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Article THE NATURE AND OBJECTS OF FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 5 →
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The Nature And Objects Of Freemasonry.
THE NATUEE AND OBJECTS OF EREEMASONRY .
The following address was delivered by the Rev . Bro . Cochrane , Prov . Gr . Chaplain for Eiffeshire , on the consecration of the new Minto Lodge at Lochgelly , some weeks back—as already reported in our pages : — .. ** Eight Worshipful Master , Brother Wardens , and Brethren ,- —It is part of the duty prescribed to me by our Masonic ritual to deliver on the
present interesting occasion an c Oration on the Nature and Objects of Masonry / I wish that duty had been assigned to one better qualified to do it justice , orthat I had skill and el ^ so noble a theme . Masonry I regard as the very poetry of social life- —a system by which an indescribable charm is imparted to the laws and habits of human fellowship , and the warmer , gentler , and kindlier emotions have their growth stimulated in even the nipst rugged bosoms . Those take a false
view of human nature who would drive it out of the region of fancy and the imagination . We are not altogether creatures of the earth . The grinding labours and sore trials of every Mnd whicdi opp of our present fallen state ; and ^ for my part , I am inclined to welcome every thing which promises even a temporary relief to hirrrian misery ; and much more therefore the Masonic system , which aims at that end by a full and regular organization . The region of Masonry is a sunny land , and the
atmosphere breathed in it as one of hilarity and joy . Hence , in my view of it , its claims to respect on the part of all right thinking men . There are some who indulge in language which I cannot help thinking unguarded and unjustifiable respecting human and temporal enjoyment . They speak as if to enjoy was something positively wrong . Religion is represented as little else than a summons to gloom and despondency . Now , it has ever been a favourite doctrine of mine that that religion is not worth the having which
rebukes the aspirations of the human heart after innocent enjoyment , and virtually represents the Almighty as taking pleasure in the unhappiness of his creatures . I see a confirmation of this doctrine in every page of the written Word , in the instinctive feelings of the human heart , and the voices manifold arising evermore from all departments of this glorious creation . The bright sky overhead , with its stars , its sunshine , and its ever changing clouds ; the green earth beneath , with its woodlands and streams and
flowers ; the very works of men themselves , and the arrangements of human society , all seem to me to speak the same language , and authorize man , especially the Christian man , to be happy . This beautiful world , 1 cannot help thinking , was given us to be enjoyed . Why so much beauty , if it is wrong to admire it ? Why such a craving for enjoyment , and relish for it too , if enjoyment be a sin ? No ; it cannot be . In opposition to all
such sentiments , 1 hold that we are not only at libertjr to enjoy , but that it is a duty—always , however , in subordination to higher ends , and observing the maxim to use without abusing—a positive duty to extract from the creatures of God the largest amount of enjoyment they are capable of imparting . Amid the trials of this sorrow stricken world w e realty need it all .
L , it is because I consider the Masonic institution as the very embodi went of my convictions on this subject , that I yield it my hearty approval 4 c
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Nature And Objects Of Freemasonry.
THE NATUEE AND OBJECTS OF EREEMASONRY .
The following address was delivered by the Rev . Bro . Cochrane , Prov . Gr . Chaplain for Eiffeshire , on the consecration of the new Minto Lodge at Lochgelly , some weeks back—as already reported in our pages : — .. ** Eight Worshipful Master , Brother Wardens , and Brethren ,- —It is part of the duty prescribed to me by our Masonic ritual to deliver on the
present interesting occasion an c Oration on the Nature and Objects of Masonry / I wish that duty had been assigned to one better qualified to do it justice , orthat I had skill and el ^ so noble a theme . Masonry I regard as the very poetry of social life- —a system by which an indescribable charm is imparted to the laws and habits of human fellowship , and the warmer , gentler , and kindlier emotions have their growth stimulated in even the nipst rugged bosoms . Those take a false
view of human nature who would drive it out of the region of fancy and the imagination . We are not altogether creatures of the earth . The grinding labours and sore trials of every Mnd whicdi opp of our present fallen state ; and ^ for my part , I am inclined to welcome every thing which promises even a temporary relief to hirrrian misery ; and much more therefore the Masonic system , which aims at that end by a full and regular organization . The region of Masonry is a sunny land , and the
atmosphere breathed in it as one of hilarity and joy . Hence , in my view of it , its claims to respect on the part of all right thinking men . There are some who indulge in language which I cannot help thinking unguarded and unjustifiable respecting human and temporal enjoyment . They speak as if to enjoy was something positively wrong . Religion is represented as little else than a summons to gloom and despondency . Now , it has ever been a favourite doctrine of mine that that religion is not worth the having which
rebukes the aspirations of the human heart after innocent enjoyment , and virtually represents the Almighty as taking pleasure in the unhappiness of his creatures . I see a confirmation of this doctrine in every page of the written Word , in the instinctive feelings of the human heart , and the voices manifold arising evermore from all departments of this glorious creation . The bright sky overhead , with its stars , its sunshine , and its ever changing clouds ; the green earth beneath , with its woodlands and streams and
flowers ; the very works of men themselves , and the arrangements of human society , all seem to me to speak the same language , and authorize man , especially the Christian man , to be happy . This beautiful world , 1 cannot help thinking , was given us to be enjoyed . Why so much beauty , if it is wrong to admire it ? Why such a craving for enjoyment , and relish for it too , if enjoyment be a sin ? No ; it cannot be . In opposition to all
such sentiments , 1 hold that we are not only at libertjr to enjoy , but that it is a duty—always , however , in subordination to higher ends , and observing the maxim to use without abusing—a positive duty to extract from the creatures of God the largest amount of enjoyment they are capable of imparting . Amid the trials of this sorrow stricken world w e realty need it all .
L , it is because I consider the Masonic institution as the very embodi went of my convictions on this subject , that I yield it my hearty approval 4 c