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Article For the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
For The Freemasons' Magazine.
thorns in the road to happiness , and substitutes a flowery path to the same goal . " It is to be lamented , that to the suggestions of some weak minds among our own Fraternity the prejudices of the world against our invaluable Institution are in a great measure imputable . Unable to comprehend the beautiful allegories of ancient Wisdom , they ignorantly assertthat the rites of MASONRY are futileand it ' s
, , doctrines inefficient . To this assertion , indeed , they give by their own conduct , a semblance of truth , as we fail to discern that they are made wiser or better men by their admission to our Mysteries . Nature alone can implant the seeds of wisdom ; but MASONRY will teach and enable us to cultivate the soil , and to foster and strengthen the plant in it ' s growth .
" Of understandings incompetent to the conception of an idea so sublime as that of a Society of men , uniting for the noble purpose of imbibing and disseminating the principles of wisdom and of virtue ( for , in the ROYAL ART , wisdom and virtue go hand in hand ) in a mode so facile and so fascinating as to serve the sacred cause by an imperceptible operation ; binding themselves to civil
and social fidelity , to support * the government of the State under which they live , and to revere the laws wisely established for ° -ood government amongthemselves ; subjugating their passions , healinganimosities ; cultivating fraternal affection ; promoting and
facilitating the acquisition of Science and Philosophy ; and , by the influence of precept and of example , enforcing the practice of every moral and religious virtue : —Incapable , I say , of comprehending such an immense plan of perfection , the grosser faculties of some men lead them to conceive of MASONRY as of a superior decree of club-conviviality only . Assuming this fallacious principle , they , perhapsprevail with some inconsiderate Brother to their
, propose initiation to our Mysteries ; and what has that Brother not to answer for , who , so far forgetting our ancient charges , substitutes , it may be , the fruits of a club-room acquaintance with a man for a solid qualification for MASONRY ; and thus degrades the dignity of that character which it has been the pride and pleasure of the greatest and best of Princes to assume and to support ?
" The candidate thus unworthily introduced , with a soul torpid to every mental enjoyment , experiences a disgusting fadium durinothe business of a Lodge , and flies from this vacuity of mind with rapture to the subsequent entertainment ; thus evincingtoo plainly , that not " the feast of reason , " so much as " the flow of soul , " was his inducement to initiation . " From such an attendance on the duties of MASONRY what
, impression can be made , but that of stupid wonder at the mysterious ( and , to him , incomprehensible ) pursuits , whence , gratifying as they appeared to sensible minds , he could derive no pleasure ? Not to SUBVKUT , as has been the pretence of some foreign States , for most im-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
For The Freemasons' Magazine.
thorns in the road to happiness , and substitutes a flowery path to the same goal . " It is to be lamented , that to the suggestions of some weak minds among our own Fraternity the prejudices of the world against our invaluable Institution are in a great measure imputable . Unable to comprehend the beautiful allegories of ancient Wisdom , they ignorantly assertthat the rites of MASONRY are futileand it ' s
, , doctrines inefficient . To this assertion , indeed , they give by their own conduct , a semblance of truth , as we fail to discern that they are made wiser or better men by their admission to our Mysteries . Nature alone can implant the seeds of wisdom ; but MASONRY will teach and enable us to cultivate the soil , and to foster and strengthen the plant in it ' s growth .
" Of understandings incompetent to the conception of an idea so sublime as that of a Society of men , uniting for the noble purpose of imbibing and disseminating the principles of wisdom and of virtue ( for , in the ROYAL ART , wisdom and virtue go hand in hand ) in a mode so facile and so fascinating as to serve the sacred cause by an imperceptible operation ; binding themselves to civil
and social fidelity , to support * the government of the State under which they live , and to revere the laws wisely established for ° -ood government amongthemselves ; subjugating their passions , healinganimosities ; cultivating fraternal affection ; promoting and
facilitating the acquisition of Science and Philosophy ; and , by the influence of precept and of example , enforcing the practice of every moral and religious virtue : —Incapable , I say , of comprehending such an immense plan of perfection , the grosser faculties of some men lead them to conceive of MASONRY as of a superior decree of club-conviviality only . Assuming this fallacious principle , they , perhapsprevail with some inconsiderate Brother to their
, propose initiation to our Mysteries ; and what has that Brother not to answer for , who , so far forgetting our ancient charges , substitutes , it may be , the fruits of a club-room acquaintance with a man for a solid qualification for MASONRY ; and thus degrades the dignity of that character which it has been the pride and pleasure of the greatest and best of Princes to assume and to support ?
" The candidate thus unworthily introduced , with a soul torpid to every mental enjoyment , experiences a disgusting fadium durinothe business of a Lodge , and flies from this vacuity of mind with rapture to the subsequent entertainment ; thus evincingtoo plainly , that not " the feast of reason , " so much as " the flow of soul , " was his inducement to initiation . " From such an attendance on the duties of MASONRY what
, impression can be made , but that of stupid wonder at the mysterious ( and , to him , incomprehensible ) pursuits , whence , gratifying as they appeared to sensible minds , he could derive no pleasure ? Not to SUBVKUT , as has been the pretence of some foreign States , for most im-