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Article AN OLD MASON'S ADVICE TO HIS NEPHEW. ← Page 5 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Old Mason's Advice To His Nephew.
many of which are historically incorrect , & a && % - * Freemasons M ^ gazine ^ M ^ , 18 S 3 , p . 68 | . ¦ ¦
The literal interpretation of the above sentence ^ you tell me - ^ -and I am not disposed to cavil sit : your cohclusion— -appears to b & , according to the canon of logical and gr we are Freemasons , and at liberty to practise what religion , & nd to utter what sentiments but in the Lodge our freedbiia is restricted ^ we are bdxthd
privilege of wearing a crucial breast pin > for fe the Jews ! Butv my oflfend f hem ? That is t ^ of the ne ^ vlchool ^ in their hot-headed zeal > do not aptiear to have ever
reflected on the improbability of a co "because a Christian shows a sincere afieetion for a system of ^ rG 3 ? ship which he implicitly believes to be true ; . Will he not rather be offended and disgusted vvdfen he beholds a Lodge of Christian Maspfis blushing for their religion ?
Thehydu will ask- —how does it happen that ^ while we are pewhitted to draw our illustrations freely and without impediment ) or any of the various systems of pagan idolatry ( as is clear from the references to the Jewish tabernacle arid temple , aiid the Pythagorean
triangle in Graft Masonry ; and the Platonic soul of nature and the perfectability of man in the Eoyal Arch ) , we are strictly prohibited from indulging in the slightest allusion to Christianity , on the ground that all reference to the religion of Jesus in Freemasonry is historicaily incorrect ?
But you speak hopefully , my clear nephew , of a large and increasing party existing amoiigst the Craft , who demur to this interpretation of the principles of Freemasonry on the ground that it does not give Christianity fair play ; because , not content with placing our holy faith on a level with other systems of religion , it absolutely degrades it beneath them all : as if we were ashamed of the cross of Christ
which is the power of God unto salvation . The prejudices of the Moslem and the Jew , you contend , are studiously respected in open Lodge under the new system ; while the piety of the Christian is systematically insulted . And you add , as a solemn protest against such offensive proceedings , that how considerately . soever it maybe deemed expedient to treat the opinion of an adverse religionist ( and you quarrel with no man ' s religious belief ) , yet you cannot tolerate a principle which crucifies the Lord afresh and puts him to an open shame
for the delectation of those who are still suffering under the fearful denunciation of their ancestors— " His blood be on us and on our children l" Better , far better , you conclude ) would it be to renounce the institution altogether ; for it is a compromise to which no faithful Christian brother can conscientiously subscribe ; and if we suffer our holy religion to be thus swamped in Freemasonry , what security have we that the next move will not be—open and avowed infidelity ? But keep up your spirits , Timothy—keep up your spirits—tho Ma-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Old Mason's Advice To His Nephew.
many of which are historically incorrect , & a && % - * Freemasons M ^ gazine ^ M ^ , 18 S 3 , p . 68 | . ¦ ¦
The literal interpretation of the above sentence ^ you tell me - ^ -and I am not disposed to cavil sit : your cohclusion— -appears to b & , according to the canon of logical and gr we are Freemasons , and at liberty to practise what religion , & nd to utter what sentiments but in the Lodge our freedbiia is restricted ^ we are bdxthd
privilege of wearing a crucial breast pin > for fe the Jews ! Butv my oflfend f hem ? That is t ^ of the ne ^ vlchool ^ in their hot-headed zeal > do not aptiear to have ever
reflected on the improbability of a co "because a Christian shows a sincere afieetion for a system of ^ rG 3 ? ship which he implicitly believes to be true ; . Will he not rather be offended and disgusted vvdfen he beholds a Lodge of Christian Maspfis blushing for their religion ?
Thehydu will ask- —how does it happen that ^ while we are pewhitted to draw our illustrations freely and without impediment ) or any of the various systems of pagan idolatry ( as is clear from the references to the Jewish tabernacle arid temple , aiid the Pythagorean
triangle in Graft Masonry ; and the Platonic soul of nature and the perfectability of man in the Eoyal Arch ) , we are strictly prohibited from indulging in the slightest allusion to Christianity , on the ground that all reference to the religion of Jesus in Freemasonry is historicaily incorrect ?
But you speak hopefully , my clear nephew , of a large and increasing party existing amoiigst the Craft , who demur to this interpretation of the principles of Freemasonry on the ground that it does not give Christianity fair play ; because , not content with placing our holy faith on a level with other systems of religion , it absolutely degrades it beneath them all : as if we were ashamed of the cross of Christ
which is the power of God unto salvation . The prejudices of the Moslem and the Jew , you contend , are studiously respected in open Lodge under the new system ; while the piety of the Christian is systematically insulted . And you add , as a solemn protest against such offensive proceedings , that how considerately . soever it maybe deemed expedient to treat the opinion of an adverse religionist ( and you quarrel with no man ' s religious belief ) , yet you cannot tolerate a principle which crucifies the Lord afresh and puts him to an open shame
for the delectation of those who are still suffering under the fearful denunciation of their ancestors— " His blood be on us and on our children l" Better , far better , you conclude ) would it be to renounce the institution altogether ; for it is a compromise to which no faithful Christian brother can conscientiously subscribe ; and if we suffer our holy religion to be thus swamped in Freemasonry , what security have we that the next move will not be—open and avowed infidelity ? But keep up your spirits , Timothy—keep up your spirits—tho Ma-