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Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 7 of 19 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
"In the lesson read to-day , the Apostle tells us that howsoever excellent , without charity we are nothing . Now the charity spoken of , is , that good-will to others , that love to our neighbours , that brotherly affection which the religion of Jesus commands and inspires . It is that charity which leaves each man to think for himself , so long as he acknowledges and worships the G . A . O . T . U . We are not to sit here in judgment on others , our hearts afford us enough employment , in preparing for that final court where the Great Architect will be seated , and
where we must each render up his account . Now , what is more calculated to promote and cultivate " this charitable feeling than the Institution under whose banners we assemble here this day , —an Institution founded on the purest principles of morality , and fitted to advance man ' s intellectual faculties , if acted up to the true and full sense of its teaching . The Psalmist tells us that , where Brethren dwell together in unity , 'there the Lord has promised His blessing , and life for
evermore . The anthem of this day ' s solemnity , the music of which still rings in our ears , reminds us of the sublime purposes for which God has designed all things ; that music , whilst it is sometimes made to tend to the world ' s carousals , never assumes so noble a purpose as when sending up to Heaven man ' s praises and supplications to his Creator , stealing like water on the thirsty soul , and making man forget his sorrows in rendering up his gratitude to Heaven .
" I am conscious that there are objections started to Masonry , and the world ' s opinions are various . One says * 'It is an institution for subscribing to relieve the sick and solace the distressed ; ' this , however , is hut a small portion of our Institution ' s purpose , as this design , however amiable , would but render it merely a sick-club . Others take it to be a convivial society . To such we say , ' Come
and join us , and you will learn your error . ' No society since the world began exhibits in its ceremonials instruction of a more ennobling character , or couched in language of a higher standard . Symbolic Masonry , under whatever form it may be propounded , is a Cosmopolitan Institution , and admits within its range all who bend with reverential awe to the G . A . O . T . U : ib has been well defined to be a
science which extends over the whole terrestrial globe ; wherever the arts flourish , there it endures also by its inherent peculiarities . It is not confined to any race ; all countries , climes , and creeds recognize the Brother Mason . In a word , it is the grand and universal science , which includes all other knowledge , but having a more immediate reference to those branches which teach a knowledge of ourselves and our duty to others : and does it not in this respect resemble Christianity , which comprehends mankind in one fold , under one shepherd—embracing them in the universal scheme of unlimited redemption , promised us in that Book
which is the charter of every Mason ' s fears and the anchor of his hope ; that Book which is a messenger of reconciliation , and Avhich tells us , while there is no proclamation of mercy to rebellious angels , the door of grace is open to every member of the human race ' \ In every Lodge the Brother is directed to study the Volume of the Sacred Law , and enjoined to make it his guide through all the temptations that are incidental to fallen man , as the Book that teaches him how to live and how to die , and joints out the duties of brotherhood , 'that no man liveth to himself , ' and that of all animals man is the most dependent upon his species . The lion that roams the forest and the herd in . the stall receive little or no aid from creatures of their own kind , and when the hour
of decay arrives , every creature but man is cast off by its fellows and left to die . In every stage of human existence man needs his brother ; the young need to be taught by the wisdom of age , and the old to be sustained by the vigour of youth , —the strong in mind require the aid of the strong in body , — the rich want tho poor , the poor the rich . Thus all tilings show that strength consists in union ; and this is apparent in the Masonic Institution , which enables
us to prove that true Masonry exists in the Apostle ' s words , uttered 1800 years ago : c No man liveth for himself My Brethren , let us prove this to the uninitiated , that Faith is our foundation ; Hope , the polished pedestal raised upon it , which acknowledges Cod ' s superintending care over his creatures ; and Charity , the beautiful capital crowning the system : constituting the sublimity of Faith and Hope as we have it in the records of inspiration ; ' Charity belioveth all things , hopeth all things , ' surmounting all difficulties , turning duty to delight , and yield-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
"In the lesson read to-day , the Apostle tells us that howsoever excellent , without charity we are nothing . Now the charity spoken of , is , that good-will to others , that love to our neighbours , that brotherly affection which the religion of Jesus commands and inspires . It is that charity which leaves each man to think for himself , so long as he acknowledges and worships the G . A . O . T . U . We are not to sit here in judgment on others , our hearts afford us enough employment , in preparing for that final court where the Great Architect will be seated , and
where we must each render up his account . Now , what is more calculated to promote and cultivate " this charitable feeling than the Institution under whose banners we assemble here this day , —an Institution founded on the purest principles of morality , and fitted to advance man ' s intellectual faculties , if acted up to the true and full sense of its teaching . The Psalmist tells us that , where Brethren dwell together in unity , 'there the Lord has promised His blessing , and life for
evermore . The anthem of this day ' s solemnity , the music of which still rings in our ears , reminds us of the sublime purposes for which God has designed all things ; that music , whilst it is sometimes made to tend to the world ' s carousals , never assumes so noble a purpose as when sending up to Heaven man ' s praises and supplications to his Creator , stealing like water on the thirsty soul , and making man forget his sorrows in rendering up his gratitude to Heaven .
" I am conscious that there are objections started to Masonry , and the world ' s opinions are various . One says * 'It is an institution for subscribing to relieve the sick and solace the distressed ; ' this , however , is hut a small portion of our Institution ' s purpose , as this design , however amiable , would but render it merely a sick-club . Others take it to be a convivial society . To such we say , ' Come
and join us , and you will learn your error . ' No society since the world began exhibits in its ceremonials instruction of a more ennobling character , or couched in language of a higher standard . Symbolic Masonry , under whatever form it may be propounded , is a Cosmopolitan Institution , and admits within its range all who bend with reverential awe to the G . A . O . T . U : ib has been well defined to be a
science which extends over the whole terrestrial globe ; wherever the arts flourish , there it endures also by its inherent peculiarities . It is not confined to any race ; all countries , climes , and creeds recognize the Brother Mason . In a word , it is the grand and universal science , which includes all other knowledge , but having a more immediate reference to those branches which teach a knowledge of ourselves and our duty to others : and does it not in this respect resemble Christianity , which comprehends mankind in one fold , under one shepherd—embracing them in the universal scheme of unlimited redemption , promised us in that Book
which is the charter of every Mason ' s fears and the anchor of his hope ; that Book which is a messenger of reconciliation , and Avhich tells us , while there is no proclamation of mercy to rebellious angels , the door of grace is open to every member of the human race ' \ In every Lodge the Brother is directed to study the Volume of the Sacred Law , and enjoined to make it his guide through all the temptations that are incidental to fallen man , as the Book that teaches him how to live and how to die , and joints out the duties of brotherhood , 'that no man liveth to himself , ' and that of all animals man is the most dependent upon his species . The lion that roams the forest and the herd in . the stall receive little or no aid from creatures of their own kind , and when the hour
of decay arrives , every creature but man is cast off by its fellows and left to die . In every stage of human existence man needs his brother ; the young need to be taught by the wisdom of age , and the old to be sustained by the vigour of youth , —the strong in mind require the aid of the strong in body , — the rich want tho poor , the poor the rich . Thus all tilings show that strength consists in union ; and this is apparent in the Masonic Institution , which enables
us to prove that true Masonry exists in the Apostle ' s words , uttered 1800 years ago : c No man liveth for himself My Brethren , let us prove this to the uninitiated , that Faith is our foundation ; Hope , the polished pedestal raised upon it , which acknowledges Cod ' s superintending care over his creatures ; and Charity , the beautiful capital crowning the system : constituting the sublimity of Faith and Hope as we have it in the records of inspiration ; ' Charity belioveth all things , hopeth all things , ' surmounting all difficulties , turning duty to delight , and yield-