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  • Nov. 1, 1793
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  • A CHARGE
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The Freemasons' Magazine, Nov. 1, 1793: Page 13

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    Article A CHARGE ← Page 3 of 7 →
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

A Charge

thereon , there can be no hope of a conclusion ; I speak this but out of my young apprehension , for I know their gravity may easily confound me ; and yet whether nature or duty so instruct me , I cannot tell . But to them it seems necessary , for the increase of people ' , and for the public good , that every senator should be allowed two wives ; or otherwise , their wives two husbands . I shall hardlyunder one roofcall two men b ) -the name of fatherI would

, , , rather call two women by the name of mother . This is the question , and to-morrow it must have determination . " The mother hearing this , and his seeming unwilling to reveal it , took it for truth , and immediately sent to the other ladies and matrons of Rome , to acquaint them with this weighty affair , wherein the peace and welfare of their future lives was so nearly concerned .

This melancholy news blew up such a brain-sick passion , that the ladies immediately assembled ; and though ( as some say ) a parliament of women are vary seldom governed by one speaker , yet this affair being so urgent , the haste as pertinent , and the case ( in their behalf ) merely indulgent , the revealing woman must speak for herself and the rest . Andon the next morning , such a din was « at

, tlie Senate-door , for admission to sit with their husbands in this wondrous consultation , as if all Rome had been in an uproar . Their minds must not be known before they have audience , which ( though against all order ) being granted , the female speaker began with requesting , that women might have two husbands , rather

than men two wives , & c . Upon the riddle ' s solution , the noble youth was highly commended for his ficlelity , and the ladies greatly confounded . To avoid the like inconvenience in future , it was determined , that thenceforward they should bring their sons no more into the Senate , only young Papyrus who was freely accepted , and his secresy and discreet policy not only applauded , but he , with titles of honourdignified and rewarded .

, The wise King Solomon says , in his Proverbs , that a king ought not to drink- wine , because drunkenness is an enemy to secrecy ; and , in his opinion , he is not worthy to reign , that cannot keep his own secrets ; he furthermore says , that he that discovers secrets is a traitor , and he that conceals them is a faithful Brother .- He likewise observesthat he that refraineth his tongue is wise ; and

, again , he that keeps his tongue , keeps his soul . I could mention many other circumstances of the excellency of secresy , and I dare venture to say , that the greatest honour , justice , truth , and fidelity , has been always found amongst those who could keep their own , and other ' s secrets . Therefore , I am of opinion , that , if secresy and silence be duly

considered , they will be found most necessary to qualify a man for any business of importance . If this be granted , I am confident , that no man will dispute that Fvee Masons ave superior to all other men , in concealing their secrets- from times immemorial ; as neither the power of gold , that often has betrayed Kings and Princes , . and sometimes overturned whole empires , nor the most cruel

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1793-11-01, Page 13” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 7 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01111793/page/13/.
  • 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

thereon , there can be no hope of a conclusion ; I speak this but out of my young apprehension , for I know their gravity may easily confound me ; and yet whether nature or duty so instruct me , I cannot tell . But to them it seems necessary , for the increase of people ' , and for the public good , that every senator should be allowed two wives ; or otherwise , their wives two husbands . I shall hardlyunder one roofcall two men b ) -the name of fatherI would

, , , rather call two women by the name of mother . This is the question , and to-morrow it must have determination . " The mother hearing this , and his seeming unwilling to reveal it , took it for truth , and immediately sent to the other ladies and matrons of Rome , to acquaint them with this weighty affair , wherein the peace and welfare of their future lives was so nearly concerned .

This melancholy news blew up such a brain-sick passion , that the ladies immediately assembled ; and though ( as some say ) a parliament of women are vary seldom governed by one speaker , yet this affair being so urgent , the haste as pertinent , and the case ( in their behalf ) merely indulgent , the revealing woman must speak for herself and the rest . Andon the next morning , such a din was « at

, tlie Senate-door , for admission to sit with their husbands in this wondrous consultation , as if all Rome had been in an uproar . Their minds must not be known before they have audience , which ( though against all order ) being granted , the female speaker began with requesting , that women might have two husbands , rather

than men two wives , & c . Upon the riddle ' s solution , the noble youth was highly commended for his ficlelity , and the ladies greatly confounded . To avoid the like inconvenience in future , it was determined , that thenceforward they should bring their sons no more into the Senate , only young Papyrus who was freely accepted , and his secresy and discreet policy not only applauded , but he , with titles of honourdignified and rewarded .

, The wise King Solomon says , in his Proverbs , that a king ought not to drink- wine , because drunkenness is an enemy to secrecy ; and , in his opinion , he is not worthy to reign , that cannot keep his own secrets ; he furthermore says , that he that discovers secrets is a traitor , and he that conceals them is a faithful Brother .- He likewise observesthat he that refraineth his tongue is wise ; and

, again , he that keeps his tongue , keeps his soul . I could mention many other circumstances of the excellency of secresy , and I dare venture to say , that the greatest honour , justice , truth , and fidelity , has been always found amongst those who could keep their own , and other ' s secrets . Therefore , I am of opinion , that , if secresy and silence be duly

considered , they will be found most necessary to qualify a man for any business of importance . If this be granted , I am confident , that no man will dispute that Fvee Masons ave superior to all other men , in concealing their secrets- from times immemorial ; as neither the power of gold , that often has betrayed Kings and Princes , . and sometimes overturned whole empires , nor the most cruel

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