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Article OBJECTS OF MASONIC REFORM. ← Page 9 of 9
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Objects Of Masonic Reform.
both craft , arch , and mark . The order of S . John of Jerusalem , contrary to eA ery particle of historical evidence , is amalgamated with Templaiy , but suffered its share of change tivo years since . The Ancient and Accepted Rite—many degrees of Avhich are but Templaiy under another jurisdiction—is repudiated by all the foregoing notwithstanding it is a perfect Rite in itself , including all degrees
from the entered apprentice to the thirty-third . But here again is just the same Avant of unity , for certain of its ceremonies are still indefinite , and during the recollection of some AVIIO have been part and parcel of it since its establishment , these change at every performance , and are reported never to have been given twice alike . With these facts before us can Ave abstain from inquiring , Where
is that body of masonry in Avhich no man , or body of men , can make innovation 1 Is not the assertion a myth , and may be likened to that his us natura , a dead donkey , AVIIO is kicked by every one in turn and owned by none 1 Therefore , Avhen a brother
makes the admission in question , can it be Avondered at if he reconciles it Avith his conscience thus 1 " A promise may be broke ; Nay , start not at it— 'tis an hourly practice ; The trader breaks it—yet is counted honest ;
The courtier keeps it not—yet keeps his honor ; Husband and wife in marriage promise mnch , Yet follow sop ' rate pleasures , and are—virtuous . The churchmen promise too , but wisely they To a long payment stretch the crafty bill , And draw upon futurity . A promise I 'Tis the wise man's freedom , and the fool ' s restraint ;
It is the ship in which the knave embarks , Who rigs it with the tackle of his conscience , And sails with every wind . " HAVAHD . I have the honor to be , Right Worshipful ,
Your Lordship ' s humble hut fraternal servant , PHILALETHES .
BEHEAVEMEITTS . —When engineers bridge a stream they carry out , at first , but a single cord . With that , they stretch a wire across . Then strand is added to strand , until a foundation is laid for planks , on which the hold workman finds a safe footway and walks from side to side . So God takes from us golden-threaded pleasure , and stretches it hence into heaven . He takes a child , and then a friend . Thus he bridges death , and teaches the thoughts of the most timid to find their way hither and thither between the shores .
IT is not tlie great things of this life over which mortals stumble . A rock wc walk around , a mountain wo cross ; it is the unobserved , unexpected , unlookedfor little sticks and pebbles which cause us to halt on our journey . The blind may run against a rock and not fall ; but put a small matter in his way and he will stumble over it .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Objects Of Masonic Reform.
both craft , arch , and mark . The order of S . John of Jerusalem , contrary to eA ery particle of historical evidence , is amalgamated with Templaiy , but suffered its share of change tivo years since . The Ancient and Accepted Rite—many degrees of Avhich are but Templaiy under another jurisdiction—is repudiated by all the foregoing notwithstanding it is a perfect Rite in itself , including all degrees
from the entered apprentice to the thirty-third . But here again is just the same Avant of unity , for certain of its ceremonies are still indefinite , and during the recollection of some AVIIO have been part and parcel of it since its establishment , these change at every performance , and are reported never to have been given twice alike . With these facts before us can Ave abstain from inquiring , Where
is that body of masonry in Avhich no man , or body of men , can make innovation 1 Is not the assertion a myth , and may be likened to that his us natura , a dead donkey , AVIIO is kicked by every one in turn and owned by none 1 Therefore , Avhen a brother
makes the admission in question , can it be Avondered at if he reconciles it Avith his conscience thus 1 " A promise may be broke ; Nay , start not at it— 'tis an hourly practice ; The trader breaks it—yet is counted honest ;
The courtier keeps it not—yet keeps his honor ; Husband and wife in marriage promise mnch , Yet follow sop ' rate pleasures , and are—virtuous . The churchmen promise too , but wisely they To a long payment stretch the crafty bill , And draw upon futurity . A promise I 'Tis the wise man's freedom , and the fool ' s restraint ;
It is the ship in which the knave embarks , Who rigs it with the tackle of his conscience , And sails with every wind . " HAVAHD . I have the honor to be , Right Worshipful ,
Your Lordship ' s humble hut fraternal servant , PHILALETHES .
BEHEAVEMEITTS . —When engineers bridge a stream they carry out , at first , but a single cord . With that , they stretch a wire across . Then strand is added to strand , until a foundation is laid for planks , on which the hold workman finds a safe footway and walks from side to side . So God takes from us golden-threaded pleasure , and stretches it hence into heaven . He takes a child , and then a friend . Thus he bridges death , and teaches the thoughts of the most timid to find their way hither and thither between the shores .
IT is not tlie great things of this life over which mortals stumble . A rock wc walk around , a mountain wo cross ; it is the unobserved , unexpected , unlookedfor little sticks and pebbles which cause us to halt on our journey . The blind may run against a rock and not fall ; but put a small matter in his way and he will stumble over it .