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to God , to our neighbours , and to ourselves—the sum total of man ' s duties upon earth .
Here we find all the elements of union , strength and durability , which , with a virtuous membership , are capable of upholding the pillars of the Masonic Temple in all future time . This Temple is built upon a rock , and that rock has been found by the Supreme Grand Master , " well formed , true and trusty . " Freemasonry can be overcome by no opposing principles ; nor by the machinations of her enemies .
We do not claim , as Masons , to stand npon the Christian ' s mount . Our sphere is a lower , but not an antagonistical one . "We never teach that Masonry is a substitute for any religion . We by no means tell the initiate that Masonry is sufficient for salvation . It is his conduct in this world that concerns us . Not do we tell him that
our position is high enough . On the contrary , he is informed that thus far we have , with mutual assistance , travelled the same path ; that it is his duty to gain the summit of the Holy Mount ; but , that owing to the differences of opinion , as to the best means of ascent , beyond the point at which we then were , our charge ceased , and we left him to his church , his synagogue , or his bishop ; or to his Bible ,
his Koran , or other path of faith , which he might choose for the remainder of his journey . That we had agreed to come thus far in company , and albeit , we may have brought him above the clouds of ignorance and superstition , he was yet only on the top of Mt . Moriah , which is only one of the little hills of Zion ; but there was another peak far above him , glittering in the rays of a never setting sun ,
which it is his duty if possible to reach . The Eev . ¥ m , Hutchinson , of the last century , and the Eev . Dr . Oliver , of the present , have endeavoured to make Eeligion and Masonry synonymous . It is a dangerous error . It would destroy Masonry , and leave one lever the less , and that a very efficient one , for the elevation of mankind . Let us not make that mistake .
Strong as are the principles which animated , and have thus far sustained our Institution , a sound and healthy body was essential as a tenement for the occupany of the pure spirit of Freemasonry . As the spirit of man abandons the material body when it becomes corrupt , so will the spirit of Masonry abandon the Lodge when its members become unworthy .
It is true likewise that the human body may have , to a certain extent , diseased members , and yet live ; so , among so many members of the great body of Masonry , some may have their defects ; some may be halt , some partially blind , and others , it may be , mere moral , perhaps we should say immoral , excrescences , yet , it is fortunately true that , until some vital organ shall be reached , there is hope . A healthy membership , however , is essential to the Lodge , for the due performance of its functions .
As the Masonic Society has already existed for nearly thirty centuries , according to our traditions , the truth of which we can find no reasons to doubt , it is fair to conclude that , generally , the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
to God , to our neighbours , and to ourselves—the sum total of man ' s duties upon earth .
Here we find all the elements of union , strength and durability , which , with a virtuous membership , are capable of upholding the pillars of the Masonic Temple in all future time . This Temple is built upon a rock , and that rock has been found by the Supreme Grand Master , " well formed , true and trusty . " Freemasonry can be overcome by no opposing principles ; nor by the machinations of her enemies .
We do not claim , as Masons , to stand npon the Christian ' s mount . Our sphere is a lower , but not an antagonistical one . "We never teach that Masonry is a substitute for any religion . We by no means tell the initiate that Masonry is sufficient for salvation . It is his conduct in this world that concerns us . Not do we tell him that
our position is high enough . On the contrary , he is informed that thus far we have , with mutual assistance , travelled the same path ; that it is his duty to gain the summit of the Holy Mount ; but , that owing to the differences of opinion , as to the best means of ascent , beyond the point at which we then were , our charge ceased , and we left him to his church , his synagogue , or his bishop ; or to his Bible ,
his Koran , or other path of faith , which he might choose for the remainder of his journey . That we had agreed to come thus far in company , and albeit , we may have brought him above the clouds of ignorance and superstition , he was yet only on the top of Mt . Moriah , which is only one of the little hills of Zion ; but there was another peak far above him , glittering in the rays of a never setting sun ,
which it is his duty if possible to reach . The Eev . ¥ m , Hutchinson , of the last century , and the Eev . Dr . Oliver , of the present , have endeavoured to make Eeligion and Masonry synonymous . It is a dangerous error . It would destroy Masonry , and leave one lever the less , and that a very efficient one , for the elevation of mankind . Let us not make that mistake .
Strong as are the principles which animated , and have thus far sustained our Institution , a sound and healthy body was essential as a tenement for the occupany of the pure spirit of Freemasonry . As the spirit of man abandons the material body when it becomes corrupt , so will the spirit of Masonry abandon the Lodge when its members become unworthy .
It is true likewise that the human body may have , to a certain extent , diseased members , and yet live ; so , among so many members of the great body of Masonry , some may have their defects ; some may be halt , some partially blind , and others , it may be , mere moral , perhaps we should say immoral , excrescences , yet , it is fortunately true that , until some vital organ shall be reached , there is hope . A healthy membership , however , is essential to the Lodge , for the due performance of its functions .
As the Masonic Society has already existed for nearly thirty centuries , according to our traditions , the truth of which we can find no reasons to doubt , it is fair to conclude that , generally , the