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Article THAT RELIGION IN WHICH ALL MEN AGREE.* ← Page 4 of 4
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That Religion In Which All Men Agree.*
to engage them to friendly and kind actions ; thus the spirit of tlie damning priest may be tamed , and a moral Brother , though of a different religion , engage his friendship ; thus all those disputes which embitter life , and sour the tempers of men , are avoided , and every face is clad in smiles while they pursue the general design of the Craft , which is the common good of all . Is it not then evident that Masonry is an universal advantage to mankind ?"
My second proof is somewhat later , but yet ninety years old , and alludes to a Lodge at Plymouth , April , 1757 . * Judging from a portion of the address to the members of the Lodge , we must suppose them to have all been Christians , it runs thus : — " Nor yet can a Christian Brother be a good Mason if he do not study the word of God . It is true we acknowledge all Masons to be our Brethrenbe they ChristiansJewsor Mahomedans ( for
, , , Masonry is universal , and not strictly confined to any particular faith , sect , or mode of worship ) . All Masons , I repeat , who can rule their passions and their propensities , and act honourably on the square , are our acknowledged Brethren ; but we are bound to be governed by the Sacred Volume . It is our duty to take counsel from the Bible ; to take every opportunity to study its contents as the rule and guide of all our actions . "
Oh ! that the rays of heaven would shed the divine influence of their light over the minds of the Brethren of my fatherland , that they may learn the truth and tendency of the first article of the ancient charges , and practice the doctrines and true objects of Freemasonry , —that the highest and noblest feelings are entwined with the pure workings of the Craft , and that the operations of the one are indispensable from tbe other . I close this , my earnest wish and prayer , with the beautiful words of an upright Christianand doctor of divinityBro . the R . W .
, , William Walter , at the feast of St . John , ( 5793 , ) in King Solomon Lodge , at Charlestown : —j " Such are the changes of this mortal life , so numerous are the calamities and misfortunes to which men are liable in the course of their pilgrimage , so closely are we pursued by pain and sickness from the cradle to the grave , that we may well look around us for all the consolations which human wisdom can deviseor human
, power effect . As there are accidents and calamities not confined to any quarter of the globe , to any nation or class of men , our fathers , by a noble and generous exertion of spirit , determined to originate a society which should contemplate the . species divested of all religious or political distinction , which should be free to the worthy and accepted of all nations and languages , which might comprehend a Jewish Solomon and a Tyrian Hirama Romish
, prelate and a Protestant reformer , a Frederick and a Washington at the head of their armies , and a humble Quaker who holds in detestation the sword and the bayonet , all these , though differing in some respects , may agree in others , and be united in love . Love is , therefore , our principle , and happiness our aim . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
That Religion In Which All Men Agree.*
to engage them to friendly and kind actions ; thus the spirit of tlie damning priest may be tamed , and a moral Brother , though of a different religion , engage his friendship ; thus all those disputes which embitter life , and sour the tempers of men , are avoided , and every face is clad in smiles while they pursue the general design of the Craft , which is the common good of all . Is it not then evident that Masonry is an universal advantage to mankind ?"
My second proof is somewhat later , but yet ninety years old , and alludes to a Lodge at Plymouth , April , 1757 . * Judging from a portion of the address to the members of the Lodge , we must suppose them to have all been Christians , it runs thus : — " Nor yet can a Christian Brother be a good Mason if he do not study the word of God . It is true we acknowledge all Masons to be our Brethrenbe they ChristiansJewsor Mahomedans ( for
, , , Masonry is universal , and not strictly confined to any particular faith , sect , or mode of worship ) . All Masons , I repeat , who can rule their passions and their propensities , and act honourably on the square , are our acknowledged Brethren ; but we are bound to be governed by the Sacred Volume . It is our duty to take counsel from the Bible ; to take every opportunity to study its contents as the rule and guide of all our actions . "
Oh ! that the rays of heaven would shed the divine influence of their light over the minds of the Brethren of my fatherland , that they may learn the truth and tendency of the first article of the ancient charges , and practice the doctrines and true objects of Freemasonry , —that the highest and noblest feelings are entwined with the pure workings of the Craft , and that the operations of the one are indispensable from tbe other . I close this , my earnest wish and prayer , with the beautiful words of an upright Christianand doctor of divinityBro . the R . W .
, , William Walter , at the feast of St . John , ( 5793 , ) in King Solomon Lodge , at Charlestown : —j " Such are the changes of this mortal life , so numerous are the calamities and misfortunes to which men are liable in the course of their pilgrimage , so closely are we pursued by pain and sickness from the cradle to the grave , that we may well look around us for all the consolations which human wisdom can deviseor human
, power effect . As there are accidents and calamities not confined to any quarter of the globe , to any nation or class of men , our fathers , by a noble and generous exertion of spirit , determined to originate a society which should contemplate the . species divested of all religious or political distinction , which should be free to the worthy and accepted of all nations and languages , which might comprehend a Jewish Solomon and a Tyrian Hirama Romish
, prelate and a Protestant reformer , a Frederick and a Washington at the head of their armies , and a humble Quaker who holds in detestation the sword and the bayonet , all these , though differing in some respects , may agree in others , and be united in love . Love is , therefore , our principle , and happiness our aim . "