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  • Nov. 1, 1793
  • Page 12
  • A CHARGE
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The Freemasons' Magazine, Nov. 1, 1793: Page 12

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    Article A CHARGE ← Page 2 of 7 →
Page 12

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

A Charge

We read that Cato , the Censor , often said to his friends , that of three things he had good reason to repent , if ever he neglected the due performance of them ; . the first , if he divulged any Secret ; the second , if he ventured on the water , when he might stay on dryland ; and thirdly , if he should let any day neglected escape him , without doing some good action .. The latter two are well worthy of

observation ; but the . first concerns our present undertaking . Alexander having received divers letters of importance from his mother ; after he had read them , in presence of none but his friend Bephesiion , he drew forth the signet with which he sealed his most private letters , ancl , without speaking , set it upon his lips , intimating therebythat he in whose bosom a man buries his secrets

, , should have his lips locked up from revealing them . The Senators of Rome , at their usual sitting in the Senatehouse , had constituted a custom among themselves , that each Senator who had a son , should be admitted with his father to abide in the Senate-house during their sitting , or depart if occasion required ; nor was this favour general , but extended only to Noblemen ' s

sons , who were tutored in such , a manner as enabled them to become wise Governors , and capable of keeping their own secrets . About this time it happened that the Senators sat in consultation on a very important cause , so that they stayed much longer than usual , and the conclusion was referred to the following day , with express charge of secresy in the mean time . Among the other Noblemen ' s sons who had been at . this weighty business , was the son of the grave Papyrus , whose family was one of the most noble and illustrious in Rome .

The young lad being come home , his mother entreated him to tell her what strange case had been debated that day in the Senate , that had power to detain them so long beyond their usual hours . The virtuous and noble youth , courteously told her , that it was a business not in his power to reveal , he being in a solemn manner commanded to silence . Upon hearing this answer , her desire became more earnestand nothing but intelligence thereof could any

, way content her . So that first by fair speeches and entreaties she endeavoured to obtain the secret ; but finding these efforts in vain , to stripes and violent threats was her next flight ; because force may compel , where lenity cannot . The youth finding a mother ' s threats very harsh , and her stripes still worse , besides comparing his love to her as his mother , with

the duty he owed to his father , the one mighty , but the other impulsive ; ho-lays her and her fond conceit in one scale , his father , his own honour , and the solemn injunction to secresy in the other , and finding her intrinsic weight as being his mother , . but lighter than wind , he , in order to appease her ,-and preserve his own honour by remaining faithful , thus resolved her : " " Madam , and dear mother , you may well blame the Senate for their long sitting , at least for calling in question a case so impertinent : for except the wives of the senators be admitted to consjuH

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1793-11-01, Page 12” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 28 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01111793/page/12/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
LONDON: Article 1
THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE: OR, GENERAL and COMPLETE LIBRARY. Article 2
A GENERAL CHARGE TO MASONRY. Article 7
A CHARGE Article 11
ON FASHION. Article 18
ANECDOTE OF PHILIP I. KING OF SPAIN. Article 20
COMMENTS ON STERNE. Article 21
THE ANTIQUITY OF DRINKING HEALTHS. Article 28
ANECDOTES OF DR. GOLDSMITH. Article 31
CHARACTER OF SIR ANTHONY BROWN. Article 38
ANECDOTES OF DR. JOHNSON, &c. Article 39
PRIVATE ANECDOTES OF ILLUSTRIOUS FRENCH CHARACTERS. Article 46
HOPE. Article 53
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JAMES HESELTINE, ESQ. G. T. Article 56
TO THE PRINTER OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE, Article 58
THE HUMBLE ADDRESS OF THE MOST ANTIENT AND HONOURABLE SOCIETY OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, RESIDENT IN THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN. In GRAND LODGE assembled. Article 58
OF MAN's HAPPINESS. Article 59
A TALE. Article 60
ON THE STUDY OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES. Article 64
THE CRUELTY OF A FATHER. Article 65
A VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF NAVIGATION. Article 69
THE CHOICE OF ABDALA: Article 74
STRICTURES ON PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 79
POETRY. Article 82
TO ARNO. Article 83
STANZAS Article 84
PROLOGUE TO THE WORLD IN A VILLAGE. Article 85
FOREIGN OCCURRENCES. Article 86
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 88
Untitled Article 91
Untitled Article 91
Untitled Article 91
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

A Charge

We read that Cato , the Censor , often said to his friends , that of three things he had good reason to repent , if ever he neglected the due performance of them ; . the first , if he divulged any Secret ; the second , if he ventured on the water , when he might stay on dryland ; and thirdly , if he should let any day neglected escape him , without doing some good action .. The latter two are well worthy of

observation ; but the . first concerns our present undertaking . Alexander having received divers letters of importance from his mother ; after he had read them , in presence of none but his friend Bephesiion , he drew forth the signet with which he sealed his most private letters , ancl , without speaking , set it upon his lips , intimating therebythat he in whose bosom a man buries his secrets

, , should have his lips locked up from revealing them . The Senators of Rome , at their usual sitting in the Senatehouse , had constituted a custom among themselves , that each Senator who had a son , should be admitted with his father to abide in the Senate-house during their sitting , or depart if occasion required ; nor was this favour general , but extended only to Noblemen ' s

sons , who were tutored in such , a manner as enabled them to become wise Governors , and capable of keeping their own secrets . About this time it happened that the Senators sat in consultation on a very important cause , so that they stayed much longer than usual , and the conclusion was referred to the following day , with express charge of secresy in the mean time . Among the other Noblemen ' s sons who had been at . this weighty business , was the son of the grave Papyrus , whose family was one of the most noble and illustrious in Rome .

The young lad being come home , his mother entreated him to tell her what strange case had been debated that day in the Senate , that had power to detain them so long beyond their usual hours . The virtuous and noble youth , courteously told her , that it was a business not in his power to reveal , he being in a solemn manner commanded to silence . Upon hearing this answer , her desire became more earnestand nothing but intelligence thereof could any

, way content her . So that first by fair speeches and entreaties she endeavoured to obtain the secret ; but finding these efforts in vain , to stripes and violent threats was her next flight ; because force may compel , where lenity cannot . The youth finding a mother ' s threats very harsh , and her stripes still worse , besides comparing his love to her as his mother , with

the duty he owed to his father , the one mighty , but the other impulsive ; ho-lays her and her fond conceit in one scale , his father , his own honour , and the solemn injunction to secresy in the other , and finding her intrinsic weight as being his mother , . but lighter than wind , he , in order to appease her ,-and preserve his own honour by remaining faithful , thus resolved her : " " Madam , and dear mother , you may well blame the Senate for their long sitting , at least for calling in question a case so impertinent : for except the wives of the senators be admitted to consjuH

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