-
Articles/Ads
Article PEOVIUeiAL ← Page 4 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Peoviueial
form as shall , I trust , cause theni to find a permanent resting-place in your hearts . The heart is £ he seat of life—reach it , and you gain the man ; soften it , and it will receive what Impressions you please . May the Great Architect of the Universe soften all our hearts to-dayy and ste will . I must be permit mencmg with Hope instead of Faith . Hope I believe to be the first emanation of
the human mind ; it is a star of great magnitude ; its ray is cast upon our path even in our very darkest moments ; it speaks to us of brighter days , and says , "desponding souls , hope on still . / ' Yes , to the eleventh hour , the voice of hope echoes upon the ear . Suppose we consider one of the outer world ; he has some knowledge of a fraternity bound mysteriously together ; he is assured that this link of union is one of power , over which mercenary or other unworthy motive has no influence whatever ; he sees they stand by each other in every time of
need : in a word , they render themselves more extensively serviceable to their fellow creatures than any body of men . He has a sincere wish to be really useful in life , of benefit to humanity at large to be a Mason , he is persuaded is one step at least towards a great end—hence his desire after knowledge leads him to crave admittance to the secrets and mysteries of Freemasonry . Being fpuiid worthy ^ he is accordingly proposed , seconded , balloted for , and duly accepted ; he is now a man bf hope , he hopes at the appointed time to be initiated—he is initiated ; he is
a brother , a member of the Craft ; he may born 'tis true t > adversity , but nevertheless he is a brother ; he has so far obtained the object of his aspirations , but still he is a man of hope . How delightful then to contemplate that which often supports us in human things , and to pass from them to things eteirnal . I ask , is there a heart so dead amongst us as not to feel after eternity ? I affirm that the history of all nations calls upon us to acknowledge that even within the savage breast therer is a conscience testifying that there Is a God , a dread hereafter—a
judgment to come . But that God is a holy being , while man finds himself unholy , and yet is convinced that he has to die , and go before that God to receive judgment for deeds done In the body- The beast that is led to the slaughter , we are satisfied , is not aware of its approaching end ; but he that was made in the Image of God is endued with that foreknowledge , and is thus blessed to fnake provision for his eternity . I say , then , that man viewing his frailty , his death , his judgment , and his God , knows well what it is to seek for the
happiness of a better world than that which now is , and also to hope for it . But when we trace our pedigree from the created to the uncreate—even to the Great First Cause , and when we exercise rightly the desires that God has implanted within us , we can easily grant that our hearts confess that we hope ( though at times it may be against hope ) that we may be leniently dealt with by that holy God , and received as saints , though sinners , into a happiness among the immortal . Blessed be God that the Hope of Israel can afford us everything holy that sinful
man ^ need hope for . From the fall , we are right in sayftig that Jehovah has been propitiated by sacrifices which have been simply shadows of the true , even the offering up of Himself freely for us ' all . What , then , do we hope for ? In worldly things we often hope for that w hich we have no right to expect . In fact , we often sin in hoping—we hope to accomplish some daring , irnpkms , godless undertaking . The hope ofthe worshipper ofthe Creator is a hope sure ancl steadfast that all the promises ofthe Great Architect of the universe shall be made over to him through
the unspeakable gift of an incarnate God . How , then , are they really made over tons ? Not through hope , for hope has no substance . One who hopes to be some day a scholar , is not yet a scholar ; the hidden mysteries of nature and science have not been revealed to him . Things we hope for , we are not in possession , if so , why do we hope for them ? The first degree creates a thirst ; and inspires the newly initiated with hopes of higher experience . In ib he dedicates
his heart , being purified from every baneful and malignant passion , to the glory of God , and the welfare of his fellow creatures . In the second degree there is a respect to the recompense of the reward ; we enter the middle chamber to receive our wages—knowledge is increased—we have faith in those around usthey are brethren , we have learned to repose confidence in thorn— -our hopes have , been realised .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Peoviueial
form as shall , I trust , cause theni to find a permanent resting-place in your hearts . The heart is £ he seat of life—reach it , and you gain the man ; soften it , and it will receive what Impressions you please . May the Great Architect of the Universe soften all our hearts to-dayy and ste will . I must be permit mencmg with Hope instead of Faith . Hope I believe to be the first emanation of
the human mind ; it is a star of great magnitude ; its ray is cast upon our path even in our very darkest moments ; it speaks to us of brighter days , and says , "desponding souls , hope on still . / ' Yes , to the eleventh hour , the voice of hope echoes upon the ear . Suppose we consider one of the outer world ; he has some knowledge of a fraternity bound mysteriously together ; he is assured that this link of union is one of power , over which mercenary or other unworthy motive has no influence whatever ; he sees they stand by each other in every time of
need : in a word , they render themselves more extensively serviceable to their fellow creatures than any body of men . He has a sincere wish to be really useful in life , of benefit to humanity at large to be a Mason , he is persuaded is one step at least towards a great end—hence his desire after knowledge leads him to crave admittance to the secrets and mysteries of Freemasonry . Being fpuiid worthy ^ he is accordingly proposed , seconded , balloted for , and duly accepted ; he is now a man bf hope , he hopes at the appointed time to be initiated—he is initiated ; he is
a brother , a member of the Craft ; he may born 'tis true t > adversity , but nevertheless he is a brother ; he has so far obtained the object of his aspirations , but still he is a man of hope . How delightful then to contemplate that which often supports us in human things , and to pass from them to things eteirnal . I ask , is there a heart so dead amongst us as not to feel after eternity ? I affirm that the history of all nations calls upon us to acknowledge that even within the savage breast therer is a conscience testifying that there Is a God , a dread hereafter—a
judgment to come . But that God is a holy being , while man finds himself unholy , and yet is convinced that he has to die , and go before that God to receive judgment for deeds done In the body- The beast that is led to the slaughter , we are satisfied , is not aware of its approaching end ; but he that was made in the Image of God is endued with that foreknowledge , and is thus blessed to fnake provision for his eternity . I say , then , that man viewing his frailty , his death , his judgment , and his God , knows well what it is to seek for the
happiness of a better world than that which now is , and also to hope for it . But when we trace our pedigree from the created to the uncreate—even to the Great First Cause , and when we exercise rightly the desires that God has implanted within us , we can easily grant that our hearts confess that we hope ( though at times it may be against hope ) that we may be leniently dealt with by that holy God , and received as saints , though sinners , into a happiness among the immortal . Blessed be God that the Hope of Israel can afford us everything holy that sinful
man ^ need hope for . From the fall , we are right in sayftig that Jehovah has been propitiated by sacrifices which have been simply shadows of the true , even the offering up of Himself freely for us ' all . What , then , do we hope for ? In worldly things we often hope for that w hich we have no right to expect . In fact , we often sin in hoping—we hope to accomplish some daring , irnpkms , godless undertaking . The hope ofthe worshipper ofthe Creator is a hope sure ancl steadfast that all the promises ofthe Great Architect of the universe shall be made over to him through
the unspeakable gift of an incarnate God . How , then , are they really made over tons ? Not through hope , for hope has no substance . One who hopes to be some day a scholar , is not yet a scholar ; the hidden mysteries of nature and science have not been revealed to him . Things we hope for , we are not in possession , if so , why do we hope for them ? The first degree creates a thirst ; and inspires the newly initiated with hopes of higher experience . In ib he dedicates
his heart , being purified from every baneful and malignant passion , to the glory of God , and the welfare of his fellow creatures . In the second degree there is a respect to the recompense of the reward ; we enter the middle chamber to receive our wages—knowledge is increased—we have faith in those around usthey are brethren , we have learned to repose confidence in thorn— -our hopes have , been realised .