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Article EXTRACTS FROM BRO. FREDERICK DALCHO'S WORKS. ← Page 2 of 3 Article EXTRACTS FROM BRO. FREDERICK DALCHO'S WORKS. Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Extracts From Bro. Frederick Dalcho's Works.
flame , but as the effect of the approximation of electric and non-electric clouds restoring equilibrium to the atmosphere . AVhen the trembling earth shakes beneath his feet , his mind recurs to the science of chemistry , aud finds in the expansion of gases an explanation of the phenomenon . AVhen the mid-day sun is enshrouded in darkness , and the earth is plunged into the depth and gloom of night , the science of astronomy has prepared him for the event , and the revolutions of the planetary system explain the
appearance . There are , my brethren , a multitude of other occurences in the physical world which admit of easy and just explanation by the lights of science , and which have for ages been viewed by the illiterate as the effects of a supernatural cause . To secure their labour from interruption , and themselves from calumny and reproachthe primitive
, philosophers associated together for the cultivation of the arts and sciences . Enveloped with the veil of mystery , and secure from vulgar eyes , they were occupied with reasoning on the wonderful operations ol' nature , and the divine attributes of nature ' s God . Experiments were instituted to establish data , and as operations and effects were multipliedcauses were developedand the sciences
, , and fine arts were established on imperishable principles . Emerging " from the ignorance and blindness in which they had been overwhelmed , they traced thc divinity through the walks of his power ancl his mighty deeds . Contemplation returned , glowing with conviction , that one great original of infinite power , of infinite intelligence , and of benevolence without bounds , was the master
of all . They beheld him in his works , they read his majesty in the heavens , and discovered his miracles in the deep , every plant that painted thc face of nature , and everything having the breath of life , described his presence and his power . " The opposition which was given by idolatrous nations to the religion of the most high God , and the persecution
and barbarous sufferings which his worshippers received from the hands of the infidels were , most probably , other powerful reasons for the establishment of secret societies ; wherein they could profess themselves " to be worshippers in that temple , whose bounds were from the distant quarters of the universe , whose height was no otherwise limited than by the heavens , and ivhose depth was founded
on that axis , on which the revolutions of the starry zodiac were performed , " and where they could adore the Author of their being , without fear and without danger . It has been generally reported and as generally believed , that our society was instituted for architectural purposes , by handi-craftsmen . AVhat gave rise to this idea , I am at a loss to determine , as the blue degrees have no written records to explain the difficulty , and tradition is too lame to give satisfaction to a scientific
mind . It is evident to all , that from the earliest ages , there havo been builders of temples , cities , and towers , but there is not the smallest reason for believing that they were formed into a body of artificers , professing architectural mysteries which were hidden from the world , nor indeed does the utility of such a mystic fraternity appear
reasonable , as their buildings were erected in open day , and the principles of the mechanic art being plain and intelligible , they were comprehensible to every capacity . That our adorable Creator was the Grand Architect of heaven and earth , none but madmen can doubt ; but that our primordial parent was a Freemason , because he sewed two or three fileaves togetheris too insignificant a
g , supposition to require a serious refutation . . No , my brethren , ive degrade ourselves and our illustrious society by advocating such untenable doctrines , and those voluminous plodders of Masonic history , who make Masons of every man of note , from Adam to __\ imrod , and from jSTimrod to Solomon , down to tbe present day , certainly deserve much credit for their industry , but
Extracts From Bro. Frederick Dalcho's Works.
more for their talents ; indeed we have incontestible proofs that many of the number whom they enumerate were perfectly ignorant of the mystic institution . These proofs arc contined in the archives " of thesublime institution . These archives are not founded upon the speculative ' . opinions of ingenious or prejudiced individuals , nor on the doubtful evidence of oral
tradition . They are records of very ancient date , and contain , besides the evidence of the origin of Masonry , many of the great and important principles of science-Here are data for the mind to rest upon , and here is subject matter fit for the contemplation of an enlightened genius . In these archives are contained the evidences of truth , and the unbiassed mind of an enterprising
inquirer will view with unequalled satisfaction the fair fabric of science and religion , which was erected by his forefathers to the name of the only true and living God , Yes , my brethren , I speak from the evidence of my own judgment , I speak from the feelings of an heart warm with attachment to our illustrious society , that I shall ever hold in grateful recollection the suffrages of my brethren which opened to me the rich treasures o £
the most sacred place in the earth , and gave to me the knowledge as they before had done the name of a Mason . They dispelled many doubts from my mind , and elucidated , to my satisfaction , the origin and principles of that society , into which I had been admitted . My eager mind , thirsting for information , received with rapture the instructions which were given me . It was
then , indeed , I felt the force of thc old adage , " that a considerable degree of information is necessary before we become convinced that we know nothing . " I had before been pursuing an aerial form which eluded my grasp , an ignis fattens which blazed but to vanish , a vision which gave music to the ear but nothing to the heart . Let neither interest sway , nor friendship blind you .
Let neither the pride of family , nor wealth , nor the dignity of rank , induce you to give your suffrage to a candidate whom you do not conscientiously believe will , from his talents , be an ornament to our society , and , from his virtue , be a strict observer of the excellent principles of our institution . The father of Solomon has declared , in the following Psalm , the principles which a candidate for initiation should possess .
" Lorcl , who shall abide m thy Tabernacle ? AA'ho shall dwell in thy holy hill ? " He that walketh uprightly , and wovketh righteousness , And speaks the truth in his heart . " He that backbiteth not with his tongue , Nor doeth evil to his neighbour , Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour .
"In ivhose eyes a vile person is contemned ; But he lionoiireth them that fear the Lord , He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not . " Ho that putteth not out his money to usury , Nor taketh reward against the innocent . He that doeth these things shall never be moved . " —Psalm 15 th .
Another circumstance of the highest importance to the whole fraternity , is that of secresy . Too often do we hear disclosures made out of doors which should have been carefully locked up in the bosoms of the members . The character of an applicant is to be held sacred by the Craft , and should he be deemed to be unfit for admittance , tho knowledge of his unfitness is to be hid from all but
Masons . Ton are to make a scrupulous investigation into his character , and to reject him without hesitation , if found unworthy of participation of our sacred mysteries . This is a solemn duty you owe to the Craft , but it is also a duty you owe to the applicant to let the knowledge of it rest with yourselves . Nothing can justify your injuring him in the opinion of the world , or holding him up to society as a mark for suspicion to rest upon . There are many traits in a man's ' character which may render him unfit for our society , which do not detract from
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Extracts From Bro. Frederick Dalcho's Works.
flame , but as the effect of the approximation of electric and non-electric clouds restoring equilibrium to the atmosphere . AVhen the trembling earth shakes beneath his feet , his mind recurs to the science of chemistry , aud finds in the expansion of gases an explanation of the phenomenon . AVhen the mid-day sun is enshrouded in darkness , and the earth is plunged into the depth and gloom of night , the science of astronomy has prepared him for the event , and the revolutions of the planetary system explain the
appearance . There are , my brethren , a multitude of other occurences in the physical world which admit of easy and just explanation by the lights of science , and which have for ages been viewed by the illiterate as the effects of a supernatural cause . To secure their labour from interruption , and themselves from calumny and reproachthe primitive
, philosophers associated together for the cultivation of the arts and sciences . Enveloped with the veil of mystery , and secure from vulgar eyes , they were occupied with reasoning on the wonderful operations ol' nature , and the divine attributes of nature ' s God . Experiments were instituted to establish data , and as operations and effects were multipliedcauses were developedand the sciences
, , and fine arts were established on imperishable principles . Emerging " from the ignorance and blindness in which they had been overwhelmed , they traced thc divinity through the walks of his power ancl his mighty deeds . Contemplation returned , glowing with conviction , that one great original of infinite power , of infinite intelligence , and of benevolence without bounds , was the master
of all . They beheld him in his works , they read his majesty in the heavens , and discovered his miracles in the deep , every plant that painted thc face of nature , and everything having the breath of life , described his presence and his power . " The opposition which was given by idolatrous nations to the religion of the most high God , and the persecution
and barbarous sufferings which his worshippers received from the hands of the infidels were , most probably , other powerful reasons for the establishment of secret societies ; wherein they could profess themselves " to be worshippers in that temple , whose bounds were from the distant quarters of the universe , whose height was no otherwise limited than by the heavens , and ivhose depth was founded
on that axis , on which the revolutions of the starry zodiac were performed , " and where they could adore the Author of their being , without fear and without danger . It has been generally reported and as generally believed , that our society was instituted for architectural purposes , by handi-craftsmen . AVhat gave rise to this idea , I am at a loss to determine , as the blue degrees have no written records to explain the difficulty , and tradition is too lame to give satisfaction to a scientific
mind . It is evident to all , that from the earliest ages , there havo been builders of temples , cities , and towers , but there is not the smallest reason for believing that they were formed into a body of artificers , professing architectural mysteries which were hidden from the world , nor indeed does the utility of such a mystic fraternity appear
reasonable , as their buildings were erected in open day , and the principles of the mechanic art being plain and intelligible , they were comprehensible to every capacity . That our adorable Creator was the Grand Architect of heaven and earth , none but madmen can doubt ; but that our primordial parent was a Freemason , because he sewed two or three fileaves togetheris too insignificant a
g , supposition to require a serious refutation . . No , my brethren , ive degrade ourselves and our illustrious society by advocating such untenable doctrines , and those voluminous plodders of Masonic history , who make Masons of every man of note , from Adam to __\ imrod , and from jSTimrod to Solomon , down to tbe present day , certainly deserve much credit for their industry , but
Extracts From Bro. Frederick Dalcho's Works.
more for their talents ; indeed we have incontestible proofs that many of the number whom they enumerate were perfectly ignorant of the mystic institution . These proofs arc contined in the archives " of thesublime institution . These archives are not founded upon the speculative ' . opinions of ingenious or prejudiced individuals , nor on the doubtful evidence of oral
tradition . They are records of very ancient date , and contain , besides the evidence of the origin of Masonry , many of the great and important principles of science-Here are data for the mind to rest upon , and here is subject matter fit for the contemplation of an enlightened genius . In these archives are contained the evidences of truth , and the unbiassed mind of an enterprising
inquirer will view with unequalled satisfaction the fair fabric of science and religion , which was erected by his forefathers to the name of the only true and living God , Yes , my brethren , I speak from the evidence of my own judgment , I speak from the feelings of an heart warm with attachment to our illustrious society , that I shall ever hold in grateful recollection the suffrages of my brethren which opened to me the rich treasures o £
the most sacred place in the earth , and gave to me the knowledge as they before had done the name of a Mason . They dispelled many doubts from my mind , and elucidated , to my satisfaction , the origin and principles of that society , into which I had been admitted . My eager mind , thirsting for information , received with rapture the instructions which were given me . It was
then , indeed , I felt the force of thc old adage , " that a considerable degree of information is necessary before we become convinced that we know nothing . " I had before been pursuing an aerial form which eluded my grasp , an ignis fattens which blazed but to vanish , a vision which gave music to the ear but nothing to the heart . Let neither interest sway , nor friendship blind you .
Let neither the pride of family , nor wealth , nor the dignity of rank , induce you to give your suffrage to a candidate whom you do not conscientiously believe will , from his talents , be an ornament to our society , and , from his virtue , be a strict observer of the excellent principles of our institution . The father of Solomon has declared , in the following Psalm , the principles which a candidate for initiation should possess .
" Lorcl , who shall abide m thy Tabernacle ? AA'ho shall dwell in thy holy hill ? " He that walketh uprightly , and wovketh righteousness , And speaks the truth in his heart . " He that backbiteth not with his tongue , Nor doeth evil to his neighbour , Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour .
"In ivhose eyes a vile person is contemned ; But he lionoiireth them that fear the Lord , He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not . " Ho that putteth not out his money to usury , Nor taketh reward against the innocent . He that doeth these things shall never be moved . " —Psalm 15 th .
Another circumstance of the highest importance to the whole fraternity , is that of secresy . Too often do we hear disclosures made out of doors which should have been carefully locked up in the bosoms of the members . The character of an applicant is to be held sacred by the Craft , and should he be deemed to be unfit for admittance , tho knowledge of his unfitness is to be hid from all but
Masons . Ton are to make a scrupulous investigation into his character , and to reject him without hesitation , if found unworthy of participation of our sacred mysteries . This is a solemn duty you owe to the Craft , but it is also a duty you owe to the applicant to let the knowledge of it rest with yourselves . Nothing can justify your injuring him in the opinion of the world , or holding him up to society as a mark for suspicion to rest upon . There are many traits in a man's ' character which may render him unfit for our society , which do not detract from