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Untitled Article
It is evident , thonrthatasfehe past history of Masonry is perused , we see in all its phases one great characteristic , namely , the religious compact for mutual aid , in the protection of the individual and the transmission of knowledge . It is true that it maybe urged against secret knowledge generally , that it covers the mind
with" The mist profound of inyst'ry , where the feet At every step plunged deeper in deceit : but in the instance of Masonry , the objection falls powerless before the fact that its secrecy was no affectation to conceal useless dogmas , seeing that the practice resulted in artistic excellence and moral confidence , in order
and that necessity compelled the adoption of symbol , to secure personal protection against traitors , ^ tyrants , and impostors . Wherever , then , the characteristic of intellectual vigour , acting upon moral motive and the practice of philanthropy , is dim or dubitable , it may be relied upon that the spirit of true Freemasonry is dormant , and that we have departed from the rules and purport of
the ancient Order . Freemasonry is nob a benefit club ; neither is it a convivial symposium , where mendacious courtesy and inflated adulation welcome the spirit of toadyism amidst the bacchanalian orgy of the wine-feast . It is a sworn Brotherhood of congenial spirits , who desire to promote
the intellectual enlightenment and moral advancement of each other , to the honour of the G . A . O . T . TL , where all are equal , and no order is acknowledged but the Order of Merit , which must be recognized not by party nor personal favour , but from conviction of superior desert , in the working , charitable , intelligent Mason ; and when " Palmam qui meruit ferat" ceases to be our motto , we may rest assured that our primal excellence is gone !
Probably , then , many of our readers will acknowledge that these remarks press sternly upon some growing symptoms in our present condition ; nor should we have stated so clearly our idea of Masonic obligations , and thereby exposed ourselves to the malevolence of the maintaithe
lax and selfish , if we did not feel it our duty to n confidence of the Fraternity so energetically manifested in us , or were ignorant that every true-hearted Brother ' s desire to see Masonry become daily more practically beneficial , is consistent with our own . This it may be , if certain suggestions be acted upon or modified , which themselves are tantamount to a recurrence to true Masonic
practice , and which we shall be satisfied with merely stating , in the hope that their adoption may annex an active and prosperous fature to at least a somewhat supine , though hot altogether unpromising present . Arnongst the chief evils , then , which obscure the repute ot Masonry amongst not only the uninitiated , but even many of the sworn Brothers of the Craft , wo may allude
to—1 . The general oblivion of our true duty , and the substitution , or at least the preponderance of , comparatively useless revelry for mental or moral improvement . Hence thoughtful men , when initiated , finding
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
It is evident , thonrthatasfehe past history of Masonry is perused , we see in all its phases one great characteristic , namely , the religious compact for mutual aid , in the protection of the individual and the transmission of knowledge . It is true that it maybe urged against secret knowledge generally , that it covers the mind
with" The mist profound of inyst'ry , where the feet At every step plunged deeper in deceit : but in the instance of Masonry , the objection falls powerless before the fact that its secrecy was no affectation to conceal useless dogmas , seeing that the practice resulted in artistic excellence and moral confidence , in order
and that necessity compelled the adoption of symbol , to secure personal protection against traitors , ^ tyrants , and impostors . Wherever , then , the characteristic of intellectual vigour , acting upon moral motive and the practice of philanthropy , is dim or dubitable , it may be relied upon that the spirit of true Freemasonry is dormant , and that we have departed from the rules and purport of
the ancient Order . Freemasonry is nob a benefit club ; neither is it a convivial symposium , where mendacious courtesy and inflated adulation welcome the spirit of toadyism amidst the bacchanalian orgy of the wine-feast . It is a sworn Brotherhood of congenial spirits , who desire to promote
the intellectual enlightenment and moral advancement of each other , to the honour of the G . A . O . T . TL , where all are equal , and no order is acknowledged but the Order of Merit , which must be recognized not by party nor personal favour , but from conviction of superior desert , in the working , charitable , intelligent Mason ; and when " Palmam qui meruit ferat" ceases to be our motto , we may rest assured that our primal excellence is gone !
Probably , then , many of our readers will acknowledge that these remarks press sternly upon some growing symptoms in our present condition ; nor should we have stated so clearly our idea of Masonic obligations , and thereby exposed ourselves to the malevolence of the maintaithe
lax and selfish , if we did not feel it our duty to n confidence of the Fraternity so energetically manifested in us , or were ignorant that every true-hearted Brother ' s desire to see Masonry become daily more practically beneficial , is consistent with our own . This it may be , if certain suggestions be acted upon or modified , which themselves are tantamount to a recurrence to true Masonic
practice , and which we shall be satisfied with merely stating , in the hope that their adoption may annex an active and prosperous fature to at least a somewhat supine , though hot altogether unpromising present . Arnongst the chief evils , then , which obscure the repute ot Masonry amongst not only the uninitiated , but even many of the sworn Brothers of the Craft , wo may allude
to—1 . The general oblivion of our true duty , and the substitution , or at least the preponderance of , comparatively useless revelry for mental or moral improvement . Hence thoughtful men , when initiated , finding