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Postscript.
penses , and keeping unseasonable hours ; therefore , to guard against this fatal consequence we shall do well to cultivate the following virtues , viz ., —prudence , temperance and frugality , which virtues are the best and most proper supports of every community . Prudence is the head and guide of all other virtues , the ornament of our actions , the square and rule of our affairs ; it is the knowledge and choice of those things we
must either approve or reject ; and implies—to consult and deliberate well , to judge and resolve well , to conduct and execute well—in fact , it is wisdom applied to practice . Temperance consists in the government of our appetites and affections , so to use the good things of this life as not to abuse them , either by a sordid and ungrateful parsimony on the one hand , or a profuse or prodigal indulgence to excess on the other ; this virtue has many powerful arguments in its favour , for as we value our health , wealth , reputation , family and friends , our characters as freemasons
men , as Christians , as members of society in general , ana as in particular , all conspire to call on us for the exercise of this virtue ; in short it comprehends a strict obedience to , and observance of the Apostle ' s exhortation ' Be ye temperate in all things , ' not only avoiding what is in itself improper , but also whatever has the least or most remote appearance of impropriety , that the tongue of the slanderer
may be struck dumb , and malevolence disarmed of its sting . Frugality , the natural associate of prudence and temperance , is what the meanest station in life necessarily calls for , and the most exalted cannot dispense with . It is absolutely requisite in all stations , it is highly necessary to the supporting of every desirable character , to the establishment of every society , to the interest of every individual in the community ; it is a moral , it is a Christian virtue . It implies the strict observance of decorum in the season of relaxation and of every enjoyment .
It is that temper of mind which is disposed to employ every acquisition only to the glory ofthe Giver , our own happiness , and that of our fellow-creatures . If we fail not in the exercise of these virtues ( which are essential supports of every Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons ) they will effectually secure us from those unconstitutional practices which have proved so fatal to this Fraternity . For prudence will discover the due attention
absurdity and folly of expecting true harmony without to the choice of our members ; temperance will check every appearance of excess , and fix rational limits to our hours of enjoyment ; and frugality will proscribe extravagance , and keep our expenses within proper bounds . I would not be understood here to mean , that because these three moral virtues are pointed out as essentially necessary to the
good discipline and support of a Lodge , that nothing more is required , for social must be united with moral excellence . Were a man merely prudent , temperate , and frugal , and yet negligent of the duties of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Postscript.
penses , and keeping unseasonable hours ; therefore , to guard against this fatal consequence we shall do well to cultivate the following virtues , viz ., —prudence , temperance and frugality , which virtues are the best and most proper supports of every community . Prudence is the head and guide of all other virtues , the ornament of our actions , the square and rule of our affairs ; it is the knowledge and choice of those things we
must either approve or reject ; and implies—to consult and deliberate well , to judge and resolve well , to conduct and execute well—in fact , it is wisdom applied to practice . Temperance consists in the government of our appetites and affections , so to use the good things of this life as not to abuse them , either by a sordid and ungrateful parsimony on the one hand , or a profuse or prodigal indulgence to excess on the other ; this virtue has many powerful arguments in its favour , for as we value our health , wealth , reputation , family and friends , our characters as freemasons
men , as Christians , as members of society in general , ana as in particular , all conspire to call on us for the exercise of this virtue ; in short it comprehends a strict obedience to , and observance of the Apostle ' s exhortation ' Be ye temperate in all things , ' not only avoiding what is in itself improper , but also whatever has the least or most remote appearance of impropriety , that the tongue of the slanderer
may be struck dumb , and malevolence disarmed of its sting . Frugality , the natural associate of prudence and temperance , is what the meanest station in life necessarily calls for , and the most exalted cannot dispense with . It is absolutely requisite in all stations , it is highly necessary to the supporting of every desirable character , to the establishment of every society , to the interest of every individual in the community ; it is a moral , it is a Christian virtue . It implies the strict observance of decorum in the season of relaxation and of every enjoyment .
It is that temper of mind which is disposed to employ every acquisition only to the glory ofthe Giver , our own happiness , and that of our fellow-creatures . If we fail not in the exercise of these virtues ( which are essential supports of every Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons ) they will effectually secure us from those unconstitutional practices which have proved so fatal to this Fraternity . For prudence will discover the due attention
absurdity and folly of expecting true harmony without to the choice of our members ; temperance will check every appearance of excess , and fix rational limits to our hours of enjoyment ; and frugality will proscribe extravagance , and keep our expenses within proper bounds . I would not be understood here to mean , that because these three moral virtues are pointed out as essentially necessary to the
good discipline and support of a Lodge , that nothing more is required , for social must be united with moral excellence . Were a man merely prudent , temperate , and frugal , and yet negligent of the duties of