Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sermon Preached Before The Pro Vincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall I
masonry . Further than this I cannot go . It is right that standing up before a mixed audience , in this holy place I should so far explain the object and aim of Masonry as to free it from suspicion . But here I stop . We have our
mysteries , and we have among us certain words , signs , and tokens , known only among ourselves , which have been preserved with inviolable secrecy from the remotest ages , the intention of which is —to prevent impostors intruding into our
assemblies or unjustly obtaining the fruits of our benevolence—to insure as far as possible the admission into the Craft of none but just and upright men , of free birth , sound judgment , strict morals , and mature years—and to enable us to
recognise a brother in a stranger , and show him proofs of brotherly love . The signs and tokens I have referred to form an universal silent language , understood by Masons everywhere ; and every reasonable person will see the propriety of these
being kept secret . We receive them when we are ' initiated , and are solemnly bound never to reveal them to the uninitiated . The rev . gentleman
then proceeded to quote many texts in which Masonic lauguage is used by inspired writers of the bible , in which the persons addressed are compared to builders , buildings , or separate stones , of a building , each fitted and prepared to occupy
¦ fche place for which it is intended in the erection of a grand temple to the honour and glory of God . The preacher in further proof of the scriptural character of Masonry then added : I would also say that the Bible is ever found open in our
lodges while they are working , our candidates are obligated upon it , and are enjoined to study it as the standard of faith and the rule of life , to ¦ regard it as the tracing board of the
Great-Architect of the Universe , in which he has laid down divine plans and moral rules to enable every Mason to do well his allotted work . In conclusion , he said : I have no doubt I shall be a -asked—Does Mnsonry always produce the good
¦ effect it aims at ? It would be most surprising ¦ if it did . Every blossom is naturally designed to produce fruit , or seed ; but how many , from one cause or other , altogether fail ! How many ¦ of God ' s good gifts are abused ! How many
• good institutions perverted ! You know that of the twelve apostles our Saviour chose when upon earth , one was the traitor Judns . You will excuse my plamess of speech , brethren , as I am ' nub a plain workman ; I wish to profit rather than
Sermon Preached Before The Pro Vincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall I
to please , to assist in building a firm and substantial , rather than a showy structure . It is for ns , brother Masons , to show in our lives the excellency of Masonry . Our lives should preach a better sermon , a more eloquent defence of our
principles , than any of us can deliver . Remember Him who has said "By their fruit shall ye know them . " Eemember your obligations . Pliny , the younger , writing to Trajan , asking how he was to act towards those who were accused of being
Christians , informed the Emperor that they were accustomed to meet together before day , sing hymns to Cln-ist as to a God , and bind themselves with an oath to allow themselves in no crime or
immoral conduct whatever . Does not this latter part of this description apply to us ? Are we not similarly bound ? But remember what our Grand Master , king Solomon , said— " Better it is that thou should'st not vow , than that thou should ' st
vow and not pay . " What is morally wrong in others is doubly wrong in Masons . It makes me shudder , knowing the obligations we are under , to hear of Masons taking God ' s holy name in vain , uttering deliberate falsehood , or acting
immorally , dishonourably , or dishonestly . Let us strive not to give occasion to the unitiated to speak reproachfully of our Order ; let us seek to be what our system is designed to make us—Lights in the world ; seek to be adorned with the
distinguishing characteristics of Masons—virtue , honour , mercj ; and with the four cardinal virtues ernblamaticaliy depicted in our lodges—temperanee , fortitude , prudence , justice ; ever remember the
three principles on which Masonry is foundedbrother ! ;/ love , relief , and truth ; cultivate the grand Christian as well as Masonic graces— -faith , hope , and charity . And from this sacred place , remembering that I am not only your chaplain
but also the minister of Jesus Christ , I would especially enforce upon you the exhortation you so often hear as Fellow Crafts , that while you continue to act in accordance with the principles of the Graft , you always discharge your duty to your
Creator , the Grand Geometrician of the Universe , with fervency and zeal . Then , when you shall have finished your allotted work on earth , you will pass to the Grand Lodge above , there to enjoy light , life , and love , through the merits of Him who
lived and died for us , our elder brother the Lord Jesus Christ , to whom , with the Father and the Holy Ghost , be ascribed all honour , power , might , majesty , and dominion henceforth and for ever .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sermon Preached Before The Pro Vincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall I
masonry . Further than this I cannot go . It is right that standing up before a mixed audience , in this holy place I should so far explain the object and aim of Masonry as to free it from suspicion . But here I stop . We have our
mysteries , and we have among us certain words , signs , and tokens , known only among ourselves , which have been preserved with inviolable secrecy from the remotest ages , the intention of which is —to prevent impostors intruding into our
assemblies or unjustly obtaining the fruits of our benevolence—to insure as far as possible the admission into the Craft of none but just and upright men , of free birth , sound judgment , strict morals , and mature years—and to enable us to
recognise a brother in a stranger , and show him proofs of brotherly love . The signs and tokens I have referred to form an universal silent language , understood by Masons everywhere ; and every reasonable person will see the propriety of these
being kept secret . We receive them when we are ' initiated , and are solemnly bound never to reveal them to the uninitiated . The rev . gentleman
then proceeded to quote many texts in which Masonic lauguage is used by inspired writers of the bible , in which the persons addressed are compared to builders , buildings , or separate stones , of a building , each fitted and prepared to occupy
¦ fche place for which it is intended in the erection of a grand temple to the honour and glory of God . The preacher in further proof of the scriptural character of Masonry then added : I would also say that the Bible is ever found open in our
lodges while they are working , our candidates are obligated upon it , and are enjoined to study it as the standard of faith and the rule of life , to ¦ regard it as the tracing board of the
Great-Architect of the Universe , in which he has laid down divine plans and moral rules to enable every Mason to do well his allotted work . In conclusion , he said : I have no doubt I shall be a -asked—Does Mnsonry always produce the good
¦ effect it aims at ? It would be most surprising ¦ if it did . Every blossom is naturally designed to produce fruit , or seed ; but how many , from one cause or other , altogether fail ! How many ¦ of God ' s good gifts are abused ! How many
• good institutions perverted ! You know that of the twelve apostles our Saviour chose when upon earth , one was the traitor Judns . You will excuse my plamess of speech , brethren , as I am ' nub a plain workman ; I wish to profit rather than
Sermon Preached Before The Pro Vincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall I
to please , to assist in building a firm and substantial , rather than a showy structure . It is for ns , brother Masons , to show in our lives the excellency of Masonry . Our lives should preach a better sermon , a more eloquent defence of our
principles , than any of us can deliver . Remember Him who has said "By their fruit shall ye know them . " Eemember your obligations . Pliny , the younger , writing to Trajan , asking how he was to act towards those who were accused of being
Christians , informed the Emperor that they were accustomed to meet together before day , sing hymns to Cln-ist as to a God , and bind themselves with an oath to allow themselves in no crime or
immoral conduct whatever . Does not this latter part of this description apply to us ? Are we not similarly bound ? But remember what our Grand Master , king Solomon , said— " Better it is that thou should'st not vow , than that thou should ' st
vow and not pay . " What is morally wrong in others is doubly wrong in Masons . It makes me shudder , knowing the obligations we are under , to hear of Masons taking God ' s holy name in vain , uttering deliberate falsehood , or acting
immorally , dishonourably , or dishonestly . Let us strive not to give occasion to the unitiated to speak reproachfully of our Order ; let us seek to be what our system is designed to make us—Lights in the world ; seek to be adorned with the
distinguishing characteristics of Masons—virtue , honour , mercj ; and with the four cardinal virtues ernblamaticaliy depicted in our lodges—temperanee , fortitude , prudence , justice ; ever remember the
three principles on which Masonry is foundedbrother ! ;/ love , relief , and truth ; cultivate the grand Christian as well as Masonic graces— -faith , hope , and charity . And from this sacred place , remembering that I am not only your chaplain
but also the minister of Jesus Christ , I would especially enforce upon you the exhortation you so often hear as Fellow Crafts , that while you continue to act in accordance with the principles of the Graft , you always discharge your duty to your
Creator , the Grand Geometrician of the Universe , with fervency and zeal . Then , when you shall have finished your allotted work on earth , you will pass to the Grand Lodge above , there to enjoy light , life , and love , through the merits of Him who
lived and died for us , our elder brother the Lord Jesus Christ , to whom , with the Father and the Holy Ghost , be ascribed all honour , power , might , majesty , and dominion henceforth and for ever .