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Article FREEMASONRY AND THE PROFANE. BY AN OLD P.M. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE LODGE MILITANT. Page 1 of 2 →
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Freemasonry And The Profane. By An Old P.M.
Nature Avitnesses to Scripture that natural laAvs operate on all alike . "He sendeth his rain upon the just and upon the unjust . " But , as universally as they operate for the good of those who obey them , so universally and inflexibly do tbey move to the destruction of those who are disobedient to them , just or unjust .
" Our charity , " that is love , though I suspect no more than almsgiA'ing was originally meant , " shall know no bounds ( i . e ., of faith or politics ) , save those of prudence . " We should extend kindness as ividely as we are Avilling to receive it . There should be mutual concession , reciprocal friendship , mtitual obligation .
Should we not rather abstain from praying altogether than pray wrongly ? May meetings rightly commence without prayer ? Masons mutually agree not to discuss faith or politics , nor interfere Avith practice ; but they lay not aside nor weaken any opinion . Christianity , as a higher privilege aud more
complete revelation than any which preceded it , instead of destroying that loi'e and goodwill which man had previously cherished , would , as displaying and manifesting the principles of a higher love , bring it into a more active and healthy existence . "Do good unto all men , " says the apostle . ( Gal .
chap , vi ., ver . 10 . ) The especially connected with it does not neutralize the general proposition , but points out the more immediate object of the disposition to do good . He would be no Christian who restricted his kindness to his own party , and failed to do good to all mankind .
"Love not the world , neither the things of the world , " seems an opposite maxim to that of " Love all men ; " but it must mean love not the openly wicked , the men ivho live only for the present . The first blasphemy , the first impiety , should arouse us ; but it does not follow that we should , ivhen ive fall
into their society , shun those Avho have not the same high vieAvs of truth as ourselves , but who ivalk morally in the light they have . We may not stand at the same time in the' spirit of Christ , and say of such , " Stand by , I am holier than they . " In other company Ave may reap more edification , but " none of us liveth
unto himself . " We have not only to obtain , but to impart edification . The company Ave fall into should receive edification from us . We should not obtrude . We should argue more by conduct , by actions , rather than Avords . The enjoyment of higher privileges than others cancels no general obligations . No sanctity
in other things can compensate for the vvant of love . " If any man say I love God , and hateth his brother , he is a liar . " ( St . John . ) . Such ' are the difficulties of this twofold view . Scripture must be confronted with Serijiture . Analogies must be sought . ( Prov . chap , xvii ., ver . 17 . )
The Lodge Militant.
THE LODGE MILITANT .
( From our Scottish Correspondent . ) Some outsiders , from a consideration that man thousands of hrethren swell the ranks of the volunteer force , UOAV leagued together for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge of the art of Avar , have questioned
AA'hether , in so doing , Craftsmen are acting quite in unison with the spirit of Freemasonry , whose mission is prominently held forth to be one of UN - IVERSAJ . BKOTHJEEHOOD AND PEACE . While as Masons , we can have nothing to do with Avar , except it be to try to ameliorate its horrors , the Order has contained
some of the most distinguished warriors of modern times . Washington and Wellington , Nelson and Napier , Moore and Moira , Avith other commanders of lesser note , Avere members of the Craft , and their brilliant achievements in the service of their country continue to be remembered Avith pride and gratitude
by every patriotic Craftsman , both here and in America . As Masons we are ever ready to offer , the olive branch for the acceptance of brethren of every clime ; but when as citizens of our respective countries we unfurl the war banner in a righteous cause , Ave do not compromise any principle of
Masonry . But it is far from our intention to enter upon a disquisition affecting the propriety or impropriety of members of the Order engaging in the profession of arms ; rather it is our object to afford
to brethren the opportunity of contrasting with that of the present day the enthusiasm in the Yolunteer cause which animated the brethren of a former generation . There are many UOAV living Avho remember IIOAV , Ai'hen the First N apoleon threatened the invasion of this country , some 400 , 000 volunteers
sprang up as one man for the defence of home ancl fatherland . That the Craft furnished their quota to that army of reserve is beyond a doubt , for occasionally , even yet we meet upon the chequered floor Avith old brethren AVIIO have served in it . But few , A'ery few—none almost—now journey
on the level of time , who can have any personal recollection of the spirit of devotion to their country AA'hich , long anterior to the advent of Napoleon , beat so high in the heart of the Craftsmen of Scotland as to call down upon them a public rebuke from their supreme head in Masonic matters ,
or ei'en that such ivas the ease is known to comparatively few of those now taking an active part in the business of the order . History tells us that in 1777 , with America in open rebellion against her Sovereignty , and menaced by more than one of the Continental Powers thirsting
for her humiliation , Britain called for an extraordinary levy of men , Avherewith , to meet the emergency . Carried away by the patriotism AA'hich filled their
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry And The Profane. By An Old P.M.
Nature Avitnesses to Scripture that natural laAvs operate on all alike . "He sendeth his rain upon the just and upon the unjust . " But , as universally as they operate for the good of those who obey them , so universally and inflexibly do tbey move to the destruction of those who are disobedient to them , just or unjust .
" Our charity , " that is love , though I suspect no more than almsgiA'ing was originally meant , " shall know no bounds ( i . e ., of faith or politics ) , save those of prudence . " We should extend kindness as ividely as we are Avilling to receive it . There should be mutual concession , reciprocal friendship , mtitual obligation .
Should we not rather abstain from praying altogether than pray wrongly ? May meetings rightly commence without prayer ? Masons mutually agree not to discuss faith or politics , nor interfere Avith practice ; but they lay not aside nor weaken any opinion . Christianity , as a higher privilege aud more
complete revelation than any which preceded it , instead of destroying that loi'e and goodwill which man had previously cherished , would , as displaying and manifesting the principles of a higher love , bring it into a more active and healthy existence . "Do good unto all men , " says the apostle . ( Gal .
chap , vi ., ver . 10 . ) The especially connected with it does not neutralize the general proposition , but points out the more immediate object of the disposition to do good . He would be no Christian who restricted his kindness to his own party , and failed to do good to all mankind .
"Love not the world , neither the things of the world , " seems an opposite maxim to that of " Love all men ; " but it must mean love not the openly wicked , the men ivho live only for the present . The first blasphemy , the first impiety , should arouse us ; but it does not follow that we should , ivhen ive fall
into their society , shun those Avho have not the same high vieAvs of truth as ourselves , but who ivalk morally in the light they have . We may not stand at the same time in the' spirit of Christ , and say of such , " Stand by , I am holier than they . " In other company Ave may reap more edification , but " none of us liveth
unto himself . " We have not only to obtain , but to impart edification . The company Ave fall into should receive edification from us . We should not obtrude . We should argue more by conduct , by actions , rather than Avords . The enjoyment of higher privileges than others cancels no general obligations . No sanctity
in other things can compensate for the vvant of love . " If any man say I love God , and hateth his brother , he is a liar . " ( St . John . ) . Such ' are the difficulties of this twofold view . Scripture must be confronted with Serijiture . Analogies must be sought . ( Prov . chap , xvii ., ver . 17 . )
The Lodge Militant.
THE LODGE MILITANT .
( From our Scottish Correspondent . ) Some outsiders , from a consideration that man thousands of hrethren swell the ranks of the volunteer force , UOAV leagued together for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge of the art of Avar , have questioned
AA'hether , in so doing , Craftsmen are acting quite in unison with the spirit of Freemasonry , whose mission is prominently held forth to be one of UN - IVERSAJ . BKOTHJEEHOOD AND PEACE . While as Masons , we can have nothing to do with Avar , except it be to try to ameliorate its horrors , the Order has contained
some of the most distinguished warriors of modern times . Washington and Wellington , Nelson and Napier , Moore and Moira , Avith other commanders of lesser note , Avere members of the Craft , and their brilliant achievements in the service of their country continue to be remembered Avith pride and gratitude
by every patriotic Craftsman , both here and in America . As Masons we are ever ready to offer , the olive branch for the acceptance of brethren of every clime ; but when as citizens of our respective countries we unfurl the war banner in a righteous cause , Ave do not compromise any principle of
Masonry . But it is far from our intention to enter upon a disquisition affecting the propriety or impropriety of members of the Order engaging in the profession of arms ; rather it is our object to afford
to brethren the opportunity of contrasting with that of the present day the enthusiasm in the Yolunteer cause which animated the brethren of a former generation . There are many UOAV living Avho remember IIOAV , Ai'hen the First N apoleon threatened the invasion of this country , some 400 , 000 volunteers
sprang up as one man for the defence of home ancl fatherland . That the Craft furnished their quota to that army of reserve is beyond a doubt , for occasionally , even yet we meet upon the chequered floor Avith old brethren AVIIO have served in it . But few , A'ery few—none almost—now journey
on the level of time , who can have any personal recollection of the spirit of devotion to their country AA'hich , long anterior to the advent of Napoleon , beat so high in the heart of the Craftsmen of Scotland as to call down upon them a public rebuke from their supreme head in Masonic matters ,
or ei'en that such ivas the ease is known to comparatively few of those now taking an active part in the business of the order . History tells us that in 1777 , with America in open rebellion against her Sovereignty , and menaced by more than one of the Continental Powers thirsting
for her humiliation , Britain called for an extraordinary levy of men , Avherewith , to meet the emergency . Carried away by the patriotism AA'hich filled their