Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Strictures Upon Past And Present Freemasonry By Sit Lux.
charges , and other authorities , then the impropriety of such a mediation being adopted must be self-evident , a fortiori . If it ever was adopteel in the Lodge ceremonial , either it was done through ignorance , or Freemasonry is not what it is at present proclaimed to be ; ancl therefore as a sect of Christian origin ancl instruction , palpably out of joint with the age we live in . There is no evading these logical deductions , ancl consequently the sooner the Craft is extinct the
better . But , on the contrary , I take Freemasonry to be what we moderns conceive of it—a humane , benevolent , thoroughly liberal , social institution—which , in the eloquent words of our late eminent D . G . M . — " powerfully developes all social and benevolent affections ; mitigates without , and annihilates within , the virulence of political and theological controversy ; affords the only neutral ground on which all ranks ancl classes can meet in perfect equality , and associate without degradation or mortification , whether for purposes of moral instruction or social intercourse . "
Ilia verba in tabulis ccrosis scripta et cum Uteris aureis in memoria latomorum perpetua sunt ! On those great ancl noble-minded principles shall I ever advocate Freemasonry , ancl manfully defend it against the insidious attacks of those who would degrade such admirable motives of the human heart , to the petty-minded sentiments of sectarian bigotry . If the Anglo-Indian clergy , or the Roman Catholic priesthood , or the Bishop of Exeter , or Mr . Blunt , or some others of the clergy , to whom Sit Lux refersfeel so very squeamish at our prayers in Lodomittin
, ge g thc mediation of Christ , how is it that THEY repeat the Lord ' s Prayer , or Paternoster , no less than ten or twelve times , perhaps , in the course of a sabbath ' s liturgical services , when no mediation of Christ is expressed in that most simple and devout of all forms of prayer , and taught too by Christ himself to his disciples ? If such nicely scrupulous persons discountenance Freemasonry on so weak a ground , precisely on the same should they quit ancl resign the
privileges and emoluments of the church . This , in fact , amounts to the argumentiim ad absurdum . Freemasonry wants no such grafts to make its germs produce sour grapes . The conclusions of Sit Lux ' s letter go to demonstrate that Freemasonry was a sort of secret brotherhood , established by the early Christians to protect themselves ancl their worship , under symbols and emblems , from the persecutions of the heathen . If so , although I do not believe
in such an hypothesis , my opinion would be confirmed , viz ., that Freemasonry is now an excrescence upon our social stem that may be cut off '; the fraternity may now safely be put to bed , consigned to oblivion , ancl their paraphernalia sold to augment the fund for building churches and endowing a priesthood . Then Philpotts , cum multis aliis , will certainly sanction defunct Freemasonry with their pious patronage . Yours fraternally ,
II . R . SLADE , D . D . Wolverhampton , The P . O . Chaplain for Slallimlsliiiv . . I-tll . J 7 , 1110 . and U . P . G . M . in ,, tern .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Strictures Upon Past And Present Freemasonry By Sit Lux.
charges , and other authorities , then the impropriety of such a mediation being adopted must be self-evident , a fortiori . If it ever was adopteel in the Lodge ceremonial , either it was done through ignorance , or Freemasonry is not what it is at present proclaimed to be ; ancl therefore as a sect of Christian origin ancl instruction , palpably out of joint with the age we live in . There is no evading these logical deductions , ancl consequently the sooner the Craft is extinct the
better . But , on the contrary , I take Freemasonry to be what we moderns conceive of it—a humane , benevolent , thoroughly liberal , social institution—which , in the eloquent words of our late eminent D . G . M . — " powerfully developes all social and benevolent affections ; mitigates without , and annihilates within , the virulence of political and theological controversy ; affords the only neutral ground on which all ranks ancl classes can meet in perfect equality , and associate without degradation or mortification , whether for purposes of moral instruction or social intercourse . "
Ilia verba in tabulis ccrosis scripta et cum Uteris aureis in memoria latomorum perpetua sunt ! On those great ancl noble-minded principles shall I ever advocate Freemasonry , ancl manfully defend it against the insidious attacks of those who would degrade such admirable motives of the human heart , to the petty-minded sentiments of sectarian bigotry . If the Anglo-Indian clergy , or the Roman Catholic priesthood , or the Bishop of Exeter , or Mr . Blunt , or some others of the clergy , to whom Sit Lux refersfeel so very squeamish at our prayers in Lodomittin
, ge g thc mediation of Christ , how is it that THEY repeat the Lord ' s Prayer , or Paternoster , no less than ten or twelve times , perhaps , in the course of a sabbath ' s liturgical services , when no mediation of Christ is expressed in that most simple and devout of all forms of prayer , and taught too by Christ himself to his disciples ? If such nicely scrupulous persons discountenance Freemasonry on so weak a ground , precisely on the same should they quit ancl resign the
privileges and emoluments of the church . This , in fact , amounts to the argumentiim ad absurdum . Freemasonry wants no such grafts to make its germs produce sour grapes . The conclusions of Sit Lux ' s letter go to demonstrate that Freemasonry was a sort of secret brotherhood , established by the early Christians to protect themselves ancl their worship , under symbols and emblems , from the persecutions of the heathen . If so , although I do not believe
in such an hypothesis , my opinion would be confirmed , viz ., that Freemasonry is now an excrescence upon our social stem that may be cut off '; the fraternity may now safely be put to bed , consigned to oblivion , ancl their paraphernalia sold to augment the fund for building churches and endowing a priesthood . Then Philpotts , cum multis aliis , will certainly sanction defunct Freemasonry with their pious patronage . Yours fraternally ,
II . R . SLADE , D . D . Wolverhampton , The P . O . Chaplain for Slallimlsliiiv . . I-tll . J 7 , 1110 . and U . P . G . M . in ,, tern .