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  • April 25, 1868
  • Page 9
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, April 25, 1868: Page 9

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    Article SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Page 9

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Saint John The Evangelist.

—that is , whom He specially and emphatically loved—and there can be no manner of doubt that there Avas very much loveable about him , in his own nature , in the genial spirit Avith Avhich he Avas endowed , and in the superadded gifts and graces of

the Holy Spirit Avith which he appears to have been most liberally supplied . It seems to admit of no question that John , like the Saviour himself , was the very personification of love . He breathes it out everywhere , and acts it out on eveiy occasion ,

if we except the single instance in Avhich , exasperated by the conduct of the Samaritans towards his Master , he Avould have called down fire from Heaven to consume them . He kept close to his Divine Head , as did Salome , his pious and devoted

mother ; was Avarmed by His love , and reflected that love on all around him . He Avas present at nearly all the great miracles performed by Christ ; he Avas honoured by seeing his Saviour on the Mount of Transfiguration , revealed in all the glory

of his Godhead ; he was present to Avitness the restoration to life of Jairus' daughter , and the raising of Lazarus from , his apparently hopeless grave ; he was a leader in the triumphant procession into Jerusalem , Avhen the people cried ,

" Hosanna to the son of David ! " and strewed their palm-leaves and branches in the path of Him whom they hoped to see proclaimed as their Great Deliverer and King ; he leaned on the bosom of Christ at the Paschal Supper ; he was at His elbow in the Garden of Gethsemaue Avhen He was

betrayed jand taken before the Hi gh Priests and Scribes ; he was able to get into ^ the Hall of Annas , when all the other disciples , save Peter , had forsaken their Lord ; he Avas the only one present at the crucifixion , even the valiant Peter himself

having fled at the sacrifice ; and , next to Mary Magdalene , he Avas the earliest at the sepulchre to ^ behold the stone rolled back , the grave-clothes in order in the new-made tomb , and the risen and exalted Saviour triumphing over death and the

grave ! More remarkable still , he Avas the trusty and loving friend to Avhom the Saviour , with his dying breath , committed his mother , Mary . The Scripture narrative on this interesting fact is most impressive , John himself being the writer . " Now

there stood by the cross of Jesus , his mother , and Ins mother ' s sister , Mary , the Avife of Cleophas , and Mary Magdalene . When Jesus , therefore , saAv his mother and the disciple standing by Avhom he loved , he saith unto his mother , Woman , behold thy son ! Then saith he to the disci ple ,

Behold thy mother ! And from that hour the disciple took her into his OAVU home . He was thus highly honoured , aud he Avas Avorthy of the honour ; he Avas thus nobly taught , and he learned IIOAV nobly to teach others .

Without entering too minutely into the teachings of John , who can fail to be deeply impressed Avith the length aud breadth , and height and depth , of the tenderness and love which characterise them . No apostle has displayed more , not one even so

much , of the deep compassion and profound sympathy and over-flowing love Avhich distinguished his Great Master . His Gospel is strikingly simple and sublime , and his Epistles are a model of pure , refined , tender , and sublimated doctrine and

precept . John has kind and good advice to give to everybody in every station and condition in life , and he gives it as a venerable father , Avho has studied human nature , knows its weakness and sins , and is entitled to be heard . His favourite

form of address is , "My little children ; " he proceeds on the assumption , that " If we say AVO have no sin , AA' 6 deceive ourselves , and tho truth is not

in us ; " while " if Ave confess our sins , " God " is faithful and just to forgive us our sins , and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness ; " ancl he goes on -to SIIOAV that there is only one right way of serving God , and that is by " keeping his

commandments . " What a glorious set of principles and doctrines are found in the third chapter of his first Epistle , in which purity of thought and life are urged and commended with true apostolic fervour and zeal ! " Little children , " he says ,

" let no man deceive you ; he that doeth righteousness , is righteous ; " " he that committeth sin is of the devil . " " Whoso hath this world ' s goods , and seeth his brother have need , and shutteth up

his bowels of compassion from him , hoAv dwelleth the love of God in him . " "My little children , let us not love in word , neither in tongue , but in deed ancl in truth . " Then , iu the fourth chapter of the same Epistle , see how he dwells ou love to

God and loA r e to man , as the whole sum and substance of tho Gospel ! "Beloved , " ho writes , "let us love one another , for love is of God ; ancl every one that loveth is born of God , aud kuou-oth God ; lie that loveth not , knowefch not God , for

God is love . " " Beloved , if God so loved us , we ought also to love another . " " God is love , aud he that dwelleth in love dwelleth iu God , aud God in him . " "If a man soy I love God , and hateth his brother , he is a liar : for he that lovelii not his

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1868-04-25, Page 9” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 10 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_25041868/page/9/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
THE MASONIC CHARITIES AT HOME AND ABROAD. Article 1
SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST. Article 7
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. Article 10
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 11
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 12
THE FELLOW-CRAFT DEGREE. Article 13
MASONIC BOOKMARKERS. Article 13
DERIVATION OF TYLER AND COWAN. Article 14
IRISH LODGES. Article 14
MASONIC EXCHANGE. Article 14
MASONIC MEMS. Article 15
METROPOLITAN. Article 15
PROVINCIAL. Article 16
SCOTLAND. Article 19
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 19
LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW MASONIC HALL AT GATESHEAD. Article 19
MEETINGS OF THE LEARNED SOCIETIES FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 2ND, 1868. Article 20
METROPOLITAN LODGE MEETINGS, ETC., FOE THE WEEK ENDING MAY 2ND, 1868. Article 20
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Saint John The Evangelist.

—that is , whom He specially and emphatically loved—and there can be no manner of doubt that there Avas very much loveable about him , in his own nature , in the genial spirit Avith Avhich he Avas endowed , and in the superadded gifts and graces of

the Holy Spirit Avith which he appears to have been most liberally supplied . It seems to admit of no question that John , like the Saviour himself , was the very personification of love . He breathes it out everywhere , and acts it out on eveiy occasion ,

if we except the single instance in Avhich , exasperated by the conduct of the Samaritans towards his Master , he Avould have called down fire from Heaven to consume them . He kept close to his Divine Head , as did Salome , his pious and devoted

mother ; was Avarmed by His love , and reflected that love on all around him . He Avas present at nearly all the great miracles performed by Christ ; he Avas honoured by seeing his Saviour on the Mount of Transfiguration , revealed in all the glory

of his Godhead ; he was present to Avitness the restoration to life of Jairus' daughter , and the raising of Lazarus from , his apparently hopeless grave ; he was a leader in the triumphant procession into Jerusalem , Avhen the people cried ,

" Hosanna to the son of David ! " and strewed their palm-leaves and branches in the path of Him whom they hoped to see proclaimed as their Great Deliverer and King ; he leaned on the bosom of Christ at the Paschal Supper ; he was at His elbow in the Garden of Gethsemaue Avhen He was

betrayed jand taken before the Hi gh Priests and Scribes ; he was able to get into ^ the Hall of Annas , when all the other disciples , save Peter , had forsaken their Lord ; he Avas the only one present at the crucifixion , even the valiant Peter himself

having fled at the sacrifice ; and , next to Mary Magdalene , he Avas the earliest at the sepulchre to ^ behold the stone rolled back , the grave-clothes in order in the new-made tomb , and the risen and exalted Saviour triumphing over death and the

grave ! More remarkable still , he Avas the trusty and loving friend to Avhom the Saviour , with his dying breath , committed his mother , Mary . The Scripture narrative on this interesting fact is most impressive , John himself being the writer . " Now

there stood by the cross of Jesus , his mother , and Ins mother ' s sister , Mary , the Avife of Cleophas , and Mary Magdalene . When Jesus , therefore , saAv his mother and the disciple standing by Avhom he loved , he saith unto his mother , Woman , behold thy son ! Then saith he to the disci ple ,

Behold thy mother ! And from that hour the disciple took her into his OAVU home . He was thus highly honoured , aud he Avas Avorthy of the honour ; he Avas thus nobly taught , and he learned IIOAV nobly to teach others .

Without entering too minutely into the teachings of John , who can fail to be deeply impressed Avith the length aud breadth , and height and depth , of the tenderness and love which characterise them . No apostle has displayed more , not one even so

much , of the deep compassion and profound sympathy and over-flowing love Avhich distinguished his Great Master . His Gospel is strikingly simple and sublime , and his Epistles are a model of pure , refined , tender , and sublimated doctrine and

precept . John has kind and good advice to give to everybody in every station and condition in life , and he gives it as a venerable father , Avho has studied human nature , knows its weakness and sins , and is entitled to be heard . His favourite

form of address is , "My little children ; " he proceeds on the assumption , that " If we say AVO have no sin , AA' 6 deceive ourselves , and tho truth is not

in us ; " while " if Ave confess our sins , " God " is faithful and just to forgive us our sins , and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness ; " ancl he goes on -to SIIOAV that there is only one right way of serving God , and that is by " keeping his

commandments . " What a glorious set of principles and doctrines are found in the third chapter of his first Epistle , in which purity of thought and life are urged and commended with true apostolic fervour and zeal ! " Little children , " he says ,

" let no man deceive you ; he that doeth righteousness , is righteous ; " " he that committeth sin is of the devil . " " Whoso hath this world ' s goods , and seeth his brother have need , and shutteth up

his bowels of compassion from him , hoAv dwelleth the love of God in him . " "My little children , let us not love in word , neither in tongue , but in deed ancl in truth . " Then , iu the fourth chapter of the same Epistle , see how he dwells ou love to

God and loA r e to man , as the whole sum and substance of tho Gospel ! "Beloved , " ho writes , "let us love one another , for love is of God ; ancl every one that loveth is born of God , aud kuou-oth God ; lie that loveth not , knowefch not God , for

God is love . " " Beloved , if God so loved us , we ought also to love another . " " God is love , aud he that dwelleth in love dwelleth iu God , aud God in him . " "If a man soy I love God , and hateth his brother , he is a liar : for he that lovelii not his

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