have afforded the latter more subsequent satisfaction , mentally and morally , had he received the attentions of friends of his own grade , with whom he might have exchanged ideas without
restriction , and tendered hospitality without the loss of self-respect . So that if we come to sum up the expense of the wine , viands , and attendance on this occasion , and throw in the utter prostitution of dignity of character , to make up " the tottle of the whole , " as poor Hume used to call it , we must confess that toadyism proved here anything but a profitable transaction .
And though not so individually palpable , yet our social state at present evinces a general toadyism just as flagrant . What man does not put his virtue in his pocket , and run for miles to dine with a titled rapscallion , who might figure as a right honourable adulterer , seducer , spendthrift , Knight Grand Cross of the Ancient Order of ( ramblers , Gustos Kotulorum et Vitiorum ? Nay more , we hear even of clergymen complaisantly associating with lords in the
very presence of the Sapphos , whose frailty is unimpugned from the fear the spiritual Grallios entertain of losing a bishoprick . We , indeed , know of a few instances to the contrary , but they are very few ; in fact , more than one example occurs , in not very remote history , of prelates owing their rise to an astute toadyism of the flagitious vices of a notorious Lais ; so true is it that the stairs by which men mount to eminence are very dirty , and that more than
one personage may challenge Bacon ' s title of " the meanest as well as " greatest " of mankind . Every one , of course , compliments virtue orally , in set phrases of commendation , but to show practically that he considers her to be the " true and only nobility "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
frequently snubbed by him . Now , as Masonry asserts the dignity of virtue , and wishes to encourage the moral elevation of man , a recognition of social evils , with their cure , appropriately belongs to her , more especially when such evils threaten imminently , as at present , ner own expansion for the benefit of mankind . We shall ,
therefore , remark upon the too prevalent spirit abroad of toadyism , with a view of showing the mistake , not to enlarge upon the disgrace , of those who practise it . Our observations , be it also understood , are in no case to be considered personal , but as educed from the social state at present painfully apparent , and directed to Masonic and national good .
Now there may be several much better things and more elevating to the human character than a close acquaintance with the princes and potentates of the earth , who generally give a promissory note , not unfrequently dishonoured , for an uncertain amount of temporal dignity , receiving in exchange a certain payment of our moral independence . Thus , in the anecdote recited of the parasite who asked Greorge . the Pourth to dine with him , and upon the Regent ' s acceptance of the courtesy , was induced to make himself scarce on the
occasion , and submitted to be banished from his own table , at which he was deemed unworthy to sit , whilst his tittering guests enjoyed the good things and sycophancy of the vulgar parvenu . It would surely have afforded the latter more subsequent satisfaction , mentally and morally , had he received the attentions of friends of his own grade , with whom he might have exchanged ideas without
restriction , and tendered hospitality without the loss of self-respect . So that if we come to sum up the expense of the wine , viands , and attendance on this occasion , and throw in the utter prostitution of dignity of character , to make up " the tottle of the whole , " as poor Hume used to call it , we must confess that toadyism proved here anything but a profitable transaction .
And though not so individually palpable , yet our social state at present evinces a general toadyism just as flagrant . What man does not put his virtue in his pocket , and run for miles to dine with a titled rapscallion , who might figure as a right honourable adulterer , seducer , spendthrift , Knight Grand Cross of the Ancient Order of ( ramblers , Gustos Kotulorum et Vitiorum ? Nay more , we hear even of clergymen complaisantly associating with lords in the
very presence of the Sapphos , whose frailty is unimpugned from the fear the spiritual Grallios entertain of losing a bishoprick . We , indeed , know of a few instances to the contrary , but they are very few ; in fact , more than one example occurs , in not very remote history , of prelates owing their rise to an astute toadyism of the flagitious vices of a notorious Lais ; so true is it that the stairs by which men mount to eminence are very dirty , and that more than
one personage may challenge Bacon ' s title of " the meanest as well as " greatest " of mankind . Every one , of course , compliments virtue orally , in set phrases of commendation , but to show practically that he considers her to be the " true and only nobility "