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Article A GLANCE AT ADOPTIVE MASONRY. ← Page 4 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Glance At Adoptive Masonry.
degrees of Craft Masonry ; it is a most striking instance of unity and Brotherl y love . The whole ceremonial is intended to represent , in most vivid colours , the great importance of recollecting that we are merely passing through this world to show ourselves worthy of a better ; that it is like the desert , through which a weary traveller toils his way , guided and supported by the hope of reaching a safe harbour in the evening . Tiie chief object of this degree is to enforce rigid ob
a - servance of all those duties which we are bound to perform as wanderers in search of and looking forward to a future and a better condition , after we shall have passed from this life of bondage to the freedom of the land of promise . The virtues of self-denial and fidelity are also greatly commended , and indeed on these two are founded the peculiar ¦ ' tests of this degree . As soon as the candidate has proved that she is sufficientl y versed in all the previous degrees , she is for the last time conducted to the
room of reflection . There the proper officer who is appointed to guide her through the narrow path which leads to the perfection of Masonry , seriously and earnestly recommends her to continue in the practice of those virtues to which her attention has so often been called , and after specifying fidelity , secrecy , and modesty , as the qualities peculiarly belonging to the fourth degree , he leaves her once more to meditate in silence and solitude . After she has been thus prepared by grave exhortations and serious reflection for the mysteries in which she seeks to participate , the officer returns , and informs her that it is necessary that previous to her being admitted she give proof of her
fidelity , and of her fitness to be trusted . The postulant is now put to a very severe trial , one , perhaps , of the most severe which could have been devised , and which can only be distantly alluded to and faintl y described . Alone , unseen b y mortal eye , much is confided to her care ; to all external appearance nothing prevents her from obtaining at once , without difficulty or probable detection , that which at the moment she most anxiously desires ; but it is a solemn trust reposed in her , and all her anxious desires
must remain unsatisfied . On her conduct at this trying hour entirel y depends her success in Masonry , for were she now to break her trust , the veil of security she imagined she felt around her would fall , and she would for ever be excluded from the high grade to which she aspired . In this case no repentance or sorrow could have availed . Once before she had fallen , and been forgiven , but then she was merely a neophytenowas Mistressshe could lead
, , , p no excuse . She had been alread y much honoured and confided in , and it would be unpardonable to violate the sacred trust now reposed in her . The painful trial at last is at an end , and the officer once more enters to ascertain how she has passed through the ordeal . After praising her for her fidelity , he hastens to communicate her courage and honour to the Master and G . Mistress . The joyful tidings of the Sister ' s trustiness are received with acclamations ball the Brethren and Sistersaud the
y , Sister is ordered to be admitted to the Lodge as a petitioner for the fourth degree . The WM . receives her with kindness , and greatly praises her for the victory she has gained over herself , and informs her that she is now allowed to pass through the remaining tests which are necessary to qualify her for admission to the perfection of the Adoptive
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Glance At Adoptive Masonry.
degrees of Craft Masonry ; it is a most striking instance of unity and Brotherl y love . The whole ceremonial is intended to represent , in most vivid colours , the great importance of recollecting that we are merely passing through this world to show ourselves worthy of a better ; that it is like the desert , through which a weary traveller toils his way , guided and supported by the hope of reaching a safe harbour in the evening . Tiie chief object of this degree is to enforce rigid ob
a - servance of all those duties which we are bound to perform as wanderers in search of and looking forward to a future and a better condition , after we shall have passed from this life of bondage to the freedom of the land of promise . The virtues of self-denial and fidelity are also greatly commended , and indeed on these two are founded the peculiar ¦ ' tests of this degree . As soon as the candidate has proved that she is sufficientl y versed in all the previous degrees , she is for the last time conducted to the
room of reflection . There the proper officer who is appointed to guide her through the narrow path which leads to the perfection of Masonry , seriously and earnestly recommends her to continue in the practice of those virtues to which her attention has so often been called , and after specifying fidelity , secrecy , and modesty , as the qualities peculiarly belonging to the fourth degree , he leaves her once more to meditate in silence and solitude . After she has been thus prepared by grave exhortations and serious reflection for the mysteries in which she seeks to participate , the officer returns , and informs her that it is necessary that previous to her being admitted she give proof of her
fidelity , and of her fitness to be trusted . The postulant is now put to a very severe trial , one , perhaps , of the most severe which could have been devised , and which can only be distantly alluded to and faintl y described . Alone , unseen b y mortal eye , much is confided to her care ; to all external appearance nothing prevents her from obtaining at once , without difficulty or probable detection , that which at the moment she most anxiously desires ; but it is a solemn trust reposed in her , and all her anxious desires
must remain unsatisfied . On her conduct at this trying hour entirel y depends her success in Masonry , for were she now to break her trust , the veil of security she imagined she felt around her would fall , and she would for ever be excluded from the high grade to which she aspired . In this case no repentance or sorrow could have availed . Once before she had fallen , and been forgiven , but then she was merely a neophytenowas Mistressshe could lead
, , , p no excuse . She had been alread y much honoured and confided in , and it would be unpardonable to violate the sacred trust now reposed in her . The painful trial at last is at an end , and the officer once more enters to ascertain how she has passed through the ordeal . After praising her for her fidelity , he hastens to communicate her courage and honour to the Master and G . Mistress . The joyful tidings of the Sister ' s trustiness are received with acclamations ball the Brethren and Sistersaud the
y , Sister is ordered to be admitted to the Lodge as a petitioner for the fourth degree . The WM . receives her with kindness , and greatly praises her for the victory she has gained over herself , and informs her that she is now allowed to pass through the remaining tests which are necessary to qualify her for admission to the perfection of the Adoptive