Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America.
Now , let us , with the coolness and patience of an impanneled jury , ask what Masoniy , as such , has done , before we make war uj-ion it . Its footmarks are on our own soil for more than a hundred years . Its vestiges mingle with the history of modern times , and we may surely be able to see what it has been and safely infer what it will be . If , " like the baseless fabric of a vision " it leaves no wreck behind , it is surely very innocent , to say the least of it .
Does Masonry , then , as an institution of known influence , diffuse immoral principles or false doctrines , and spread in this channel slow and silent but fearful ruin over the communities among whom it works . No . Its teachings as far as they go , are confessedly good . Do men without our being able to discover the cause , generally become worse men after joining the lodge 1 No . On the other hand , they often become better men , and are sometimes led into
pure , spiritual religion , by impressions made and taught around the altar in the lodge . Does Masonry commonly allure to its embrace by the mysterious sympathy of " like to its like , " base , worthless , unprincipled men ? No . It embraces those whose intellect , morals , and standing in society are thought to be good , and above the average . Has Masonry ever , when , as often happens it has the power , the opportunity , and a strong temptation , interfered with the freedom of election , held caucusses , overawed the ballot-box , or in any way exerted a Masonic influence 1 No . Has it warped or
hindered the administration of justice , tampered with judges , kept its emissaries around the tribunals of justice in order to have them put upon juries where the brotherhood or its interests were concerned 1 Never . Or , has it , like most state institutions , legislatures , schools , and colleges , in order to seem to be sure of impartiality among the sects , taken a position rather opposed to all religion 1 No . The Bible is owned and . reverenced
in every lodge . What then has it done 1—what are its known and abiding works ? It has incurred tho expense , and rendered the funeral honours of the sepulchre to rich and poor , high and low , in the Order . It has lent its sympathy to the widow and the orphan , and opened its treasures for their relief ; and succoured the wayfaring stranger , when fallen into decay , or stricken down by disease .
These are the works which it appears in evidence Masonry has wrought . Masonry claims the Bible as her standard of morals . She has not sought out a code of morals suited and accommodated to human depravity ; she has not conformed its rules to the changing caprice of the multitude : her morals are taken from the lessons of Him who " taught as never man taught . " The Bible is the man of her counsel . Our Lodges are opened and closed with prayer . The Bible is our chart , and always lies open before us . From its sacred pages wo read the character of God , the origin of man , tho history
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
America.
Now , let us , with the coolness and patience of an impanneled jury , ask what Masoniy , as such , has done , before we make war uj-ion it . Its footmarks are on our own soil for more than a hundred years . Its vestiges mingle with the history of modern times , and we may surely be able to see what it has been and safely infer what it will be . If , " like the baseless fabric of a vision " it leaves no wreck behind , it is surely very innocent , to say the least of it .
Does Masonry , then , as an institution of known influence , diffuse immoral principles or false doctrines , and spread in this channel slow and silent but fearful ruin over the communities among whom it works . No . Its teachings as far as they go , are confessedly good . Do men without our being able to discover the cause , generally become worse men after joining the lodge 1 No . On the other hand , they often become better men , and are sometimes led into
pure , spiritual religion , by impressions made and taught around the altar in the lodge . Does Masonry commonly allure to its embrace by the mysterious sympathy of " like to its like , " base , worthless , unprincipled men ? No . It embraces those whose intellect , morals , and standing in society are thought to be good , and above the average . Has Masonry ever , when , as often happens it has the power , the opportunity , and a strong temptation , interfered with the freedom of election , held caucusses , overawed the ballot-box , or in any way exerted a Masonic influence 1 No . Has it warped or
hindered the administration of justice , tampered with judges , kept its emissaries around the tribunals of justice in order to have them put upon juries where the brotherhood or its interests were concerned 1 Never . Or , has it , like most state institutions , legislatures , schools , and colleges , in order to seem to be sure of impartiality among the sects , taken a position rather opposed to all religion 1 No . The Bible is owned and . reverenced
in every lodge . What then has it done 1—what are its known and abiding works ? It has incurred tho expense , and rendered the funeral honours of the sepulchre to rich and poor , high and low , in the Order . It has lent its sympathy to the widow and the orphan , and opened its treasures for their relief ; and succoured the wayfaring stranger , when fallen into decay , or stricken down by disease .
These are the works which it appears in evidence Masonry has wrought . Masonry claims the Bible as her standard of morals . She has not sought out a code of morals suited and accommodated to human depravity ; she has not conformed its rules to the changing caprice of the multitude : her morals are taken from the lessons of Him who " taught as never man taught . " The Bible is the man of her counsel . Our Lodges are opened and closed with prayer . The Bible is our chart , and always lies open before us . From its sacred pages wo read the character of God , the origin of man , tho history