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  • June 1, 1795
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The Freemasons' Magazine, June 1, 1795: Page 41

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    Article DETACHED THOUGHTS. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Page 41

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

Detached Thoughts.

ON PROSPERITY .

PROSPERITY is not dangerous merely as prosperity , but because it habituates the mind to a kind of confidence , yet disposes it to be cast down on the first misfortune . It extinguishes by degrees , in the heart of man , firmness and constancy , and inspires him with vanity , that disorder so fatal and incurable , which deceives both ourselves and others ; it begets presumption which misrepresents objects

^ and lays snares for those who are under its dominion . Diversified misfortune is more suitable to the state of man ; it teaches him to know himself , to seek resources within himself ; in a short time it will lay open to him what he never would have known in the common course of events , or iu uninterrupted success .

ON MORALITY .

IGNORANCE , without preliminary reflections , draws the boldest corollaries on morality ; and he who has read deeply , often loses the vigour of instinct by the habit of reasoning . . Several run-away negroes being condemed to be hanged , one was offered his life , provided he would be the executioner of the others-—die refused—he Would rather die . — -The master fixes on another of his slaves

to perform the office . " Stay , " said he , " until I prepare myself . " He retired to his hut , and cut off his hand with an ax . Returning to his master- ^ - Now compel me ( said' he ) if you can , to bang my comrades . The Charibbee Indians , seeing their enemies cast away on their shoalsplunge into the sea and save them from the stretch '

, waves , them on the shore , take all manner of care of them . When they expect to die , the Indian chief says , " To-day you are our brethren , tomorrow you will be our enemies ; then we will kill you ; but now depart in peace . " ' ' * Where is the sacred portrait of morality better found tlian in the rmdst of flames , or in shipwrecks ? There the friend will force his friend into the

boat , and will himself remain in the sinking vessel ; there the neighbour rushes through the flames to save the child sleeping m its cradle . Great calamities produce the most heroic and generous actions . Who cast themselves into the sea , or into a gulph , to save their fellow-creatures ? Men reputed rude and unpolished . Instinct with , them

anticipates reason . Heroism forms no calculations ; and the most astonishing , most incredible actions , are done by those whom we look upon as the lowest of human nature . Woe to him who has not stood in want of the assistance of man I Pie contracts ahardness of heart which he calls a noble pride ; he mistakes fastidiousness for dignityand haug for

, a hty deportment a mark ot nobility ; he lives without knowing himself , and despises his tellow-creature , without even suspecting that such a one may possess abilities which render him his superior VOL , IV . , 3 ?

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1795-06-01, Page 41” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 2 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01061795/page/41/.
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
LONDON: Article 1
TO OUR READERS, CORRESPONDENTS, &c. Article 2
PRICES OF BINDING PER VOLUME. Article 2
THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE, OR GENERAL AND COMPLETE LIBRARY. Article 3
HUMANITY OF GELO, KING OF SYRACUSE. Article 7
DISSERTATIONS ON THE POLITE ARTS. Article 8
GENEROUS SENTIMENTS ON THE PROSPERITY OF OTHERS, CONDUCIVE TO OUR OWN HAPPINESS. Article 10
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE RELIGIOUS AND MILITARY ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM. Article 12
THE FREEMASON. No. VI. Article 17
THE STAGE. Article 19
ON FRIENDSHIP. Article 22
BASEM; OR, THE BLACKSMITH. AN ORIENTAL APOLOGUE. Article 24
SPECIMEN OF MODERN BIOGRAPHY, Article 33
ANECDOTE. Article 34
TESTIMONY OF N. B. HALHEAD, ESQ. M. P. Article 35
SEMIRAMIS. A VISION. Article 37
DETACHED THOUGHTS. Article 39
RULES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE SIGHT. Article 43
ON DISCONTENT WITH OUR LOT IN LIFE. Article 45
Untitled Article 47
ESSAY ON JUSTICE. Article 48
ANECDOTE OF SANTEUIL. Article 49
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. Article 50
ANECDOTE OF WILLIAM THE THIRD. Article 55
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 56
POETRY. Article 58
TO MISS S****. Article 58
TO Dr. BROWN, WITH A TONQUIN BEAN*. Article 59
VERSES, Article 59
A PARAPHRASE ON THE LAMENTATION OF DAVID, FOR THE DEATH OF SAUL AND JONATHAN. Article 60
THE MASONS' LODGE. Article 61
STRICTURES ON PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 62
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 63
PROMOTIONS. Article 66
Untitled Article 66
Untitled Article 67
BANKRUPTS. Article 67
INDEX TO THE FOURTH VOLUME. Article 68
ADVERTISEMENT. Article 72
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Page 41

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

Detached Thoughts.

ON PROSPERITY .

PROSPERITY is not dangerous merely as prosperity , but because it habituates the mind to a kind of confidence , yet disposes it to be cast down on the first misfortune . It extinguishes by degrees , in the heart of man , firmness and constancy , and inspires him with vanity , that disorder so fatal and incurable , which deceives both ourselves and others ; it begets presumption which misrepresents objects

^ and lays snares for those who are under its dominion . Diversified misfortune is more suitable to the state of man ; it teaches him to know himself , to seek resources within himself ; in a short time it will lay open to him what he never would have known in the common course of events , or iu uninterrupted success .

ON MORALITY .

IGNORANCE , without preliminary reflections , draws the boldest corollaries on morality ; and he who has read deeply , often loses the vigour of instinct by the habit of reasoning . . Several run-away negroes being condemed to be hanged , one was offered his life , provided he would be the executioner of the others-—die refused—he Would rather die . — -The master fixes on another of his slaves

to perform the office . " Stay , " said he , " until I prepare myself . " He retired to his hut , and cut off his hand with an ax . Returning to his master- ^ - Now compel me ( said' he ) if you can , to bang my comrades . The Charibbee Indians , seeing their enemies cast away on their shoalsplunge into the sea and save them from the stretch '

, waves , them on the shore , take all manner of care of them . When they expect to die , the Indian chief says , " To-day you are our brethren , tomorrow you will be our enemies ; then we will kill you ; but now depart in peace . " ' ' * Where is the sacred portrait of morality better found tlian in the rmdst of flames , or in shipwrecks ? There the friend will force his friend into the

boat , and will himself remain in the sinking vessel ; there the neighbour rushes through the flames to save the child sleeping m its cradle . Great calamities produce the most heroic and generous actions . Who cast themselves into the sea , or into a gulph , to save their fellow-creatures ? Men reputed rude and unpolished . Instinct with , them

anticipates reason . Heroism forms no calculations ; and the most astonishing , most incredible actions , are done by those whom we look upon as the lowest of human nature . Woe to him who has not stood in want of the assistance of man I Pie contracts ahardness of heart which he calls a noble pride ; he mistakes fastidiousness for dignityand haug for

, a hty deportment a mark ot nobility ; he lives without knowing himself , and despises his tellow-creature , without even suspecting that such a one may possess abilities which render him his superior VOL , IV . , 3 ?

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