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Article MASONRY AND ITS MISSION. ← Page 4 of 5 →
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Masonry And Its Mission.
and temperance , which repels and overcomes the passions that obstruct it . Thus—benevolence prompts us to undertake the cause of a distressed orphan ; prudence suggests the best means of going about it ; fortitude enables us to confront the danger and bear up against the loss which may attend our undertaking ; and temperance keeps under the loA'e of
money or ease , which mi ght divert us from it . Thus Ave learn that no man lives too long who lives to do with spirit and suffer with resignation what Providence pleases to command or inflict . It mi ght not inappropriately be asked —IIOAV is it that Masonry is found among men in countries whore the light of the gospel has not yet shone' ? How is it
that it is found among the Indians in America , the Mahometans in Syria and Turkey , and the Brahmins in India ? Its existence proves two things—first ; the truth of Masonic tradition—next ; the antiquity of the Order . Not long since , an American missionary , a Mason , found out Lodges existing among some ofthe ivilclest tribescorresponding almost exactl
, y with our Lodges in their Avorking ; and Bro . Morrison in his essay on . the ethics of Freemasonry , says , " Not long since some of you heard in this very place ( Victoria Lodgo , No . 4 , Dublin ) , from an intelligent officer recently returned from
India , that he obtained admission into a Lodgo of Dervishes , in Constantinople , and their customs , traditions , signs , and secrets , were identical with our OAVU . In all countries there is mixed up with the superstitions of their religion the first glimmerings of truth . Before the dispersion of the human family all had access to the Law of God , and from father . - to
son , either in whole or in part , it Avas passed down thc stream of time . The dispersion of the ten tribes carried . much truth to the lands whither- they were driven , but without assuming that the Bible Avas borne to all who possess tlie secrets of Masonry , wc can easily understand hoAv those portions which are its landmarks could be communicated and preserved
among them . With reli gion , Avhose sublime doctrines it cannot increase , Avhose precepts it cannot improve , Masonry does not interfere ; she acts as a handmaiden , and teaches the brethren to remember that whatever we are and whatever we do , God ' s all seeing eye surveys usand that while we endeavour to act as faithful
, Masons we must never forget to serve him with fervency and ¦ seal . Inasmuch , hoAvever , as Masonry is professed by some nations not as yet converted to Christianity , and as it enkindles benevolence and excites virtue so accordant with the
tenets of the gospel , it may eventually ( and let us hope that it may soon ) have no slight tendency toivards introducing and propagating among them that glorious truth ; at least by humanizing the disposition , softening the manners and removing prejudices , may prepare the way for that most desirable event ; for to Masonry the words of the old ¦ Latin poet may be aptly applied ,
" Einollit mores , nee sinit esse fei'Os . " ¦ fcVom its origin to the present time , in all its vicissitudes , Masonry has been , the steady , unvarying friend of man . It has gone forth from age to age the constant messenger of peace Mid love—never weary—never forgetful of its holy mission patiently ministering to the relief of want and sorrow , and
scattering with unsparing hand blessings and benefits to all around . It comforts the mourner . ' ; it speaks peace and consolation to the troubled spirit ; it carries relief and gladness to the habitation of want and destitution ; it dries the tears of widowhood aud orphanage ; it opens the sources of knowled ge ; it widens the sphere of human happiness ; it even seeks
to light up the darkness and gloom of the grave , by pointing to the hopes and promises of a better life to conic —all this Masonry has done , and is doing . ouch , then , is Freemasonry , and such its mission ; to sum « up m one word—charity , tho very bond of peace and of all virtues ; the sentiment of charity , in its genuine conception , _ » as a far wider meaning than the one conventionally assigned , " -o « , Ask yon uiggard—lic will tell you charity begins at
home , and consists in providing for his family ; ask yon jolly Avell fed , well to do looking man—he will say in giving aii'ay any surplus money he has no whim to gratify ; ask the worldling —he will say , in heading a subscription list , no matter whafc the object ; ask the devoted follower of some particular sect , and he will say , in industriously spreading the opinions of the
sect to which he belongs . Yet all are wrong : let them referto the Bible , and they will find it means love . Love it is through which ( as announced by prophecy and inspiration ) , in ages long anterior to that in which it received its final interpretation from the great Teacher man must be reclaimed from hate and hard cupidity and the selfishness all prolific of
misery , into the stato of mind , temper , and mutual feeling Avhoi-ein fche unclouded brain , admits what the purified heart suggests—that the bond of brotherhood in affection and sincerity conduces alike , to the good of all and each—of the strong and of the AA'cak—of tho wealthy , and of him across Avhose path the res augustai domi have cast their sombre
shade . Now the purpose for which through storm and sunshine , good report and evil , the Order has persevered , is that of benefiting humanity through the medium and by the help of human hearts and heads ; thc real spirit of Masonry is not confined to the relief of " the physical Avants or the preservation of a brother ' s life ill perilbut every day affords
oppor-, tunity to promote his ^ temporal good by lawful and honourable means ; to help him ^ by enabling him to help himself ; to extend our sympathy to his troubles , and our charity to his failings and imperfections ; to make peace between friends ;
to warn one of . his danger , another oi his error ; to be patient , tolerant , and forgiving toivards all . It is for this reason that Masons n , vo found so steadfastly to cherish each other ' s society , to live upon terms of mutual confidence and earnest sympathizing friendship . Other associations have died aAvay in thousands in all ages , because their foundation was not
firmly fixed—Masonry ( says an American brother ) , is based upon the Rock of Ages , the storms of the world may beat upon it , but it will arrd does remain firm . Yes , Masonry , though hated , reviled , laughed at , persecuted , is still founded on truth , and the immutable laws of the Great Architect of the universe ; and therefore it is still the bond of a great
and powerful association , spread over the whole habitable world , honoured and protected by kings and statesmen , and cultivated and cherished by a multitude of wise , honourable , pious and conscientious men . But thc tree is known by its fruits . Behold , then , tlie fruits of Freemasonry in its manifold charities , see iu ifc tho salvation , of thc bereaved female
orphan , saved perhaps from a life of sin . and shame , trained up to virtue and made a happy and creditable member of society . Behold it in the aged and infirm brother , who has failed in the battle of life , and now at the hands of his brother , in . his declining years , finds a peaceful asylum to rest his tired spirit and sinking heart . Examine our schools ,
our hospitals . An ancient poet has beautifully said , "It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore and to see ships tossed upon the sea ; a p leasure to stand in the windoAV of a castle and to sec a battle and the adventures thereof below : but
no pleasure is comparable to tho standing upon the vantage ground of truth ( a hill not to be commanded , and Avhere the air is ahvays clear and serene ) and . see tho errors and wanderings anil mists and . tempests in the vale below—so always that this prospect be Avith pity , and not wifch swelling or pride . Certainly ifc is a heaven upon earth to have a
man ' s mind move iu charity , rest in providence , and turn upon tho poles of truth . " It has been beautifully said that tho "Worshi pful Master opens the Lodge at sunrise Avith solemn prayer ; the Junior Warden calls tho brethren , from labour Avhen the sun attains its meridian hei ght ; and the Senior Warden closes the Lodge with prayer at sunset , when the labours of onr ancient brethren ended . The great luminary of creation rises in the cast to open the day with a miUl aud . gonial jnliuonce , ami
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry And Its Mission.
and temperance , which repels and overcomes the passions that obstruct it . Thus—benevolence prompts us to undertake the cause of a distressed orphan ; prudence suggests the best means of going about it ; fortitude enables us to confront the danger and bear up against the loss which may attend our undertaking ; and temperance keeps under the loA'e of
money or ease , which mi ght divert us from it . Thus Ave learn that no man lives too long who lives to do with spirit and suffer with resignation what Providence pleases to command or inflict . It mi ght not inappropriately be asked —IIOAV is it that Masonry is found among men in countries whore the light of the gospel has not yet shone' ? How is it
that it is found among the Indians in America , the Mahometans in Syria and Turkey , and the Brahmins in India ? Its existence proves two things—first ; the truth of Masonic tradition—next ; the antiquity of the Order . Not long since , an American missionary , a Mason , found out Lodges existing among some ofthe ivilclest tribescorresponding almost exactl
, y with our Lodges in their Avorking ; and Bro . Morrison in his essay on . the ethics of Freemasonry , says , " Not long since some of you heard in this very place ( Victoria Lodgo , No . 4 , Dublin ) , from an intelligent officer recently returned from
India , that he obtained admission into a Lodgo of Dervishes , in Constantinople , and their customs , traditions , signs , and secrets , were identical with our OAVU . In all countries there is mixed up with the superstitions of their religion the first glimmerings of truth . Before the dispersion of the human family all had access to the Law of God , and from father . - to
son , either in whole or in part , it Avas passed down thc stream of time . The dispersion of the ten tribes carried . much truth to the lands whither- they were driven , but without assuming that the Bible Avas borne to all who possess tlie secrets of Masonry , wc can easily understand hoAv those portions which are its landmarks could be communicated and preserved
among them . With reli gion , Avhose sublime doctrines it cannot increase , Avhose precepts it cannot improve , Masonry does not interfere ; she acts as a handmaiden , and teaches the brethren to remember that whatever we are and whatever we do , God ' s all seeing eye surveys usand that while we endeavour to act as faithful
, Masons we must never forget to serve him with fervency and ¦ seal . Inasmuch , hoAvever , as Masonry is professed by some nations not as yet converted to Christianity , and as it enkindles benevolence and excites virtue so accordant with the
tenets of the gospel , it may eventually ( and let us hope that it may soon ) have no slight tendency toivards introducing and propagating among them that glorious truth ; at least by humanizing the disposition , softening the manners and removing prejudices , may prepare the way for that most desirable event ; for to Masonry the words of the old ¦ Latin poet may be aptly applied ,
" Einollit mores , nee sinit esse fei'Os . " ¦ fcVom its origin to the present time , in all its vicissitudes , Masonry has been , the steady , unvarying friend of man . It has gone forth from age to age the constant messenger of peace Mid love—never weary—never forgetful of its holy mission patiently ministering to the relief of want and sorrow , and
scattering with unsparing hand blessings and benefits to all around . It comforts the mourner . ' ; it speaks peace and consolation to the troubled spirit ; it carries relief and gladness to the habitation of want and destitution ; it dries the tears of widowhood aud orphanage ; it opens the sources of knowled ge ; it widens the sphere of human happiness ; it even seeks
to light up the darkness and gloom of the grave , by pointing to the hopes and promises of a better life to conic —all this Masonry has done , and is doing . ouch , then , is Freemasonry , and such its mission ; to sum « up m one word—charity , tho very bond of peace and of all virtues ; the sentiment of charity , in its genuine conception , _ » as a far wider meaning than the one conventionally assigned , " -o « , Ask yon uiggard—lic will tell you charity begins at
home , and consists in providing for his family ; ask yon jolly Avell fed , well to do looking man—he will say in giving aii'ay any surplus money he has no whim to gratify ; ask the worldling —he will say , in heading a subscription list , no matter whafc the object ; ask the devoted follower of some particular sect , and he will say , in industriously spreading the opinions of the
sect to which he belongs . Yet all are wrong : let them referto the Bible , and they will find it means love . Love it is through which ( as announced by prophecy and inspiration ) , in ages long anterior to that in which it received its final interpretation from the great Teacher man must be reclaimed from hate and hard cupidity and the selfishness all prolific of
misery , into the stato of mind , temper , and mutual feeling Avhoi-ein fche unclouded brain , admits what the purified heart suggests—that the bond of brotherhood in affection and sincerity conduces alike , to the good of all and each—of the strong and of the AA'cak—of tho wealthy , and of him across Avhose path the res augustai domi have cast their sombre
shade . Now the purpose for which through storm and sunshine , good report and evil , the Order has persevered , is that of benefiting humanity through the medium and by the help of human hearts and heads ; thc real spirit of Masonry is not confined to the relief of " the physical Avants or the preservation of a brother ' s life ill perilbut every day affords
oppor-, tunity to promote his ^ temporal good by lawful and honourable means ; to help him ^ by enabling him to help himself ; to extend our sympathy to his troubles , and our charity to his failings and imperfections ; to make peace between friends ;
to warn one of . his danger , another oi his error ; to be patient , tolerant , and forgiving toivards all . It is for this reason that Masons n , vo found so steadfastly to cherish each other ' s society , to live upon terms of mutual confidence and earnest sympathizing friendship . Other associations have died aAvay in thousands in all ages , because their foundation was not
firmly fixed—Masonry ( says an American brother ) , is based upon the Rock of Ages , the storms of the world may beat upon it , but it will arrd does remain firm . Yes , Masonry , though hated , reviled , laughed at , persecuted , is still founded on truth , and the immutable laws of the Great Architect of the universe ; and therefore it is still the bond of a great
and powerful association , spread over the whole habitable world , honoured and protected by kings and statesmen , and cultivated and cherished by a multitude of wise , honourable , pious and conscientious men . But thc tree is known by its fruits . Behold , then , tlie fruits of Freemasonry in its manifold charities , see iu ifc tho salvation , of thc bereaved female
orphan , saved perhaps from a life of sin . and shame , trained up to virtue and made a happy and creditable member of society . Behold it in the aged and infirm brother , who has failed in the battle of life , and now at the hands of his brother , in . his declining years , finds a peaceful asylum to rest his tired spirit and sinking heart . Examine our schools ,
our hospitals . An ancient poet has beautifully said , "It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore and to see ships tossed upon the sea ; a p leasure to stand in the windoAV of a castle and to sec a battle and the adventures thereof below : but
no pleasure is comparable to tho standing upon the vantage ground of truth ( a hill not to be commanded , and Avhere the air is ahvays clear and serene ) and . see tho errors and wanderings anil mists and . tempests in the vale below—so always that this prospect be Avith pity , and not wifch swelling or pride . Certainly ifc is a heaven upon earth to have a
man ' s mind move iu charity , rest in providence , and turn upon tho poles of truth . " It has been beautifully said that tho "Worshi pful Master opens the Lodge at sunrise Avith solemn prayer ; the Junior Warden calls tho brethren , from labour Avhen the sun attains its meridian hei ght ; and the Senior Warden closes the Lodge with prayer at sunset , when the labours of onr ancient brethren ended . The great luminary of creation rises in the cast to open the day with a miUl aud . gonial jnliuonce , ami