Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemasons' Magazine
  • Aug. 1, 1796
  • Page 7
Current:

The Freemasons' Magazine, Aug. 1, 1796: Page 7

  • Back to The Freemasons' Magazine, Aug. 1, 1796
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article A DEFENCE OF MASONRY, ← Page 4 of 4
Page 7

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

A Defence Of Masonry,

Now , I would know what precept , divine or human , has any way determined upon the contents of the Dissection ? And whether the general design of Masonry , as there laid down , is not , at least , of equal benefit and importance to the public , with the lending of an hundred crowns to a private man ? The answers to these questions are obvious , and the consequence is equally plain , that an oath upon the ol

subject ' Masonry is , at least , jus . iiiable and lawful' ' ! -- As for the terror of the . Penalty , the world , upon that occasion , is commonly mistaken : for the solemnity of the oath does not in the Jeastadd to the obligation ; or , in other words ,, the oath is equally binding , without any penalty at ail .. The same casuist has this expression : * ' A solemn oathof itselfand in its own natureis not

, , , more obligatory than a simple one ; because the obligation of an oath ariseth precisely from this , that God is invoked , as a witness and revenger , no less in a simple oath , thai iu the solemn and corporal-: for the invocation is made precisely by the pronunciation of the words , ( which is the same both in the simple and solemn ) and not by any corporal mption , or concomitant sign , iu which the solemnity of the oath consists

. But , further , if the oath in the Dissection be taken by all Masons upon their admission , no Member of tbe Fraternity , upon any prer tence whatsoever , dares violate the obligation of it , without incurring the guilt of perjury ; even supposing that Masonry were more trifling and indifferentthan in the Dissection it to beAnd

, may appear . , therefore , if the conduct of the Dissector has staggered the conscience of any one of the Brotherhood , concerning the observation of that oath ; and has induced him to trifle and play with the force of it , I hope he will desist betimes , lest he becomes actually forsworn .

Fnis case is thus determined b y the same casuist , f ' A voluntary oath is the more binding , for being voluntary ; because there is no stricter obligation than that which we take willingly " upon ourselves . ' And in another place . ] : the casuist is more particular : 'Where a matter is so trivial , that it is not worth the deliberation of a wise man , nor matters a straw whether it be done or not done , as to reach yp . a chip , or ' to rub one ' s beard ; or , for the sli ghtness of the matter , is notmuch to be esteemed

- , as to give a boy an apple , or lend a pin ; an oath is binding in a matter of the least moment : because wei ghty and trivial things have a like respect unto truth and falsbood ; and , further , because eveiy party swearing is bound to perform all he promised , as far as he is able , and as far as it is lawful : but to give an apple to a bay is both possible and lawful ; he is bound , therefore , to perform it ; he ought to fulfil his oath . £ TO BE CON'TIN-UKD . ^ j

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1796-08-01, Page 7” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 28 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01081796/page/7/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
LONDON: Article 2
TO READERS , CORRESPONDENTS , Sec. Article 3
THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE, AND CABINET 0F UNIVERSAL LITERATURE. Article 4
A DEFENCE OF MASONRY, Article 4
A CHARGE DELIVERED TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNION LODGE, Article 8
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. Article 10
ON THE CAUSES OF THE HIGH PRICE OF CORN. Article 17
DESCRIPTION OF THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO. Article 19
ON FEMALE EDUCATION. Article 21
ESSAYS ON SUBJECTS CONNECTED WITH HISTORY AND CLASSICAL LEARNING. Article 23
LOUIS XII. KING OF FRANCE. Article 28
DEATH OF THE GREAT MARSHAL TURENNE. Article 29
CURIOUS PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO THE JEWS. Article 31
Untitled Article 34
DESCRIPTION OF A PORTABLE GYN, FOR MOUNTING OR DISMOUNTING ORDNANCE: Article 36
EXCERPTA ET COLLECTANEA. Article 38
THE POISONOUS QUALITY OF MUSCLES CONSIDERED. Article 42
To the EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE. Article 43
REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Article 44
POETRY. Article 52
ODE TO FANCY. Article 53
A POETICAL REVERIE ON THE GOUT. Article 54
ON SEEING A VERY SENSIBLE WOMAN WEEPING, WITH A BEAUTIFUL CHILD AT HER SIDE, IN THE SAME SITUATION. Article 55
ON THE AUTHOR OF THE BALLAD CALLED THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD. Article 56
A PIECE FROM A SERIOUS MUSICAL COMPOSITION. Article 57
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 58
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 60
HOME NEWS. Article 62
OBITUARY. Article 66
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

2 Articles
Page 3

Page 3

1 Article
Page 4

Page 4

2 Articles
Page 5

Page 5

1 Article
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

1 Article
Page 8

Page 8

1 Article
Page 9

Page 9

1 Article
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

1 Article
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

1 Article
Page 16

Page 16

1 Article
Page 17

Page 17

1 Article
Page 18

Page 18

1 Article
Page 19

Page 19

2 Articles
Page 20

Page 20

1 Article
Page 21

Page 21

2 Articles
Page 22

Page 22

1 Article
Page 23

Page 23

1 Article
Page 24

Page 24

1 Article
Page 25

Page 25

1 Article
Page 26

Page 26

1 Article
Page 27

Page 27

1 Article
Page 28

Page 28

2 Articles
Page 29

Page 29

1 Article
Page 30

Page 30

1 Article
Page 31

Page 31

1 Article
Page 32

Page 32

1 Article
Page 33

Page 33

1 Article
Page 34

Page 34

1 Article
Page 35

Page 35

0 Articles
Page 36

Page 36

1 Article
Page 37

Page 37

1 Article
Page 38

Page 38

1 Article
Page 39

Page 39

1 Article
Page 40

Page 40

1 Article
Page 41

Page 41

1 Article
Page 42

Page 42

1 Article
Page 43

Page 43

2 Articles
Page 44

Page 44

1 Article
Page 45

Page 45

1 Article
Page 46

Page 46

1 Article
Page 47

Page 47

1 Article
Page 48

Page 48

1 Article
Page 49

Page 49

1 Article
Page 50

Page 50

1 Article
Page 51

Page 51

1 Article
Page 52

Page 52

1 Article
Page 53

Page 53

1 Article
Page 54

Page 54

1 Article
Page 55

Page 55

2 Articles
Page 56

Page 56

1 Article
Page 57

Page 57

2 Articles
Page 58

Page 58

1 Article
Page 59

Page 59

1 Article
Page 60

Page 60

1 Article
Page 61

Page 61

1 Article
Page 62

Page 62

2 Articles
Page 63

Page 63

1 Article
Page 64

Page 64

1 Article
Page 65

Page 65

1 Article
Page 66

Page 66

1 Article
Page 67

Page 67

1 Article
Page 68

Page 68

1 Article
Page 69

Page 69

1 Article
Page 70

Page 70

1 Article
Page 71

Page 71

1 Article
Page 7

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

A Defence Of Masonry,

Now , I would know what precept , divine or human , has any way determined upon the contents of the Dissection ? And whether the general design of Masonry , as there laid down , is not , at least , of equal benefit and importance to the public , with the lending of an hundred crowns to a private man ? The answers to these questions are obvious , and the consequence is equally plain , that an oath upon the ol

subject ' Masonry is , at least , jus . iiiable and lawful' ' ! -- As for the terror of the . Penalty , the world , upon that occasion , is commonly mistaken : for the solemnity of the oath does not in the Jeastadd to the obligation ; or , in other words ,, the oath is equally binding , without any penalty at ail .. The same casuist has this expression : * ' A solemn oathof itselfand in its own natureis not

, , , more obligatory than a simple one ; because the obligation of an oath ariseth precisely from this , that God is invoked , as a witness and revenger , no less in a simple oath , thai iu the solemn and corporal-: for the invocation is made precisely by the pronunciation of the words , ( which is the same both in the simple and solemn ) and not by any corporal mption , or concomitant sign , iu which the solemnity of the oath consists

. But , further , if the oath in the Dissection be taken by all Masons upon their admission , no Member of tbe Fraternity , upon any prer tence whatsoever , dares violate the obligation of it , without incurring the guilt of perjury ; even supposing that Masonry were more trifling and indifferentthan in the Dissection it to beAnd

, may appear . , therefore , if the conduct of the Dissector has staggered the conscience of any one of the Brotherhood , concerning the observation of that oath ; and has induced him to trifle and play with the force of it , I hope he will desist betimes , lest he becomes actually forsworn .

Fnis case is thus determined b y the same casuist , f ' A voluntary oath is the more binding , for being voluntary ; because there is no stricter obligation than that which we take willingly " upon ourselves . ' And in another place . ] : the casuist is more particular : 'Where a matter is so trivial , that it is not worth the deliberation of a wise man , nor matters a straw whether it be done or not done , as to reach yp . a chip , or ' to rub one ' s beard ; or , for the sli ghtness of the matter , is notmuch to be esteemed

- , as to give a boy an apple , or lend a pin ; an oath is binding in a matter of the least moment : because wei ghty and trivial things have a like respect unto truth and falsbood ; and , further , because eveiy party swearing is bound to perform all he promised , as far as he is able , and as far as it is lawful : but to give an apple to a bay is both possible and lawful ; he is bound , therefore , to perform it ; he ought to fulfil his oath . £ TO BE CON'TIN-UKD . ^ j

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 6
  • You're on page7
  • 8
  • 71
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy