-
Articles/Ads
Article PROVINCIAL. ← Page 14 of 26 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
Masonic , in every sense of the word in which I can understand Masonry , is to be trul y religious , both in motive and action . The Masonic pillars of your temple are Faith , Hope , " and Charity ; and to which I shall take the liberty of adding , with an inspired Apostle , the greatest of these is Charity ; and Masonic charity is charity in the heart : he thinks no evil of his Brother ; he cherishes no designs against him . It is charity upon the tongue also : he speaks no evil ; bears no false witness ; defames no
character . It is charity in the hand also : he anticipates his poorer Brother ' s wants , nor forces him to the pain of petition ; he visits the cottage of poverty , and the house of sickness , and there he finds the very back which he ought to clothe , the very mouth which he ought to feed , the wound which he might to heal , the sickness which he ought to cure , and perhaps also the very mind which he ought to instruct , before it can be fitted for an eternal world . Thus the heart , the tongue , the hand , of
the really free and accepted Mason , are warmly engaged and diligently exercised , in all those grand principles of their Royal Order , which renders it in its nature ancl effects so much like tlie order of that amiable band , whose love to each other so forcibly convinced their very adversaries , as to draw from them that honourable acclamation , 'See how these Christians love ! ' Yes ! my friends , they who are Masons in the true spirit of Masonry , must put away from them all malice , and hatred ,
and revenge , and evil-speaking , and put on , as the elect of God , bowels of compassion , tenderness , long-suffering , mercy . They eat not their morsel alone , while the widow mourns her widowhood , or the helpless orphan cries for food : they blast not with the pestilential tongue of slander their neighbour ' s good name , and all their wish ancl all their aim is to imitate Him of whom it was thus most honourably spoken , ' He went about doing good . ' Not onlthenmy Brethrenlet not this
y , , , your Masonic good be evil spoken of , but be zealous that it may be abundantly ancl richly well spoken of . It is the leading principle , and the great end of Masonry to propagate the exercise of charity in these its threefold operations ; ancl he who does it not , is yet destitute of the true Masonic heart , which is the heart of charity , of benevolence , and of love .
" I conclude with assuring strangers that Masonry has no principle but what might still more ornament the purest mind ; nor any appendage'but what might give additional lustre to the brightest character . By the exercise of the duties of Masonry the rich may add abundantly lo the fund of their eternal inheritance ; the wise may increase their knowledge of the nature of God in all his best perfections , and thereby daily grow still more ancl more unto eternal salvation ; the pure in heart may he always advancing in the divine likenessancl they who walk in this path
; of the just , with zeal and activity , will find it as the shining light , which , shineth more ancl more unto the perfect day . " To you , my Brethren , I earnestly conclude with a repetition of my text , ' Let not your good be evil spoken of . ' Act up to the principles of your institution , and as it regards others it will be the praise of the whole earth . Act up to the principles of your institution , and as it regards yourselves , your transfer hereafter will most assuredly be a transfer from
the labours of this mortal life to the rest of an eternal glory . Your faith ancl hope will abide to the praise of your memory , when the world sees your face no more . Your charity ancl love will be your robes of purity and light through an immeasurable eternity . Your seat in the Lodge ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial.
Masonic , in every sense of the word in which I can understand Masonry , is to be trul y religious , both in motive and action . The Masonic pillars of your temple are Faith , Hope , " and Charity ; and to which I shall take the liberty of adding , with an inspired Apostle , the greatest of these is Charity ; and Masonic charity is charity in the heart : he thinks no evil of his Brother ; he cherishes no designs against him . It is charity upon the tongue also : he speaks no evil ; bears no false witness ; defames no
character . It is charity in the hand also : he anticipates his poorer Brother ' s wants , nor forces him to the pain of petition ; he visits the cottage of poverty , and the house of sickness , and there he finds the very back which he ought to clothe , the very mouth which he ought to feed , the wound which he might to heal , the sickness which he ought to cure , and perhaps also the very mind which he ought to instruct , before it can be fitted for an eternal world . Thus the heart , the tongue , the hand , of
the really free and accepted Mason , are warmly engaged and diligently exercised , in all those grand principles of their Royal Order , which renders it in its nature ancl effects so much like tlie order of that amiable band , whose love to each other so forcibly convinced their very adversaries , as to draw from them that honourable acclamation , 'See how these Christians love ! ' Yes ! my friends , they who are Masons in the true spirit of Masonry , must put away from them all malice , and hatred ,
and revenge , and evil-speaking , and put on , as the elect of God , bowels of compassion , tenderness , long-suffering , mercy . They eat not their morsel alone , while the widow mourns her widowhood , or the helpless orphan cries for food : they blast not with the pestilential tongue of slander their neighbour ' s good name , and all their wish ancl all their aim is to imitate Him of whom it was thus most honourably spoken , ' He went about doing good . ' Not onlthenmy Brethrenlet not this
y , , , your Masonic good be evil spoken of , but be zealous that it may be abundantly ancl richly well spoken of . It is the leading principle , and the great end of Masonry to propagate the exercise of charity in these its threefold operations ; ancl he who does it not , is yet destitute of the true Masonic heart , which is the heart of charity , of benevolence , and of love .
" I conclude with assuring strangers that Masonry has no principle but what might still more ornament the purest mind ; nor any appendage'but what might give additional lustre to the brightest character . By the exercise of the duties of Masonry the rich may add abundantly lo the fund of their eternal inheritance ; the wise may increase their knowledge of the nature of God in all his best perfections , and thereby daily grow still more ancl more unto eternal salvation ; the pure in heart may he always advancing in the divine likenessancl they who walk in this path
; of the just , with zeal and activity , will find it as the shining light , which , shineth more ancl more unto the perfect day . " To you , my Brethren , I earnestly conclude with a repetition of my text , ' Let not your good be evil spoken of . ' Act up to the principles of your institution , and as it regards others it will be the praise of the whole earth . Act up to the principles of your institution , and as it regards yourselves , your transfer hereafter will most assuredly be a transfer from
the labours of this mortal life to the rest of an eternal glory . Your faith ancl hope will abide to the praise of your memory , when the world sees your face no more . Your charity ancl love will be your robes of purity and light through an immeasurable eternity . Your seat in the Lodge ,