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Article THE NATUEE AND OBJECTS OF EREEMASONRY. ← Page 2 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Natuee And Objects Of Ereemasonry.
laranot ashamed of the costume I am now wearing ; and , sure I am , neither are you . To the eye that has been enlightened to see , and the understanding that has been taxight to picturesque and ^ a ; very instructive thing . I am aware that not a few are in the habit of ridiculing us , and some go so far as even to condemn . But why
should they do this—can anything be more unreasonable ? We have no wish to quarrel with the recreations of the darkened world around us ; and the least thing they can do in rfe respect , and allo ^ v us to amuse ourselves after our own fa shion . And if they bring against ns charges of a condemnatory kind , theymust Jtist be told that we refuse to plead guilty to such charges . We can assure them
that nothing wfll ^ ^ book of Masonry , and abstain from bringing against us a railing accusation abcniit matters of which they must needs be profoundly ignorant . If Masonic principles were more in the ascendancy than what they are , and true Masons more numerous in society , we really belicrve the world would be bette and happier than , what it is . ;
u But I must not forget that theproper olnect of myaddre ^ you a brief statement regarding the principles and design of the Masonic institution . For several reasons I must be brief , and an adequate description of those principles , in the few moments I have to address yon in , is altogether impossible . But although I cannot overtake the whole subject , I may say a word or two on a few of our leading principles and doctrines , trusting that they will be acceptable and instructive .
u 1 . The first of our principles is Secrecy . Masonry has its secrets -and one of the objects of this institution is to teach the initiated , and that under the most solemn and awful of obligations , to conceal these from the world around us . Our mysteries are our own ; and although we are willing to communicate them , we must not dare to do so except on the same conditions on which they were communicated to ourselves . Now , apart altogether from the intrinsic value of these mysterious secrets , I say that the consciousness of being in possession of them , and the exercise of that caution and reserve which are requisite in order to conceal them , are beneficial
things . There is something noble and dignifying m keeping a secret . Manliness is not extinct in that bosom—may I not say also , nor piety either —which , out of respect to the solemnity of an oath , carefully keeps that hidden which it is not at liberty to reveal . He is not worthy of the name of man who cannot keep a secret . And let us not imagine that this habit of reserve and self control is of little practical value . It has a far wider field of operation than appears at first sight . The great God himself has his
secrets into which no created intelligence has any right to intrude , And in like manner , every individual man , every household , every copartnership and society of human beings have hidden things , secrets specially their own , which it is a positive duty for them to conceal from others , and which others ought to respect them for concealing . It is no better than
impertinent curiosity for one man to pry into the affairs of another , and there is nothing which more readily brands a man as an imbecile and a fool than the propensity to utter before strangers what he had better keep to himself , I say that this quality is one of high value in social life ; and Masonry , therefore , which so effectually , and in principle , teaches us to keep a secret , exerts its influence on the side of what is fitted to dignify and ennoble the
human species . u Our second principle is Brotherly Love . On this * point I need not enlarge . It is a quality which involves the very essence of practical godliness . All Masons are brethren . It is contrary to etiquette and Masonic
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Natuee And Objects Of Ereemasonry.
laranot ashamed of the costume I am now wearing ; and , sure I am , neither are you . To the eye that has been enlightened to see , and the understanding that has been taxight to picturesque and ^ a ; very instructive thing . I am aware that not a few are in the habit of ridiculing us , and some go so far as even to condemn . But why
should they do this—can anything be more unreasonable ? We have no wish to quarrel with the recreations of the darkened world around us ; and the least thing they can do in rfe respect , and allo ^ v us to amuse ourselves after our own fa shion . And if they bring against ns charges of a condemnatory kind , theymust Jtist be told that we refuse to plead guilty to such charges . We can assure them
that nothing wfll ^ ^ book of Masonry , and abstain from bringing against us a railing accusation abcniit matters of which they must needs be profoundly ignorant . If Masonic principles were more in the ascendancy than what they are , and true Masons more numerous in society , we really belicrve the world would be bette and happier than , what it is . ;
u But I must not forget that theproper olnect of myaddre ^ you a brief statement regarding the principles and design of the Masonic institution . For several reasons I must be brief , and an adequate description of those principles , in the few moments I have to address yon in , is altogether impossible . But although I cannot overtake the whole subject , I may say a word or two on a few of our leading principles and doctrines , trusting that they will be acceptable and instructive .
u 1 . The first of our principles is Secrecy . Masonry has its secrets -and one of the objects of this institution is to teach the initiated , and that under the most solemn and awful of obligations , to conceal these from the world around us . Our mysteries are our own ; and although we are willing to communicate them , we must not dare to do so except on the same conditions on which they were communicated to ourselves . Now , apart altogether from the intrinsic value of these mysterious secrets , I say that the consciousness of being in possession of them , and the exercise of that caution and reserve which are requisite in order to conceal them , are beneficial
things . There is something noble and dignifying m keeping a secret . Manliness is not extinct in that bosom—may I not say also , nor piety either —which , out of respect to the solemnity of an oath , carefully keeps that hidden which it is not at liberty to reveal . He is not worthy of the name of man who cannot keep a secret . And let us not imagine that this habit of reserve and self control is of little practical value . It has a far wider field of operation than appears at first sight . The great God himself has his
secrets into which no created intelligence has any right to intrude , And in like manner , every individual man , every household , every copartnership and society of human beings have hidden things , secrets specially their own , which it is a positive duty for them to conceal from others , and which others ought to respect them for concealing . It is no better than
impertinent curiosity for one man to pry into the affairs of another , and there is nothing which more readily brands a man as an imbecile and a fool than the propensity to utter before strangers what he had better keep to himself , I say that this quality is one of high value in social life ; and Masonry , therefore , which so effectually , and in principle , teaches us to keep a secret , exerts its influence on the side of what is fitted to dignify and ennoble the
human species . u Our second principle is Brotherly Love . On this * point I need not enlarge . It is a quality which involves the very essence of practical godliness . All Masons are brethren . It is contrary to etiquette and Masonic