-
Articles/Ads
Article PROVINCIAL ← Page 4 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial
They said , in the language of Job , Where shall wisdom be found ; and where is the place of understanding % Man knoweth not the price thereof ; neither is it found in the land of the living . The depth saith , It is not in me ; and the sea saith , It is not with me . " Speaking to them as members of their great society , he would ask them , without fear of contradiction , whether it were possible to sum up
the principles of Freemasonry in a smaller compass than those words Job ? The insignia of the Order , the common tools of Masonry , spoke the same languagethe level and the plumb line which measured out the work , and other symbols , taught the same prepepts , and the structure when complete is eloquent in its silence of holiness to the Lord . If they passed from th e practical to the speculative ) they were still engaged in carrying out the same plan . There was no divine truth which they did not try to incorporate with their Craft . They looked upon
the brotherhood of mankind as a workshop in which they were all engaged on a busy occupation . They clasped to their hearts the immortality of thesoul—they embraced the doctrines of a future state , and of a final state of punishment or reward . Some of their Brethren stopped there , and they left then * at that point , rejoicing in having gone so far with them , having acted in a spirit of love and tenderness , bound together by the tie of eomrhon humanity through the vicissitudes of life . They did not attempt to force through unfavourable circumstances
or to break through bonds of birth , education , or belief . They were still / however , at liberty to pursue their own investigations furth and hand them as choice jewels to their Brethren . The teaching of the word of God was illustrated through their allegorical teaching—in trying to promote peace , in rising the structure of moral duties , in ^ promoting good feeling n ^ om man t ^ man > in inculcating courtesy to all , in reiramihg from allowing difference of opinion to disturb good feeling , in softening the roughness of temper , and in flinging a
calm ray of sunset over the evening of life when clouds gather round and when storms threaten to ruffle it . It was an order organized by King Solomon , and they , modern Masons , claimed a right to be numbered in the glorious list . If in former times Masonry took a practical turn in the erection of magnificent buildings , so they also could appeal to their works—to their institutions for educating , clothing , and launching on the voyage of life the orphan children of their Brethren . Nor was all this done on a niggardly scale . If they were asked by a
sceptical world in the same sneering words as were used to the old Boman matron , " Where are your jewels ! " they , like her , would gather up their children , and say to their calumniators , " these are our jewels . " And if it was said that their costume and their insignia was profitless mummery , he would call upon them to see in those children snatched from the cold kindness of a stepmother or a workhouse , real living jewels . If a practical proof of their brotherhood was sought , he could point to their asylums built for the aged and distressed , and to their lists of
pensions . If they stood by the door of the Lodges they would find that no poor and wretched brother , however miserable , from whatever quarter of the world lie came ; whether he were in rags or not , was sent away without ready and immediate relief . What warded off secret danger and ""threatened harm ? What unlocked the prison door , and eased the prisoner of his chains ? What caused the wanderer in the desert to clasp hands with the stranger , and share his hospitality without fear 1 What but the secret tie of the brotherhood of Masons—a tie
bound round man ' s heart in the first instance by God himself . It might be said that other men ought to practise these things—hut did they ? They stand asking , " Who is my neighbour ? " while he would point them to the Masonic Samaritan , and say , " Go thou and do likewise . " The course he had indicated would not be followed unless wisdom and understanding were the work of their Lodges The words of the text embodied the Masons' Craft in all its branches . They
had met together that day to dedicate a building specially devoted to the work oi Masonry . There , secluded from the public eye , they might practise the mysteries of their Craft , and try to get understanding . Their Craft was of a religious nature , and the building was dedicated to the uses of religion . It called their minds not only to the temple which Solomon built , but to that vast and illimitable temple where all who served God on earth would rest from their labours . The Master Masons who lay the foundation are more anxioiis for the strength than for the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial
They said , in the language of Job , Where shall wisdom be found ; and where is the place of understanding % Man knoweth not the price thereof ; neither is it found in the land of the living . The depth saith , It is not in me ; and the sea saith , It is not with me . " Speaking to them as members of their great society , he would ask them , without fear of contradiction , whether it were possible to sum up
the principles of Freemasonry in a smaller compass than those words Job ? The insignia of the Order , the common tools of Masonry , spoke the same languagethe level and the plumb line which measured out the work , and other symbols , taught the same prepepts , and the structure when complete is eloquent in its silence of holiness to the Lord . If they passed from th e practical to the speculative ) they were still engaged in carrying out the same plan . There was no divine truth which they did not try to incorporate with their Craft . They looked upon
the brotherhood of mankind as a workshop in which they were all engaged on a busy occupation . They clasped to their hearts the immortality of thesoul—they embraced the doctrines of a future state , and of a final state of punishment or reward . Some of their Brethren stopped there , and they left then * at that point , rejoicing in having gone so far with them , having acted in a spirit of love and tenderness , bound together by the tie of eomrhon humanity through the vicissitudes of life . They did not attempt to force through unfavourable circumstances
or to break through bonds of birth , education , or belief . They were still / however , at liberty to pursue their own investigations furth and hand them as choice jewels to their Brethren . The teaching of the word of God was illustrated through their allegorical teaching—in trying to promote peace , in rising the structure of moral duties , in ^ promoting good feeling n ^ om man t ^ man > in inculcating courtesy to all , in reiramihg from allowing difference of opinion to disturb good feeling , in softening the roughness of temper , and in flinging a
calm ray of sunset over the evening of life when clouds gather round and when storms threaten to ruffle it . It was an order organized by King Solomon , and they , modern Masons , claimed a right to be numbered in the glorious list . If in former times Masonry took a practical turn in the erection of magnificent buildings , so they also could appeal to their works—to their institutions for educating , clothing , and launching on the voyage of life the orphan children of their Brethren . Nor was all this done on a niggardly scale . If they were asked by a
sceptical world in the same sneering words as were used to the old Boman matron , " Where are your jewels ! " they , like her , would gather up their children , and say to their calumniators , " these are our jewels . " And if it was said that their costume and their insignia was profitless mummery , he would call upon them to see in those children snatched from the cold kindness of a stepmother or a workhouse , real living jewels . If a practical proof of their brotherhood was sought , he could point to their asylums built for the aged and distressed , and to their lists of
pensions . If they stood by the door of the Lodges they would find that no poor and wretched brother , however miserable , from whatever quarter of the world lie came ; whether he were in rags or not , was sent away without ready and immediate relief . What warded off secret danger and ""threatened harm ? What unlocked the prison door , and eased the prisoner of his chains ? What caused the wanderer in the desert to clasp hands with the stranger , and share his hospitality without fear 1 What but the secret tie of the brotherhood of Masons—a tie
bound round man ' s heart in the first instance by God himself . It might be said that other men ought to practise these things—hut did they ? They stand asking , " Who is my neighbour ? " while he would point them to the Masonic Samaritan , and say , " Go thou and do likewise . " The course he had indicated would not be followed unless wisdom and understanding were the work of their Lodges The words of the text embodied the Masons' Craft in all its branches . They
had met together that day to dedicate a building specially devoted to the work oi Masonry . There , secluded from the public eye , they might practise the mysteries of their Craft , and try to get understanding . Their Craft was of a religious nature , and the building was dedicated to the uses of religion . It called their minds not only to the temple which Solomon built , but to that vast and illimitable temple where all who served God on earth would rest from their labours . The Master Masons who lay the foundation are more anxioiis for the strength than for the