Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Introductory Lecture Delivered To Lodge Of Unity, Wareham, Dorset.
INTRODUCTORY LECTURE DELIVERED TO LODGE OE UNITY , WAREHAM , DORSET ,
BY BRO . THE REV . T . PEARCE , YICAR OF MORDEN .
BbeTHKEK , — My mind has been for some time dwelling upon the fact , that there is not in the Masonry of present times , and indeed that there cannot be , the instruction or light that formed a principal part of the Science in former ages .
There can be no reasonable doubt , in the earlier ages of the world , when the Arts were undeveloped and knowledge was a precious coin , that our Ancient and Ancestral Brethren made their meetings serve the purpose of books and literature , and their manuscript instructions take the place of printing .
Mystery and the dust of ages have hidden from our view and observation much of the lore they handed down . The jealousy of the uninitiated , and the bigotry of certain sects , the names of which the spirit of the craft bids me omit ; these , for a time , damped the fire that was the beacon light of all true morality , and the guardian angel of liberty and truth .
And , when the time had come for the re-utterance of the beautiful and symbolical language of Charity and Brotherly Love , and Lodges were planted throughout the length of the British Empire ( let us hope , never again to be overthrown ) , the rush to join the ranks of Masons became so impetuous , as to preclude the possibility of anything like serial instruction , except in Lodges held solely for that purpose .
I take this to be as far as I can discover , a true ungarbled statement of facts , made without prejudicial feeling , absolutely the truth . It has been patent , some course was needed , which should open up Masonic instruction to the Brethren . It has been well understood
by the best Masonic authorities , that the Art of Masonry has been known to many , the Science has been a hidden thing . Masonic publications have been to a great extent a failure , because the minds of the Brethren have been unprepared to receive publications , assuming they knew certain things they did not know .
To raise the standard of a science , is to recommend it to all thinking men . There are those who conceive they best advance the interests of this first of all Orders and oldest of all Societies , by procuring ( for no milder term can be used ) fresh candidates for our mysteries , and constantly enticing a respectable attendance ,, from the repetition of
our . There can be no more deadly zeal to Masonry than this , when it is not borne in mind that virtue and Brotherly love must be part and parcel of the candidate ' s character . We are taking a man from the mass , to make him a Brother , a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Introductory Lecture Delivered To Lodge Of Unity, Wareham, Dorset.
INTRODUCTORY LECTURE DELIVERED TO LODGE OE UNITY , WAREHAM , DORSET ,
BY BRO . THE REV . T . PEARCE , YICAR OF MORDEN .
BbeTHKEK , — My mind has been for some time dwelling upon the fact , that there is not in the Masonry of present times , and indeed that there cannot be , the instruction or light that formed a principal part of the Science in former ages .
There can be no reasonable doubt , in the earlier ages of the world , when the Arts were undeveloped and knowledge was a precious coin , that our Ancient and Ancestral Brethren made their meetings serve the purpose of books and literature , and their manuscript instructions take the place of printing .
Mystery and the dust of ages have hidden from our view and observation much of the lore they handed down . The jealousy of the uninitiated , and the bigotry of certain sects , the names of which the spirit of the craft bids me omit ; these , for a time , damped the fire that was the beacon light of all true morality , and the guardian angel of liberty and truth .
And , when the time had come for the re-utterance of the beautiful and symbolical language of Charity and Brotherly Love , and Lodges were planted throughout the length of the British Empire ( let us hope , never again to be overthrown ) , the rush to join the ranks of Masons became so impetuous , as to preclude the possibility of anything like serial instruction , except in Lodges held solely for that purpose .
I take this to be as far as I can discover , a true ungarbled statement of facts , made without prejudicial feeling , absolutely the truth . It has been patent , some course was needed , which should open up Masonic instruction to the Brethren . It has been well understood
by the best Masonic authorities , that the Art of Masonry has been known to many , the Science has been a hidden thing . Masonic publications have been to a great extent a failure , because the minds of the Brethren have been unprepared to receive publications , assuming they knew certain things they did not know .
To raise the standard of a science , is to recommend it to all thinking men . There are those who conceive they best advance the interests of this first of all Orders and oldest of all Societies , by procuring ( for no milder term can be used ) fresh candidates for our mysteries , and constantly enticing a respectable attendance ,, from the repetition of
our . There can be no more deadly zeal to Masonry than this , when it is not borne in mind that virtue and Brotherly love must be part and parcel of the candidate ' s character . We are taking a man from the mass , to make him a Brother , a