Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America.
standing , however , so much has been said and sting about it , the enquiry is as pertinent to-day ( both to the moral and social world ) as it was a thousand years ago , demanding to know what Masonry is ?—what are its doctrines ?—its principles ? — and its teachings ? — because , if it be a good , and promotes the interests of society , we cannot reject it without material loss ; and if it can be shown to bo
bad , we ought not to receive it ourselves , or encourage it in others , however it may be adorned with the gilded ornaments of pageantry and show . The great object first to be solved , however , is , how shall it be tried , since the test of truth will not avail for any but those who are initiated into its mysteries ? Here is a difficulty in the outset , but not insurmountable ; for a close examination into
its precepts ought to do for it , at least , what it does for every other society that has published its principles and designs to the world . This , Freemasonry has done in every civilized country under the sun—the same , under all circumstances , and in every clime . "To the law and to the testimony , then , if they speak not according to this word , it is because there is no light in them . " The question of origin or antiquity will not form any portion of our remarks on the present occasion , nor are they necessary to our present purpose .
If we find its tenets and its teachings to be good , our time should be occupied in cultivating an acquaintance with them , and in conforming our lives to the moral and social virtues it inculcates and enjoins , irrespective either of origin or antiquity ; and if evil , or a tendency thereto , we should shrink from it , and with the many of old , exclaim , " who will show us any good ? " That it has greatly tended to enlighten the minds and improve the morals of those
who have arranged themselves under its banners , is a fact the more intelligent part of the community will readily admit . Upon due examination it will be found that its institution is well calculated to inculcate everything laudable and useful to society ; and its great design , to unite all men of knowledge and worth by the great principles of virtue , whereby the interests of the Fraternity may
become the interest of the whole human race—where all may improve in knowledge , and where every subject or citizen of every country may exert himself without jealousy , and live without discord . Beligious Orders were instituted to make men better Christians ; military Orders were founded to inspire the love of glory , but the Order of Freemasonry was instituted to form men into good citizens and good subjects—to make them inviolable in their promises , faithful to their God , and more lovers of liberality than of
recompense . ¦ I will here read you a short extract from an essay , published in the " Westminster Magazine , " for November , 1778 , whicli will throw some light on the object of Freemasonry at an early period : — " In tho times of thc Holy Wars in Palestine , a great many princes ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America.
standing , however , so much has been said and sting about it , the enquiry is as pertinent to-day ( both to the moral and social world ) as it was a thousand years ago , demanding to know what Masonry is ?—what are its doctrines ?—its principles ? — and its teachings ? — because , if it be a good , and promotes the interests of society , we cannot reject it without material loss ; and if it can be shown to bo
bad , we ought not to receive it ourselves , or encourage it in others , however it may be adorned with the gilded ornaments of pageantry and show . The great object first to be solved , however , is , how shall it be tried , since the test of truth will not avail for any but those who are initiated into its mysteries ? Here is a difficulty in the outset , but not insurmountable ; for a close examination into
its precepts ought to do for it , at least , what it does for every other society that has published its principles and designs to the world . This , Freemasonry has done in every civilized country under the sun—the same , under all circumstances , and in every clime . "To the law and to the testimony , then , if they speak not according to this word , it is because there is no light in them . " The question of origin or antiquity will not form any portion of our remarks on the present occasion , nor are they necessary to our present purpose .
If we find its tenets and its teachings to be good , our time should be occupied in cultivating an acquaintance with them , and in conforming our lives to the moral and social virtues it inculcates and enjoins , irrespective either of origin or antiquity ; and if evil , or a tendency thereto , we should shrink from it , and with the many of old , exclaim , " who will show us any good ? " That it has greatly tended to enlighten the minds and improve the morals of those
who have arranged themselves under its banners , is a fact the more intelligent part of the community will readily admit . Upon due examination it will be found that its institution is well calculated to inculcate everything laudable and useful to society ; and its great design , to unite all men of knowledge and worth by the great principles of virtue , whereby the interests of the Fraternity may
become the interest of the whole human race—where all may improve in knowledge , and where every subject or citizen of every country may exert himself without jealousy , and live without discord . Beligious Orders were instituted to make men better Christians ; military Orders were founded to inspire the love of glory , but the Order of Freemasonry was instituted to form men into good citizens and good subjects—to make them inviolable in their promises , faithful to their God , and more lovers of liberality than of
recompense . ¦ I will here read you a short extract from an essay , published in the " Westminster Magazine , " for November , 1778 , whicli will throw some light on the object of Freemasonry at an early period : — " In tho times of thc Holy Wars in Palestine , a great many princes ,