Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Practical Benevolence Of Freemasonry.
THE PRACTICAL BENEVOLENCE OF FREEMASONRY .
BV THE REV . G . OLIVER , D . D .
We help tho poor in time of need , The naked clothe , the hungry feed . It ' s our foundation stone ; We build upon the noblest plan , For friendship rivets man to man , And makes us all as one . THERE is some active principle in nature which cannot endure a vacuum . The systems and institutions of civilized society are continuallaugmentingb
y , y a gradual progression , which ivill move onward in its majestic course , til ] all be completed , and " then the end will come " At the revival of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , about the beginning of the 18 th century , the Order stood forth in beauty unarrayed , as a science of morals based on a sincere religious feeling and enforced by the practice of those liberal arts which conduce equally to the glory of God and the benefit of man . On the testimony of a valuable manuscript which bears earlier
an date , Freemasonry was esteemed b y our ancient Brethren to be "the skyle of nature , theunderstondyngeofthemyghtethat yshereynne , and its sondrye werkynges sonderlyche , the skylle of reckenyngs , of wai ghtes andmetynges , and the true manere of fa onnynge althynges for mannes use : headlye , dwellynges , and buyldynges of allekyndes , and aU other thynges that make gudde to manne . ' And in the manuscri
same pt Masons are said to have techedde mankynde the artes of agricultura , architectura , astronomia , geometrea , numeres , musica , poesie , kymistrye , govemmente and relygyonne . " : 8 A manuscri pt of the Minutes and B y-Laws of a Lodge , holden in ! w L e ofLlncoln ,, immediatel y after the above revival , lies on the table before me . 1 he time of its institution is not named in the record put it numbered amongst its members the representatives of most of uie
ancient families in the county ; who appear to have displayed a great anxiety to work out the principles of Masonry , by regularity of attendance , and purity of discipline . The By-Laws provided that " not reiver than three leaves , part of the Constitutions of the fraternity shall nIhfVT ^ a ?? r £ ? ° P enin S of the Lodge . on every Lodge wght , by the Master , his Wardens , or their Official . " And that the i-odge night mi ght not suffer from the incompetency of the Officers dlreCd that in the choice of Master
Z % A \ Z ^ " a regard shall only oe nad to his qualifications for that trust , and not to his seniority , or ktinn " ° IP * ™ dlI , 8 in the Society . " This is a most excellent regu-Janon , and I ivould recommend it to the consideration of all Lodges at tue present day . ° ne ^« f _ ?? , _ i ple ! £ Masonry were thus improved in all the S , abllshed . Lodges . But it was the developement of another abe c wl elevated the sciento
LS ,, ' f . * V < : e a distinguished rank WJM S ' -: nduced the formation of Lodges in every part of the clafmi * „/ p mean CHARITY - This emanation of the Deity advanced the thTi w * reel ? ? nry to the favourable consideration of mankind , bv doctrW = ™ » M . ¥ Poetically exemplified its theories and " « nnes . Ihese institutions placed Freemasonry on the broad and Peimanent basis of public utility , without any reference to the genild
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Practical Benevolence Of Freemasonry.
THE PRACTICAL BENEVOLENCE OF FREEMASONRY .
BV THE REV . G . OLIVER , D . D .
We help tho poor in time of need , The naked clothe , the hungry feed . It ' s our foundation stone ; We build upon the noblest plan , For friendship rivets man to man , And makes us all as one . THERE is some active principle in nature which cannot endure a vacuum . The systems and institutions of civilized society are continuallaugmentingb
y , y a gradual progression , which ivill move onward in its majestic course , til ] all be completed , and " then the end will come " At the revival of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , about the beginning of the 18 th century , the Order stood forth in beauty unarrayed , as a science of morals based on a sincere religious feeling and enforced by the practice of those liberal arts which conduce equally to the glory of God and the benefit of man . On the testimony of a valuable manuscript which bears earlier
an date , Freemasonry was esteemed b y our ancient Brethren to be "the skyle of nature , theunderstondyngeofthemyghtethat yshereynne , and its sondrye werkynges sonderlyche , the skylle of reckenyngs , of wai ghtes andmetynges , and the true manere of fa onnynge althynges for mannes use : headlye , dwellynges , and buyldynges of allekyndes , and aU other thynges that make gudde to manne . ' And in the manuscri
same pt Masons are said to have techedde mankynde the artes of agricultura , architectura , astronomia , geometrea , numeres , musica , poesie , kymistrye , govemmente and relygyonne . " : 8 A manuscri pt of the Minutes and B y-Laws of a Lodge , holden in ! w L e ofLlncoln ,, immediatel y after the above revival , lies on the table before me . 1 he time of its institution is not named in the record put it numbered amongst its members the representatives of most of uie
ancient families in the county ; who appear to have displayed a great anxiety to work out the principles of Masonry , by regularity of attendance , and purity of discipline . The By-Laws provided that " not reiver than three leaves , part of the Constitutions of the fraternity shall nIhfVT ^ a ?? r £ ? ° P enin S of the Lodge . on every Lodge wght , by the Master , his Wardens , or their Official . " And that the i-odge night mi ght not suffer from the incompetency of the Officers dlreCd that in the choice of Master
Z % A \ Z ^ " a regard shall only oe nad to his qualifications for that trust , and not to his seniority , or ktinn " ° IP * ™ dlI , 8 in the Society . " This is a most excellent regu-Janon , and I ivould recommend it to the consideration of all Lodges at tue present day . ° ne ^« f _ ?? , _ i ple ! £ Masonry were thus improved in all the S , abllshed . Lodges . But it was the developement of another abe c wl elevated the sciento
LS ,, ' f . * V < : e a distinguished rank WJM S ' -: nduced the formation of Lodges in every part of the clafmi * „/ p mean CHARITY - This emanation of the Deity advanced the thTi w * reel ? ? nry to the favourable consideration of mankind , bv doctrW = ™ » M . ¥ Poetically exemplified its theories and " « nnes . Ihese institutions placed Freemasonry on the broad and Peimanent basis of public utility , without any reference to the genild