Freemasonry And Its Institutes.—Vii.

think , rather too far ; he seems to wish to make Freemasonry identical with Christianit y . A reverend American brother has , however , in my opinion , just hit it ; Freemasonry is not a religion , but is "the handmaiden of reli gion ; " for one great object of Christianity is to 0 ] . > en the heart , improve the social affections , and render man affectionatel y disposed

towards all his fellow-beings , to establish human society in peace and good order , to contribute to the security , comfort , and true enjoyment of this life , as well as to lead men to eternal happiness and glory beyond the grave . Bro . T . M . Harris , P . G . Chaplain , Massachusetts , says , "the system of Christianit y is universal benevolence and

philanthropy . _ Its pacific nature and amicable tendency will clearly appear if we examine its general structure , or consider the spirit of its laws . It recommends an affectionate temper and demeanour , represses ill will and injuries of every kind and degree , and forbids every act by which the peace and enjoyment of our nei ghbours may bo interrupted . Follow peace with all meu ; if it be possible , as much as licth in you , live peaceably with all men ; have peace one with

another ; study the things which make for peace—are familiar and frequent injunctions , and lessons which perpetually occur in the writin gs of the New Testament . " In order , however , the better to distinguish between Freemasonry and Christianity , let us briefl y consider the difference between religion and morality . But what is reli gion % The word reli gion is derived from

the Latin reli yio , which means , according to Riddle , 1 . Reli gion , —with the Romans , the sum of ceremonies and institutions , established in honour of the gods , not including the idea of a code of doctrines and precepts ; 2 . Conscientiousness ; 3 . A reli gious obligation ; i . Superstition . Cicero says , " sunt dicti reli giosi ex relegondo , " called reli

they arc gious from reflecting anew , going over again in thought ; or to jiaraphrase it , reflective persons arc called religious . ' Elsewhere Cicero defines it as "the study and practice of divine worship . " Bishop Wilkins defines religion to bo "that general habit of reverence towards the divine nature whereb y wc arc enabled and inclined to worship and serve God after such a manner as we conceive

most agreeable to his divine will . " And Dr . Watts says , that " reli gion or virtue in a large sense , includes duty to God and our nei ghbour . " Oliver says , " religion is a system of practical duties , and thus stands opposed to theology , which is a system of speculative truths . " Religion , then , is the rule which teaches us to believe in God and worship him X

. Religion ' s all ! descending from the skies To wretched man , the goddess in her left Kohls out this world , and in her right , the next ; Religion ! the sole voucher man is man ; Supporter sole of man above himself ; in this niht of

Ev'n g frailty , change and death , She gives the soul a soul that acts a god . lleligion ! providence 1 an after state ! Here is firm footing ; here is solid rock ; Tins can support us ; all is sea besides ; Sinks under us ; bestorms , and then devours . His hand the good man fastens on the skies , Aud bids earth roll , nor feels her idle whirl . "

YOUXG . If wc examine how morality or moral philosophy is defined , we shall find that it is a conformity to those unalterable obligations which result from the nature of our existence and the necessary relations of life , whether to God as our creator , or to . man as our fellow-creature ; or it is the doctrine

of virtue in order to attain , the greatest happiness . Moralit y , then , is the rule that teaches men to live soberly and honestl y . The duties of reli gion are faith , hope , aud charity ; those of moralit y , —temperance , prudence , fortitude , and justice . "If , " says Archdeacon Paley , " I were to describe in a very few words the scope of Christianity as a revelation , - ^ should say that it was to influence the co ' nduct of human life b y establishing the proof of a future state of reward and

Freemasonry And Its Institutes.—Vii.

punishment—to bring life and immortality to light . Ilie direct object therefore of the design is to sup ] ny motives and not rules , sanctions and not precepts . The members of civilized society can in all ordinary cases judge tolerably well how they ought to act ; but without a future state , or what is the same thing , without credited evidence of that state ,

they want a motive to their duty . " The science of morals or manners , " says the Reverend W . Jones , " comprehends the vices as well as the virtues ; and when you know what the principal virtues are , you know what the chief vices are , because vice is the contrary of virtue ! . " " Christianity" says the same writer" is a rule

, , of faith and practice , consisting of doctrines aud duties . It teaches us how to believe and how to live . But when it falls into the hands of men , some take one side , some the other , as if they were two things ; some jireach Christ without the duties , some preach the duties without Christ . " "But , " says Dr . Ferguson ( Inst . Mor . PhilosX " when

the obligations of morality are taught , let the sanctions of Christianity never be forgotten ; by which it will be shown that they give strength and lustre to each other : religion will ajipear to bo the voice of reason , aud morality will be the will of God . " The end and moral purport of Masonry is to subdue our passions , not to do our own will ; to make a

daily progress in a laudable art ; to promote morality , charity , good fellowship , good nature , and humanity . But though Freemasonry is not religion , yet as " the handmaiden of religion " she continually directs our minds towards it ; she enjoins us to make the volume Sacred Law our constant studyto order our lives by its preceptsto fear God and

, , love our neighbours and teaches us that even in this perishable frame resides a vital and immortal princip le which inspires a holy confidence that the Lord of life will enable us to trample the king of terrors beneath our feet , and lift our eyes to that bri ght morning star , whose rising brings peace and salvation to the faithful and obedient of the human

race , this and much more she teaches us , and directs our steps in the greatest of human studies—" ¦ the knowledge of oneself . " " Know then thyself , presume not God to scan , The greatest study of mankind is man . " Poi'K . Our Lodges are open to allof whatever sect or religion

, they may be—to all who believe in the existence of Cod . "Thus in the contemplation of the wisdom , goodness , and power of the Great Architect of the universe , " says Bro . S . Jones , in his reply to Lo Franc , "'the Turk ( under one name ) the Jew aud Christian ( under another ) can join in adoration ; all agreeing in the grand essential and universal principle of

religion , the recognition and worship of a Deity , in whose hands are the issues of life ' and death ; though differing in some more minute tenets peculiar to each ; and is it necessary that this admirable system of union for the best of purposes , should be destroyed by the introduction in a

Christian Lodge of the doctrine of redemption , which must offend the Turk ; or of the holy name of the Messiah , which offends the prejudices of the Jew ; or in a Turkish Lodge of the name of Mahomet , which must offend both Jew and Christian , and thereby defeat the universality of an excellent institution ? - ' No ! we are brethren . The godhead has taught us to call each other—the innate principle persuades

us that we are so . Shall , then , this temporary and happy accommodation of sentiment to good purposes , stamp us as Deists 1 Very far from it ; when the Lodge is closed each departs uninfluenced by the other ; the Jew to his { . synagogue , the Turk to his mosque , the Christian to his church , as fully impressed as ever with the rectitude of his faith , "

Freemasonry seeks no prosely tes ; a man to become a Mason , must come of his own free will and accord , actuated by no unworthy motives ; she annihilate " , all parties , conciliates all private opinions , and renders those who by their Almighty Father were made of one blood , to be of one heart also ,