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Article THE TEACHINGS OP FREEMASONRY. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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The Teachings Op Freemasonry.
Architecture has justly been deemed the favour ^ tion . It is the science which has ever discriminated , by its progress , refinement from rudeness by its presence or absence , sav'age ^ ^ ^ to social life . In countries where operative masonry never laid the line
nor spread the compass , where architecture never planned the dome nor projected the column , all other evidences of efogant improvement are sought for in vain- —all is darkness and barbarism . If we trace our Order by the science which gave it birthy without recurring to the creation , we shall find it of great antiquity ; but without contending for a higher origin , we refer it with confidence
to the building of Solomon ' s Temple . The general history of this memorable - building is well known . Consummate wisdom delineated the plan , and the craftsmen achieved the design of the Great Architect of the universe . Knowifog this , we cannot be surprised that science and morality went hand
m hand . We are taught that the workmen were divided into classes under competent directors ; that the implements of operative masonry were made symbols of moral duties | & nd , from the nature and interpretation of those symbols handed by tradition d 6 \ vii to us , we learn that the purport of them wa , s to form good men ; to inspire a love of fidelity , truth , and justice ; to promote frieiidship and social morality ; to associate men under the banners of voluntary order and ¦ ¦
virtue . ; ' It is from this high origin that we derive our existence as a society ; from this source we derive our line , our rule , and our compass . It is hence that we adopt the measure of space , used as such by the operative mason , and apply it to ourselves as a measure of time , giving us an orderly routine of duties .
The square , which enables the artist to form , and fashion his work , teaches us symbolically to form and fashion our lives . It is an emblem of morality , and instructs us in that most important moral obligation , to do as we would Jbe done unto—to live upon the square with all mankind . The level , used in art to make the building plain and even , morally
teaches us the equality of our nature ; it serves as a memorial that we are equally born to act our parts on this great theatre of life ; that we are equally subject to diseases , to accidents , to sorrows ; that \ Ve are equally under the care and protection of the Great Parent of all ; that we are equally doomed to die , to be levelled with the earth , and to be forgotten . Art and accident vary our chances and
situations 3 but , taking life altogether , we shall find a more equal participation of good and evil than is commonly imagined * In the edifice of Freemasonry , equality is the great cornerstone . Without it we know that friendships are ill cemented amongst men ] the high and the low , the rich unci the poor , the proud and the humble , cannot form an intimate bond of union of any considerable duration . Every Brother , therefore , at his initiation , enters the Lodge , not in splendour of dress nor pride of heart , but in a garb of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Teachings Op Freemasonry.
Architecture has justly been deemed the favour ^ tion . It is the science which has ever discriminated , by its progress , refinement from rudeness by its presence or absence , sav'age ^ ^ ^ to social life . In countries where operative masonry never laid the line
nor spread the compass , where architecture never planned the dome nor projected the column , all other evidences of efogant improvement are sought for in vain- —all is darkness and barbarism . If we trace our Order by the science which gave it birthy without recurring to the creation , we shall find it of great antiquity ; but without contending for a higher origin , we refer it with confidence
to the building of Solomon ' s Temple . The general history of this memorable - building is well known . Consummate wisdom delineated the plan , and the craftsmen achieved the design of the Great Architect of the universe . Knowifog this , we cannot be surprised that science and morality went hand
m hand . We are taught that the workmen were divided into classes under competent directors ; that the implements of operative masonry were made symbols of moral duties | & nd , from the nature and interpretation of those symbols handed by tradition d 6 \ vii to us , we learn that the purport of them wa , s to form good men ; to inspire a love of fidelity , truth , and justice ; to promote frieiidship and social morality ; to associate men under the banners of voluntary order and ¦ ¦
virtue . ; ' It is from this high origin that we derive our existence as a society ; from this source we derive our line , our rule , and our compass . It is hence that we adopt the measure of space , used as such by the operative mason , and apply it to ourselves as a measure of time , giving us an orderly routine of duties .
The square , which enables the artist to form , and fashion his work , teaches us symbolically to form and fashion our lives . It is an emblem of morality , and instructs us in that most important moral obligation , to do as we would Jbe done unto—to live upon the square with all mankind . The level , used in art to make the building plain and even , morally
teaches us the equality of our nature ; it serves as a memorial that we are equally born to act our parts on this great theatre of life ; that we are equally subject to diseases , to accidents , to sorrows ; that \ Ve are equally under the care and protection of the Great Parent of all ; that we are equally doomed to die , to be levelled with the earth , and to be forgotten . Art and accident vary our chances and
situations 3 but , taking life altogether , we shall find a more equal participation of good and evil than is commonly imagined * In the edifice of Freemasonry , equality is the great cornerstone . Without it we know that friendships are ill cemented amongst men ] the high and the low , the rich unci the poor , the proud and the humble , cannot form an intimate bond of union of any considerable duration . Every Brother , therefore , at his initiation , enters the Lodge , not in splendour of dress nor pride of heart , but in a garb of