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Article THE GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS ← Page 4 of 4 Article MASONIC AMBITION. Page 1 of 1 Article MASONIC AMBITION. Page 1 of 1 Article THE TEMPLE AT PARIS. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts
of them may be dissatisfied , some with their form of govern merit , and some with thsir associates . This is simply a question of Grand Lodge jurisdiction , a question which was settled and determined by this Grand Lodge , September 17 , 1797 , when it incorporated into its Constitutions this Section : — " The Grand Lodge will not hold communication with , or admit as visitors , any Masons , residing in this State , who hold
authority under , and acknowledge the supremacy of , any fortign Grand Lodge . " This provision , iu some form of language , has existed in our Constitutions from 1797 to this day . It now stands in the following form : "No lodge of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons can legally assemble in this Commonwealth under a warrant granted hy any foreign Masonic power . This isas I have saidsimply a question of Grand Lod
, , ge jurisdiction , and we can conssder it calmly and without prejudice . The institution of Freemasonry is universal . It stretches from east to west , from north to south , and embraces within itself the representatives of every branch of the human family . Its carefully tyled doors swing open , not at the knock of every man , but at the demand of every true and worthy man , duly accepted , whatever his religion , his race , or his country may he . This the
Grand Lodge stands ^ upon high vantage ground of this Catholic society , and recognizes the great principles which must necessarily underlie an Institution which has a home on the continents and on the islands of the seas .
When that celebrated play of Terence , styled the "Self-Tormentor , " was first introduced upon the Roman stage , before the great amphitheatre crowded with senators , knights , citizens , and men of rank , some of whom had been found worthy of a Roman triumph , and Chremes , in his reply to Menedemus , repeated the words , — " Homo sum ; humani nihil a me alienum puto , " " I am a man ; nothing which relates to man is alien to me , "
the vast assemblage rose up , impelled by a common sentiment , and rent the air with reiterated plaudits . The memory of that scene has not jet faded away . The words of Chromes have not yet ceased to reverberate . We bear upon the Masons' arms of Massachusetts , aud have inscribed upon our Grand Lodge banner , the motto , — " Humani nihil alienum . " " Man everywhere our brother . "
Masonic Ambition.
MASONIC AMBITION .
There is nothing so ploasing to the venerable Masters in Masonry , as that ambition in the young which tends to assist the advancement of the Order and expand the genius of the Craft . The flowers of evening are gathering about the hoary locks of those beloved sires , and they look upon aspiring youth with more than a fraternal interest and gratification . As the valley they arc descending grows deeper , and the paths they tread are becoming greenerthey look back on the light of the past and
, behold with rapture their young friends pressing after them in the Temple . Their mantles are about falling , and a score would lift ( hem reverently and with honour , ere they touch the ground . Their jewels are still blazing , but the hand trembles as it reaches them , and many a vigorous , hearty grasp is put forth to steady , and if need be , to becomingly assume them . The various paraphernalia of office must descend to other
shoulders , and if youth preserves its spotless integrity with the rame care that age has guarded its sacred insfillnieiits then the Craft will do itself infinite credit iu the future and reflect a blazing splendour ou the past . Ambition in any station of life , in any condition of circumstances or education , when untramn oiled by insatiate greed , is always a noble element of the mind . Without it the world
would not have moved one degree beyond tho barbaric ages , and all the conveniences of civilisation would be still the secrets of another sphere . Without it advancement would never lift its eye to Heaven , hut rank obscurity would fetter the incoming multitude . Helpless , mild , unchristian , and deformed , humanity would have abruptly terminated in savage dens by violence and bloodshed , where now the peaceful strains of saint-like music accompany the departing soul in to a future life . How may we often thankthe "All-seeing One" for his great beneficence in implanting in our bosoms a desire of prominence ! If other men iu the ordinary channels of life are impregnated
Masonic Ambition.
with this aspiring element , and if it is necessary to the success of the world , that mau in general should be inoculated with ambition , how much more necessary is it for the Craft to possess the elevating motives of a soaring mind ? In works of benevolence we should be known by all , while words of comfort would drop from our lips , which should reconcile the feveied patient to his lot , even as the flowers cast at the feet of the wearied , sun-bronzed soldier , remind him of home and love and
peace . If we were as ambitious to do good to others as we are to benefit ourselves , how many more weak hearts would flutter up to bright Hope and ask a boon of Fortune ; how many eyes would shine forth with the assurance of Faith in the future , which now only dimly reflect the sad despair of the present . How important , then , it is to keep ourselves awake and fully alive to passing events in the existing active state of the world . We may be humblebut if we are ambitious and watch closel
, y for an opportunity our turn will come , when we may cast off the shackles of ignoble origin and leap into the company of the distinguished , when we can exchange ideas with noted statesmen , sip a genial bowl of wine with the celebrated artist , or have thought-wrestles with a famous Grand Master . If we be not ambitious , then a thousand opportunities may come and pass , and no reckoning be made of them . Our plummet then seeks onlto measure the depths of the brookletwhen
y , we should be sounding the restless sea ; our axe aims only at the sapling of learning , when we should be hewing at the great poplar in search of secret truth . Without ambition we are mere instrumente without the ability to expand or soar—the tool of others , fit only to serve at the footstool on which greatness steps , iu its mighty effort to reach the highest roundof the ladder . We may be strong , but we only lift our neighbour up ; our voices
may be sweet , but we only sing another into fame ; our brain is active only at a friend ' s bidding . Living thus , we fill but a line in the world ' s record , when our history should occupy a page ; we are one one of the leaves of the forest , when we should be the stately trunk itself . Let us all , therefore , take on some aspiration in the brotherhood . Let us have an aim , and that a high one . In seekiug to reach the opposite shore of light , we may arrive at the island midway in the stream ; in aiming at the eagle , we may hit the hawk ; and in striving for the office of " Worshipful , " we may at le ; ist reach the Warden's chair .
The Temple At Paris.
THE TEMPLE AT PARIS .
Paris is unquestionably the finest city of the world , but it has cost the French people mountains of money , to produce this modern Babel . Since 1852 the State has expended 235 millions of francs to beautify the city , and the city authorities have expended a like sum . Should a Parisian of the days of Louis XV ., or Henry II ., arise , nothing but the river
Seine would be l'ecognised by him . A tour through Paris is equivalent to the study of French History , nay , more even of European History . Alas—everything and everybody has its day—among snob—the revivals of tbe middle ages—which in their time drove hundreds of thousands toward Palestine , merely as it seemed , to bo miserably sacrificed . Others
disposed of all their treasures , to furnish supplies to the warriors of the cross , and by these means wore such orders , which had their origin in the Holy Land , aud end endowed with riches , to substantiate their names and callings . Foremost of all such orders stood ' the Templars " ( Templarie , Millies , Fratos or Gomilitoncs templie ) called
so , because their conclave was held in a room , adjoining the Temple of Solomon . Created 1118 , the Templars were already thirty years later , a rich and powerful corporation , and at the beginning of the 13 th century , did tho order possess , not only in tho Levant , but most European States , Temple Courts , Valleys , Comthuries and PreceptoriesHouses
, , Castles , Land and Subordinates , more powerful and rich than any Potentate . Tho greatest riches though were owned by the Templars of France , where Le Temple in , or rather near Paris , was the medium of the entire order known by the name of Boulevards . Connected by a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts
of them may be dissatisfied , some with their form of govern merit , and some with thsir associates . This is simply a question of Grand Lodge jurisdiction , a question which was settled and determined by this Grand Lodge , September 17 , 1797 , when it incorporated into its Constitutions this Section : — " The Grand Lodge will not hold communication with , or admit as visitors , any Masons , residing in this State , who hold
authority under , and acknowledge the supremacy of , any fortign Grand Lodge . " This provision , iu some form of language , has existed in our Constitutions from 1797 to this day . It now stands in the following form : "No lodge of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons can legally assemble in this Commonwealth under a warrant granted hy any foreign Masonic power . This isas I have saidsimply a question of Grand Lod
, , ge jurisdiction , and we can conssder it calmly and without prejudice . The institution of Freemasonry is universal . It stretches from east to west , from north to south , and embraces within itself the representatives of every branch of the human family . Its carefully tyled doors swing open , not at the knock of every man , but at the demand of every true and worthy man , duly accepted , whatever his religion , his race , or his country may he . This the
Grand Lodge stands ^ upon high vantage ground of this Catholic society , and recognizes the great principles which must necessarily underlie an Institution which has a home on the continents and on the islands of the seas .
When that celebrated play of Terence , styled the "Self-Tormentor , " was first introduced upon the Roman stage , before the great amphitheatre crowded with senators , knights , citizens , and men of rank , some of whom had been found worthy of a Roman triumph , and Chremes , in his reply to Menedemus , repeated the words , — " Homo sum ; humani nihil a me alienum puto , " " I am a man ; nothing which relates to man is alien to me , "
the vast assemblage rose up , impelled by a common sentiment , and rent the air with reiterated plaudits . The memory of that scene has not jet faded away . The words of Chromes have not yet ceased to reverberate . We bear upon the Masons' arms of Massachusetts , aud have inscribed upon our Grand Lodge banner , the motto , — " Humani nihil alienum . " " Man everywhere our brother . "
Masonic Ambition.
MASONIC AMBITION .
There is nothing so ploasing to the venerable Masters in Masonry , as that ambition in the young which tends to assist the advancement of the Order and expand the genius of the Craft . The flowers of evening are gathering about the hoary locks of those beloved sires , and they look upon aspiring youth with more than a fraternal interest and gratification . As the valley they arc descending grows deeper , and the paths they tread are becoming greenerthey look back on the light of the past and
, behold with rapture their young friends pressing after them in the Temple . Their mantles are about falling , and a score would lift ( hem reverently and with honour , ere they touch the ground . Their jewels are still blazing , but the hand trembles as it reaches them , and many a vigorous , hearty grasp is put forth to steady , and if need be , to becomingly assume them . The various paraphernalia of office must descend to other
shoulders , and if youth preserves its spotless integrity with the rame care that age has guarded its sacred insfillnieiits then the Craft will do itself infinite credit iu the future and reflect a blazing splendour ou the past . Ambition in any station of life , in any condition of circumstances or education , when untramn oiled by insatiate greed , is always a noble element of the mind . Without it the world
would not have moved one degree beyond tho barbaric ages , and all the conveniences of civilisation would be still the secrets of another sphere . Without it advancement would never lift its eye to Heaven , hut rank obscurity would fetter the incoming multitude . Helpless , mild , unchristian , and deformed , humanity would have abruptly terminated in savage dens by violence and bloodshed , where now the peaceful strains of saint-like music accompany the departing soul in to a future life . How may we often thankthe "All-seeing One" for his great beneficence in implanting in our bosoms a desire of prominence ! If other men iu the ordinary channels of life are impregnated
Masonic Ambition.
with this aspiring element , and if it is necessary to the success of the world , that mau in general should be inoculated with ambition , how much more necessary is it for the Craft to possess the elevating motives of a soaring mind ? In works of benevolence we should be known by all , while words of comfort would drop from our lips , which should reconcile the feveied patient to his lot , even as the flowers cast at the feet of the wearied , sun-bronzed soldier , remind him of home and love and
peace . If we were as ambitious to do good to others as we are to benefit ourselves , how many more weak hearts would flutter up to bright Hope and ask a boon of Fortune ; how many eyes would shine forth with the assurance of Faith in the future , which now only dimly reflect the sad despair of the present . How important , then , it is to keep ourselves awake and fully alive to passing events in the existing active state of the world . We may be humblebut if we are ambitious and watch closel
, y for an opportunity our turn will come , when we may cast off the shackles of ignoble origin and leap into the company of the distinguished , when we can exchange ideas with noted statesmen , sip a genial bowl of wine with the celebrated artist , or have thought-wrestles with a famous Grand Master . If we be not ambitious , then a thousand opportunities may come and pass , and no reckoning be made of them . Our plummet then seeks onlto measure the depths of the brookletwhen
y , we should be sounding the restless sea ; our axe aims only at the sapling of learning , when we should be hewing at the great poplar in search of secret truth . Without ambition we are mere instrumente without the ability to expand or soar—the tool of others , fit only to serve at the footstool on which greatness steps , iu its mighty effort to reach the highest roundof the ladder . We may be strong , but we only lift our neighbour up ; our voices
may be sweet , but we only sing another into fame ; our brain is active only at a friend ' s bidding . Living thus , we fill but a line in the world ' s record , when our history should occupy a page ; we are one one of the leaves of the forest , when we should be the stately trunk itself . Let us all , therefore , take on some aspiration in the brotherhood . Let us have an aim , and that a high one . In seekiug to reach the opposite shore of light , we may arrive at the island midway in the stream ; in aiming at the eagle , we may hit the hawk ; and in striving for the office of " Worshipful , " we may at le ; ist reach the Warden's chair .
The Temple At Paris.
THE TEMPLE AT PARIS .
Paris is unquestionably the finest city of the world , but it has cost the French people mountains of money , to produce this modern Babel . Since 1852 the State has expended 235 millions of francs to beautify the city , and the city authorities have expended a like sum . Should a Parisian of the days of Louis XV ., or Henry II ., arise , nothing but the river
Seine would be l'ecognised by him . A tour through Paris is equivalent to the study of French History , nay , more even of European History . Alas—everything and everybody has its day—among snob—the revivals of tbe middle ages—which in their time drove hundreds of thousands toward Palestine , merely as it seemed , to bo miserably sacrificed . Others
disposed of all their treasures , to furnish supplies to the warriors of the cross , and by these means wore such orders , which had their origin in the Holy Land , aud end endowed with riches , to substantiate their names and callings . Foremost of all such orders stood ' the Templars " ( Templarie , Millies , Fratos or Gomilitoncs templie ) called
so , because their conclave was held in a room , adjoining the Temple of Solomon . Created 1118 , the Templars were already thirty years later , a rich and powerful corporation , and at the beginning of the 13 th century , did tho order possess , not only in tho Levant , but most European States , Temple Courts , Valleys , Comthuries and PreceptoriesHouses
, , Castles , Land and Subordinates , more powerful and rich than any Potentate . Tho greatest riches though were owned by the Templars of France , where Le Temple in , or rather near Paris , was the medium of the entire order known by the name of Boulevards . Connected by a