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Article PROVINCIAL ← Page 8 of 10 →
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Provincial
hesitate—what is Masonry I The query is a natural one . Wliy should it not be answered—answered . before the candidate M I think , Brethren , it might be answered with propriety , and wit ^ infringing on the secrets of Masonry . What is Masonry ? Some think it an institution / framed for the purposes of benevolence only . Let it stand even at that—through this medium the many acts which characterize the true Christian ( therefore the true Mason ) , rnay be practised . Bub this , Brethren , is only one of
the many purposes of Masonry . Others think it is merely a convivial society , but the many are totally ignorant of its organization , embracing , as it does , history , legend , science and morals . Masonry is a catholic institution , hence it is universal in its operations , for let us look either to east or west , north or south , we have undeniable proof of the early cultivation of the fine arts in almost every degree of human ingenuity , thus proving that the arts being universal . Masonry , which teaches those arts , must be universal also . But the great end and moral of Ereemasonry is this , to subdue the passions , to promote morality , good
fellowship ; good nature , humanity , and charity , With such incentives as these , to dd good > arid leave that which is evil , ' who would not study Masonry diligently . I , Brethren , earnestly impress upon you to cultivate and seek the knowledge of the Craft to the utriiost extent , as a study to elevate the mind arid the understanding , under the impress of the purity and holiness of the principles of Freemasonry . And , with regard to the pursuit of knowledge , I would use the words of a most eminent man—' Therefore , I say , in cultivating the mind , love knowledge with a great love , with a vehement love , with a love coeval with life itself ; love
purity of conduct ; love that which , if you are rich and powerful , will sanctify the blind fortune which has made you so . Love that which , if you are poor , will render your , poverty respectable , and make the proudest feel it unjust to laugh at the meanest of your fortunes . Love that which will comfort and adorn you and never quit you , which will open to you the kingdom of thought , and all the boundless regions of conception—that which will make your motives habitually great and honourable , and light up in an instant a noble disdain at the i-l 1 i r > ' _ _ _ __ ¦ ¦ /» .. ¦ __ 1 5 -fcT . ' . r > il T il if il r » i i ht of fraud Breth whether the author of the
very thoug meanness or . Now , ren , foregoing was or was not a Mason matters little ; it contains the very essence of Masonry , therefore , I say again , study diligently the morals of Masonry , be indefatigable , read , search , inquire , seek every source of information—this will enable you to become upright Masons . Square your conduct by Masonic rules , let your desires be within compass of your means , but follow Masonry as a great and good light , and it will bring you at last to the light of day , exhibit you to the world rich in acquirements , fertile in resources , rich in imagination , strong in
reasoning , prudent and powerful above your fellows , and great in all the relations of life . Let us , Brethren , remember the instructions of our great and wise master , —' Get wisdom , get understanding ; wisdom is the principal thing , exalt her and she shall promote thee . ' freemasonry , Brethren , is a grand and universal science , which includes all others , but especially teaches us a knowledge of ourselves and our duty towards others . There is no difficulty , Brethren , in understanding the latter part of the sentence . The divine law lavs down a never understanding the latter part of the sentence . The divine law lays down a never
to be diverged from rule , — - ' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . ' We have the command of the G . A . O . T . U . in this respect , but how shall we know ourselves ? This is a question not easily answered . Have we not been wrapped up too much in our own self-esteem to be able to subdue our passions , to promote humanity , charity , and brotherly love ? I trust not , Brethren , for brotherly love is the mainspring of Masonry . Brotherly love has its own peculiar and
imperative duties , and those duties must be performed firmly , sacredly , and can be done without compromising our own interests . An economising of time will permit us duly to perform those duties of life to which it has pleased the G . A . O . T . U . to call us . I may here , perhaps , bo permitted to recall to your minds the instruction received at your initiation on being shown the working tools of an Entered Apprentice , viz ., the 24-inch guage and common gavel . The former , we , as Masons , use for a noble and glorious purpose . It , being divided into twenty-four equal parts , is emblematical of the twenty-four hours of the day , which we are taught to divide into three equal parts , whereby are found eight hours for the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial
hesitate—what is Masonry I The query is a natural one . Wliy should it not be answered—answered . before the candidate M I think , Brethren , it might be answered with propriety , and wit ^ infringing on the secrets of Masonry . What is Masonry ? Some think it an institution / framed for the purposes of benevolence only . Let it stand even at that—through this medium the many acts which characterize the true Christian ( therefore the true Mason ) , rnay be practised . Bub this , Brethren , is only one of
the many purposes of Masonry . Others think it is merely a convivial society , but the many are totally ignorant of its organization , embracing , as it does , history , legend , science and morals . Masonry is a catholic institution , hence it is universal in its operations , for let us look either to east or west , north or south , we have undeniable proof of the early cultivation of the fine arts in almost every degree of human ingenuity , thus proving that the arts being universal . Masonry , which teaches those arts , must be universal also . But the great end and moral of Ereemasonry is this , to subdue the passions , to promote morality , good
fellowship ; good nature , humanity , and charity , With such incentives as these , to dd good > arid leave that which is evil , ' who would not study Masonry diligently . I , Brethren , earnestly impress upon you to cultivate and seek the knowledge of the Craft to the utriiost extent , as a study to elevate the mind arid the understanding , under the impress of the purity and holiness of the principles of Freemasonry . And , with regard to the pursuit of knowledge , I would use the words of a most eminent man—' Therefore , I say , in cultivating the mind , love knowledge with a great love , with a vehement love , with a love coeval with life itself ; love
purity of conduct ; love that which , if you are rich and powerful , will sanctify the blind fortune which has made you so . Love that which , if you are poor , will render your , poverty respectable , and make the proudest feel it unjust to laugh at the meanest of your fortunes . Love that which will comfort and adorn you and never quit you , which will open to you the kingdom of thought , and all the boundless regions of conception—that which will make your motives habitually great and honourable , and light up in an instant a noble disdain at the i-l 1 i r > ' _ _ _ __ ¦ ¦ /» .. ¦ __ 1 5 -fcT . ' . r > il T il if il r » i i ht of fraud Breth whether the author of the
very thoug meanness or . Now , ren , foregoing was or was not a Mason matters little ; it contains the very essence of Masonry , therefore , I say again , study diligently the morals of Masonry , be indefatigable , read , search , inquire , seek every source of information—this will enable you to become upright Masons . Square your conduct by Masonic rules , let your desires be within compass of your means , but follow Masonry as a great and good light , and it will bring you at last to the light of day , exhibit you to the world rich in acquirements , fertile in resources , rich in imagination , strong in
reasoning , prudent and powerful above your fellows , and great in all the relations of life . Let us , Brethren , remember the instructions of our great and wise master , —' Get wisdom , get understanding ; wisdom is the principal thing , exalt her and she shall promote thee . ' freemasonry , Brethren , is a grand and universal science , which includes all others , but especially teaches us a knowledge of ourselves and our duty towards others . There is no difficulty , Brethren , in understanding the latter part of the sentence . The divine law lavs down a never understanding the latter part of the sentence . The divine law lays down a never
to be diverged from rule , — - ' Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . ' We have the command of the G . A . O . T . U . in this respect , but how shall we know ourselves ? This is a question not easily answered . Have we not been wrapped up too much in our own self-esteem to be able to subdue our passions , to promote humanity , charity , and brotherly love ? I trust not , Brethren , for brotherly love is the mainspring of Masonry . Brotherly love has its own peculiar and
imperative duties , and those duties must be performed firmly , sacredly , and can be done without compromising our own interests . An economising of time will permit us duly to perform those duties of life to which it has pleased the G . A . O . T . U . to call us . I may here , perhaps , bo permitted to recall to your minds the instruction received at your initiation on being shown the working tools of an Entered Apprentice , viz ., the 24-inch guage and common gavel . The former , we , as Masons , use for a noble and glorious purpose . It , being divided into twenty-four equal parts , is emblematical of the twenty-four hours of the day , which we are taught to divide into three equal parts , whereby are found eight hours for the