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that if the Society could be invigorated , its influence would be beneficial to the community . An interview with Sir Christopher Wren served greatly to stimulate his enthusiasm , and he determined to exert himself to restore the order to its primitive importance . In this laudable endeavour , he was joined by several of the principal
Brethren of the time ; and how he succeeded the Square describes in a very interesting manner . Bules and regulations were formed on the ancient models ; order and harmony were restored , and the Craft once more began to flourish . Dr . Desaguiliers became Dep . Grand Master . The strength and influence which Masonry now displayed > very naturally called forth a host of opponents . The Constitutions
were revised and published , and the Fund of Benevolence , which has proved the balm of GKlead to so many wounded hearts and troubled spirits amongst our Brethren , from generation to generation , was set on foot . Noblemen , gentlemen of rank and station , learned men and clergymen once more adorned our ranks . Newspaper hacks , and paltry pamphleteers , now redoubled their slanderous energy $ and it was currently reported that the Masons " raised the devil" in
their Lodges , and that they branded the candidates , at initiation , with a red-hot iron . They were , in fact , accused , in the most open and unblushing manner , of almost every crime that stains the calendar ; while all who maintained an apparent secrecy were denounced as being Freemasons . The shafts of ridicule , however , could not penetrate the armour of truth and justice ; and the Brethren replied to their antagonists in a glee for three voices , which commenced by the following verse : —
" To all who Masonry despise , This counsel we bestow ; Don't ridicule , if you are wise , A secret you don ' t know . Yourselves you banter , but not it—You show your spleen , but not your wit "
As there was one Judas amongst "The Twelve , " our ancient Brethren could not expect to gain their great numerical strength without finding , here and there , one who proved himself unworthy of admission into their fellowship . There were then , as there have been ever since , and always will be , persons who do not scruple to confess that they have sworn to conceal that which they openly reveal in print
( thereby admitting that they are perjured individuals ) , for the sake of a little filthy lucre , to be obtained by pandering to the prurient curiosity of the multitude . It is a curious fact , that although Masonry never closes its portals against any worthy and well-meaning man , there are found , even to the present day , persons otherwise to
respectable- ^ -persons who would scorn further the interests of perjurers in anything else ^—who will pay away their money , and stifle their consciences , hoping ( vainly ) to attain , in a disreputable manner—in a manner which they would themselves be the first to condemn under different circumstances—that which they might easily have procured by the prescribed and legitimate course of procedure .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
that if the Society could be invigorated , its influence would be beneficial to the community . An interview with Sir Christopher Wren served greatly to stimulate his enthusiasm , and he determined to exert himself to restore the order to its primitive importance . In this laudable endeavour , he was joined by several of the principal
Brethren of the time ; and how he succeeded the Square describes in a very interesting manner . Bules and regulations were formed on the ancient models ; order and harmony were restored , and the Craft once more began to flourish . Dr . Desaguiliers became Dep . Grand Master . The strength and influence which Masonry now displayed > very naturally called forth a host of opponents . The Constitutions
were revised and published , and the Fund of Benevolence , which has proved the balm of GKlead to so many wounded hearts and troubled spirits amongst our Brethren , from generation to generation , was set on foot . Noblemen , gentlemen of rank and station , learned men and clergymen once more adorned our ranks . Newspaper hacks , and paltry pamphleteers , now redoubled their slanderous energy $ and it was currently reported that the Masons " raised the devil" in
their Lodges , and that they branded the candidates , at initiation , with a red-hot iron . They were , in fact , accused , in the most open and unblushing manner , of almost every crime that stains the calendar ; while all who maintained an apparent secrecy were denounced as being Freemasons . The shafts of ridicule , however , could not penetrate the armour of truth and justice ; and the Brethren replied to their antagonists in a glee for three voices , which commenced by the following verse : —
" To all who Masonry despise , This counsel we bestow ; Don't ridicule , if you are wise , A secret you don ' t know . Yourselves you banter , but not it—You show your spleen , but not your wit "
As there was one Judas amongst "The Twelve , " our ancient Brethren could not expect to gain their great numerical strength without finding , here and there , one who proved himself unworthy of admission into their fellowship . There were then , as there have been ever since , and always will be , persons who do not scruple to confess that they have sworn to conceal that which they openly reveal in print
( thereby admitting that they are perjured individuals ) , for the sake of a little filthy lucre , to be obtained by pandering to the prurient curiosity of the multitude . It is a curious fact , that although Masonry never closes its portals against any worthy and well-meaning man , there are found , even to the present day , persons otherwise to
respectable- ^ -persons who would scorn further the interests of perjurers in anything else ^—who will pay away their money , and stifle their consciences , hoping ( vainly ) to attain , in a disreputable manner—in a manner which they would themselves be the first to condemn under different circumstances—that which they might easily have procured by the prescribed and legitimate course of procedure .