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their greatness * together , to the universal knowledge prevalent amongst their allies and dependencies , of their stringent observation of oaths . Observe , we do not substitute Masonry for spiritual religion , though it depends upon a close adherence to the general moral principles of it . "Were all men real Christians , there would be no necessity for
Masonry , which would be superseded , in all its applications of mutual love and sympathy . Neither could the fullest discharge of Masonic duties ratify to the heart the certainty of Christian promises . The one is Brother of a heavenly , the other of an earthly Lodge ; yet , for all this , there is more intimate blending of the two than many , even
Masons , are aware ot ; and seeing that the one draws irom the same oracles of truth as the other , the specific duty of charity , study of those oracles by each , will closely approximate , even to identification , in many instances , we may hope , either with the other . We have now only to do with the direct utility of Masonry , especially as evidenced in large communities . Aware that men do not concur in all religious ideas , and that all are not Christians , Masonry , content
to do her duty in a minor sphere , takes up the first ground upon which mankind does agree ; she does not disown the Huler of all , but founds her principles on His Word , and in considering her claim to universal love and admiration , we shall apply to her value the three aspects of argument with which we commenced this article , especially in regard to the metropolis , or large collective masses of the human family .
London!" The needy villain ' s general home ! The common sewer of Paris and of Rome ! " as Johnson called it . Its streets paved with guilt and gold , where honour starves in tatters , and the heartache is not confined to Chancery-lane ! Tet the arena , still , of mind , energy , benevolence , and withal of selfishness , indolence , and incapacity . It is a
whirlpool of endless changes , save one—namely , that care always rises to the top , from the great sediment of original corruption below ! It is a current so rapid in the stream of life , that all are swamped by it , except the strong swimmer , whose inborn resolution defies it , or the wealthy voyager whom fortune furnishes with a bridge or a vessel to pass it . It is the pool of seething vice and treachery , where , aided
by the thickened scum of fraud and flattery , the knave victimises the fool ; where the largest sharks are most admired ; whilst the simple gudgeon feeds the pike , and is laughed at , to boot ! Its shores are covered with wrecks of all classes and ages , amongst which we meet a fragment , now and then , of exquisite grace and beauty , showing
marks of early care , and of the bright hopes once entertained about the future ; but the noble vessel has gone down , probably from want of a proper pilot , and the stream runs too fast to notice such common things , now ! The anchorage of this great metropolitan bay is treacherous—its shoals innumerable—its swelling waves now rise with youth ' s fondest hopes—now sink and open into gulfs dark as the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
their greatness * together , to the universal knowledge prevalent amongst their allies and dependencies , of their stringent observation of oaths . Observe , we do not substitute Masonry for spiritual religion , though it depends upon a close adherence to the general moral principles of it . "Were all men real Christians , there would be no necessity for
Masonry , which would be superseded , in all its applications of mutual love and sympathy . Neither could the fullest discharge of Masonic duties ratify to the heart the certainty of Christian promises . The one is Brother of a heavenly , the other of an earthly Lodge ; yet , for all this , there is more intimate blending of the two than many , even
Masons , are aware ot ; and seeing that the one draws irom the same oracles of truth as the other , the specific duty of charity , study of those oracles by each , will closely approximate , even to identification , in many instances , we may hope , either with the other . We have now only to do with the direct utility of Masonry , especially as evidenced in large communities . Aware that men do not concur in all religious ideas , and that all are not Christians , Masonry , content
to do her duty in a minor sphere , takes up the first ground upon which mankind does agree ; she does not disown the Huler of all , but founds her principles on His Word , and in considering her claim to universal love and admiration , we shall apply to her value the three aspects of argument with which we commenced this article , especially in regard to the metropolis , or large collective masses of the human family .
London!" The needy villain ' s general home ! The common sewer of Paris and of Rome ! " as Johnson called it . Its streets paved with guilt and gold , where honour starves in tatters , and the heartache is not confined to Chancery-lane ! Tet the arena , still , of mind , energy , benevolence , and withal of selfishness , indolence , and incapacity . It is a
whirlpool of endless changes , save one—namely , that care always rises to the top , from the great sediment of original corruption below ! It is a current so rapid in the stream of life , that all are swamped by it , except the strong swimmer , whose inborn resolution defies it , or the wealthy voyager whom fortune furnishes with a bridge or a vessel to pass it . It is the pool of seething vice and treachery , where , aided
by the thickened scum of fraud and flattery , the knave victimises the fool ; where the largest sharks are most admired ; whilst the simple gudgeon feeds the pike , and is laughed at , to boot ! Its shores are covered with wrecks of all classes and ages , amongst which we meet a fragment , now and then , of exquisite grace and beauty , showing
marks of early care , and of the bright hopes once entertained about the future ; but the noble vessel has gone down , probably from want of a proper pilot , and the stream runs too fast to notice such common things , now ! The anchorage of this great metropolitan bay is treacherous—its shoals innumerable—its swelling waves now rise with youth ' s fondest hopes—now sink and open into gulfs dark as the