Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, And Cabinet Of Universal Literature .
severe it may be felt , I cannot but coiiiess that the reason for this question is very frequentl y too just : the question is , ' Are , then , all Masons good men ?' ' I answer the question proposed , then , with this ' plain and homely negative ; all Masons are not good men . The laws of politeness and civility , you know , always except the present company , when
censure , and reproof is the observation ; and God forbid that I should be supposed as judging any man , or even be thought to suspect any of my present audience as worthy so severe a censure . No , my friends , I come not here to judge , but to advise ; not to censure , but to counsel ; not to condemn , but to warn : if conscience agrees with my answer , which- I have given to the world ' s question , that is another
thing ; and 1 would also advise , let conscience perform its own work , whilst I perform mine ; then will the sermon have its due effect . ' You perceive , then , I am a plain workman : for I must repeat my answer ; and experience , I fear , too fatally confirms the same , that all Masons arc not good men . Where , then , it may , perhaps , be farther asked , where does this defect in the Masonic fabric ori ginate ?
I answer , like all other defects , it may arise from many different causes ; but 1 aver , at the same time , it cannot arise from Masonry itself . No ! Masonry , upon the word of a Christian minister , speaking in this most sacred place , and before that sacred Deity , who is tire perfection of all truth , and abominates all falshood , Masonry is , in all its principles , in all its laws , and in all its ordinances , pure as the unclouded sky , bright as the unspotted sun . -
' But , my friends , as the best apology I can make for Masonry having its defective members , I would refer you to that system which angels admire , and which transfers its real ' members immediately to glory ; yes , 1 would refer you to the gospel of Jesus Christ , and ask , in my turn , are all Christians , in reality , who bear that holy profession ? or , to word this question similar to the other , are all who call themselves Christians good men ? Are there not in that
societj-, to which the very world eagerly unites itself , baptized infidels ? Are there not free-thinkers , and free-livers , in the most depraved sense of all these appellations ? But , is Christianity a system of drunkenness , because there are drunken Christians ? Is Christianity a system of vice and debauchery , because some of its members are " whoremongers and adulterers ? Is it a system of rapine , theftand illage
, p , because , some of its members are dishonest , aud plunder and defraud one another ? Is ita system of revenge , of malice , and of cruelty , because some of its members hate , aud bite , and devour one another ? Is it a system of uncharitableness , because some of its members are covetous , and miserly , and deny all relief to their most needy brethren ? Is it a system of falshood and defamation , because amongst
its members there are liars , evil speakers , busy bodies , tatlers , talebearers , false witnesses , and the like ? Surely not ! The conduct of professors can never justly condemn any system ; nor can the practice of particular individuals cast anv just censure upon any entire
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Magazine, And Cabinet Of Universal Literature .
severe it may be felt , I cannot but coiiiess that the reason for this question is very frequentl y too just : the question is , ' Are , then , all Masons good men ?' ' I answer the question proposed , then , with this ' plain and homely negative ; all Masons are not good men . The laws of politeness and civility , you know , always except the present company , when
censure , and reproof is the observation ; and God forbid that I should be supposed as judging any man , or even be thought to suspect any of my present audience as worthy so severe a censure . No , my friends , I come not here to judge , but to advise ; not to censure , but to counsel ; not to condemn , but to warn : if conscience agrees with my answer , which- I have given to the world ' s question , that is another
thing ; and 1 would also advise , let conscience perform its own work , whilst I perform mine ; then will the sermon have its due effect . ' You perceive , then , I am a plain workman : for I must repeat my answer ; and experience , I fear , too fatally confirms the same , that all Masons arc not good men . Where , then , it may , perhaps , be farther asked , where does this defect in the Masonic fabric ori ginate ?
I answer , like all other defects , it may arise from many different causes ; but 1 aver , at the same time , it cannot arise from Masonry itself . No ! Masonry , upon the word of a Christian minister , speaking in this most sacred place , and before that sacred Deity , who is tire perfection of all truth , and abominates all falshood , Masonry is , in all its principles , in all its laws , and in all its ordinances , pure as the unclouded sky , bright as the unspotted sun . -
' But , my friends , as the best apology I can make for Masonry having its defective members , I would refer you to that system which angels admire , and which transfers its real ' members immediately to glory ; yes , 1 would refer you to the gospel of Jesus Christ , and ask , in my turn , are all Christians , in reality , who bear that holy profession ? or , to word this question similar to the other , are all who call themselves Christians good men ? Are there not in that
societj-, to which the very world eagerly unites itself , baptized infidels ? Are there not free-thinkers , and free-livers , in the most depraved sense of all these appellations ? But , is Christianity a system of drunkenness , because there are drunken Christians ? Is Christianity a system of vice and debauchery , because some of its members are " whoremongers and adulterers ? Is it a system of rapine , theftand illage
, p , because , some of its members are dishonest , aud plunder and defraud one another ? Is ita system of revenge , of malice , and of cruelty , because some of its members hate , aud bite , and devour one another ? Is it a system of uncharitableness , because some of its members are covetous , and miserly , and deny all relief to their most needy brethren ? Is it a system of falshood and defamation , because amongst
its members there are liars , evil speakers , busy bodies , tatlers , talebearers , false witnesses , and the like ? Surely not ! The conduct of professors can never justly condemn any system ; nor can the practice of particular individuals cast anv just censure upon any entire